Open Your Eyes (Abre los Ojos) (1999)
90%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Director Alejandro Amenábar tackles some heady issues with finesse and clarity in Open Your Eyes, a gripping exploration of existentialism and the human spirit.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you question reality and leave you feeling like you just went through a mind-bending experience, then Open Your Eyes is the film for you. Critics have called it everything from “thought-provoking” to “absorbing and haunting,” and even compared it to a collaboration between Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch. Sure, the script and direction may be a bit patchy, but the obsessive theme is gripping and the virtuoso style of director Alejandro Amenabar is something to be admired. So, open your eyes and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
Twentieth Century Fox, Gordon Company, Silver Pictures,
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Madrid, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some strong sexuality, language and some violence
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 57m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1997 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 21, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Open Your Eyes, Eduardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Chete Lera, Fele Martínez, Najwa Nimri, Gerard Barray, Alejandro Amenábar, Fernando Bovaira, José Luis Cuerda, Mateo Gil, drama, R rating, Spanish language, existentialism, human spirit, psychological mystery, car accident, prison, some violence, some strong sexuality, language, Artisan Entertainment, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR, flat aspect ratio, $368.2K box office gross, reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jeff Millar, Paul Julian Smith, Liam Lacey, Jamie Russell, Sergio Benítez, Blake French, Jim Lane, Michael Dequina, David Grove, Emanuel Levy
Worldwide gross: $377,967
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $704,561
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,668
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 76,833
US/Canada gross: $370,720
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $691,052
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,260
US/Canada opening weekend: $38,289
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $71,374
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,070
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): ESP 370,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Penélope Cruz – Soifa
Chete Lera – Antonio
Fele Martínez – Pelayo
Najwa Nimri – Nuria
Gerard Barray – Duvernois
Director – Alejandro Amenábar
Producers – Fernando Bovaira, José Luis Cuerda
Writers – Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Director(s)
Alejandro Amenábar
Writer(s)
Alejandro Amenábar, Mateo Gil
Producer(s)
Fernando Bovaira, José Luis Cuerda
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (46) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (7)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Even if the script (written by the director and Mateo Gil) and direction are patchy, the obsessive theme is gripping.
June 8, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
If you’re the type who doesn’t mind jigsaw puzzles unassembling themselves as you assemble them, if you enjoy enigmas and don’t need explanations, the film just might work for you.
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Amenbar’s virtuoso style and connection to the youth audience, both of which are resented by the Spanish film establishment, make him a plausible model outside Spain for a European cinema that bridges the gap between arthouse and mainstream.
December 2, 2002
Paul Julian Smith
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
For adventurous filmgoers, though, this Spanish import offers something off the beaten path and a chance to play the coffee-shop game: Could This Screenplay Be Saved?
March 19, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
One of the most thought-provoking thrillers of recent years, a film that really does challenge its audience’s expectations and suppositions at every turn.
January 22, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
The filmmaker’s imaginative performance is a permanent reason for admiration. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 15, 2020
Sergio Benítez
Espinof
If Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch had collaborated on a project, the result might have been something like Open Your Eyes.”
August 2, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Blake French
Filmcritic.com
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
The visually stunning product is no less absorbing and haunting, not to mention surprisingly moving.
December 29, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Alejandro Amenabar announced himself in the category of the top level of directors working today.
December 6, 2005 | Rating: 5/5
David Grove
Film Threat
July 13, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com…
Plot
After a car accident leaves him scarred and in prison, successful and handsome Cesar is thrown into a psychological mystery in Open Your Eyes.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Penélope Cruz stars in Open Your Eyes alongside Eduardo Noriega.
Alejandro-Amenábar.jpg
90%
The Dreamlife of Angels (1998)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Dreamlife of Angels is a film that transcends the boundaries of traditional cinema, offering a glimpse into the raw and unfiltered emotions of two unforgettable characters. Bouchez and Regnier deliver performances that are nothing short of remarkable, fleshing out portraits of a depth rarely seen on screen. Director Zonca shows an extraordinary ability to get into the female psyche, creating a film that is graceful, intelligent, and complicated in its depiction of human interaction. The movie understands what few American films admit: not everyone can afford the luxury of following their hearts. With its emotional immediacy, this film heralds a humanist cinema that neither shortchanges our minds nor cheapens what’s in our hearts.
The Dreamlife of Angels is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions, but instead of screaming, you’ll be crying. The characters are so real and relatable that you’ll feel like you know them personally. Plus, the bad haircuts and well-worn clothing just add to the charm. It’s a humanist cinema that will touch your heart and make you appreciate the little things in life. So grab some tissues and get ready for a wild ride.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, U-Drive Productions,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia TriStar Home Video
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Lille, Nord, France
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some strong sexuality
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:1.66 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):French
-
Country of origin:France
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 1998 Original
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Élodie Bouchez, Natacha Régnier, Grégoire Colin, Jo Prestia, Patrick Mercado, Louise Motte, François Marquis, directed by Erick Zonca, written by Erick Zonca, Roger Bohbot, Virginie Wagon, Pierre Chosson, drama, R rating, French language, character study, female friendship, poverty, sweatshop, nightclub owner, money, hospital, box office gross $1.7M, reviewed by Kenneth Turan, Elizabeth Weitzman, Charles Taylor, Amy Taubin, Susan Stark, Roger Ebert, Jas Keimig, Jim Lane, Jeffrey Overstreet, Michael Dequina, Leonard Schwarz, Élodie Bouchez and Natacha Régnier shared Best Actress award at 1998 Cannes Film Festival, Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Dolby SR sound mix, François Marquis produced
Worldwide gross: $1,726,567
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,168,494
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,302
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 345,528
US/Canada gross: $1,726,567
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,168,494
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,928
US/Canada opening weekend: $59,333
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $108,884
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,904
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Natacha Régnier – Marie Thomas
Grégoire Colin – Chriss
Jo Prestia – Fredo
Patrick Mercado – Charly
Louise Motte – Sandrine
Director(s)
Erick Zonca
Writer(s)
Erick Zonca, Roger Bohbot, Virginie Wagon, Pierre Chosson
Producer(s)
François Marquis
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (3)
Frank, intimate, touching, with an emotional immediacy that is killing.
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
[Bouchez and Regnier have] fleshed out portraits of a depth rarely seen on screen.
January 1, 2000
Elizabeth Weitzman
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
Heralds a humanist cinema that neither shortchanges our minds nor cheapens what’s in our hearts.
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s so graceful and intelligent and complicated in its depiction of human interaction that it takes the notion of a remarkably assured directorial debut to a new level.
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Zonca shows an extraordinary ability to get into the female psyche.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
The movie understands what few American movies admit: Not everyone can afford the luxury of following their hearts.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Both Isa and Marie have bad haircuts, dressed in well-worn clothing that probably just barely keeps them warm. There’s beauty in those touches of reality, too…
December 9, 2021
Jas Keimig
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
Two unforgettable characters are revealed, and the truth resonates powerfully through their stories.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: A
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Allows the viewer to not only see, but experience the pain of these characters.
January 13, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
Film Threat
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Leonard Schwarz
Palo Alto Weekly
October 25, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette…
Plot
Isa and Marie bond while working in a French sweatshop and share an apartment, but their friendship is tested when Marie takes up with a wealthy nightclub owner and Isa tries to intervene in The Dreamlife of Angels.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Élodie Bouchez and Natacha Régnier shared the Best Actress award at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for their performances in The Dreamlife of Angels.
Erick-Zonca.jpg
90%
Gods and Monsters (1998)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
38 wins & 33 nominations total
Gods and Monsters is a spellbinding, confusing piece of semi-fiction, featuring fine performances; McKellen leads the way, but Redgrave and Fraser don’t lag far behind.
Gods and Monsters is a movie that will make you feel like you’re being haunted, but in a good way. It’s a psychological game that’s executed imaginatively and with warmth. Brendan Fraser’s performance as Clayton Boone is outstanding and largely unrecognized. The film is a triumph on all levels and a must-see for anyone who loves movies or people who love movies. It’s a moment of compassion that will leave you feeling satisfied and wanting more. Don’t miss out on this glorious imagining of an iconic industry figure.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Universal Studios Inc.
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Arden Villa – 1145 Arden Road, Pasadena, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual material and language
Year of Release
1998
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):English, Hungarian
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2003
Genre(s)
Biography/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
starring Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, Kevin J O’Connor, David Dukes, directed by Bill Condon, written by Christopher Bram, Bill Condon, biography, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Anthony Lane, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Dennis Harvey, Nick Bradshaw, Bob Graham, Peter Travers, Jan Stuart, Kat Halstead, Richard Propes, Kathi Maio, David Ehrenstein, Ken Hanke, produced by Mark R Harris, Paul Colichman, Gregg Fienberg, MPAA rating R, James Whale, Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, Hollywood director, retired, poor health, gay lovers, gardener, Marine, Korean War veteran, psychological gamesmanship, compassion, Hollywood legend, fictional account, surreal sense
Worldwide gross: $6,451,628
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,839,647
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,907
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,291,128
US/Canada gross: $6,451,628
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,839,647
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,564
US/Canada opening weekend: $75,508
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $138,568
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,816
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $18,351,410
Production budget ranking: 1,410
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,882,234
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$16,393,997
ROI to date (est.): -58%
ROI ranking: 1,733
Brendan Fraser – Clayton Boone
Lynn Redgrave – Hanna
Lolita Davidovich – Betty
Kevin J. O’Connor – Harry
David Dukes – David Lewis
Director(s)
Bill Condon
Writer(s)
Christopher Bram, Bill Condon
Producer(s)
Mark R. Harris, Paul Colichman, Gregg Fienberg
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
38 wins & 33 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (3)
Few films have made it seem so natural to be haunted.
October 12, 2020
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
An engrossing, unusual, imaginatively executed bit of psychological gamesmanship …
December 1, 2008
Dennis Harvey
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Not a complicated film, but warm and clever.
June 24, 2006
Nick Bradshaw
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
May 11, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Gods and Monsters is a triumph on all levels, a movie for people who love movies and for people who love people who love movies.
April 5, 2022
Jan Stuart
The Advocate
Part biography, part fantasy, part meditation on the true nature of inner monsters, life, death, and art, this is a sensitive and compelling study of an iconic industry figure.
June 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kat Halstead
Common Sense Media
A largely unrecognized but simply outstanding performance is turned in by Brendan Fraser as Clayton Boone.
September 9, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Gods and Monsters is one of the best films of the year, which means, of course, that it won’t get widely distributed… Do what you need to do to see this film. It’s that good.
February 26, 2020
Kathi Maio
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
In short, it’s a moment, and a film, about compassion.
October 3, 2017
David Ehrenstein
New Times
It may not be history, but what a glorious imagining it is.
October 13, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)…
Plot
Retired Hollywood director James Whale takes an interest in his new gardener, Clayton Boone, and their relationship goes beyond casual conquest in the spellbinding and confusing semi-fiction film, Gods and Monsters.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Brendan Fraser’s performance in Gods and Monsters is described as “not fantastic, but he wasn’t Keanu Reeves.”
Bill-Condon.jpg
90%
Boogie Nights (1997)
90%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
37 wins & 65 nominations total
Grounded in strong characters, bold themes, and subtle storytelling, Boogie Nights is a groundbreaking film both for director P.T. Anderson and star Mark Wahlberg.
Boogie Nights is a wild ride through the world of ’70s porn, complete with cheesy fashion, ephemeral music, and a cast of characters that will leave you both entertained and disturbed. The film captures the spirit of the era with its electric filmmaking and sheer talent, making it a must-watch for anyone looking for a hit of exhilaration. And let’s not forget the standout performances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, and Burt Reynolds. It’s a party that goes on too long, but you won’t want to leave.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
New Line Cinema, Criterion Collection
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
19515 East Cameron Avenue, West Covina, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong sex scenes with explicit dialogue, nudity, drug use, language and violence
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 32m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 1997 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2007
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Boogie Nights, R, Drama, 2h 32m, 93% Tomatometer, 89% Audience Score, Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, John C Reilly, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, written by Paul Thomas Anderson, produced by Lloyd Levin, John S Lyons, JoAnne Sellar, box office gross $26.4M, reviewed by Gene Siskel, Mike Clark, Jason Bailey, Candice Frederick, Owen Gleiberman, Andrew Sarris, Jonah Koslofsky, Kyle Smith, Federico Furzan, Brian D Johnson, Charles Mudede, MPAA rating R, explicit dialogue, drug use, violence, language, nudity, strong sex scenes, San Fernando Valley, 1977, teenage busboy, porn director, adult-film sensation, supportive circle of friends, drugs, egotism, 70s excess, southern California, Golden Era, pornography industry, drugs and sex, well-written, memorable, timeless film
Worldwide gross: $43,117,303
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $80,374,139
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,130
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,764,901
US/Canada gross: $26,416,349
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $49,242,211
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,079
US/Canada opening weekend: $50,168
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $93,517
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,955
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,961,213
Production budget ranking: 1,184
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,057,113
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $37,355,813
ROI to date (est.): 87%
ROI ranking: 990
Burt Reynolds – Jack Horner
Julianne Moore – Amber Waves
John C. Reilly – Reed Rothchild
Don Cheadle – Buck Swope
Heather Graham – Rollergirl, Brandy
Director(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Writer(s)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Producer(s)
Lloyd Levin, John S. Lyons, JoAnne Sellar
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
37 wins & 65 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (73) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (5)
A beautifully made survey of ’70s excess, filtered through the trashy world of the burgeoning porno film industry in southern California.
March 28, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
The pop 1970s were typified in part by cheesy fashions, ephemeral music and a regular diet of daring, cutting-edge movies that arguably made that decade Hollywood’s richest. Blistering Boogie Nights recaptures the spirit of that time on all three counts.
January 10, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
The Tarantino comparison is ultimately less about technique than a shared joyful electricity of the filmmaking, the sense of an artist clearly high on the sheer act of making a movie.
October 30, 2017
Jason Bailey
Vice
TOP CRITIC
Nights humanized these actors and made them live beyond their reputations.
September 12, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Boogie Nights, an epic tale of porn, pleasure, and excess, offers a purer hit of exhilaration than any movie this year.
February 4, 2010 | Rating: A
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Not since the mysteriously reclusive Terrence Malick has there been such an explosion of sheer talent on the American movie scene.
April 27, 2007
Andrew Sarris
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Philip Seymour Hoffman is a standout in a movie chock-full of standouts.
July 20, 2021
Jonah Koslofsky
The Spool
Rarely, if ever, has any filmmaker depicted the void with so much sparkle and wit.
June 7, 2021
Kyle Smith
National Review
A fantastic take on a Golden Era that nobody wants to remember and it’s pretty relevant. [Full review in Spanish].
November 12, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Federico Furzan
Cinelipsis
…there is enough brilliance-including a drugs-and-guns showdown that outdoes Tarantino-to make it worth sticking around for the end of the party. And nothing could be truer to the Seventies than a party that goes on too long.
October 11, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
It is remarkable that [Seymour Hoffman] was able to stand out-it’s packed with great performances from some of the best of the best: Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, Heather Graham, and, of course, Burt Reynolds.
September 24, 2018
Charles Mudede
The Stranger (Seattle, WA)
Boogie Nights is an impassioned and creative portrait of American souls in distress from a young, passionate filmmaker who threw himself headlong into his movies (his follow-up, Magnolia, pushes even further).
January 13, 2017
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand…
Plot
Adult film director Jack Horner is always on the lookout for new talent and it’s only by chance that he meets Eddie Adams who is working as a busboy in a restaurant. Eddie is young, good looking and plenty of libido to spare. Using the screen name Dirk Diggler, he quickly rises to the top of his industry winning awards year after year. Drugs and ego however come between Dirk and those around him and he soon finds that fame is fleeting.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Philip Seymour Hoffman is a standout in a movie chock-full of standouts.
Paul-Thomas-Anderson.jpg
90%
McQueen (2018)
90%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
McQueen offers an intimate, well-sourced, and overall moving look at a young life and brilliant career that were tragically cut short.
McQueen” is a documentary that will make you feel like you’re watching a dramatic biopic. It’s visually stunning and emotionally draining, but also a portrait of genius. The film doesn’t shy away from the darker parts of McQueen’s life, but it’s his singular vision of his clothes that lingers. As McQueen himself said, “If you want to know me, look at the work.” This doco is a must-watch for anyone interested in the fashion world or just looking for a visually striking and engaging film.
Production Company(ies)
Diamond Docs Fish Films, Oceanic Preservation Society
Distributor
Bleecker Street Media
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and some violence
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 51m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 25, 2018
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring Alexander McQueen, directed by Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui, written by Peter Ettedgui, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Stephen Romei, Sandra Hall, Wenlei Ma, Robert Daniels, Tom Long, Kimberley Jones, Taylor Baker, Ben Turner, Richard Crouse, Dennis Harvey, Richard Propes, Matt Cipolla, Bernard Arnault, Joseph Bennett, Detmar Blow, Katy England, Jodie Kidd, Kate Moss, R rating, fashion designer, British, archival footage, interviews, friends, family, tragedy, career, life, beauty, skill, outrage, genius, biographical details, clothes, fashion world, rebellious designer, inner demons, stunning art, intimate, well-sourced, moving, limited release, Bleecker Street Media, Andee Ryder, Nick Taussig, Paul Van Carter
Worldwide gross: $7,281,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,859
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,480,176
US/Canada gross: $7,281,450
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $13,573,212
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,520
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,020,015
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,629,552
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,075
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $33,553,456
Production budget ranking: 1,085
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $18,068,536
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$38,048,780
ROI to date (est.): -74%
ROI ranking: 1,826
Joseph Bennett – Self
Detmar Blow – Self
Katy England – Self
Jodie Kidd – Self
Kate Moss – Self
Ian Bonhôte – Director, Producer
Peter Ettedgui – Director, Writer
Andee Ryder – Producer
Nick Taussig – Producer
Paul Van Carter – Producer
Director(s)
Ian Bonhôte, Peter Ettedgui
Writer(s)
Peter Ettedgui
Producer(s)
Ian Bonhôte, Andee Ryder, Nick Taussig, Paul Van Carter
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (126) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (1)
This is a visually powerful, emotionally draining documentary.
September 14, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
McQueen’s great legacy is the beauty and skill that lay beneath the compulsion to outrage.
September 14, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
What keeps McQueen from being a brilliant doco is its willingness to skim over the darkest parts of the designer’s life.
September 8, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
McQueen is an honest study of a tragic genius.
August 26, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Robert Daniels
812filmreviews
TOP CRITIC
“McQueen” doesn’t even have to try to make the case for McQueen’s brilliance. It’s all there, right on the screen; this dude was artistically bonkers in all the right ways.
August 17, 2018 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
It’s as close as most of us will ever get to a McQueen original.
August 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Episode 14: Doc Talk
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 70/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
The filmic quality of this journey is striking, making for a documentary as engaging as any dramatic biopic.
September 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
The film is a portrait of genius and while the biographical details are interesting, it’s the singular vision of his clothes that lingers. ‘If you want to know me,’ he says, ‘look at the work.’
March 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Sometimes macabre, always arresting…
October 15, 2020
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Will most certainly please McQueen’s ongoing legion of fans along with anyone interested in the fashion world.
September 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The editing . . . matches McQueen’s evolution as a person quite well, beginning with the breathlessness of a young art punk and slowing down to adult introspection.
July 25, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Matt Cipolla
Film Monthly…
Plot
Maureen is pregnant and her husband Eddie is missing. Nervous, Maureen shares a couple of drinks with neighbor Kiefer, who tries to rape her and then beats her. When Eddie returns and finds his wife bruised, he goes ballistic, shoots a paramedic and is put in a psychiatric institution. Ten years later, Eddie is released and finds that Maureen has divorced him and is remarried with three children, one of whom is his little girl Jeanie. Eddie goes to reclaim his wife.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of McQueen includes interviews with friends and family of the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Ian-Bonhôte.jpg
90%
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
90%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 21 nominations total
While fans of the series will surely appreciate it, First Contact is exciting, engaging, and visually appealing enough to entertain Star Trek novices.
Star Trek: First Contact is the perfect movie for anyone who wants to boldly go where no one has gone before, but also wants to be thoroughly entertained. With a sleek and confident style, this movie stands proud and apart from its predecessors, making it accessible even to those who are not familiar with the Trek universe. The story is elegant and exciting, enhanced by the sure direction of Jonathan Frakes, who also plays Commander William Riker. And let’s not forget the Borg, one of the franchise’s greatest antagonists, who make for a thrilling and unforgettable adventure. So, whether you’re a die-hard Trekkie or just looking for a fun sci-fi flick, First Contact is highly recommended.
Production Company(ies)
Kurosawa Production Co., Sammy Toho Company,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Titan Missile Museum – 1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, Arizona, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some sci-fi adventure violence
Year of Release
1996
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 1996 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 6, 1998
Genre(s)
Sci-fi
Keyword(s)
starring Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Alice Krige, James Cromwell, Alfre Woodard, Neal McDonough, reviewed by Leonard Pitts Jr., Jay Carr, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Richard Corliss, Lisa Alspector, Joe Leydon, Danielle Solzman, Stephen Silver, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch
Worldwide gross: $146,027,888
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $278,730,075
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 539
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 30,395,864
US/Canada gross: $92,027,888
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $175,657,818
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 429
US/Canada opening weekend: $30,716,131
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $58,629,277
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 184
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $45,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $85,893,548
Production budget ranking: 486
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $46,253,675
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $146,582,852
ROI to date (est.): 111%
ROI ranking: 897
– Jonathan Frakes as Commander William Thomas Riker
– Brent Spiner as Lieutenant Commander Data
– LeVar Burton as Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
– Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf
– Gates McFadden as Commander Beverly Howard Crusher, M.D.
– James Cromwell as Zefram Cochrane
– Alice Krige as Borg Queen
– Rick Berman as Producer
– Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore as Writers
– Jonathan Frakes as Director
Director(s)
Jonathan Frakes
Writer(s)
Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore, Brannon Braga, Ronald D. Moore
Producer(s)
Rick Berman
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 21 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (5)
This is why we go to Star Trek: for a tomorrow of promise and possibility and stories that lift us from the muck of what we are to the summit of what we might learn to be.
August 17, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Leonard Pitts Jr.
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s easily one of the best in the series — the best, in fact, since Leonard Nimoy and the old Enterprise crew saved the whales in “Star Trek IV.”
April 26, 2018
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
In zooming out from Picard’s glinty eyeball, this eighth feature film from the Trek factory displays a zippy new energy and a sleek, confident style fully independent of its predecessors.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
First Contact is no grab bag of camp gewgaws; it stands proud and apart, accessible even to the Trek-deficient. This old Star, it seems, has a lot of life in it.
May 3, 2009
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The elegance of the story is enhanced by the sure direction of Jonathan Frakes, who also plays Commander William Riker.
June 5, 2007
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A smashingly exciting sci-fi adventure that ranks among the very best in the long-running Paramount franchise.
June 5, 2007
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
If you’ve never watched anything Star Trek before, First Contact is a very accessible film and highly recommended.
April 6, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
The best cinematic outing featuring the Next Generation cast, one that found a great story to tell featuring the Borg, one of the franchise’s greatest antagonists. (25th anniversary)
December 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
The dialogue has improved and the story elements are more in tune with the show, but there’s a wealth of unrealized potential and an equal amount of underdeveloped concepts.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 5/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
If you carry the Star Trek gene, you’ll be camped on this already.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
At once hopeful and dark, First Contact is a rousing space opera with terrific characterisation, performances, and surprisingly well-aged visual effects.
May 31, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Shaun Munro
Flickering Myth
It’s clear immediately that filmmaker Jonathan Frakes isn’t looking to deliver just another episode of the TV series here…
January 22, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews…
Plot
In the twenty-fourth century, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E has been ordered to patrol the Romulan Neutral Zone by the Federation to avoid interference with their battle against the insidious Borg. Witnessing the loss of the battle, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ignores orders and takes command of the fleet engaging the Borg. But the Borg plan to travel back into the twenty-first century through a vortex with the intention to stop Earth’s first contact with an alien race (the Vulcans). Following the Borg sphere, Picard and his crew realize that they have taken over the Enterprise in order to carry out their mission. Their only chance to do away with the Borg and their seductive Queen is to make sure that Zefram Cochrane makes his famous faster-than-light travel to the stars.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a cameo appearance by James Cromwell, who would later go on to play Zephram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact.
Jonathan-Frakes.jpg
90%
Shine (1996)
90%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
46 wins & 52 nominations total
Shine is a cinematic masterpiece that illuminates the life of David Helfgott with a compassionate and unsentimental touch. The film’s emotionally piercing story is brought to life by the exceptional performances of the three actors who play Helfgott at different stages of his life. Director Scott Hicks’ biopic is fresh and stirring without being cliched or overwrought, and the intense and gripping mental-illness music drama is a testament to the power of the human spirit. Geoffrey Rush’s performance as Helfgott is a big piece of ham in an Oscar sandwich, and the film earns its big emotions honorably. Shine is inspiring, memorable cinema that beams with warmth, sensitivity, and fine taste.
Shine” is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions, but instead of loops and drops, it’s all about the music. Geoffrey Rush is the star of the show, and he shines brighter than a disco ball. The story of David Helfgott is inspiring and heart-wrenching, and the movie does a great job of capturing that. It’s definitely worth a watch, but make sure you have some tissues handy.
Production Company(ies)
Igor Film Casbah Film
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for nudity/sensuality and intense thematic elements
Year of Release
1997
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):English, Yiddish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 22, 1997
Genre(s)
Biography/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Geoffrey Rush, directed by Scott Hicks, written by Scott Hicks and Jan Sardi, biography, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, David Stratton, Trevor Johnston, Desson Thomson, Kenneth Turan, Dennis Schwartz, Charles Cassady, Emanuel Levy, Rob Gonsalves, Michael Dequina, PG-13, piano prodigy, mental illness, London, musical scholarship, classical pianist, schizophrenia, mental institutions, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor, Lynn Redgrave, Sonia Todd, Justin Braine, MPAA rating, Fine Line Features, Jane Scott, surround sound, Paris, Texas, The Hustler, Rebel Without a Cause, Network, Ordinary People, Tony, Sylvia, Peter, Gillian, David as an Adult, David as an Adolescent, reviewed by Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, Variety, Time Out, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews, Common Sense Media, EmanuelLevy.Com, eFilmCritic.com, Reeling Reviews, rated and reviewed by audience, mentally ill, mentally unstable, piano, classical music, father-son relationship, childhood trauma, emotional sensitivity, inspirational story, strong performance, cheap sentimentality, compelling story, big emotions, romantic repertoire, stirring, emotionally piercing story, memorable note, mental-illness music drama, emotionally stirring, sentimental, cliched, fresh, uneven pacing, undercooked, dragging, questionable storytelling formula, repetitious, lacking in extensive depth, aimless, unrealized momentum, meandering, misfortune, respect, fall from grace, musical abilities, classical soundtrack, layered dramatic story, genuine heart, cold spells, genuine heart, emotional sensitivity, transformative commitment, mentally ill portrayal, manic relationship, tyrannical father, wounded artist, complex picture, Hollywood fashion, George Lucas, Phantom Menace
Worldwide gross: $35,999,081
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $67,105,198
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,209
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,317,906
US/Canada gross: $35,892,330
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $66,906,205
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 944
US/Canada opening weekend: $162,179
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $302,315
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,542
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,252,445
Production budget ranking: 1,656
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,520,941
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $51,331,812
ROI to date (est.): 325%
ROI ranking: 429
Justin Braine – Tony
Sonia Todd – Sylvia
Armin Mueller-Stahl – Peter
Noah Taylor – David as an Adolescent
Lynn Redgrave – Gillian
Director(s)
Scott Hicks
Writer(s)
Scott Hicks, Jan Sardi
Producer(s)
Jane Scott
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
46 wins & 52 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (4)
As befits the subject, with his taste for the romantic repertoire, Shine’ is not afraid of stirring up big emotions. It earns them honorably.
February 26, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Shine beams with warmth, sensitivity, and fine taste, but some of that illumination is the work of our own reflector lamps.
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
[Helfgott’s] extraordinary life is intelligently charted here, and the three actors who play him at different stages are all exceptional.
October 18, 2008
David Stratton
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Compassionate, deft, unsentimental, inspirational.
June 24, 2006
Trevor Johnston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Inspired by the real story of classical pianist David Helfgott, “Shine” re-creates that emotionally piercing story, note by memorable note.
January 22, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Inspired by the true story of the Australian classical pianist prodigy David Helfgott.
October 28, 2015 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Intense, gripping mental-illness music drama.
February 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Charles Cassady
Common Sense Media
With the exception of a few overwrought scenes, Hicks’ Australian biopic of pianist David Helfgott, which caused a bidding war at the 1996 Sundance Fest, is fresh and emotionally stirring without being sentimental or cliched.
December 25, 2007 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
The movie is really an Oscar sandwich — stale bread surrounding a big piece of ham: Geoffrey Rush.
September 23, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Inspiring, memorable cinema.
September 11, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
I declare “Shine” to be the best film of the year!
April 9, 2005
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews…
Plot
As a child piano prodigy, David Helfgott’s musical ambitions generate friction with his overbearing father, Peter. When Helfgott travels to London on a musical scholarship, his career as a pianist blossoms. However, the pressures of his newfound fame, coupled with the echoes of his tumultuous childhood, conspire to bring Helfgott’s latent schizophrenia boiling to the surface, and he spends years in and out of various mental institutions.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Geoffrey Rush’s performance in Shine is described as “revelatory” and “a powerhouse” that drives the film’s most effective moments.
Scott-Hicks.jpg
90%
Dead Man Walking (1995)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
A powerful, thought-provoking film that covers different angles of its topic without resorting to preaching, Dead Man Walking will cause the viewer to reflect regardless of their political viewpoint.
Dead Man Walking is a movie that will leave you feeling like you just went through an emotional rollercoaster. With Sean Penn’s incredible acting and Tim Robbins’s direction, this film is a must-watch. It’s intense, thought-provoking, and will make you question your beliefs on capital punishment. But don’t worry, there are some uplifting moments too, like when Penn and Sarandon achieve a strange transcendence in their final moments together. Just be prepared for some cursing and violence, but hey, it’s the ’90s, what do you expect? Overall, Dead Man Walking is a powerful and devastating movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films,
Distributor
Gramercy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Angola, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for a depiction of a rape and murder
Year of Release
1996
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 2m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2006
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Robert Prosky, Raymond J Barry, R Lee Ermey, Celia Weston, directed by Tim Robbins, written by Tim Robbins, produced by Rudd Simmons, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins, crime, drama, R rating, box office gross $37.1M, reviewed by David Ansen, David Stratton, Steven D Greydanus, Emanuel Levy, Nell Minow, Hal Hinson, Sheila Reid, Brian D Johnson, Malcolm Johnson, directed by Tim Robbins, produced by Rudd Simmons, Jon Kilik, Tim Robbins, Gramercy Pictures, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., Surround, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1)
Worldwide gross: $39,363,635
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,135,161
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,156
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,193,584
US/Canada gross: $39,363,635
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,135,161
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 886
US/Canada opening weekend: $118,266
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $225,740
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,620
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,996,201
Production budget ranking: 1,343
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,306,454
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,832,507
ROI to date (est.): 133%
ROI ranking: 818
Sean Penn – Matthew Poncelet
Robert Prosky – Hilton Barber
Raymond J. Barry – Earl Delacroix
R. Lee Ermey – Clyde Percy
Celia Weston – Mary Beth Percy
Director(s)
Tim Robbins
Writer(s)
Tim Robbins
Producer(s)
Rudd Simmons, Tim Robbins, Jon Kilik
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
23 wins & 23 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (61) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (3)
It’s a strong film, made stronger by two terrific performances. Penn’s acting has ruthless honesty.
February 23, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
It’s an important film and a beautifully made film too.
February 12, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
October 29, 2008 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
Tim Robbins’s balanced yet uncompromising approach refuses to judge any of the characters, including the killer (superlatively played by Sean Penn), instead giving each a fair chance to present their case with dignity and respect.
June 10, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
November 24, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
An intelligent, balanced, devastating movie.
January 31, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A riveting, thought-provoking drama.
May 13, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
Penn plays Matthew with a quiet, feral intensity…
October 21, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Penn and Sarandon in their final moments together achieve a strange transcendence that makes the end of Dead Man Walking sobering and horrifying, yet oddly uplifting.
May 3, 2018
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
Intense ’90s death-penalty drama has cursing, violence.
July 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
It doesn’t flinch from presenting the crime committed, and yet, it’s a film that undoubtedly is against capital punishment.
February 12, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
A powerful and provocative film — not quite a work of art, maybe, but close enough to demand your respectful attention.
July 19, 2014
Joe Leydon
The Moving Picture Show…
Plot
As a death row inmate maintains his innocence, he forms a bond with Sister Helen Prejean who tries to help him with one last appeal in Dead Man Walking.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sean Penn delivers a “ruthlessly honest” performance as death row inmate Matthew Poncelet.
Tim-Robbins.jpg
90%
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
90%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 17 nominations
An outstanding sophomore feature, Welcome to the Dollhouse sees writer-director Todd Solondz mining suburban teen angst for black, biting comedy.
Welcome to the Dollhouse is like watching a train wreck in slow motion, but in the best way possible. It’s a dark and twisted coming-of-age story that will make you cringe and laugh at the same time. The film’s objectivity is what makes it so powerful, as it neither romanticizes nor condescends to its protagonist. It’s a near-perfect morsel of suburban angst that will leave you feeling both disturbed and satisfied. Just don’t watch it with your parents.
Production Company(ies)
New Line Cinema, Partizan Films, Partizan
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
West Caldwell, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1996
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1995 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 3, 1999
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Heather Matarazzo, Matthew Faber, Daria Kalinina, Brendan Sexton Jr., Eric Mabius, directed by Todd Solondz, written by Todd Solondz, comedy, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Emanuel Levy, Nell Minow, Peter Stack, Mike Clark, Taylor Baker, Josh Larsen, Heather Matarazzo as Dawn Wiener, Daria Kalinina as Missy Wiener, Matthew Faber as Mark Wiener, Angela Pietropinto as Mrs Wiener, Bill Buell as Mr Wiener, Brendan Sexton III as Brandon McCarthy, produced by Todd Solondz, R rating, middle school, suburban teen angst, bullying, misfit, family dysfunction, crush, tormented, degradation, black comedy, poignant, objectivity, misunderstood, inequitable, adolescent, dark, sarcastic, exceptional, uncomfortable, honest, well-written, bullying, cruelty, misfortunes, darkly hilarious, poignant, suburban mores, Jewish girl, tormented, misfit, bullying, degradation, crush, tormented, family dysfunction, black comedy, poignant, objectivity, misunderstood, inequitable, adolescent, dark, sarcastic, exceptional, uncomfortable, honest, well-written
Worldwide gross: $4,569,019
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,721,094
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,011
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 951,046
US/Canada gross: $4,569,019
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $800,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,526,996
Production budget ranking: 2,055
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $822,288
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,371,811
ROI to date (est.): 271%
ROI ranking: 499
Daria Kalinina – Missy Wiener
Matthew Faber – Mark Wiener
Angela Pietropinto – Mrs. Wiener
Bill Buell – Mr. Wiener
Brendan Sexton III – Brandon McCarthy
Director(s)
Todd Solondz
Writer(s)
Todd Solondz
Producer(s)
Todd Solondz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (4)
The beauty of Welcome to the Dollhouse is its pokerfaced objectivity, which neither condescends to its pubescent victim nor romantically inflates her plight.
February 27, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
One of the highlights of the 1995 Toronto Festival, Solondz’s second film is a stark, often funny, always poignant comedy about suburban mores, centering on a misfit Jewish girl tormented by her family and classmates.
December 20, 2006 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Searing story of adolescent anguish, almost unbearably painful.
June 12, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Stack
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
At 87 minutes, Dollhouse is a near-perfect morsel. If nothing else, it informs older folk that school principals still threaten to record bad behavior in one’s ‘personal record’ — only now, computers facilitate the process.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
Episode 36: Love in the Time of Monsters / Barbarella / Welcome to the Dollhouse / Johnny Guitar
October 3, 2021 | Rating: 70/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
…a vision of middle-school awkwardness so cringe-worthy you’ll be tempted to look away.
July 18, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Welcome to the Dollhouse marks a substantial (and obvious) improvement over filmmaker Todd Solondz’s underwhelming debut, Fear Anxiety and Depression…
June 29, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
A dark look at adolescence; not for kids.
January 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hollis Griffin
Common Sense Media
Welcome to the Dollhouse puts an ugly duckling through her paces.
September 1, 2009
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
At its best it’s like the funniest yet bleakest comic book Dan Clowes never drew.
July 23, 2007 | Rating: 5/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Seventh-grade is no fun. Especially for Dawn Weiner when everyone at school calls you ‘Dog-Face’ or ‘Wiener-Dog.’ Not to mention if your older brother is ‘King of the Nerds’ and your younger sister is a cutesy ballerina who gets you in trouble but is your parents’ favorite. And that’s just the beginning
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Heather Matarazzo delivers a stunning performance as the lead character, Dawn Wiener.
Todd-Solondz.jpg
90%
Lone Star (1996)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Smart and absorbing, Lone Star represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles — and ’90s independent cinema in general.
Lone Star is like a good mystery novel that you can’t put down. It’s not flashy or over-the-top, but it keeps you hooked until the very end. John Sayles weaves a complex story that explores the history and tensions between different communities in Texas. The characters are well-developed and the acting is top-notch. It’s not your typical summer blockbuster, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re in the mood for something more substantial. Plus, it’s got Matthew McConaughey in a cowboy hat, so what’s not to love?
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Columbia TriStar Home Video, Sony Pictures Classics, Warner Home Vídeo
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:2h 14m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 21, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe Morton, Ron Canada, Clifton James, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, directed by John Sayles, written by John Sayles, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Anthony Lane, Adam Nayman, David Ansen, John Hartl, Joe Leydon, Michael Atkinson, Wesley Lovell, Cole Smithey, Emanuel Levy, R rating, Texas border town, Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds, murder, Sheriff Charlie Wade, investigation, Deputy Buddy Deeds, romance, high school sweetheart, secrets, Columbia TriStar Home Video, Sony Pictures Classics, Warner Home Vídeo
Worldwide gross: $12,408,986
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $12,408,986
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Elizabeth Peña – Pilar Cruz
Joe Morton – Colonel Delmore Payne
Ron Canada – Otis Payne
Clifton James – Mayor Hollis Pogue
Kris Kristofferson – Sheriff Charlie Wade
Director(s)
John Sayles
Writer(s)
John Sayles
Producer(s)
Maggie Renzi
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (52) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (4)
A well-constructed but rather unthrilling mystery thriller by John Sayles.
June 14, 2022
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
By the end, you’re grateful for the movie’s weight and substance; you feel that you’ve been put through something serious.
March 7, 2022
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
“Print the legend” may make a plea for amnesia, but Lone Star is worth remembering.
June 22, 2021
Adam Nayman
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
With old-fashioned craftsmanship, Lone Star is not a movie you’ll quickly forget. It may not dazzle you with its flash, but it has more on its mind than all the summer would-be blockbusters put together.
February 27, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
[A] complex and rewarding new Texas murder mystery.
March 22, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
A richly textured and thoroughly engrossing drama that ranks with indie filmmaker John Sayles’ finest work.
March 26, 2009
Joe Leydon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Sayles may be the last of the red-hot ideologues, but he’s also still the wide-eyed schoolkid who, given one wish, would ask for peace on Earth.
April 19, 2022
Michael Atkinson
Spin
Exploring the interconnection between truth and legacy, Lone Star is a neo-western exploration between the lawmen in myth and in practice as a young sheriff comes to learn the truth about his larger-than-life father.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Wesley Lovell
Cinema Sight
One of several of writer-director John Sayles’s masterpieces -alongside such unforgettable films as “City of Hope,” “Matewan” and “The Secret of Roan Inish” – “Lone Star” is an absorbing neo-Western mystery told in a haunting magical realist tone.
September 27, 2012 | Rating: A+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
The latest chapter in Sayles’ ongoing great American novel.
March 11, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Lone Star, one of Sayles best and most popular films, explores the historical strain between the Mexican and American communities in Texas. Though a bit didactic (too many sermons), it’s well acted and visually more satisfying than his other films
January 24, 2007 | Rating: A-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
October 24, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Greg Maki
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)…
Plot
In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds investigates the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade 40 years earlier, which leads him to uncover secrets and tensions in the town, including those involving his own father.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Chris Cooper delivers a brilliant and subtle performance as Sheriff Sam Deeds in Lone Star.
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