Production Company(ies)
Final Cut for Real Sun Creature Studio Vivement Lundi
 
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Hollywood United Methodist Church – North Campus – 4301 Cahuenga Blvd, Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some strong language
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Biography
 
Keyword(s)
starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, G.D Spradlin, directed by Tim Burton, written by Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, biography, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Owen Gleiberman, Robert Horton, Derek Malcolm, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Jean-Pierre Coursodon, Mal Vincent, David Gonzalez, Joe Leydon, Richard Propes, Guillem Martinez Oya, produced by Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi, MPAA rating R, Hollywood, Bela Lugosi, low-budget films, show-business misfits, cult hero, eccentric habits, strange films, off-kilter vision, critical success, commercial success, endearing, compassionate farce, unique, black and white, old Hollywood, B-movie filmmaking, horror movie icon, surrealist look, all-star cast, Bill Murray, Johnny Depp’s best performance, Martin Landau’s best performance, friendship, struggles, passion, filmmaking, storytelling
 

Cast & Crew

Johnny Depp

Martin Landau

Sarah Jessica Parker

Patricia Arquette

Jeffrey Jones

Edward D. Wood

Jr

Bela Lugosi

Dolores Fuller

Kathy O’Hara

Johnny Depp – Edward D. Wood, Jr.
Martin Landau – Bela Lugosi
Sarah Jessica Parker – Dolores Fuller
Patricia Arquette – Kathy O’Hara
Jeffrey Jones – Criswell
G.D. Spradlin – Reverend Lemon

 

Tim Burton

Scott Alexander

Tim Burton

Denise Di Novi

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Tim Burton
 
Writer(s)
Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
 
Producer(s)
Tim Burton, Denise Di Novi

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
27 wins & 34 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup Winners, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Owen Gleiberman

Robert Horton

Derek Malcolm

Todd McCarthy

Chicago Reader

Entertainment Weekly

Film Comment Magazine

Guardian

Variety

ED WOOD
  All Critics (68) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (5)
  Ed Wood doesn’t really give us the inside of Wood’s head, but it does treat imaginatively a number of Wood movies that retain a certain fascination …
 
  June 7, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Jonathan Rosenbaum
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  Ed Wood [is] a comedy of the ridiculous in which the ridiculous turns unexpectedly sublime.
 
  November 9, 2018 | Rating: A
 
  Owen Gleiberman
  Entertainment Weekly
  TOP CRITIC
  Just daft enough and just deft enough to satisfy high-culture and low-culture aficionados alike.
 
  April 10, 2018
 
  Robert Horton
  Film Comment Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Burton imitates Wood ‘s films brilliantly, and Wood ‘s chaotic lifestyle is brought to the screen with brio.
 
  March 20, 2018
 
  Derek Malcolm
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  Beguiling rather than thrilling, oddly charming instead of transporting, meaning that Disney will have its work cut out for it with what is at heart a cult movie and a film buff’s dream.
 
  October 5, 2008
 
  Todd McCarthy
  Variety
  TOP CRITIC
  It certainly succeeds as a funny, touching tribute to tenacity, energy, ambition and friendship.
 
  January 26, 2006
 
  Geoff Andrew
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  Ed Wood is nevertheless one of the most convincing evocations of the old Hollywood, perhaps (paradoxically) because the re-created universe is so marginal, lacking so much of the traditional Hollywood glamour.
 
  May 3, 2022
 
  Jean-Pierre Coursodon
  Positif
  One of the most hilarious and poignant movies of the year. A real surprise.
 
  March 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  Mal Vincent
  The Virginian-Pilot
  Winner of two Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor and Best Makeup, the irony in Ed Wood is that the worst director of all time brought out the best of the man and what many consider Tim Burtons best film.
 
  February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  David Gonzalez
  Reel Talk Inc.
  Burton has managed to make something altogether unique – a compassionate farce – that can be enjoyed even by people who have never heard of Wood, who would never willingly submit themselves to a Wood work.
 
  October 26, 2020
 
  Joe Leydon
  The Moving Picture Show
  Landau is simply brilliant.
 
  September 7, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
 
  Richard Propes
  TheIndependentCritic.com
  A good story about the (out) of the star system in Hollywood in 1950’s. [Full Review in Spanish]
 
  April 12, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Guillem Martinez Oya
  Cinematismo…

 

Plot
Because of his eccentric habits and bafflingly strange films, director Edward D. Wood Jr. is a Hollywood outcast. Nevertheless, with the help of the formerly famous Bela Lugosi and a devoted cast and crew of show-business misfits who believe in Ed’s off-kilter vision, the filmmaker is able to bring his oversize dreams to cinematic life. Despite a lack of critical or commercial success, Ed and his friends manage to create an oddly endearing series of extremely low-budget films.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Martin Landau won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood.
 

 
Tim-Burton.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Mass Distraction Media, Radical Media, Vulcan Productions,
 
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Fordham University – 441 E. Fordham Road. Rose Hill, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Quiz Show, PG-13, Drama, 1994, Robert Redford, Paul Attanasio, starring John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, Paul Scofield, David Paymer, Hank Azaria, directed by Robert Redford, produced by Robert Redford, Michael Jacobs, Julian Krainin, Michael Nozik, reviewed by David Ansen, Nell Minow, Owen Gleiberman, Quentin Crisp, Don Shanahan, Fico Cangiano, Quentin Curtis, Cole Smithey, genre: drama, box office: $24.8M, MPAA rating: PG-13, game show, corruption, true story, sociopolitical, moral issues, congressional investigator, rigged game, answers, television, intellectual, WASP-ish, Queens-born, hero, telegenic contestant, network, Charles Van Doren, Herbie Stempel, Mark Van Doren, Dan Enright, Albert Freedman, sound mix: surround, stereo
 

Cast & Crew

John Turturro

Herbie Stempel

Rob Morrow

Dick Goodwin

Ralph Fiennes

Herbie Stempel

Dick Goodwin

Charles Van Doren

Mark Van Doren

Dan Enright

John Turturro – Herbie Stempel
Rob Morrow – Dick Goodwin
Ralph Fiennes – Charles Van Doren
Paul Scofield – Mark Van Doren
David Paymer – Dan Enright
Hank Azaria – Albert Freedman

 

Robert Redford

Paul Attanasio

Robert Redford

Michael Jacobs

Julian Krainin

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Robert Redford
 
Writer(s)
Paul Attanasio
 
Producer(s)
Robert Redford, Michael Jacobs, Julian Krainin, Michael Nozik

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
6 wins & 36 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

David Ansen

Nell Minow

Owen Gleiberman

Kim Newman

Quentin Crisp

Newsweek

Movie Mom

Entertainment Weekly

Common Sense Media

Beliefnet

QUIZ SHOW
  All Critics (57) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (2)
  Quiz Show is superbly shot (by Michael Ballhaus), and the acting ensemble could hardly be better.
 
  March 4, 2019
 
  David Ansen
  Newsweek
  TOP CRITIC
  February 14, 2012 | Rating: A+
 
  Nell Minow
  Movie Mom
  TOP CRITIC
  September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
 
  Owen Gleiberman
  Entertainment Weekly
  TOP CRITIC
  Outstanding drama about morals and our choices.
 
  December 28, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Nell Minow
  Common Sense Media
  TOP CRITIC
  This is an outstanding drama that provides an excellent opportunity for examining the way that people make moral choices.
 
  November 17, 2007 | Rating: A
 
  Nell Minow
  Beliefnet
  TOP CRITIC
  Acutely observed, beautifully performed, lovingly directed media morality tale that resonates far beyond its 1950s setting.
 
  November 8, 2007 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Kim Newman
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Quiz Show must be praised because it is a film with a strong story line, characters with whom the audience can sympathize, a climax and a resolution with no violence and no sex. Mr. Redford… must be congratulated on achieving this unusual feat.
 
  April 21, 2022
 
  Quentin Crisp
  Christopher Street
  While extremely well-made, the movie is, essentially, the grandest story possible of a loud slap on the wrist.
 
  April 12, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Don Shanahan
  Every Movie Has a Lesson
  Robert Redford’s real-life cautionary tale about games, money and fame, is as relevant today as it was then. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  August 1, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Fico Cangiano
  CineXpress Podcast
  It is an urbane, witty, smartly acted, sometimes meandering picture.
 
  December 1, 2017
 
  Quentin Curtis
  Independent on Sunday
  Both dramatically and historically important with fine turns by Fiennes and Turturro, directed by Redford.
 
  March 23, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Steve Crum
  Video-Reviewmaster.com
  December 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Cole Smithey
  ColeSmithey.com…

 

Plot
An idealistic young lawyer working for a Congressional subcommittee in the late 1950s discovers that TV quiz shows are being fixed. His investigation focuses on two contestants on the show “Twenty-One”: Herbert Stempel, a brash working-class Jew from Queens, and Charles Van Doren, the patrician scion of one of America’s leading literary families. Based on a true story.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
John Turturro stars as Herbie Stempel in Quiz Show.
 

 
Robert-Redford.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Boom! Studios, Columbia Pictures
 
Distributor
Columbia Pictures Corporation
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
R
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Jon Seda, Lauren Vélez, Tomas Melly, Desiree Casado, Isaiah Garcia, Jesse Borrego, Luna Lauren Velez, Rita Moreno, directed by Darnell Martin, written by Darnell Martin, produced by Ann Carli, Lane Janger, drama, R rating, box office gross of $1.7M, reviewed by Anderson Jones, Rene Rodriguez, Jami Bernard, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Roger Ebert, Jo Berry, Calvin Wilson, Robin Dougherty, Barbara Vancheri, Steve Persall, Wallace Baine, actor names, director names, writer names, genre, box office performance, budget, critic names, producer names, MPAA rating
 

Cast & Crew

Luna Lauren Velez

Jon Seda

Tomas Melly

Desiree Casado

Isaiah Garcia

Lisette Linares

Chino Linares

Li’l Chino Linares

Minnie Linares

Pee Wee Linares

Luna Lauren Velez – Lisette Linares
Jon Seda – Chino Linares
Tomas Melly – Li’l Chino Linares
Desiree Casado – Minnie Linares
Isaiah Garcia – Pee Wee Linares
Jesse Borrego – Alexis

 

Darnell Martin

NA

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Darnell Martin
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Anderson Jones

Rene Rodriguez

Jami Bernard

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Roger Ebert

Detroit Free Press

Miami Herald

New York Daily News

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Chicago Sun-Times

I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
 All Critics (67) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (8)
 Martin pries spirited performances from her young cast. She shepherds the striking Velez winningly from her stage work into an inspired film performance, and she wrenches both machismo and vulnerability from Seda. Rita Moreno also does a fine turn.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Anderson Jones
 Detroit Free Press
 TOP CRITIC
 This feisty comedy-drama about a young couple struggling to raise a family and salvage their relationship is a remarkable first film, imbued with a strong cinematic style and a depth of writing lacking in most big-budget Hollywood features.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Rene Rodriguez
 Miami Herald
 TOP CRITIC
 As the movie progresses, just when you think a cliché is coming, the camera wards it off by shifting to the subtler viewpoint. In this way, a bright urban comedy yields emotional truths about pride, doubt, selfhood and love.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Jami Bernard
 New York Daily News
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a heck of a debut by a filmmaker who’s obviously drawn to complex human predicaments. complex human predicaments. Besides, any film that takes “Try a Little Tenderness” as its theme song has its heart in the right place.
 
 March 2, 2022
 
 Eleanor Ringel Cater
 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 TOP CRITIC
 I Like It Like That looks more unconventional than it is, but Martin puts a spin on the material with lots of human color and high energy.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Roger Ebert
 Chicago Sun-Times
 TOP CRITIC
 The film demands to be taken on its own terms as a romantic comedy. The message that Lisette can do much better on her own without the help of any of the men in her life is well argued.
 
 March 2, 2022
 
 Jo Berry
 Sight & Sound
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s a startlingly original work from a director with solid storytelling skills and visual panache.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Calvin Wilson
 Kansas City Star
 Lauren Velez, who plays Lisette, gives a riveting performance. She anchors the film in everyday domestic reality and propels it ahead into uncharted territory.
 
 March 2, 2022
 
 Robin Dougherty
 Boston Phoenix
 A lusty, lively portrait of life.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Barbara Vancheri
 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 Martin, as screenwriter and director, maintains an extraordinary sense of control over this unique material for a first-time director. I Like It Like That is constantly surprising, for the plot twists it avoids as much as for its originality.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: A-
 
 Steve Persall
 Tampa Bay Times
 Like It is a richly textured story of Lisette’s struggle to set herself apart from the soul-sapping entropy of her surroundings, often to comic effect.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: B+
 
 Wallace Baine
 Santa Cruz Sentinel
 I Like It Like That isn’t quite as accomplished as Crooklyn, but it comes with the same mixture of nostalgia, stress and a certain urban comfort.
 
 March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Joe Baltake
 Sacramento Bee…

 

Plot
After her husband is arrested for looting, Lisette lands a job as an assistant to a record executive and becomes a changed woman, causing her husband to question if she still needs him in I Like It Like That.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Rita Moreno also does a fine turn in the film.
 

 
Darnell-Martin.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Armory Films, 1993 Lucky Treehouse
 
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia TriStar Home Video
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for scenes of strong graphic violence, and for language
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Action
 
Keyword(s)
starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Danny Aiello, Peter Appel, Michael Badalucco, directed by Luc Besson, written by Luc Besson, action, R rating, box office gross $19.0M, reviewed by Ed Potton, Peter Travers, Steven Rea, Michael Wilmington, Jay Boyar, Jeff Shannon, Mike Massie, Emilie Black, Andrew Pollard, Ed Travis, Pat Padua, thriller, hitman, apprentice, abusive father, corrupt police officers, crooked DEA agent, revenge, family, drama, affection, shoot-’em-up, character study, outstanding performances, thrilling action, well-rounded script, unique amalgam of genres, showcase for acting talents, young breakout turn by Natalie Portman, stylish, oddly affecting, disturbing, weirdly moving, less than subtle, kinky twist, Orphan Annie, Daddy Warbucks, French writer-director, La Femme Nikita, American action movies, Luc Besson’s first English-language hit, less here than meets the eye, pretty darn thrilling, singular style, directorial sensibility, exciting, dangerous ride, city, breathtaking, beautiful violence, absolute masterpiece, jaw-dropping performances, turned-up-to-11 Gary Oldman, tricky character dynamics, remarkable performances, well-rounded script, intriguing amount of depth, endearing thriller, superb performances, bombastic second half, unique amalgam of genres, showcase for acting talents, orphaned, loner cleaner, become a family, learning the trade
 

Cast & Crew

Jean Reno

Gary Oldman

Natalie Portman

Danny Aiello

Peter Appel

Léon

Stansfield

Mathilda

Tony

Malky

Jean Reno – Léon
Gary Oldman – Stansfield
Natalie Portman – Mathilda
Danny Aiello – Tony
Peter Appel – Malky
Michael Badalucco – Mathilda’s Father

 

Luc Besson

Luc Besson

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Luc Besson
 
Writer(s)
Luc Besson
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 15 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Ed Potton

Peter Travers

Steven Rea

Michael Wilmington

Jay Boyar

Times

Rolling Stone

Philadelphia Inquirer

Chicago Tribune

Orlando Sentinel

THE PROFESSIONAL
  All Critics (64) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (17)
  Luc Besson’s first English-language hit is, like much of the Frenchman’s work, less than subtle, yet it is stylish, disturbing and weirdly moving.
 
  November 11, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Ed Potton
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Leave it to french writer-director Luc Besson (La Femme Nikita) to put a kinky twist on Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks.
 
  June 4, 2014
 
  Peter Travers
  Rolling Stone
  TOP CRITIC
  Ultimately, like La Femme Nikita, there may be less here than meets the eye. But what does meet the eye is pretty darn thrilling.
 
  June 4, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Steven Rea
  Philadelphia Inquirer
  TOP CRITIC
  The sheer craziness and excessiveness of the movie — no crazier, perhaps, than many of the American action movies it copies — never finds a center of gravity.
 
  June 4, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
 
  Michael Wilmington
  Chicago Tribune
  TOP CRITIC
  The Professional is strictly amateur-hour.
 
  June 4, 2014 | Rating: 1/5
 
  Jay Boyar
  Orlando Sentinel
  TOP CRITIC
  Like Quentin Tarantino, Besson has a singular style and directorial sensibility that keeps you watching.
 
  June 4, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
  Jeff Shannon
  Seattle Times
  TOP CRITIC
  There’s a surprising amount of depth, drama, and affection for a film marketed primarily as a shoot-’em-up thriller.
 
  September 14, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
 
  Mike Massie
  Gone With The Twins
  … the awesomeness of some of its scenes like the final showdown which is just breathtaking in its beautiful violence.
 
  April 19, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Emilie Black
  Cinema Crazed
  Unquestionably, Leon is an absolute masterpiece with some jaw-dropping performances from Natalie Portman, Jean Reno, and a turned-up-to-11 Gary Oldman.
 
  November 19, 2019 | Rating: 10/10
 
  Andrew Pollard
  Starburst
  The tricky character dynamics, remarkable performances, and thrilling action of Leon has never been topped in Besson’s 30+ year career.
 
  November 6, 2018
 
  Ed Travis
  Cinapse
  Holds up as an exciting and dangerous ride through a city that still exists in the mind.
 
  August 28, 2018
 
  Pat Padua
  Spectrum Culture
  Leon: The Professional is a wonderful character study, enriched by outstanding performances, thrilling action, and a well-rounded script that gives the film an intriguing amount of depth.
 
  November 17, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Jeff Beck
  The Blu Spot…

 

Plot
After her father, step-mother, step-sister and little brother are killed by her father’s employers, the 12-year-old daughter of an abject drug dealer manages to take refuge in the apartment of a professional hitman who at her request teaches her the methods of his job so she can take her revenge on the corrupt DEA agent who ruined her life by killing her beloved brother.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Gary Oldman’s performance as crooked DEA agent Stansfield in The Professional is described as “turned-up-to-11” and “jaw-dropping” by critics.
 

 
Luc-Besson.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios,
 
Distributor
Miramax Films, Artificial Eye
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some sexuality and language
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
 
Keyword(s)

Cast & Crew

Zbigniew Zamachowski

Julie Delpy

Janusz Gajos

Jerzy Stuhr

Juliette Binoche

Karol Karol

Dominique

Mikolaj

Jurek

Julie Vignon (de Courcy)

Zbigniew Zamachowski – Karol Karol
Julie Delpy – Dominique
Janusz Gajos – Mikolaj
Jerzy Stuhr – Jurek
Juliette Binoche – Julie Vignon (de Courcy)
Aleksander Bardini – The Lawyer

 

Krzysztof Kieslowski

Krzysztof Kieslowski

Marin Karmitz

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Krzysztof Kieslowski
 
Writer(s)
Krzysztof Kieslowski, Krzysztof Piesiewicz
 
Producer(s)
Marin Karmitz

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 7 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Derek Malcolm

Steve Beard

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Lisa Nesselson

Geoff Andrew

Guardian

Empire Magazine

Chicago Reader

Variety

Time Out

TROIS COULEURS: BLANC
  All Critics (47) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (6)
  A bleak but ultimately hopeful comedy which, if it hadn’t got to be called White, might very well be dubbed Black.
 
  August 9, 2012
 
  Derek Malcolm
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  The least favourite of the trilogy, this is also arguably the most accessible.
 
  August 9, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Steve Beard
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  he love that figures centrally in White appears more as a postulate than as a realized fact. To achieve something more durable and persuasive, real characters are required, not allegorical stick figures.
 
  August 9, 2012 | Rating: 2/4
 
  Jonathan Rosenbaum
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  The entertaining second seg of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Three Colors trilogy is involving, bittersweet and droll.
 
  March 26, 2009
 
  Lisa Nesselson
  Variety
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s often cruel, of course, and cool as an ice-pick, but it’s still endowed with enough unsentimental humanity to end with a touching, lyrical admission of the power of love. Essential viewing.
 
  February 9, 2006
 
  Geoff Andrew
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  How could the creator of Blue, the story of a woman who grieves by moping around Paris in a chichi haircut, possibly have followed it with such a rich, light-handed marvel?
 
  August 30, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Caryn James
  New York Times
  TOP CRITIC
  In Kieslowski’s world, what goes around comes around, and Karol’s journey to self-improvement … is funny while also being strangely moving.
 
  July 27, 2020
 
  Allen Almachar
  The MacGuffin
  I suppose the acting and filming of White is fine but the story and characters were too insufferable and annoying for me to care about
 
  April 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/10
 
  Rachel Wagner
  rachelsreviews.net
  It’s as if Kieslowski is playing God: guiding his characters through circumstances entirely out of their control, orchestrating the rhythms of everyday life with the ease of a puppet master… magical.
 
  April 5, 2020
 
  Asher Luberto
  L.A. Weekly
  Unquestionably well made, and with a clever and very concentric vein of humour and storytelling verve sustained throughout.
 
  November 12, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
 
  PJ Nabarro
  Patrick Nabarro
  This hugely talented director seems to do everything with a shrug — scratching at subjects rather than excavating them.
 
  December 7, 2017
 
  Quentin Curtis
  Independent on Sunday
  [T]his is the comedy of the trilogy, not so much a black comedy as a wicked satire in the cold white light of Polish winter, which (as you would expect) informs the color palette of this film.
 
  January 13, 2017
 
  Sean Axmaker
  Seanax.com…

 

Plot
After being divorced by his French wife due to impotence, Polish immigrant Karol Karol enlists the help of fellow expatriate Mikolah to smuggle him back to Poland, where he begins to build a new life while never forgetting his old one in Trois Couleurs: Blanc.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
 

 
Krzysztof-Kieslowski.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Concord, Massachusetts, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements and brief smoking.
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Trini Alvarado, Samantha Mathis, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, directed by Gillian Armstrong, written by Robin Swicord, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Jackson, David Ansen, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Todd McCarthy, Geoff Andrew, Nell Minow, Mal Vincent, Carson Timar, Allyson Johnson, Kristy Strouse, Shannon Campe, PG, Louisa May Alcott, March sisters, growing pains, financial shortages, family tragedies, romantic rivalries, mid-19th-century Massachusetts, independence, beloved mother, cranky Aunt March, impulsive neighbor Laurie, kindly linguistics professor Friedrich Bhaer, Denise Di Novi, Columbia Pictures, Columbia Tristar, Surround
 

Cast & Crew

Winona Ryder

Gabriel Byrne

Trini Alvarado

Samantha Mathis

Kirsten Dunst

Josephine “Jo” March

Friedrich Bhaer

Meg March

Older Amy March

Younger Amy March

Winona Ryder – Josephine “Jo” March
Gabriel Byrne – Friedrich Bhaer
Trini Alvarado – Meg March
Samantha Mathis – Older Amy March
Kirsten Dunst – Younger Amy March
Claire Danes – Beth March

 

Gillian Armstrong

Robin Swicord

Denise Di Novi

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Gillian Armstrong
 
Writer(s)
Robin Swicord
 
Producer(s)
Denise Di Novi

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
78 wins & 231 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Kevin Jackson

David Ansen

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Todd McCarthy

Geoff Andrew

Independent

Newsweek

Entertainment Weekly

Variety

Time Out

LITTLE WOMEN
  All Critics (42) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (3)
  By and large it’s immensely well done.
 
  May 23, 2019
 
  Kevin Jackson
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Alcott’s sense, sensibility and sentiment find new life in this handcrafted valentine.
 
  February 21, 2018
 
  David Ansen
  Newsweek
  TOP CRITIC
  If you can’t get the man (or boy) in your life to budge, have a girls’ night out with Little Women, and leave ’em guessing at what you enjoyed so much.
 
  September 7, 2011 | Rating: A
 
  Lisa Schwarzbaum
  Entertainment Weekly
  TOP CRITIC
  An outstanding version of Louisa May Alcott’s perennial, one that surpasses even the best previous rendition, George Cukor’s 1933 outing starring Katharine Hepburn.
 
  May 27, 2008
 
  Todd McCarthy
  Variety
  TOP CRITIC
  Be prepared, however, for a large beaker of the milk of human kindness.
 
  February 9, 2006
 
  Geoff Andrew
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  Devoted and lovely retelling of the classic story.
 
  August 7, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Nell Minow
  Movie Mom
  TOP CRITIC
  All the reasons that Louisa May Alcott’s book has survived for more than 125 years and remains a best seller are preserved in this film version.
 
  March 1, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Mal Vincent
  The Virginian-Pilot
  There is plenty to love in 1994s Little Women, and at worst the flaws hold it back from being a masterpiece, subjecting it to the title of being really good.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Filmotomy
  None [of the adaptations] have quite captured the spirit as well as the 1994 version starring Winona Ryder…
 
  December 22, 2021
 
  Allyson Johnson
  Cambridge Day
  The film has a star-studded cast that each bring their own sense of humanity and take on femininity to the role. Watching Little Women is sort of like coming home.
 
  February 6, 2020
 
  Kristy Strouse
  In Their Own League
  It’s a bittersweet reminder to cherish our time together.
 
  January 18, 2020
 
  Shannon Campe
  The Spool
  Despite the limitations placed by its literary source, the film possesses a real charm. [Full Review in Spanish]
 
  November 19, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Fotogramas Staff
  Fotogramas…

 

Plot
In the years after the Civil War, Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) lives in New York City and makes her living as a writer, while her sister Amy March (Florence Pugh) studies painting in Paris. Amy has a chance encounter with Theodore “Laurie” Laurence (Timothée Chalamet), a childhood crush who proposed to Jo, but was ultimately rejected. Their oldest sibling, Meg March (Emma Watson), is married to a schoolteacher, while shy sister Beth (Eliza Scanlen) develops a devastating illness that brings the family back together.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Little Women includes Winona Ryder, Gabriel Byrne, Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, and Susan Sarandon, among others.
 

 
Gillian-Armstrong.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Rossen Films,
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Denton, Texas, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for elements of mature subject matter
 
Year of Release
1994
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Darlene Cates, Mary Steenburgen, Laura Harrington, directed by Lasse Hallström, written by Peter Hedges, produced by David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson, Meir Teper, Comedy/Drama, PG-13, box office performance $7.8M, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Owen Gleiberman, David Ansen, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Richard Corliss, Janet Maslin, Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape, Juliette Lewis as Becky, Mary Steenburgen as Betty Carver, Leonardo DiCaprio as Arnie Grape, Darlene Cates as Bonnie Grape, Peter Hedges as writer
 

Cast & Crew

Johnny Depp

Juliette Lewis

Mary Steenburgen

Leonardo DiCaprio

Darlene Cates

Gilbert Grape

Becky

Betty Carver

Arnie Grape

Bonnie Grape

Johnny Depp – Gilbert Grape
Juliette Lewis – Becky
Mary Steenburgen – Betty Carver
Leonardo DiCaprio – Arnie Grape
Darlene Cates – Bonnie Grape
Laura Harrington – Amy Grape
Lasse Hallström – Director
David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson, Meir Teper – Producers
Peter Hedges – Writer

 

Lasse Hallström

Peter Hedges

David Matalon

Bertil Ohlsson

Meir Teper

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Lasse Hallström
 
Writer(s)
Peter Hedges, Peter Hedges
 
Producer(s)
David Matalon, Bertil Ohlsson, Meir Teper

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
8 wins & 7 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Kevin Maher

Owen Gleiberman

David Ansen

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Richard Corliss

Times

Entertainment Weekly

Newsweek

Chicago Reader

TIME Magazine

WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE
  All Critics (51) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (5)
  A blissful slice of Americana…
 
  September 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Despite Depp’s tender melancholy, the performers who stay with you are those who dare to crack the surface of their characters’ alienation.
 
  March 22, 2021 | Rating: B-
 
  Owen Gleiberman
  Entertainment Weekly
  TOP CRITIC
  Depp is subtly winning as a man-child oblivious to his own pent-up rage. But the performance that will take your breath away is DiCaprio’s.
 
  March 13, 2015
 
  David Ansen
  Newsweek
  TOP CRITIC
  Even if you have a taste as I do for movies about dysfunctional families, you may be a little put off by the Grapes.
 
  February 8, 2010
 
  Jonathan Rosenbaum
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  Suggests that the true heroes are those people who day by day must tend to misfits, and do so with love, tenacity and a determination not to go terminally sour in the process.
 
  June 19, 2009
 
  Richard Corliss
  TIME Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Particularly impressive are the sweet, weirdly idyllic tone of Mr. Hallstrom’s direction and Johnny Depp’s tender, disarming performance as the long-suffering Gilbert Grape.
 
  May 20, 2003
 
  Janet Maslin
  New York Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Grape makes a lasting impression with its quirky performances and bittersweet themes of hope, humility and perseverance.
 
  April 6, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Jack Hawkins
  HeyUGuys
  This emphasis on character and texture is full of pleasurable rewards-especially when the astonishing DiCaprio is on-screen-and there’s enough growth and compassion to keep it from being a Diane Arbus freak show come to life.
 
  March 22, 2021
 
  Ken Eisner
  Georgia Straight
  Although DiCaprio is the one who ends up getting more attention from the public due to the enormous performance, the movie gives life to a restrained Johnny Depp. [Full Review in Spanish]
 
  August 28, 2019
 
  Sergio Benítez
  Espinof
  Though it takes dark twists and turns to an inevitable climax, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape will leave you feeling full and satisfied with a renewed sense of the value in family.
 
  July 3, 2019
 
  Bree Duwyn
  Film Inquiry
  The realistic depiction of marginalized characters overcoming grief and accepting disabilities is what makes this film timeless.
 
  October 17, 2018 | Rating: 9/10
 
  Marisa Mirabal
  Birth.Movies.Death.
  Gilbert Grape has body and deep flavor, but it can be wonderfully dry too.
 
  June 5, 2018
 
  Malcolm Johnson
  Hartford Courant…

 

Plot
What’s Eating Gibert Grape is a beautifully shot movie of tenderness, caring and self-awareness that is set amongst the fictional working class one street town Endora. Centred around the Grape family Ellen and Amy and their two brothers Arnie and Gilbert, who, along with their morbidly obese widowed mother Bonnie Grape are striving to survive and coexist with the absence of a father figure, low wage work and seventeen-year-old Arnie’s severe mental condition. It is in this awkward and extremely one sided affair that the unfortunate Gilbert has to constantly, while working for the town’s slowly dying convenience store, take care of his younger brother Arnie. Gilbert’s life, his future, is thwarted he knows this, but it is in this guardian angel that his love and bond for Arnie cannot, and will not, be let go. That is until the free spirit of Becky arrives in town, and with her grandmother are stranded for the week while waiting for parts for their vehicle. This realization unties new feelings, new thoughts and new hope for the put upon Gibert, something new is eating Gilbert Grape.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Arnie Grape, a young man with mental impairment, is widely praised and considered one of his breakthrough roles.
 

 
Lasse-Hallström.jpg