A Quiet Place (2018)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
13 wins & 37 nominations total
A Quiet Place artfully plays on elemental fears with a ruthlessly intelligent creature feature that’s as original as it is scary — and establishes director John Krasinski as a rising talent.
A Quiet Place is the perfect movie for anyone who loves to scream at the screen. It’s a horror movie that will have you on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, and holding your breath. The premise is simple: don’t make a sound or you’ll be hunted by monsters. But the execution is brilliant. John Krasinski has created a world that is both terrifying and beautiful, and the performances are top-notch. If you’re looking for a movie that will scare the pants off you, A Quiet Place is the one to watch. Just make sure you don’t scream too loud!
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Legendary Entertainment, Syncopy
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Buffalo, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):English, American, Sign, L
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 6, 2018 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2018
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cade Woodward, Leon Russom, directed by John Krasinski, written by Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski, horror, PG-13, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, box office, $68.4M, reviewed by J.R Jones, tt stern-enzi, Robert Daniels, Perri Nemiroff, Nikki Baughan, Peter Rainer, Brian Eggert, Fletcher Powell, Alex Bentley, Emma Wolfe, Don Shanahan, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS, Paramount Pictures, suspenseful, creature feature, original, scary, rising talent, family, silence, mysterious creatures, hunt by sound, death, protect, fight back, terror, bloody images, English, Apr 6, 2018 Wide, Jul 10, 2018, Scope (2.35:1)
Worldwide gross: $297,372,261
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $323,424,070
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 460
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 35,269,800
US/Canada gross: $160,072,261
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $174,095,667
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 436
US/Canada opening weekend: $47,547,231
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $51,712,688
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 217
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
John Krasinski – Lee Abbott
Millicent Simmonds – Regan Abbott
Noah Jupe – Marcus Abbott
Cade Woodward – Beau Abbott
Leon Russom – Man in the Woods
Director(s)
John Krasinski
Writer(s)
Bryan Woods, Scott Beck, John Krasinski
Producer(s)
Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
13 wins & 37 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (387) | Top Critics (74) | Fresh (370) | Rotten (17)
A familiar premise is redeemed by a nifty gimmick in this suspenseful horror thriller.
March 5, 2020
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
John Krasinski the writer, director, and star, has really found an interesting way to get at the problems around how to handle not having sound in a film.
March 4, 2019
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
But the difficulty does not lie in the lack of verbiage, but in our prohibitions. We’re an ableist society, often fearful of the “arduous” journey that comes with empathizing with the deaf.
August 27, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Robert Daniels
812filmreviews
TOP CRITIC
Sure, it’s just a movie but A Quiet Place is so effective that you’ll be deathly afraid of making a sound – just like the main characters.
April 25, 2018 | Rating: 9/10
Perri Nemiroff
Collider Video
TOP CRITIC
The breathless opening reveals Krasinski’s sophisticated filmmaking approach, setting up the premise and showcasing the meticulous attention to detail that will turn his lean story into a masterclass of tension.
April 19, 2018
Nikki Baughan
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
At a brisk 90 minutes, it’s one of the most inventive and beautifully crafted and acted horror movies I’ve seen in a very long time, and I think the main reason for its power is the family crisis at its core.
April 18, 2018 | Rating: A-
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
Krasinski delivers a thrilling creature-feature.
March 14, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
I did find it compelling-as long as I didn’t think about what was happening.
July 20, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
A Quiet Place is a film that will satisfy horror fans, but its family drama also gives it a broader appeal. Either way, it’s a quietly chilling experience that you won’t soon forget.
May 25, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
The tension in the film was amazing.
April 14, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Emma Wolfe
SpookyAstronauts
Connection and heartstrings at such a level are rarely seen in any horror film. That’s the reverberation of engagement so many lack.
April 12, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Don Shanahan
Every Movie Has a Lesson
Uncluttered and low key, it’s a unique and unsettling horror film.
March 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse…
Plot
With the newly acquired knowledge of the seemingly invulnerable creatures’ weakness, grief-stricken Evelyn Abbott finds herself on her own, with two young teens, a defenceless newborn son, and with no place to hide. Now, 474 days after the all-out alien attack in A Quiet Place (2018), the Abbotts summon up every last ounce of courage to leave their now-burned-to-the-ground farm and embark on a peril-laden quest to find civilization. With this in mind, determined to expand beyond the boundaries, the resilient survivors have no other choice but to venture into eerily quiet, uncharted hostile territory, hoping for a miracle. But, this time, the enemy is everywhere.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found on Fresh Kernels about the film A Quiet Place.
John-Krasinski.jpg
90%
The Disaster Artist (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
32 wins & 86 nominations total
Oh, hai Mark. The Disaster Artist is a surprisingly poignant and charming movie-about-a-movie that explores the creative process with unexpected delicacy.
The Disaster Artist is like watching a train wreck, but in the best way possible. James Franco’s direction captures the essence of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room, a film that is so bad it’s good. The cast, including Franco himself, delivers hilarious performances that will have you laughing out loud. It’s a love letter to the underdogs who dare to dream big, even if it means making a terrible movie. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the beautiful disaster that is The Disaster Artist.
Production Company(ies)
Large Lab
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Majestic Crest Theater – 1262 Westwood Blvd., Westwood, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos IMAX 6-Track
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 2017 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2018
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $29,820,616
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $35,970,703
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,488
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,922,650
US/Canada gross: $21,120,616
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,476,449
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,332
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,211,345
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,461,168
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,238
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12,062,361
Production budget ranking: 1,594
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,495,581
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $17,412,761
ROI to date (est.): 94%
ROI ranking: 965
Dave Franco – Greg Sestero
Seth Rogen – Sandy Schklair
Zac Efron – Dan Janjigian
Alison Brie – Amber
Paul Scheer – Raphael Smadja
Director(s)
James Franco
Writer(s)
Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Producer(s)
James Franco, Evan Goldberg, Vince Jolivette, Seth Rogen, James Weaver
Film Festivals
South by Southwest, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
32 wins & 86 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (352) | Top Critics (75) | Fresh (319) | Rotten (33)
The Room falls under the category of “so bad it’s good.” The Disaster Artist, directed by James Franco, looks to capture everything that went wrong, and a few things that miraculously went right.
September 5, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Robert Daniels
812filmreviews
TOP CRITIC
Franco’s film is disappointing and more than a little patronizing.
December 14, 2017
Carrie Rickey
Truthdig
TOP CRITIC
It’s entertaining, if framed and cut a touch manically.
December 12, 2017
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Funny — sometimes brutally — and surprisingly touching, it works whether you’ve seen the source material or not, though there are plentiful shout-outs to die-hard fans.
December 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Stewart
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Unlike its bosom buddy, Tim Burton’s Ed Wood, it might be too niche a subject to resonate with mass audiences but it’s evident Franco and crew are having a whale of a time.
December 8, 2017
Kristen Lopez
Culturess
TOP CRITIC
Wiseau also makes a pretty good avatar for Franco himself: a mercurial, relentless performer whose ambition encompasses a thrilling willingness to crash and burn. And it’s that identification that makes the comedy work here: Franco kids because he loves.
December 8, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Matthew Lickona
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
Capturing the same balance of admiration, mockery, and craft as Tim Burton’s Ed Wood (1994), Franco’s film pays homage to a cinematic rarity.
March 17, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The Disaster Artist is nothing short of a beautiful disaster. A film that puts a spotlight on two men who shared a bond that led the greatest bad film of all time to be made.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
It overflows with optimism and support for those who do whatever it takes to make their dreams come true.
December 29, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Drew Dietsch
FANDOM
What’s the inherent value of making a movie like this?
July 20, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
One of the worst ever films is the subject of one of 2017’s best.
April 27, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Olly Richards
NME
The new film is a love letter to the movies and how they are the stuff dreams are made of.
February 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse…
Plot
Aspiring actor Greg Sestero befriends the eccentric Tommy Wiseau. The two travel to L.A., and when Hollywood rejects them, Tommy decides to write, direct, produce and star in their own movie. That movie is, “The Room,” which has attained cult status as the “Citizen Kane” of bad movies.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
James-Franco.jpg
90%
1945 (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 5 nominations
1945 sifts through the aftermath of the Holocaust to offer a sober, well-crafted look at a variety of weighty themes.
1945 is a film that will make you feel all the emotions, from sadness to anger to satisfaction. It’s a story that reminds us of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, but also of the power of redemption and justice. The acting is superb, especially Péter Rudolf who delivers a nuanced performance that will leave you thinking about his character long after the credits roll. And while the film is heavy at times, there are moments of dark humor that will make you chuckle despite yourself. Overall, 1945 is a must-watch for anyone who wants to be moved and challenged by a powerful story.
Production Company(ies)
Ferndale Films, Granada Television, Hell’s Kitchen Films,
Distributor
Menemsha Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Kalocsa, Hungary
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 31m
-
Language(s):Hungarian, Russian
-
Country of origin:Germany, Hungary
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 7, 2018
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Péter Rudolf, Bence Tasnádi, Tamás Szabó Kimmel, Dóra Sztarenki, Ági Szirtes, József Szarvas, directed by Ferenc Török, written by Gábor T Szántó, Ferenc Török, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Leslie Felperin, Chris Vognar, Matthew Monagle, Adam Graham, J R Jones, Michael O’Sullivan, Joanne Laurier, Steven Prokopy, Cate Marquis, Alison Gillmor, Winnipeg Free Press, Paddy Kehoe, produced by Iván Angelusz, Péter Reich, Ferenc Török, MPAA rating, Holocaust, World War II, Hungary, Menemsha Films
Worldwide gross: $1,240,663
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,496,532
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,495
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 163,199
US/Canada gross: $1,006,193
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,213,706
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,143
US/Canada opening weekend: $20,365
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,565
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,439
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 1467000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,769,548
Production budget ranking: 2,040
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $952,902
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$1,225,918
ROI to date (est.): -45%
ROI ranking: 1,654
Bence Tasnádi – Szentes Árpád
Tamás Szabó Kimmel – Jancsi
Dóra Sztarenki – Kisrózsi
Ági Szirtes – Kustár Andrásné, Mrs. Kustár
József Szarvas – Kustár András
Director(s)
Ferenc Török
Writer(s)
Gábor T. Szántó, Ferenc Török
Producer(s)
Iván Angelusz, Péter Reich, Ferenc Török
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (2)
[A] sombre, accomplished but somewhat heavy-handed work…
October 13, 2018 | Rating: 3/5
Leslie Felperin
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Set in a specific time and place, 1945 also resonates as a story of people doing terrible things to other people in the name of opportunity and getting ahead. It hits home at a time when the idea of loving thy neighbor feels sadly passé.
June 20, 2018 | Rating: B+
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
1945 serves as both a reminder of Hungary’s complicity in the Holocaust and as an examination of what happens when an entire community is asked to keep one horrible secret.
May 24, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/5
Matthew Monagle
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A town wracked with guilt must come to terms with the horrors of its war atrocities in “1945,” a somber drama set in the immediate aftermath of WWII.
April 27, 2018 | Rating: B
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
This film adds to a growing list of Holocaust dramas and documentaries that move past the guilt of Nazi Germany to ponder the complicity of smaller communities in eastern Europe.
April 5, 2018
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Features an intrusive sound design, including Tibor Szemzö’s jarringly contemporary score and sound effects that include the ringing of a clock tower, buzzing flies, rumbling thunder and noisy birds…
April 4, 2018 | Rating: 2/4
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Cut off from a genuine left-wing criticism of Stalinism, Eastern European intellectuals such as director Török and scriptwriter Szántó still generally and unthinkingly lump fascism and Stalinism together.
February 21, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
This small film features a massive day of reckoning for everyone on screen, and is highly satisfying, sometimes darkly humorous, and wonderfully acted. You may have seen stories of betrayal like this before, but never told this way.
June 9, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
1945 is a brilliantly made film, and powerful, moving reminder of the evil that can take place under cover of wartime and the power of greed.
April 24, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Cate Marquis
We Are Movie Geeks
The darkness of wartime reaches not only into one day in August. In this muted but powerful film, Török is also commenting, obliquely but effectively, on the rise of far-right nationalism and anti-Semitism in present-day Hungary.
November 26, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Alison Gillmor
Winnipeg Free Press
The film’s straightforward but effective narrative holds few surprises while the talented cast strengthens the storytelling especially Péter Rudolf who makes a smooth transition from comedy to drama.
October 28, 2018 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Friar
The Victoria Advocate
Marvellously directed and acted, 1945 shows how those who practice deception for their own ends are likely to pay the price and in ways they may not foresee.
October 17, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Paddy Kehoe
RTÉ (Ireland)…
Plot
12 August 1945, 11 AM. Two mysterious strangers, dressed in black, Jews, appear at the railway station of a Hungarian village. In the shadow of Russian occupation, the people of the village are preparing for the wedding of the son of the town clerk. The bride’s former fiance returns from captivity. Within a few hours, everything changes. Secrets, sins, reckoning, love, betrayal, confrontation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Péter Rudolf, who plays Szentes István, is known for his work in Hungarian theater and film, and has won multiple awards for his performances.
Ferenc-Török.jpg
90%
Gook (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 12 nominations
From its confrontational title to its striking cinematography, this raw cinematic gem uncompromisingly proves writer/director/actor Justin Chon is a filmmaker to watch.
Gook is a movie that’s both witty and devastating, with a punchy, freewheeling style that’s reminiscent of Spike Lee. The film’s black-and-white cinematography adds to its gritty, urban feel, while the rooftop conversations and dance sequence in a parking lot give it a unique tone. Despite its underlying harshness, Gook manages to balance light and playful moments with its everyday racism, making it a touching and thoughtful film that’s definitely worth watching. Plus, it’s got a killer soundtrack that’ll have you grooving in your seat.
Production Company(ies)
ITVS International, Kartemquin Films, P.O.V., American Documentary
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2018
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English, Korean
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 18, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2017
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Justin Chon, Simone Baker, Curtiss Cook Jr., David So, Chris Jai Alex, Isaiah Jarel, directed by Justin Chon, written by Justin Chon, Comedy, Drama, $222.2K box office, reviewed by Simran Hans, Ed Potton, Naomi Wong, Peter Bradshaw, Sara Michelle Fetters, Marjorie Baumgarten, Phil Guie, Naila Scargill, Filipe Freitas, Chauncey K Robinson, Morgan Rojas, Rich Cline, 94% Tomatometer, 83% Audience Score, Alex Chi produced, Samuel Goldwyn Films distributed, MPAA rating not mentioned, 1992 L.A riots, Korean American brothers, women’s shoe store, unlikely friendship, 11-year-old Kamilla, defend the store, family, personal dreams, future, cinematography, filmmaker to watch, raw cinematic gem, confrontational title, black-and-white, Spike Lee’s style, racial discussions, multidimensionality, expressive imagery, lyrical music score, everyday racism, touching, thoughtful, emotional undercurrent, tiny details, relevant, ambitious project
Worldwide gross: $251,541
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $296,007
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,855
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 32,280
US/Canada gross: $250,130
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $294,346
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,464
US/Canada opening weekend: $27,044
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,825
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,352
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
Simone Baker – Kamilla
Curtiss Cook Jr. – Keith
David So – Daniel
Chris Jai Alex – Ray
Isaiah Jarel – Curtis
Director(s)
Justin Chon
Writer(s)
Justin Chon
Producer(s)
Alex Chi
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 12 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (3)
In rooftop conversations, an impressionistic dance sequence that takes place in a parking lot and a devastating conclusion that teeters on the edge of melodrama, Chon finds a tone all of his own.
March 18, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s witty, stylish and ultimately devastating.
March 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Ed Potton
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A progressive, refreshing take on the unseen stories of the LA riots.
March 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Naomi Wong
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
A punchy, freewheeling movie set around the LA riots, shot in black-and-white, with something of Spike Lee’s style.
March 15, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The racial discussions happening throughout are far from simplistic or rudimentary, this fearless multidimensionality giving Chon’s script an impressive edge that’s invigorating.
October 2, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
[John] Chon shows a definite talent for drawing out strong performances from his actors, as well as marshaling expressive imagery that’s enhanced by Roger Suen’s lyrical music score.
September 28, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Anyone paying attention to the news knows we still have much work to do before we can all truly get along, and that makes Gook essential viewing.
March 21, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Phil Guie
Film-Forward.com
Despite an underlying harshness, the film is often light, its playful moments easing the strain of its everyday racism.
February 28, 2019
Naila Scargill
Trebuchet
Fabricated with both feel-good and unsettling moments.
February 1, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
It was an ambitious project to take on so many complicated themes, and the end result is a good film that is touching and thoughtful.
October 11, 2018
Chauncey K. Robinson
People’s World
The timing of Gook… seems very relevant, and I urge everyone to see it.
August 6, 2018
Morgan Rojas
Cinemacy
There’s a remarkably emotional undercurrent through every scene, with tiny details that take the breath away.
June 1, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall…
Plot
Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers, own a struggling shoe store and have an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a street wise 11-year-old African American girl. Kamilla ditches school, Eli stresses about the store, and Daniel tries to have a good time. It’s just another typical day at the store until the Rodney King verdict is read and riots break out. With the chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Actor Justin Chon not only directed and wrote the film, but also starred in it as one of the main characters, Eli.
Justin-Chon.jpg
90%
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
28 wins & 66 nominations total
War for the Planet of the Apes combines breathtaking special effects and a powerful, poignant narrative to conclude this rebooted trilogy on a powerful — and truly blockbuster — note.
War for the Planet of the Apes” is a movie about apes who are smarter than most humans and ride horses like they’re in a medieval battle. It’s like “Game of Thrones” but with apes instead of dragons. The special effects are so good that you’ll forget you’re watching CGI and start to believe that these apes are real. The story is deep and emotional, and you’ll find yourself rooting for the apes even though they’re technically the “bad guys.” It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves action, drama, and apes who are smarter than them.
Production Company(ies)
R. P. Productions, Heritage Films, Studio Babelsberg
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, thematic elements, and some disturbing images
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital Auro 11.1 IMAX 6-Track Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 22m
-
Language(s):English, American, Sign, L
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 14, 2017 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2017
Genre(s)
Action/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Karin Konoval, Terry Notary, Amiah Miller, directed by Matt Reeves, written by Matt Reeves, Mark Bomback, action, adventure, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by Jordan Hoffman, Tara Brady, K Austin Collins, Jason Bailey, Paul Byrnes, Jonathan Romney, Brian Eggert, Don Shanahan, Drew Dietsch, produced by Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, 20th Century Fox, Dolby Atmos, Scope (2.35:1), Planet of the Apes, Caesar, The Colonel, Bad Ape, Maurice, Rocket, Nova
Worldwide gross: $490,719,763
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $591,923,880
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 228
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 64,550,041
US/Canada gross: $146,880,162
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $177,172,150
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 421
US/Canada opening weekend: $56,262,929
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $67,866,375
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 140
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $150,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $180,935,411
Production budget ranking: 146
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $97,433,719
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $313,554,750
ROI to date (est.): 113%
ROI ranking: 890
Woody Harrelson – The Colonel
Steve Zahn – Bad Ape
Karin Konoval – Maurice
Terry Notary – Rocket
Amiah Miller – Nova
Matt Reeves – Director
Peter Chernin – Producer
Dylan Clark – Producer
Rick Jaffa – Producer
Amanda Silver – Producer, Writer
Mark Bomback – Writer
Director(s)
Matt Reeves
Writer(s)
Matt Reeves, Mark Bomback
Producer(s)
Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
28 wins & 66 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (363) | Top Critics (78) | Fresh (340) | Rotten (23)
These are movies about gorillas who ride horses that feel, at first blush, like kiddie fare. And yet, once you take the step to suspend your disbelief, this is one of the sharpest franchises about the human condition.
September 26, 2017
Jordan Hoffman
Times of Israel
TOP CRITIC
These are characters. They are also animals, and when they are slain, there’s a ghastly novelty to it, one that has long ago worn off the spectacle of dying humans
August 11, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
War for the Planet of the Apes is a basic allegory that flirts, dangerously, with becoming an outright social issue drama.
August 9, 2017
K. Austin Collins
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
Matt Reeves’s ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ is a rare work, in which the power of the ideas matches the skill of the craft.
August 6, 2017
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
Reeves tells a big story that’s satisfying in many ways.
July 28, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
When digital cinema captures texture as sensuously and as precisely as this, a film can be a treat not just for blockbuster adepts but for the most rarefied aesthetes too.
July 28, 2017
Jonathan Romney
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
War for the Planet of the Apes squanders its actors, FX, and formal presentation on a story that feels lazily compiled from other material, marking a bitter end for Caesar and this otherwise admirable trilogy.
March 23, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
“War for the Planet of Apes” is a full-bodied epic of glory and pain that matches and then exceeds the moving importance and heart this rebooted franchise has established in two previous knockout films.
March 8, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Don Shanahan
Every Movie Has a Lesson
The best entry in the rebooted series and might be the best film in the entire saga. It’s a genuinely risky and powerfully adult tale told with the biggest canvas possible.
December 29, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Drew Dietsch
FANDOM
War for the Planet of the Apes follows Spider-Man: Homecoming as an example of how to allow a franchise to continue to expand and breathe rather than trying to keep it mired in by-the-numbers numbness.
August 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
‘War’ narrows a global conflict into a personal drama of blood revenge and blind belief that continually ratchets up the tension until one gigantic and cathartic release spills forth onto the screen.
May 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
By referencing the Vietnam War and modern-day conflicts, this franchise-boosting epic apes a number of classic movies.
April 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Dan Brightmore
NME…
Plot
Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Andy Serkis as Caesar, a character who is a gorilla with advanced intelligence and the ability to speak.
Matt-Reeves.jpg
90%
I, Daniel Blake (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 BAFTA Award
31 wins & 38 nominations total
I, Daniel Blake marks yet another well-told chapter in director Ken Loach’s powerfully populist filmography.
I, Daniel Blake is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and want to punch a wall all at the same time. It’s a heart-wrenching story about a man trying to navigate the confusing and frustrating world of welfare bureaucracy, but it’s also a story about the kindness of strangers and the power of human connection. Ken Loach may be 80 years old, but he still knows how to make a movie that packs a punch. So grab some tissues and get ready to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Produzioni De Sica
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 19, 2017
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
I, Daniel Blake, drama, R rating, directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty, starring Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Dylan McKiernan, Briana Shann, Kate Rutter, Sharon Percy, produced by Rebecca O’Brien, box office gross $258.2K, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Michael Upchurch, Anthony Lane, J.R Jones, Bill Goodykoontz, Marjorie Baumgarten, Matt Brunson, Michael J Casey, Olly Richards, David Walsh, Yasser Medina, Roger Moore, genre: social drama, welfare system, poverty, bureaucracy, working class, unemployment, single mother, heart attack, carpenter, benefits, appeal process, British authorities, doctor’s diagnosis, destitute, MPAA rating: language, Dolby Digital sound mix, English (United Kingdom) original language, IFC Films distributor
Worldwide gross: $15,793,051
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $19,050,148
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,731
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,077,443
US/Canada gross: $260,354
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $314,048
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,449
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,682
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,535
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,471
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
– Dave Johns as Daniel
– Hayley Squires as Katie
– Dylan McKiernan as Dylan
– Briana Shann as Daisy
– Kate Rutter as Ann
– Sharon Percy as Sheila
– Director: Ken Loach
– Producer: Rebecca O’Brien
– Writer: Paul Laverty
Director(s)
Ken Loach
Writer(s)
Paul Laverty
Producer(s)
Rebecca O’Brien
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 BAFTA Award
31 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (184) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (169) | Rotten (15)
I, Daniel Blake is about the struggles of an ailing common man against the labyrinthine welfare bureaucracy to get that elusive ’employment and support allowance.’
July 24, 2018
Namrata Joshi
The Hindu
TOP CRITIC
Whichever side you come down on, Johns’ and Squires’ low-key performances are impressive, and the technological/red-tape hurdles their characters face feel stingingly accurate.
June 29, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Upchurch
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Politically, of course, it cleaves to the left, yet by temperament it shrinks from progress.
June 12, 2017
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Writer-director Ken Loach has been making movies about the British working class since the mid-60s, and this masterful dramatic feature proves that even after all these years he can still work himself up into righteous, white-hot rage.
June 8, 2017
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Johns makes it all bearable. Inviting, even. His performance has such a gentle humanity, even (especially) in the darkest scenes that you can’t turn away.
June 8, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
For the iconoclastic film director Ken Loach and his longtime screenwriting collaborator Paul Laverty, I, Daniel Blake represents their most accessible film ever.
June 1, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s impossible to watch this movie without being forced to cope with bouts of sadness and helplessness — it’s honest and uncompromising, although moments of humor do manage to break loose.
September 18, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Small moments of humanity…are what matter here, and by not underlining them, Loach highlights them all the more.
June 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Righteous commentary on the state of the UK, which hits home with the force of a sledgehammer…
April 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Olly Richards
NME
The performers are sincere enough, but the film is fairly insipid and forgettable.
July 8, 2020
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Loach, at 80 years old, has returned to the brief social drama for which his cinema has been characterized. It offers us a moving and very human film that functions as the voice of the British people who demand to be heard. [Full review in Spanish]
June 27, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
A touching story, and a deflating one.
April 16, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Moore
Movie Nation…
Plot
A 59 year old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mother and her two kids as they navigate their way through the impersonal, Kafkaesque benefits system. With equal amounts of humor, warmth and despair, the journey is heartfelt and emotional until the end.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Dave Johns in his film debut as the titular character.
Ken-Loach.jpg
90%
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 12 nominations total
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail transcends its less-than-dramatic trappings to present a gripping real-life legal thriller with far-reaching implications.
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is a documentary that will make you root for a bank, which is a sentence I never thought I’d say. But the Sung family, who own and operate Abacus Federal Savings Bank, are so endearing and relatable that you can’t help but want them to come out on top of their legal battle. Director Steve James does an excellent job of balancing the courtroom drama with intimate moments of the family discussing their situation and supporting each other. Plus, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Abacus may be small, but it’s mighty, and this film proves it.
Production Company(ies)
Macrocosm Entertainment, Citizen Skull Productions, Bond It Media Capital
Distributor
PBS Distribution
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Chinatown, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):English, Mandarin, Cantonese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 13, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, financial crisis, bank, family-run, criminal charges, legal battle, Chinatown community, legacy, Steve James, directed by Steve James, Julie Goldman, Mark Mitten, produced by Julie Goldman, Mark Mitten, reviewed by Michael Phillips, Tim Grierson, Tom Long, Edward Porter, Kevin Maher, Wendy Ide, Jason Adams, Aaron Pinkston, Richard Propes, Joanne Laurier, Steven Prokopy, starring Sung family, MPAA rating, PBS Distribution, box office performance, budget, Abacus, real-life legal thriller, transcends, far-reaching implications, English, 1h 30m, 93% Tomatometer, 84% audience score, Raney Aronson, Christopher Clements, Sally Jo Fifer, Justine Nagan, Gordon Quinn, executive producer, ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL, genre, critic reviews, audience reviews, best horror movies, RT podcasts, most anticipated movies, best Netflix series, renewed & cancelled TV shows 2022, worst horror movies of all time, careers, newsletter, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $113,278
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $136,640
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,990
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 14,901
US/Canada gross: $113,278
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $136,640
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,611
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,528
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,112
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,599
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
Raney Aronson – Executive Producer
Christopher Clements – Executive Producer
Sally Jo Fifer – Executive Producer
Justine Nagan – Executive Producer
Gordon Quinn – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Steve James
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Julie Goldman, Mark Mitten
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 12 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (5)
The personalities make the picture, and James’ camera presence is such that “Abacus” never seems to gin up or theatricalize anyone’s thoughts or behavior.
January 25, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
… deceptively straightforward new film from Hoop Dreams director Steve James.
October 27, 2017
Tim Grierson
Paste Magazine
TOP CRITIC
“Abacus” is probably the only film made in the past decade that could get an audience rooting for a bank, but it does just that.
July 22, 2017 | Rating: B+
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
When Steve James’s documentary suggests that Abacus was the victim of a concerted Establishment plot… it doesn’t have quite enough evidence for a conviction, but it is an absorbing study of the court case, the bank and Chinatown itself.
July 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Edward Porter
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A sweet and sometimes moving, if ultimately minor, film about a hopelessly inadequate fraud case from 2012.
July 11, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Disarmingly human moments – the Sung daughters, all high-powered lawyers, fret over their 80-year-old father’s disappointing sandwich – pepper this compelling courtroom drama.
July 9, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
James doesn’t mess around, aiming straight for our sentimental jugulars
July 2, 2021
Jason Adams
The Film Experience
Away from the case, the biggest joys of Abacus are seeing the Sung family together, around a conference room table or the dinner table alike. The way they interact with each other feels so familiar…
January 4, 2021
Aaron Pinkston
Battleship Pretension
Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is an intelligent and involving doc feature.
September 1, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
While the story has interesting aspects, it is hard to fully sympathize with a family of bankers.
July 8, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Abacus is another example of James’ exceptional storytelling and his ability to generate (and sometimes manipulate) emotions in this audience with precision.
May 7, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is a great documentary about a very appealing story, that highlights the strength of family bonds and immigrant communities
December 23, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse…
Plot
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” is a documentary about a small family-run bank that becomes the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and the subsequent five-year legal battle to defend its legacy in the Chinatown community.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” features the Sung family, who must defend their bank’s legacy in the Chinatown community over the course of a five-year legal battle.
Steve-James.jpg
90%
Cure (1998)
90%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 5 nominations
Cure, a masterpiece of psychological horror, delves into the depths of the human mind and exposes the destructive and violent desires that lurk within. Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s direction creates a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving the viewer with a sense of existential dread. The production design and cinematography emphasize the isolation of the characters, adding to the mounting sense of unease. While the film may not provide easy answers, it is a fascinating artifact and an engrossing thriller that deserves to be recognized as one of the most powerful works of the J-Horror canon.
Cure is like a slow-burning fever dream that infects your mind and refuses to let go. It’s not your typical horror movie with jump scares and monsters, but rather a psychological thriller that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche. The cinematography and production design create an eerie atmosphere that adds to the mounting sense of dread. It’s a film that will leave you questioning your own sanity and the nature of evil. So, if you’re in the mood for a mind-bending, spine-tingling experience, Cure is the cure for what ails you.
Production Company(ies)
Daiei
Distributor
Cowboy Pictures, Criterion Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Castle Hohenzollern, Hechingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for disturbing violent content and images, sexual content including an assault, graphic nudity, and language
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English, German
-
Country of origin:Japan
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2005
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
Cure, horror, crime film, philosophical meditation, detective, identical murders, bizarre circumstances, psychological intrigue, mesmerizing, atmospheric, Japanese, Koji Yakusho, Tsuyoshi Ujiki, Anna Nakagawa, Masato Hagiwara, directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, written by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Tetsuya Ikeda, Satoshi Kanno, Tsutomu Tsuchikawa, Atsuyuki Shimoda, box office gross $94.6K, Cowboy Pictures, Criterion Pictures, reviewed by Anton Bitel, Jonathan Rosenbaum, David Rooney, Nick Schager, Chris Vognar, Roger Moore, Brian Eggert, Laura Clifford, Austen Goslin, Emma Wolfe, Pieter-Jan Van Haecke, Stephanie Monohan, MPAA rating not specified, producer Tetsuya Ikeda, Satoshi Kanno, Tsutomu Tsuchikawa, Atsuyuki Shimoda
Worldwide gross: $26,620,002
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $32,110,007
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,519
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,501,636
US/Canada gross: $8,106,986
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,778,939
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,621
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,356,941
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,255,499
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,093
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $40,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $48,249,443
Production budget ranking: 822
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $25,982,325
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$42,121,761
ROI to date (est.): -57%
ROI ranking: 1,728
Tsuyoshi Ujiki – Makoto Sakuma
Anna Nakagawa – Fumie Takabe
Masato Hagiwara – Kunio Mamiya
Kiyoshi Kurosawa – Director
Kiyoshi Kurosawa – Writer
Director(s)
Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Writer(s)
Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Producer(s)
Tetsuya Ikeda, Satoshi Kanno, Tsutomu Tsuchikawa, Atsuyuki Shimoda
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (4)
an increasingly hallucinatory piece where murderousness is a disease spreading rapidly through the susceptible Japanese psyche.
April 23, 2018
Anton Bitel
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
It’s unsatisfying as a story precisely because it aspires to create a mounting sense of dread by enlarging questions rather than answering them.
October 17, 2011
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Tone and atmosphere mirror subject to perfection in Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s hypnotic trip into the lower depths of the human mind.
March 26, 2009
David Rooney
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The single best horror film I’ve seen this century.
May 3, 2005 | Rating: A-
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Tough to shake even when it feels more like an exercise than a movie.
June 6, 2002 | Rating: B
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating artifact as well as a most engrossing thriller.
January 3, 2002
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s Cure takes its time implanting itself in your mind before completely taking you over, not unlike the mysterious killer at the film’s center.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
…leans more heavily into psychological horror and existential dread…emphasized by the isolation production designer Maruo and cinematographer Kikumura introduce with long shots of figures in sterile industrial locations and a windswept beach.
January 2, 2022 | Rating: A-
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews
There may not be demons or ghosts, but there is enough haunting existential dread to make Cure stick with you like an old nightmare.
October 20, 2021
Austen Goslin
Polygon
Lingers long after the credits roll.
April 14, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Emma Wolfe
SpookyAstronauts
A magnificent horror-mystery narrative that reveals, in a pulsating way, the very truth that every subject hides a destructive drive and violent desire.
August 14, 2020
Pieter-Jan Van Haecke
Psychocinematography
Arguably overshadowed by other films in the turn-of-the-century J-Horror canon like Ringu (1998) and Audition (1999), Cure lives on as one of the more powerful works of the era.
January 14, 2020
Stephanie Monohan
Screen Slate…
Plot
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company’s CEO from an idyllic but mysterious “wellness center” at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa’s miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing goofy, funny, or odd is mentioned about the film or its cast on Fresh Kernels.
Kiyoshi-Kurosawa.jpg
90%
Frantz (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 7 wins & 36 nominations
Frantz finds writer-director François Ozon thoughtfully probing the aftermath of World War I through the memories and relationships of loved ones left behind.
Frantz” is like a fancy French pastry – it looks beautiful and tastes delicious, but it’s also a bit heavy and leaves you feeling a little sad. The black and white cinematography is stunning, and Paula Beer’s performance is worth the price of admission alone. The story is a twisty-turny mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, but it’s also a poignant meditation on grief and the cost of war. Overall, “Frantz” is a satisfying treat for those who like their movies with a little bit of substance.
Production Company(ies)
Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet Corp. Goodmovies Entertainment,
Distributor
Music Box Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Quedlinburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including brief war violence
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):French, German
-
Country of origin:France, Germany
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2017
Genre(s)
History/Drama
Keyword(s)
Frantz, PG-13, History, Drama, 1h 53m, 91% Tomatometer, 85% Audience Score, François Ozon, Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Stefan Arndt, Uwe Schott, written by François Ozon, starring Pierre Niney, Paula Beer, Ernst Stötzner, Marie Gruber, Johann von Bülow, Anton von Lucke, World War I, aftermath, memories, relationships, loved ones, Germany, France, bereft, fiance, killed, trenches, mysterious appearance, flowers, grave, resistance, community, defeat, handsome, melancholy, deep friendship, thematic elements, brief war violence, Music Box Films, $880.5K, reviewed by Tara Brady, Tom Long, Philip De Semlyen, Wendy Ide, Kate Muir, Robbie Collin, Jason Adams, Richard Propes, Dustin Chang, Erin Blackwell, Steven Prokopy, Nicholas Bell, directed by François Ozon, produced by Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Stefan Arndt, Uwe Schott, PG-13 rating
Worldwide gross: $7,478,354
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,020,660
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,997
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 983,714
US/Canada gross: $880,883
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,062,553
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,175
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,745
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,611
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,469
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
Paula Beer – Anna Hoffmeister
Ernst Stötzner – Doktor Hoffmeister
Marie Gruber – Magda Hoffmeister
Johann von Bülow – Kreutz
Anton von Lucke – Frantz Hoffmeister
Director(s)
François Ozon
Writer(s)
François Ozon
Producer(s)
Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Stefan Arndt, Uwe Schott
Film Festivals
Sundance, Venice, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
7 wins & 36 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (139) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (12)
A splendid cast work through the complications and stages of grief to provide a scathingly anti-nationalist warning from history.
June 14, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
“Frantz” offers a sympathetic, if dark, look at the awful wake of war, at the cost of institutional violence, as well as the cost of surviving.
June 2, 2017 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Ozon’s latest is a twisty-turny post-War mystery – think ‘A Very Long Bereavement’ – that boasts a kaleidoscope of quiet emotions. It unfolds slowly, but rewards patience with strong performances and a swooning third act.
May 15, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Philip De Semlyen
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
There’s a pleasing symmetry to this story – lie is matched by lie, journey by journey – and Beer’s silky self-possession is utterly beguiling.
May 14, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
François Ozon is a master at taking apart the French chattering classes, but here he attempts an almost classical piece of film-making in black and white, French and German, a tangled tale of love and friendship.
May 12, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Frantz is the work of a rascal, but a rascal in an unusually reflective frame of mind. Even with its mysteries solved, you can’t help but keep turning it over.
May 12, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ozon modernizes the Merchant Ivory in swell ways, too – it might be a chaste movie but his queer heart beats hard under all of those stiff uniforms. Fassbinderian flatness and absurdity peeks around every corner
January 14, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Relative newcomer Paula Beer should unquestionably have filmmakers knocking on her door after her performance here.
September 8, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Disguised as period costumes and sumptuous monochrome cinematography that bursts in to color in pivotal moments, but the film holds some sinister undertones of lost innocence and pain/joy of growing up.
July 17, 2020
Dustin Chang
ScreenAnarchy
These mood swings make this costume drama very much of the moment.
June 8, 2020
Erin Blackwell
Bay Area Reporter
It’s a quietly devastating work that follows an unpredictable and touching path that teaches us a great deal about grieving and learning to live again.
May 6, 2020
Steven Prokopy
Third Coast Review
For Ozon, Frantz is an intriguing change of pace, a period piece in another language, and with straightforward but evident depth… But you’ll be hard pressed to remember much about it beyond the stirring presence of Paula Beer.
October 2, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com…
Plot
After her fiancé Frantz is killed in World War I, Anna becomes close to a French veteran named Adrien who was friends with Frantz, but his presence is met with resistance by the small German community still reeling from the country’s defeat.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Relative newcomer Paula Beer delivers a stunning performance in Frantz.
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90%
I Called Him Morgan (2017)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 7 nominations
I Called Him Morgan doubles as a seductive tribute to its subject’s jazz passion as well as an absorbing look at a fatally doomed relationship.
I Called Him Morgan” is a documentary that tells the story of Lee Morgan, a jazz trumpeter, and his wife Helen. It’s a tragic tale of love, success, and betrayal that will leave you feeling emotional and reflective. The film does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the jazz scene in the 1960s and the impact that it had on the lives of those involved. The interviews with Lee’s friends and colleagues are insightful and add depth to the story. Overall, “I Called Him Morgan” is a must-watch for anyone who loves jazz or is interested in the human experience. It’s a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, A Band Apart Jersey Films,
Distributor
Submarine Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2017
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2017 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 27, 2017
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
I Called Him Morgan, documentary, jazz, Lee Morgan, Helen Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Jymie Merritt, Bennie Maupin, Billy Harper, Kasper Collin, written by Kasper Collin, directed by Kasper Collin, produced by Submarine Entertainment, reviewed by Kambole Campbell, Chris Vognar, David Jenkins, G Allen Johnson, Adam Graham, Candice Frederick, David Walsh, Richard Propes, Barbara Majsa, Frank Ochieng, Morgan Rojas, Dennis Schwartz, 96% Tomatometer, 82% audience score, $97.7K box office, limited release, English, 1h 32m
Worldwide gross: $128,986
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $155,588
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,975
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 16,967
US/Canada gross: $128,986
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $155,588
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,587
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,902
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,563
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,588
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
Helen Morgan – Self
Wayne Shorter – Self
Jymie Merritt – Self
Bennie Maupin – Self
Billy Harper – Self
Director(s)
Kasper Collin
Writer(s)
Kasper Collin
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (2)
A touching and poetic portrait of a pair of imperfect people, forever transformed by the vices of success, the big city and other all-too-human temptations.
August 25, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
One Room With A View
TOP CRITIC
I Called Him Morgan is a first-rate documentary. It’s also the perfect impetus to explore Morgan’s catalogue.
June 21, 2018
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Collin’s exceptional, atmospheric film avoids the hysteria and hyperbole of similar true crime documentaries to usher this delicate story in with a palpable sense of sorrow rather than a desire to retroactively point the finger of justice.
July 28, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately, Collin’s film is one of forgiveness.
April 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/4
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“I Called Him Morgan” works as a jazz documentary as well as a bizarre true crime tale about a mysterious crime of passion. All these years later, many questions remain.
April 21, 2017 | Rating: B
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Much of these details could be found on Morgan’s extensive Wikipedia page, and they don’t do much to explain why a movie was essential.
April 14, 2017
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
It’s a sad story. Collin tells it intelligently and carefully, with almost no missteps.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
A human story about two starkly different yet remarkably similar humans.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
The interviews done with Lee’s friends hit a genuinely personal tone effortlessly, which is beyond doubt one of the director’s greatest merits.
March 21, 2020
Barbara Majsa
barbaramajsa.com
There has not been a penetrating and provocative documentary in my recent memory that chronicles with such curiosity, the insight and intimacy into the musical process and romantic partnership disillusionment
March 1, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Frank Ochieng
The Critical Movie Critics
For those interested in learning more about the history of the Jazz community, or even for those familiar with Lee Morgan and just want to hear Helen’s side of the story, this documentary is enthralling from start to finish.
August 6, 2018
Morgan Rojas
Cinemacy
It’s a moving portrait of the great jazz trumpeter and of the tragedy that befell him, as seen through the eyes of his woman.
July 11, 2018 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
I Called Him Morgan is a documentary about the life and tragic death of jazz musician Lee Morgan, as told through the perspective of his common-law wife and killer, Helen Morgan.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with jazz greats such as Wayne Shorter and Bennie Maupin.
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