Production Company(ies)
O2 Filmes, Video Filmes, Globo Filmes,
 
Distributor
Netflix
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Montréal, Québec, Canada
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild thematic elements
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
Adventure/Fantasy
 
Keyword(s)
starring Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, Ricky Gervais, directed by Mark Osborne, written by Irena Brignull, Bob Persichetti, Adventure, Fantasy, PG, Dimitri Rassam, Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb, box office gross $1.3M, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Michael Idato, Allison Shoemaker, Katy Waldman, Aja Romano, David Wiegand, Brian Eggert, Lucía Ros Serra, Espinof, PG (Mild Thematic Elements), Netflix, The Aviator, The Mother, The Fox, The Rose, The Snake, The Conceited Man, Hans Zimmer, stop-motion animation, CGI, childhood, human connections, heart, essential, invisible, fables, symbolism, maturity, storytelling, voice talent, American version, down to earth, Academy Award, animated masterpiece
 

Cast & Crew

Jeff Bridges

Rachel McAdams

James Franco

Marion Cotillard

Benicio Del Toro

The Aviator

The Mother

The Fox

The Rose

The Snake

Jeff Bridges – The Aviator (Voice)
Rachel McAdams – The Mother (Voice)
James Franco – The Fox (Voice)
Marion Cotillard – The Rose (Voice)
Benicio Del Toro – The Snake (Voice)
Ricky Gervais – The Conceited Man (Voice)

 

Mark Osborne

Irena Brignull

Dimitri Rassam

Aton Soumache

Alexis Vonarb

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Mark Osborne
 
Writer(s)
Irena Brignull, Bob Persichetti
 
Producer(s)
Dimitri Rassam, Aton Soumache, Alexis Vonarb

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 16 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Candice Frederick

Michael Idato

Allison Shoemaker

Katy Waldman

Aja Romano

Reel Talk Online

Sydney Morning Herald

Consequence

Slate

Vox

THE LITTLE PRINCE
  All Critics (99) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (7)
  We need more movies like this — for children and adults.
 
  March 21, 2017 | Rating: A
 
  Candice Frederick
  Reel Talk Online
  TOP CRITIC
  It is deeply personal and profoundly moving, a sensitive and affecting portrait of humanity.
 
  September 26, 2016
 
  Michael Idato
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  Taken as one piece of art, as one beautiful, self-sustaining creation, this Little Prince is a thing of beauty.
 
  August 11, 2016 | Rating: B+
 
  Allison Shoemaker
  Consequence
  TOP CRITIC
  If Saint-Exupry offered readers a petite, queer-tasting square of some delicate cake they’d never heard of, Netflix has served up a familiar, fragrant, well-balanced meal.
 
  August 9, 2016
 
  Katy Waldman
  Slate
  TOP CRITIC
  The Little Prince should make a compelling, if not always fully incisive, case for clinging to the lessons of youth.
 
  August 8, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Aja Romano
  Vox
  TOP CRITIC
  No child, or adult, for that matter, will be able to resist the considerable charm of The Little Prince.
 
  August 5, 2016 | Rating: 4/4
 
  David Wiegand
  San Francisco Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  So few animated films try anything outside of the realm of normalcy; fortunately, Osborne’s film realizes normalcy is, well, boring.
 
  April 11, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  The beauty of the images of the Saint-Exupéry story and the music composed by Hans Zimmer make it very worthwhile. [Full Review in Spanish]
 
  May 14, 2020
 
  Lucía Ros Serra
  Espinof
  The Little Prince is a beautiful blend of a classic story and a new, compelling one…stars hang from threads, and you can almost hear them laughing.
 
  October 21, 2019
 
  Debbie Holloway
  Narrative Muse
  It’s a good film in many ways… but it’s not a favorite of mine.
 
  April 12, 2019 | Rating: C+
 
  Rachel Wagner
  rachelsreviews.net
  Even if you don’t enjoy CGI, this film is worth the watch just to see the beautifully animated stop-motion segments and is a great way to introduce fresh minds to the story of The Little Prince.
 
  November 18, 2018 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Michelle Kisner
  The Movie Sleuth
  This is further evidence of the unattractive industrialism and obsessive control tendencies at the heart of much of contemporary animation.
 
  November 5, 2018 | Rating: 2/5
 
  PJ Nabarro
  Patrick Nabarro…

 

Plot
From Mark Osborne comes the first-ever animated feature film adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s iconic masterpiece, The Little Prince. At the heart of it all is The Little Girl, who’s being prepared by her mother for the very grown-up world in which they live – only to be interrupted by her eccentric, kind-hearted neighbor, The Aviator. The Aviator introduces his new friend to an extraordinary world where anything is possible. A world that he himself was initiated into long ago by The Little Prince. It’s here that The Little Girl’s magical and emotional journey into her own imagination – and into the universe of The Little Prince – begins. And it’s where The Little Girl rediscovers her childhood and learns that ultimately, it’s human connections that matter most, and that what’s truly essential can only be seen with the heart.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The Little Prince features an all-star voice cast including Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Benicio Del Toro, and Ricky Gervais.
 

 
Mark-Osborne.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Malpaso Productions,
 
Distributor
Bleecker Street Media
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
South Africa
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violent images and language
 
Year of Release
2016
 

 
Genre(s)
War/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Eye in the Sky, war, drama, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Barkhad Abdi, Iain Glen, Richard McCabe, directed by Gavin Hood, written by Guy Hibbert, produced by David Lancaster, Colin Firth, Ged Doherty, reviewed by Financial Times, National Newspaper Publishers Association, MovieFreak.com, Associated Press, News.com.au, London Evening Standard, Deep Focus Review, AWFJ Women on Film, Film Frenzy, Pauline Center for Media Studies, World Socialist Web Site, Fresh Kernels, box office gross $18.7M, MPAA rating R, drone missile strike, suicide bombers, Nairobi, Kenya, lieutenant general, colonel, political opposition, drone warfare, moral dilemma, suspense, female characters, innocent casualties, wartime choices, bias judgement, Oscar-caliber performance, bureaucracy of terrorism, desensitization to violence, drone operators
 

Cast & Crew

Dame Helen Mirren

Aaron Paul

Alan Rickman

Barkhad Abdi

Iain Glen

Colonel Katherine Powell

Steve Watts

Lieutenant General Frank Benson

Jama Farah

Foreign Secretary James Willett

Dame Helen Mirren – Colonel Katherine Powell
Aaron Paul – Steve Watts
Alan Rickman – Lieutenant General Frank Benson
Barkhad Abdi – Jama Farah
Iain Glen – Foreign Secretary James Willett
Richard McCabe – Attorney General George Matherson

 

Gavin Hood

Guy Hibbert

David Lancaster

Colin Firth

Ged Doherty

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Gavin Hood
 
Writer(s)
Guy Hibbert
 
Producer(s)
David Lancaster, Colin Firth, Ged Doherty

 

Film Festivals
Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 10 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Raphael Abraham

Dwight Brown

Sara Michelle Fetters

Jake Coyle

Wenlei Ma

Financial Times

National Newspaper Publishers Association

MovieFreak.com

Associated Press

News.com.au

EYE IN THE SKY
  All Critics (222) | Top Critics (54) | Fresh (210) | Rotten (12)
  Director Gavin Hood works the tension and the moral uncertainty to good effect but at times the film feels schematic and too much like revision.
 
  December 27, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Raphael Abraham
  Financial Times
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s hard to watch the film and not vacillate between wanting them to act, and wanting them to stand down.
 
  November 8, 2016
 
  Dwight Brown
  National Newspaper Publishers Association
  TOP CRITIC
  Hood and Hibbert’s procedural is a crackerjack affair in all the ways that count, and it’s safe to say it looks at this hot button issue in a way certain to get audiences talking afterward.
 
  August 11, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Sara Michelle Fetters
  MovieFreak.com
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a lean, Lumet-like thriller that puts the moral calculus of drone warfare in its crosshairs.
 
  April 27, 2016
 
  Jake Coyle
  Associated Press
  TOP CRITIC
  Director Gavin Hood has achieved something few could — he made what is essentially 100 minutes of people standing in rooms and staring at screens incredibly compelling. It’s a master class in suspense.
 
  April 27, 2016
 
  Wenlei Ma
  News.com.au
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a tense thriller about a single action, taking place in Nairobi, commanded from London, albeit piloted from Las Vegas – and its presentation of the moral dilemma about whether to strike or not is complex and wrenching.
 
  April 17, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Sexton
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  Considers a much larger canvas than the warfare itself, from the politicians approving drone missions to the undercover agents on the ground scouting them.
 
  April 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  Combining tense action with an exploration of the psychological demands, and impact, of modern drone warfare, Eye in the Sky also demonstrates that strong female characters can command the genre as resoundingly as their male counterparts.
 
  September 29, 2021
 
  Nikki Baughan
  AWFJ Women on Film
  To their enormous credit, director Gavin Hood and writer Guy Hibbert offer no easy answers and take no easy outs, electing instead to keep viewers as conflicted and uncomfortable as the characters on the screen.
 
  September 18, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Matt Brunson
  Film Frenzy
  Ethical dilemmas abound in “Eye in the Sky” and the filmmakers respect the audience enough that they don’t preach an easy conclusion.
 
  August 27, 2021
 
  Hosea Rupprecht
  Pauline Center for Media Studies
  It’s a riveting thriller in which nobody’s hands get dirty, but everyone’s are covered in blood.
 
  June 8, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Olly Richards
  NME
  The filmmakers end up adopting the viewpoint of the powers that be, the US and UK political establishment, the principal source of global terrorism.
 
  February 26, 2021
 
  Joanne Laurier
  World Socialist Web Site…

 

Plot
Colonel Katherine Powell (Dame Helen Mirren) is a U.K.-based military officer in command of a top secret drone operation to capture terrorists in Kenya. Through remote surveillance and on-the-ground intel, Powell discovers the targets are planning a suicide bombing and the mission escalates from “capture” to “kill”. But as American pilot Lieutenant Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) is about to engage, a nine-year old girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute, reaching the highest levels of U.S. and British government, over the moral, political, and personal implications of modern warfare.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Alan Rickman’s performance in Eye in the Sky was his last ever before his death in 2016.
 

 
Gavin-Hood.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Frenesy Film Company, La Cinéfacture RT Features,
 
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
El Paso, Texas, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, and language
 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama/Crime
 
Keyword(s)
starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya, Bernardo Saracino, Julio Cesar Cedillo, directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan, drama, crime, mystery, thriller, R rating, box office gross $46.9M, reviewed by Jason Bailey, Adam Nayman, Alison Willmore, Mark Kermode, Geoffrey Macnab, Vadim Rizov, Danilo Castro, Therese Lacson, Kip Mooney, Olly Richards, Joanne Laurier, Richard Crouse, Emily Blunt as Kate Macer, Benicio del Toro as Alejandro, Josh Brolin as Matt, produced by Basil Iwanyk, Edward L McDonnell, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Lionsgate Films, Dolby Digital sound mix
 

Cast & Crew

Emily Blunt

Benicio Del Toro

Josh Brolin

Victor Garber

Jon Bernthal

Kate Macer

Alejandro

Matt

Jennings

Ted

Emily Blunt – Kate Macer
Benicio Del Toro – Alejandro
Josh Brolin – Matt
Victor Garber – Jennings
Jon Bernthal – Ted
Daniel Kaluuya – Reggie

 

Denis Villeneuve

Taylor Sheridan

Basil Iwanyk

Edward L. McDonnell

Molly Smith

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Denis Villeneuve
 
Writer(s)
Taylor Sheridan
 
Producer(s)
Basil Iwanyk, Edward L. McDonnell, Molly Smith, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill

 

Film Festivals
Cannes, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
15 wins & 158 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Jason Bailey

Adam Nayman

Alison Willmore

Mark Kermode

Geoffrey Macnab

Flavorwire

Reverse Shot

BuzzFeed News

Observer (UK)

Independent (UK)

SICARIO
  All Critics (281) | Top Critics (65) | Fresh (258) | Rotten (23)
  It’s a thoughtful film, but also a visceral and affecting one, capturing the intensity of these raids and encounters.
 
  May 3, 2016
 
  Jason Bailey
  Flavorwire
  TOP CRITIC
  Sicario is as brilliantly made as Prisoners, perhaps even more so.
 
  December 7, 2015
 
  Adam Nayman
  Reverse Shot
  TOP CRITIC
  Gorgeously made, with a set piece taking place in tunnels underneath the border that conveys chaos without ever looking incoherent and a throbbing Jóhann Jóhannsson score that’s the sound of very bad things on the horizon.
 
  November 10, 2015
 
  Alison Willmore
  BuzzFeed News
  TOP CRITIC
  While Sicario may be guilty of exoticising the “murder capital” reputation of Juárez and its environs, it does so in a way that is horribly efficient, exploiting our anxieties and expectations with cruel precision.
 
  October 11, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Mark Kermode
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Sicario may leave an unpleasant taste but it is a slick, accomplished thriller.
 
  October 9, 2015
 
  Geoffrey Macnab
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A visceral, in-the-moment ride-along more than a movie to chew over for any length of time.
 
  October 8, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Vadim Rizov
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  The film’s message is troubling because it is often true: the longer we cling to our morals, the more susceptible we are to becoming sheep in a land of wolves.
 
  May 17, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Danilo Castro
  Next Best Picture
  Sicario offers nothing completely new within the genre (…) but it is still a heart-racing ride brilliantly casted (…) and brings a fresh take on a familiar story.
 
  October 9, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Therese Lacson
  Nerdophiles
  One of the most brutal, effective thrillers in recent memory.
 
  August 10, 2021 | Rating: A-
 
  Kip Mooney
  Central Track
  A thriller wound so tight that you’ll probably need a lie down and a sizeable drink afterwards.
 
  May 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Olly Richards
  NME
  Rooting a film … in personal revenge is one of the cheapest, laziest and most retrograde approaches possible.
 
  February 26, 2021
 
  Joanne Laurier
  World Socialist Web Site
  Isn’t a feel good movie about winning the war on drugs. Instead it’s a powerful look at a seemingly unwinnable battle and the toll it takes on its soldiers.
 
  February 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Richard Crouse
  Richard Crouse…

 

Plot
Kate Macer leads a Phoenix based kidnap response unit for the FBI. Following Kate’s team leading a raid on a known drug den in nearby Chandler, Kate is recruited to work on a special ops team led by Matt Graver of the CIA, he who is on special assignment for the Department of Defense. They recruited her because they wanted someone with tactical procedures knowledge. Outwardly, the team’s mission, which works behind a Delta Force team as its primary gun power as required, is to decapitate a Mexican drug cartel by capturing or dismembering the workings of the main players, cartel head Manuel Díaz, his second in command Guillermo Díaz (Manuel’s brother), and drug lord Fausto Alarcón. Kate agrees to the assignment as she feels the work of this team would be more effective in stopping the drug trade in the US than the piecemeal work of her current kidnap response unit. The third on the team is a mysterious Hispanic or Latino man Kate only knows as Alejandro, and who she does not fully trust as she can tell that he is suffering from a very traumatic past. When Kate and the team arrive in El Paso for their first mission, Kate learns that the team’s workings are not all they appear on the surface – many of the proceedings which would not be considered above board or legal – despite the end goal being as she knows it to be. Still largely in the dark and only given information on a need to know basis, Kate decides to stick it out with the team if only to discover all that she is not told while still believing in the end goal. She may have changing or at least mixed emotions as she learns more and more about what is going on, including the specific reason why she was recruited.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Benicio Del Toro’s character, Alejandro, is described as “intense and shadowy” by Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Denis-Villeneuve.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Alexander Nanau Production, Samsa Film, HBO Europe,
 
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for rude humor
 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
 
Keyword(s)
Shaun the Sheep Movie, PG, Comedy/Adventure, 1h 25m, directed by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, written by Mark Burton and Richard Starzak, produced by Julie Lockhart and Paul Kewley, starring Justin Fletcher as Shaun and Timmy, John Sparkes as The Farmer and Bitzer, Omid Djalili as Trumper, Richard Webber as Shirley, Kate Harbour as Timmy’s Mum and Meryl, Tim Hands as Slip, box office gross of $19.4M, reviewed by Charlotte O’Sullivan, Bill Goodykoontz, Udita Jhunjhunwala, Bilge Ebiri, Liz Braun, Brad Wheeler, Brian Eggert, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Allen Almachar, Pamela Hutchinson, Sarah Knight Adamson, more, Aardman Animations, stop-motion animation, animals, farm, big city, memory loss, slapstick, physical humor, pantomime, wordless communication, family-friendly, heartwarming, hilarious, charming, innocent, clever, smart, brilliantly animated, jewel, warm, funny
 

Cast & Crew

Justin Fletcher

John Sparkes

Omid Djalili

Richard Webber

Kate Harbour

Shaun

Timmy

The Farmer

Bitzer

Trumper

Justin Fletcher – Shaun, Timmy (Voice)
John Sparkes – The Farmer, Bitzer (Voice)
Omid Djalili – Trumper (Voice)
Richard Webber – Shirley (Voice)
Kate Harbour – Timmy’s Mum, Meryl (Voice)
Tim Hands – Slip (Voice)

 

Mark Burton

Mark Burton

Julie Lockhart

Paul Kewley

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
 
Writer(s)
Mark Burton, Richard Starzak
 
Producer(s)
Julie Lockhart, Paul Kewley

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
5 wins & 50 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Bill Goodykoontz

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Bilge Ebiri

Liz Braun

London Evening Standard

Arizona Republic

Scroll.in

New York Magazine/Vulture

Toronto Sun

SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE
 All Critics (171) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (170) | Rotten (1)
 Shaun will awaken the inner-tot in adults, and the inner-adult in tots.
 
 August 31, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Charlotte O’Sullivan
 London Evening Standard
 TOP CRITIC
 The Shaun the Sheep Movie manages to be smart, moving and hilarious without the inclusion of a single word of dialogue.
 
 August 31, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Bill Goodykoontz
 Arizona Republic
 TOP CRITIC
 A heartwarming, fun, smart experience is kneaded into a simple, delightful and insightful story.
 
 August 13, 2015
 
 Udita Jhunjhunwala
 Scroll.in
 TOP CRITIC
 Plenty of bigger, more grown-up movies could learn a thing or two from its humanity.
 
 August 7, 2015
 
 Bilge Ebiri
 New York Magazine/Vulture
 TOP CRITIC
 Shaun The Sheep is suitable entertainment for anyone who likes to laugh out loud.
 
 August 7, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Liz Braun
 Toronto Sun
 TOP CRITIC
 Visually appealing and animal friendly, Shaun the Sheep celebrates summer – a break in the routine, loving it on the lam.
 
 August 7, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Brad Wheeler
 Globe and Mail
 TOP CRITIC
 Delightfully free of the stifling commercial sensibilities embraced by today’s most popular animated features, the film may not venture into unexplored narrative territory, but its pleasures are clever, sweet, and often hilarious.
 
 May 29, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Brian Eggert
 Deep Focus Review
 Through outstanding slapstick, imaginatively choreographed chase sequences, and all manner of visual gags, an engaging story unfolds.
 
 December 4, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Mike Massie
 Gone With The Twins
 Yet another winner for the folks at Aardman.
 
 September 22, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
 
 Richard Propes
 TheIndependentCritic.com
 This is the cinematic equivalent of little puppies or kittens: it’s just impossible to hate.
 
 July 15, 2020 | Rating: B
 
 Allen Almachar
 The MacGuffin
 From its ease with wordless communication to the exuberant pleasure it takes in runaway vehicles and ludicrous chases, there’s no doubt that this film is suffused with the spirit of great silent comedy cinema.
 
 March 27, 2020
 
 Pamela Hutchinson
 Silent London
 All ages will enjoy this creative romp in the city and on the farm.
 
 January 22, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Sarah Knight Adamson
 Sarah’s Backstage Pass…

 

Plot
Tired of working on the farm, the special sheep, Shaun, takes his flock and the farmer’s dog, Bitzer, into his own “temporary escape plan” after an unexpected accident. Unfortunately, in the big city, the farmer is diagnosed with amnesia, that could possibly change their normal farm life forever, and the squad sets a plan in order to regain the farmer’s memory and return to the farm. But, an animal control worker named Trumper intervenes in their plan.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for Shaun the Sheep Movie.
 

 
Mark-Burton.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Preferred Content Sundial Pictures,
 
Distributor
IFC Films
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements
 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, pianist, passion, philosophy, Ethan Hawke, Greg Loser, Heather Smith, Ryan Hawke, PG, English, IFC Films, Seymour Bernstein, reviewed by Jason Bailey, Andrew Pulver, Tom Long, Joe Williams, Bruce Ingram, Peter Keough, Dan Scully, Leslie Combemale, Bernard Boo, Steve Erickson, Daniel Krauze, John Powers, directed by Ethan Hawke, produced by Greg Loser, Heather Smith, Ryan Hawke, box office gross, $580.0K, budget, MPAA rating, Seymour: An Introduction, audience score, critic reviews, audience reviews, verified purchase, Fresh Kernels, TV shows, movies, RT podcast, news, showtimes, actors, actresses, producers, writers, genre, streaming movies, theaters, limited release, documentary film, music education, piano lessons, life philosophy, teaching, performing, classical music, inspiration, motivation, happiness, satisfaction
 

Cast & Crew

Seymour Bernstein

Ethan Hawke

Greg Loser

Heather Smith

Ryan Hawke

Seymour Bernstein

Self

Ethan Hawke

Director

Greg Loser

Seymour Bernstein – Self
Ethan Hawke – Self, Director
Greg Loser – Producer
Heather Smith – Producer
Ryan Hawke – Producer

 

Ethan Hawke

NA

Greg Loser

Heather Smith

Ryan Hawke

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ethan Hawke
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Greg Loser, Heather Smith, Ryan Hawke

 

Film Festivals
Sundance, Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Jason Bailey

Andrew Pulver

Tom Long

Joe Williams

Bruce Ingram

Flavorwire

Guardian

Detroit News

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Chicago Sun-Times

SEYMOUR: AN INTRODUCTION
  All Critics (68) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (68)
  Not only a very fine documentary, but a warm and likable one to boot.
 
  June 18, 2016
 
  Jason Bailey
  Flavorwire
  TOP CRITIC
  There’s no pressing story to tell, or even especially vital achievement to record, so the film probably counts as bit of self-indulgence from Hawke, but it’s got a very good heart.
 
  March 24, 2016 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Andrew Pulver
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  The great joy of the film, whether you know piano or not, is watching Bernstein teach.
 
  April 10, 2015 | Rating: B
 
  Tom Long
  Detroit News
  TOP CRITIC
  Hawke’s cinematic etude may not unlock all the mysteries of music, but “Seymour: An Introduction” is universal enough to be understood by a bananafish.
 
  April 9, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Joe Williams
  St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  TOP CRITIC
  Coming off of his superb one-two performances for Richard Linklater in Before Midnight and Boyhood, Hawke continues to work at a creative high level. He demonstrates a rapport and openness with his subject that proves exceptionally affecting.
 
  March 26, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Bruce Ingram
  Chicago Sun-Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Whether or not Hawke got any answers to his questions about the purpose of being artist, seeking them under the guidance of a teacher like Bernstein resulted in this work of art.
 
  March 26, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Peter Keough
  Boston Globe
  TOP CRITIC
  Watching Seymour: An Introduction is like receiving a motivational speech from someone who is not just the best at what they do, but also the best person they can possible be.
 
  April 9, 2020
 
  Dan Scully
  Cinema76
  Gorgeously straightforward yet emotional.
 
  August 5, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Leslie Combemale
  Cinema Siren (YouTube)
  This is classy, dynamic filmmaking that reduced me to tears.
 
  March 14, 2019 | Rating: 8.5/10
 
  Bernard Boo
  Way Too Indie
  Academy Award or not, Hawke and Bernstein make a better case than Chazelle and J.K. Simmons.
 
  September 28, 2018
 
  Steve Erickson
  Nashville Scene
  Whether teaching, reviewing new pianos or demonstrating how he plays a specific piece, Bernstein radiates joy and enthusiasm.[Full review in Spanish]
 
  September 28, 2018
 
  Daniel Krauze
  El Financiero
  Gossip isn’t what [director Ethan] Hawke is after. No, what he’s after is no less than the secret of a happy, satisfying artistic life – heck, of a happy, satisfying life in general – and the delightful Bernstein seems to have figured it out.
 
  May 16, 2018
 
  John Powers
  NPR’s Fresh Air…

 

Plot
Seymour Bernstein, a pianist who gave up performing for teaching, discusses his passion for music and philosophy of life in this documentary directed by Ethan Hawke.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Seymour Bernstein, the subject of the documentary, is a former concert pianist who gave up performing to become a piano teacher.
 

 
Ethan-Hawke.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2014
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
starring James Randi, Alice Cooper, Neil deGrasse Tyson, directed by Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein, written by Tyler Measom, Greg O’Toole, Justin Weinstein, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Edelstein, Marc Savlov, Bill Goodykoontz, Richard Roeper, Ben Sachs, Moira MacDonald, Michael J Casey, C.J Prince, Stephen Saito, John Fink, Jonathan Kiefer, Tom Meek, producer Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein, MPAA rating, magic, escape artist, exposing fake psychics, faith-based swindlers, truth, American life, Herman Melville, hucksterism, show business, religion, self-deception
 

Cast & Crew

James Randi

Alice Cooper

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Tyler Measom

Justin Weinstein

James Randi

Alice Cooper

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Tyler Measom

Justin Weinstein

James Randi – self
Alice Cooper – self
Neil deGrasse Tyson – self
Tyler Measom – director, writer, producer
Justin Weinstein – director, writer, producer

 

Tyler Measom

Tyler Measom

Tyler Measom

Justin Weinstein

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein
 
Writer(s)
Tyler Measom, Greg O’Toole, Justin Weinstein
 
Producer(s)
Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein

 

Film Festivals
Tribeca
 
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 4 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Edelstein

Marc Savlov

Bill Goodykoontz

Richard Roeper

Ben Sachs

New York Magazine/Vulture

Austin Chronicle

Arizona Republic

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Reader

AN HONEST LIAR
  All Critics (41) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (1)
  Whatever his foibles, An Honest Liar depicts a great American original…
 
  November 3, 2020
 
  David Edelstein
  New York Magazine/Vulture
  TOP CRITIC
  Mankind may be awash in more con men and faith-based swindlers than ever, but precious few are bold enough to step forward into the light of reason, even for a million bucks. Bravo, Mr. Randi.
 
  April 16, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Marc Savlov
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  “An Honest Liar” is a fascinating look at what the truth means, and how it means different things to different people. It’s also a reminder that no one has a monopoly on it. Not even the Amazing Randi.
 
  April 9, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Bill Goodykoontz
  Arizona Republic
  TOP CRITIC
  Anyone who can challenges faith healers, psychics and mediums who claim a special bond with the dead – and often wins those challenges – deserves a standing ovation.
 
  March 27, 2015 | Rating: 3.0
 
  Richard Roeper
  Chicago Sun-Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Randi’s story suggests a modern-day footnote to Herman Melville’s novel The Confidence-Man, reflecting the strange interplay between show business, religion, and hucksterism in American life.
 
  March 20, 2015
 
  Ben Sachs
  Chicago Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  Randi’s a sly charmer, and an engaging guide through the film …
 
  March 20, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Moira MacDonald
  Seattle Times
  TOP CRITIC
  The trick of magic is to turn the act into a show, and ‘An Honest Liar’ is an enjoyable show.
 
  October 10, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Michael J. Casey
  Michael J. Cinema
  Weinstein and Measom’s documentary is fascinating and enjoyable for the most part, but it’s not without its flaws.
 
  June 21, 2019
 
  C.J. Prince
  Way Too Indie
  However, nothing compares to the momentum of a great story, and though “An Honest Liar” may occasionally get a little too crafty for its own good, when it works, it’s pure magic.
 
  November 15, 2018
 
  Stephen Saito
  Moveable Fest
  Comprehensive and fascinating, the filmmakers have crafted an engaging and entertaining portrait of a man who is paradoxically a likable and honest liar out to set the record straight.
 
  June 6, 2016 | Rating: A-
 
  John Fink
  The Film Stage
  An Honest Liar does entertainingly allow that for our peculiar species, true self-awareness sometimes requires a little self-deception.
 
  January 1, 2016
 
  Jonathan Kiefer
  SF Weekly
  In the end, when all the shells have been shuffled and it’s time to pull back the curtain, An Honest Liar is less about amazing you than it is about touching you.
 
  December 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Tom Meek
  Cambridge Day…

 

Plot
An Honest Liar is a documentary about James “the Amazing” Randi, a world-renowned magician and escape artist who dedicates his life to exposing fake psychics and others who claim paranormal powers.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features appearances from Alice Cooper and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
 

 
Tyler-Measom.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Kemp Company, Splendid Pictures,
 
Distributor
CNN Films, Radius TWC
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
The Hunting Ground, documentary, PG-13, Kirby Dick, Caroline Heldman, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Ziering, Andrea Pino, Amy Herdy, sexual assault, college campus, retaliation, harassment, justice, box office, budget, reviewed by Ariana Vives, Jason Bailey, Adam Graham, Moira MacDonald, Bill Goodykoontz, Chris Vognar, Stephen Saito, John Fink, MaryAnn Johanson, Glenn Dunks, Tom Meek, Kam Williams, CNN Films, Radius TWC, directed by Kirby Dick, written by Kirby Dick, produced by Kirby Dick, MPAA rating, disturbing thematic material, language, documentary genre, 2015 release, limited release, streaming release, critic reviews, audience score, verified purchase, Fresh Kernels
 

Cast & Crew

Caroline Heldman

Kirsten Gillibrand

Amy Ziering

Kirby Dick

Amy Herdy

Caroline Heldman

Kirsten Gillibrand

Amy Ziering

Kirby Dick

Amy Herdy

Caroline Heldman – self
Kirsten Gillibrand – self
Amy Ziering – self
Kirby Dick – self
Amy Herdy – self
Andrea Pino – self

 

Kirby Dick

Kirby Dick

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Kirby Dick
 
Writer(s)
Kirby Dick
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Ariana Vives

Jason Bailey

Adam Graham

Moira MacDonald

Bill Goodykoontz

Bitch Media

Flavorwire

Detroit News

Seattle Times

Arizona Republic

THE HUNTING GROUND
  All Critics (73) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (68) | Rotten (5)
  The Hunting Ground succeeds as a damning portrait of how colleges have allowed sexual assault to go unchecked, valuing their own reputations over the lives of vulnerable students.
 
  January 25, 2021
 
  Ariana Vives
  Bitch Media
  TOP CRITIC
  Stunning, powerful, infuriating.
 
  May 30, 2016
 
  Jason Bailey
  Flavorwire
  TOP CRITIC
  An important film to see for parents, students and anyone involved with academia.
 
  April 24, 2015 | Rating: B
 
  Adam Graham
  Detroit News
  TOP CRITIC
  Important but devastating viewing.
 
  April 17, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Moira MacDonald
  Seattle Times
  TOP CRITIC
  When and where your frustration and anger boil over while watching “The Hunting Ground” is an individual experience, one that will be different for everyone who sees it.
 
  April 16, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Bill Goodykoontz
  Arizona Republic
  TOP CRITIC
  The Hunting Ground qualifies as activist filmmaking. More power to it. You can read all the statistics you want, but there’s no substitute for bearing witness – especially in such overwhelming numbers.
 
  April 9, 2015 | Rating: A-
 
  Chris Vognar
  Dallas Morning News
  TOP CRITIC
  It has succeeded at something far greater by letting the audience come to know all the brave women and men it gets to come forward with their stories, putting a human face on this most inhumane of crimes.
 
  November 15, 2018
 
  Stephen Saito
  Moveable Fest
  A useful picture that should be required viewing at freshman orientation.
 
  February 23, 2016 | Rating: B+
 
  John Fink
  The Film Stage
  U.S. universities have plenty of financial incentives to minimize rape on campus, as this enraging film demonstrates. But there are women fighting back…
 
  February 8, 2016
 
  MaryAnn Johanson
  Flick Filosopher
  …in the moment (hey, there’s nothing that says documentarians have to abide by lawful definitions of “innocent until proven guilty”, I guess) there is an undeniable power to The Hunting Ground that is hard to ignore.
 
  January 20, 2016 | Rating: B
 
  Glenn Dunks
  The Film Experience
  The whole thing made me fearful for my daughter and ashamed. The Hunting Ground underscores all that and brings to light the faces wronged and those looking to make it stop.
 
  December 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Tom Meek
  Cambridge Day
  An unnerving expose about the proliferation of rape on college campuses across America.
 
  December 18, 2015 | Rating: 4/4
 
  Kam Williams
  Baret News…

 

Plot
The Hunting Ground is a documentary that sheds light on the issue of sexual assault on college campuses and the retaliation and harassment faced by survivors as they fight for justice.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast and crew section of The Hunting Ground on Fresh Kernels includes Andrea Pino, one of the survivors featured in the documentary.
 

 
Kirby-Dick.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Working Title Films,
 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
starring Kurt Cobain, directed by Brett Morgen, written by Brett Morgen, documentary, Nirvana, music career, childhood, personal archives, rare footage, unreleased footage, fans, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Judy Berman, reviewed by Jason Bailey, reviewed by Adam Nayman, reviewed by Sarah Larson, reviewed by Verne Gay, reviewed by Dan Fienberg, reviewed by Michael J Casey, reviewed by C.J Prince, reviewed by Nick Evan-Cook, reviewed by Helen Razer, reviewed by Asia Frey, reviewed by Daniel Krauze, producer Brett Morgen, producer Danielle Renfew Behrens, MPAA rating, Universal Pictures
 

Cast & Crew

Aaron Burckhard

Don Cobain

Jenny Cobain

Kim Cobain

Jason Everman

Aaron Burckhard

Don Cobain

Jenny Cobain

Kim Cobain

Jason Everman

Aaron Burckhard – Self
Don Cobain – Self
Jenny Cobain – Self
Kim Cobain – Self
Jason Everman – Self
Courtney Love – Self

 

Brett Morgen

Brett Morgen

Brett Morgen

Danielle Renfew Behrens

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Brett Morgen
 
Writer(s)
Brett Morgen
 
Producer(s)
Brett Morgen, Danielle Renfew Behrens

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys
4 wins & 17 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Judy Berman

Jason Bailey

Adam Nayman

Sarah Larson

Verne Gay

Flavorwire

The Walrus

New Yorker

Newsday

HitFix

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK
  All Critics (94) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (91) | Rotten (3)
  Of the many films that have been made about Kurt Cobain, documentary and fiction, [director Brett] Morgen’s is the best because what it leaves us with is the one thing that most defined his life: empathy.
 
  September 21, 2017
 
  Judy Berman
  Flavorwire
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a rare profile that’s about the person instead of the personality, the artist instead of the art.
 
  May 30, 2016
 
  Jason Bailey
  Flavorwire
  TOP CRITIC
  Montage of Heck isn’t an investigation into its subject’s death so much as an homage to his creativity and life force — it’s tender and sad.
 
  February 29, 2016
 
  Adam Nayman
  The Walrus
  TOP CRITIC
  We see-almost from the inside-the evolution of Cobain’s sensitive brilliance and the art and destruction that it fed.
 
  January 4, 2016
 
  Sarah Larson
  New Yorker
  TOP CRITIC
  Morgen and his editors have simply done a remarkable job — also an artful one — in piecing together this residuum.
 
  January 3, 2016 | Rating: A-
 
  Verne Gay
  Newsday
  TOP CRITIC
  Montage of Heck is about the representation and self-representation of Kurt Cobain, a fascinating process for any figure whose entire fame was based on modes of self-representation.
 
  January 3, 2016 | Rating: B+
 
  Dan Fienberg
  HitFix
  TOP CRITIC
  Two decades on, the life and work of Kurt Cobain is still being discussed, consumed and processed. Montage of Heck doesn’t just contribute to that conversation; it elevates it to a whole new level.
 
  July 2, 2019
 
  Michael J. Casey
  Boulder Weekly
  It’s inherently fascinating material, but Morgen’s attempt to delve deep into Cobain’s life doesn’t prove to be especially illuminating.
 
  June 5, 2019
 
  C.J. Prince
  Way Too Indie
  Cobain’s music and his striking artwork coalesce to help us understand his mind – however the rest of this documentary plays it a little too safe to take us much further.
 
  May 10, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Nick Evan-Cook
  One Room With A View
  The most depressing, tragic and, of course, marketable version is presented here and what we have is not good record but Sundance-friendly miserablism…
 
  May 7, 2019
 
  Helen Razer
  The Daily Review/Crikey
  Seeing him through the eyes of his parents was the most poignant segment in a very detailed and moving documentary about his artistically fruitful, personally painful and very short life.
 
  August 22, 2018
 
  Asia Frey
  Lagniappe (Mobile, AL)
  Fortunately, the original material of Montage of Heck is so captivating that [director Brett] Morgen’s intrusions do not ruin the multifaceted portrait we get of Cobain… [Full review in Spanish]
 
  January 12, 2018
 
  Daniel Krauze
  El Financiero…

 

Plot
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck is a documentary that uses personal archives to examine the life, music career, and untimely death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with Kurt Cobain’s family members, including his parents and his wife Courtney Love.
 

 
Brett-Morgen.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Das Films, David Sonenberg Production Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
 
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic material and language
 
Year of Release
2015
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
Red Army, hockey, Soviet Union, Russian Five, coach, Slava Fetisov, documentary, Gabe Polsky, PG, English, Sony Pictures Classics, box office, gross USA, $728.7K, critic reviews, reviewed by Simran Hans, Tara Brady, Mark Kermode, Philip De Semlyen, Kate Muir, Peter Bradshaw, Chris McCoy, Mattie Lucas, Patrick Gamble, Bernard Boo, MPAA rating, produced by Gabe Polsky, directed by Gabe Polsky, written by Gabe Polsky, Scotty Bowman, Viacheslav Fetisov, Anatoli Karpov, Alexei Kasatonov, Ken Kurtis, genre, sports, politics, culture, Cold War, Perestroika, Putin, Irish Times, Observer, Empire Magazine, Times, Guardian, Memphis Flyer, Way Too Indie, Bowling Green Daily News
 

Cast & Crew

Scotty Bowman

Viacheslav Fetisov

Anatoli Karpov

Alexei Kasatonov

Ken Kurtis

Scotty Bowman

Viacheslav Fetisov

Anatoli Karpov

Alexei Kasatonov

Ken Kurtis

Scotty Bowman – Self
Viacheslav Fetisov – Himself, Voice
Anatoli Karpov – Himself, Voice
Alexei Kasatonov – Himself, Voice
Ken Kurtis – Himself, Voice
Gabe Polsky – Director, Producer, Writer

 

Gabe Polsky

Gabe Polsky

Gabe Polsky

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Gabe Polsky
 
Writer(s)
Gabe Polsky
 
Producer(s)
Gabe Polsky

 

Film Festivals
Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 11 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Simran Hans

Tara Brady

Mark Kermode

Philip De Semlyen

Kate Muir

Little White Lies

Irish Times

Observer (UK)

Empire Magazine

Times (UK)

RED ARMY
  All Critics (101) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (8)
  By focusing less on his characters and more on a supposed dark side of Russian hockey, Polsky’s film is less documentary than it is didacticism.
 
  August 1, 2017 | Rating: 2/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  There’s a lesson here for fans of any contemporary sport and an absolutely thrilling tale, impeccably assembled besides. Sporting glory awaits, even for those viewers who couldn’t tell a jockstrap from a jellybean.
 
  February 25, 2016 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Tara Brady
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Polsky’s documentary is nominally about ice hockey, but culture and politics provide the driving force as the Russians go head to head with the Americans in a battle of ideology, economics and art.
 
  October 11, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Mark Kermode
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The interviews are as entertaining as the slick interplay on the ice.
 
  October 8, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Philip De Semlyen
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Who knew that a documentary on the Soviet Union’s Red Army ice hockey team would be so gripping and provide a perfect microcosm of the stages of the Cold War, Perestroika and Putin’s reign?
 
  October 8, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kate Muir
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A fascinating and touching tale.
 
  October 8, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Peter Bradshaw
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  I’m not much of a sportsman, much less a hockey fan, but this meticulously crafted documentary is a knockout.
 
  January 9, 2020
 
  Chris McCoy
  Memphis Flyer
  Takes a strong subject and renders it toothless and forgettable.
 
  August 7, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
 
  Mattie Lucas
  From the Front Row
  Red Army ultimately fails to deliver anything other than a superficial account of the USSR’s sporting history and the role of sport in the Soviet Union.
 
  April 8, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Patrick Gamble
  CineVue
  Red Army is most stirring when it examines the painful inner-struggle of these men who left behind a country and government that took a heavy toll on their lives, but who could also never abandon their innate sense of nationalistic pride.
 
  March 19, 2019 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Bernard Boo
  Way Too Indie
  What makes “Red Army” so interesting is how it also works as a statement on what it was like from the Soviet perspective during the Cold War era.
 
  January 23, 2019 | Rating: B
 
  Micheal Compton
  Bowling Green Daily News
  The story loses some of its grip after Glasnost and the eventual move of many of the top Russian players to the big money ranks of the NHL, but Fetisov is a fascinating, complex character, a real Russian soul.
 
  August 22, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Alison Rowat
  The Herald (Scotland)…

 

Plot
Red Army is a documentary about the Soviet Union’s Red Army ice hockey team, focusing on the story of hockey captain Slava Fetisov and four other players who form a nearly unbeatable unit known as the “Russian Five,” but their coach’s brutal regimen leads Fetisov and others to defect from the Soviet Union.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Viacheslav Fetisov, a former hockey captain, is the central figure in the documentary Red Army, which explores the rise and fall of the Soviet Union’s hockey team.
 

 
Gabe-Polsky.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Queens, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
 
Year of Release
2014
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, biography, Nas, Illmatic, One9, Anthony Saleh, Erik Parker, Cornel West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes, Alicia Keys, hip-hop, music, album, recording, childhood, Queensbridge, New York, rapper, groundbreaking, influential, box office, gross, budget, critic reviews, reviewed by Charles Bramesco, Candice Frederick, Alex King, Wendy Ide, Henry Barnes, Nick De Semlyen, Angus Batey, Toni Tileva, Tom Watson, John Fink, Amber Wilkinson, Simon Miraudo, MPAA rating, comprehensive, absorbing, brisk, well-informed, inessential, making-of, featurette, celebration, cultural discourse, soundtrack, emotional, snapshot, hagiography, humbling, ordered history, facts, childhood, thoughts, artist, life, influence, generations, audience score, ratings, streaming, release date, photos, cast, crew, director, producer, writer, English, runtime, showtimes, TV shows, most popular, trending, Thor, Love and Thunder, Marvel, Minions, The Rise of Gru, The Sea Beast, Black Bird, 18 1/2, H.P Lovecraft’s Witch House, 11th Hour Cleaning, Sh*t Saves the World, Stay Prayed Up, Final Caller, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
 

Cast & Crew

Nas

Cornel West

Pharrell Williams

Swizz Beatz

Busta Rhymes

Nas

Cornel West

Pharrell Williams

Swizz Beatz

Busta Rhymes

Nas – self
Cornel West – self
Pharrell Williams – self
Swizz Beatz – self
Busta Rhymes – self
Alicia Keys – self
Anthony Saleh – producer
One9 – director, producer
Erik Parker – producer, writer

 

One9

Erik Parker

Anthony Saleh

One9

Erik Parker

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
One9
 
Writer(s)
Erik Parker
 
Producer(s)
Anthony Saleh, One9, Erik Parker

 

Film Festivals
Tribeca
 
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Charles Bramesco

Candice Frederick

Alex King

Wendy Ide

Henry Barnes

Movie Mezzanine

Reel Talk Online

Little White Lies

Times (UK)

Guardian

TIME IS ILLMATIC
  All Critics (41) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (1)
  Time Is Illmatic is well-informed but inessential, a making-of featurette barely expanded to feature length at a trim 74 minutes.
 
  July 15, 2020 | Rating: C+
 
  Charles Bramesco
  Movie Mezzanine
  TOP CRITIC
  Just as “Illmatic” brought people from all across the globe a little closer to Queensbridge, Nas: Time is Illmatic draws audiences closer to hip-hop.
 
  September 1, 2017 | Rating: A-
 
  Candice Frederick
  Reel Talk Online
  TOP CRITIC
  An essential celebration of the New York rapper’s groundbreaking 1994 album.
 
  October 30, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Alex King
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  A strikingly photographed and genuinely revealing exploration of the early influences that formed one of the most distinctive voices in rap.
 
  October 23, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Flirts with glamorising the rags-to-rap-to-riches story, but in doing so stays true to its subject.
 
  October 23, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Henry Barnes
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  Here’s 74 minutes well spent.
 
  October 20, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Nick De Semlyen
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Parker and One9 deserve huge credit for treating their subject with suitable, but unusual, respect and reverence.
 
  May 18, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Angus Batey
  NME
  Time Is Illmatic lovingly and honestly chronicles the making of an album that would influence many generations after its release.
 
  July 15, 2020
 
  Toni Tileva
  Brightest Young Things
  One9 opts for celebration over cultural discourse. It proves a minor shortcoming when you allow yourself to revel in the raw energy of Time Is Illmatic’s predictably perfect soundtrack.
 
  April 3, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tom Watson
  CineVue
  Brief, informative and direct, the historical details post-Illmatic grow less interesting, yet the film’s first half is electric and engaging.
 
  February 26, 2016 | Rating: B
 
  John Fink
  The Film Stage
  The result, directed by graffiti artist and first-time director One9 is less an ordered history of facts than an emotional snapshot of the artist’s childhood and thoughts about where he is today.
 
  January 4, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Amber Wilkinson
  Eye for Film
  As humbling as hagiographies come.
 
  December 1, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Simon Miraudo
  Quickflix…

 

Plot
Time Is Illmatic is a feature length documentary film that delves deep into the making of Nas’ 1994 debut album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation. Twenty years after its release, Illmatic has become a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the socio-political outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young black men searching for their voice in America.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Time Is Illmatic includes rapper Nas, Cornel West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes, and Alicia Keys.
 

 
One9.jpg