Production Company(ies)
Mad As Birds G-B A S E Head Gear Films,
 
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for nude art images
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, drama, art world, Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi, expensive painting, auction house, authenticity, power players, hidden agendas, richest men, art institutions, brushstrokes, restoration, fame, money, power, heist thriller, colorful characters, critic reviews, PG-13, Andreas Koefoed, Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Christoph Jörg, Duska Zagorac, Mark Monroe, Christian Kirk Muff, Jerry Saltz, Dianne Dwyer Modestini, Martin Kemp, Robert K Wittman, Doug Patteson, Alexandra Bregman, Sony Pictures Classics, box office, gross USA, $450 million, budget, reviewed by, produced by, directed by, written by, starring
 

Cast & Crew

Jerry Saltz

Dianne Dwyer Modestini

Martin Kemp

Robert K. Wittman

Doug Patteson

Jerry Saltz

Dianne Dwyer Modestini

Martin Kemp

Robert K. Wittman

Doug Patteson

Jerry Saltz – Self
Dianne Dwyer Modestini – Self
Martin Kemp – Self
Robert K. Wittman – Self
Doug Patteson – Self
Alexandra Bregman – Self

 

Andreas Koefoed

Andreas Koefoed

Andreas Møl Dalsgaard

Christoph Jörg

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Andreas Koefoed
 
Writer(s)
Andreas Koefoed, Duska Zagorac, Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Mark Monroe, Christian Kirk Muff, Andreas Koefoed
 
Producer(s)
Andreas Møl Dalsgaard, Christoph Jörg

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
4 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Sandra Hall

Peter Bradshaw

Kevin Maher

Raphael Abraham

Josh Kupecki

Sydney Morning Herald

Guardian

Times (UK)

Financial Times

Austin Chronicle

THE LOST LEONARDO
  All Critics (80) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (2)
  There have been several recent films about the pressures dictating prices on the international art market, but none have been as instructive — or as enthralling — as The Lost Leonardo.
 
  December 6, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Sandra Hall
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  Perhaps Da Vinci should have painted Christ throwing the art dealers out of the temple.
 
  September 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Peter Bradshaw
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  Sweet heavens, this is strong.
 
  September 10, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The unknown becomes the unknowable. In this story, all interests are vested, and the most esteemed authorities can be – at best – winging it.
 
  September 8, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Raphael Abraham
  Financial Times
  TOP CRITIC
  The re-creations of clandestine meetings and shots of faceless men transporting the painting can be a bit cloak-and-dagger cheesy, [but] that’s the only stumble in a film that tells a strange tale populated by a cast of eccentric and dangerous characters.
 
  September 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Josh Kupecki
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  Really, “The Lost Leonardo” is a detective story. Like any good detective story, it’s also a morality tale.
 
  September 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Mark Feeney
  Boston Globe
  TOP CRITIC
  A detective story of a doco. It isn’t a new approach, let alone a unique or unusual one, but it savvily relies upon the combined force of a ripping yarn and rollicking storytelling.
 
  July 8, 2022
 
  Sarah Ward
  Concrete Playground
  Does what the best documentaries do: opens a door to an insular world and extends its scope to become something else entirely, showing how this small world can create ripples that expand throughout the larger world.
 
  May 10, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
  Dan Bayer
  Next Best Picture
  Even for audiences who do not care about the art industry or do not normally seek out documentaries, this is juicy and shocking enough to be a rewarding and engaging viewing experience.
 
  February 22, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Clapper
  The jury is still out as to whether it is the ultimate status symbol or the most expensive dud ever sold to a rich, naive collector.
 
  January 7, 2022
 
  John McDonald
  Australian Financial Review
  Properly captures the sense of dread, corruption, and duplicity that lurks at the heart of the art world.
 
  October 27, 2021
 
  Nathanael Hood
  Unseen Films
  What happened in the 12 years between 2005 and 2019, when the Paris Louvre planned it as part of a special exhibition, is as intriguing as a potboiler fiction
 
  October 22, 2021 | Rating: B+
 
  Lynn Venhaus
  Webster-Kirkwood Times…

 

Plot
The Lost Leonardo is the inside story behind the Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting ever sold at $450 million. From the moment the painting is bought for $1175 at a shady New Orleans auction house, and the restorer discovers masterful Renaissance brushstrokes under the heavy varnish of its cheap restoration, the Salvator Mundi’s fate is determined by an insatiable quest for fame, money and power. As its price soars, so do the questions about its authenticity: is this painting really by Leonardo da Vinci? Unravelling the hidden agendas of the richest men and the most powerful art institutions in the world, The Lost Leonardo reveals how vested interests in the Salvator Mundi are of such tremendous power that truth becomes secondary.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The Lost Leonardo features interviews with art world experts and insiders, including Jerry Saltz, Dianne Dwyer Modestini, and Martin Kemp.
 

 
Andreas-Koefoed.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Fox Searchlight Pictures, Voletta Wallace Films, Bystorm Films,
 
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and brief nudity
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama/Romance
 
Keyword(s)
I Carry You with Me, drama, romance, LGBTQ+, Spanish language, directed by Heidi Ewing, written by Heidi Ewing, produced by Edher Campos, Heidi Ewing, Mynette Louie, Gabriela Maire, starring Armando Espitia, Christian Vázquez, Michelle Rodríguez, Ángeles Cruz, Raúl Briones, Arcelia Ramírez, reviewed by Phuong Le, Chandler Levack, David Fear, Jenny Nulf, Ty Burr, Randy Myers, Dan Bayer, David Reddish, Laura Hiros, Witney Seibold, Chris Knight, Pat Mullen, R-rated, box office gross $166.0K, based on true love, aspiring chef, teacher, societal pressure, NYC, dreams, hopes, memories, immigration, journey, obstacles
 

Cast & Crew

Armando Espitia

Christian Vazquez

Michelle Rodríguez

Ángeles Cruz

Raúl Briones

Iván

Gerardo

Sandra

Rosa Maria

Marcos

Armando Espitia – Iván
Christian Vazquez – Gerardo
Michelle Rodríguez – Sandra
Ángeles Cruz – Rosa Maria
Raúl Briones – Marcos
Arcelia Ramírez – Magda
Heidi Ewing – Director/Writer
Edher Campos – Producer
Mynette Louie – Producer
Gabriela Maire – Producer

 

Heidi Ewing

Heidi Ewing

Edher Campos

Heidi Ewing

Mynette Louie

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Heidi Ewing
 
Writer(s)
Heidi Ewing
 
Producer(s)
Edher Campos, Heidi Ewing, Mynette Louie, Gabriela Maire

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 25 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Phuong Le

Chandler Levack

David Fear

Jenny Nulf

Ty Burr

Guardian

Globe and Mail

Rolling Stone

Austin Chronicle

Boston Globe

I CARRY YOU WITH ME
  All Critics (92) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (89) | Rotten (3)
  A fascinating – though at times uneven – blend of film styles.
 
  September 14, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Phuong Le
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  This flawed but powerful immigrant love story is worthy of the big screen.
 
  August 19, 2021
 
  Chandler Levack
  Globe and Mail
  TOP CRITIC
  The overall feeling here is ethereal, dreamy, moody, memory-like — a more user-friendly Terence Malick vibe. It is a gorgeous film, and one that deserves to be seen on a giant screen.
 
  August 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Fear
  Rolling Stone
  TOP CRITIC
  Admirable efforts aside, I Carry You With Me is still an enchanting mix of drama and romance, but also a timely, poetic love letter to Iván’s home country, Mexico
 
  July 16, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Jenny Nulf
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  The film is a big hug, but the “you” of the title is a homeland, and it is many miles away.
 
  July 1, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Ty Burr
  Boston Globe
  TOP CRITIC
  If you’re a sucker for love stories about couples overcoming obstacles, Heidi Ewing’s low-key indie is a find.
 
  July 1, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Randy Myers
  San Jose Mercury News
  TOP CRITIC
  This is the kind of film that makes one’s heart grow three sizes while watching it and considering the amount of Grinch-like behavior in the United States in 2020, it’s difficult to think of something more necessary.
 
  May 13, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Dan Bayer
  Next Best Picture
  Ewing, in her narrative debut, proves herself a gentile and empathetic director.
 
  March 13, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
  David Reddish
  Queerty
  A love story that transcends decades. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  December 17, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Laura Hiros
  Rincón de cine
  A casual, meandering narrative only stands to strengthen the loving relationship between these two men. A warm, caring homage to real people.
 
  September 17, 2021
 
  Witney Seibold
  Critically Acclaimed Podcast
  [I Carry You with Me is] an affecting story of a journey of discovery. But to borrow a metaphor from the chef’s-tale part of its plot, it may have bitten off more than it can comfortably chew.
 
  August 20, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/5
 
  Chris Knight
  National Post
  How many love stories can say they’ve spanned decades, crossed borders, and traversed genres?
 
  August 19, 2021
 
  Pat Mullen
  POV Magazine…

 

Plot
I Carry You With Me is a decades-spanning romance that follows the journey of an aspiring chef and a teacher from Mexico to NYC, as they navigate societal pressures and their own dreams and memories.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no information about the film TURN ON REALITY or its cast on this page.
 

 
Heidi-Ewing.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
CNN Films, HBO Max Tremolo Productions,
 
Distributor
Neon
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Portland, Oregon, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some violence
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, Adam Arkin, Nina Belforte, Cassandra Violet, Julia Bray, directed by Michael Sarnoski, written by Michael Sarnoski, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Wenlei Ma, Jake Wilson, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Simran Hans, Clarisse Loughrey, Linda Marric, Sean Axmaker, Ruben Peralta Rigaud, Dan Bayer, Kyle Smith, Carla Hay, Nicolas Cage as Rob, Alex Wolff as Amir, Adam Arkin as Darius, Nina Belforte as Charlotte, Cassandra Violet as Lori, Julia Bray as Bree, produced by Vanessa Block, Dimitra Tsingou, Thomas Benski, Ben Giladi, Dori A Rath, Joseph Restaino, David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, Steve Tisch, MPAA rating R, truffle hunter, stolen pig, Portland, Oregon wilderness, melancholic, poignant, loss, love, affectingly raw performance, emotional, meditative, reflective, character study, nuanced, accessible, compassionate, humane, encouraging, force for good, urgency of time, passions, selective families, Nicolas Cage’s finest performance, surprising narrative, profound messages, well-written, well-acted, profound messages, twists and turns, emotionally moving story, standout performance
 

Cast & Crew

Nicolas Cage

Rob

Alex Wolff

Amir

Adam Arkin

Rob

Amir

Darius

Charlotte

Lori

Nicolas Cage – Rob
Alex Wolff – Amir
Adam Arkin – Darius
Nina Belforte – Charlotte
Cassandra Violet – Lori
Julia Bray – Bree (Formerly Tweakette)
Michael Sarnoski – Director/Writer
Vanessa Block – Producer
Dimitra Tsingou – Producer
Thomas Benski – Producer
Ben Giladi – Producer
Dori A. Rath – Producer
Joseph Restaino – Producer
David Carrico – Producer
Adam Paulsen – Producer
Steve Tisch – Producer

 

Michael Sarnoski

Michael Sarnoski

Vanessa Block

Dimitra Tsingou

Thomas Benski

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Michael Sarnoski
 
Writer(s)
Michael Sarnoski
 
Producer(s)
Vanessa Block, Dimitra Tsingou, Thomas Benski, Ben Giladi, Dori A. Rath, Joseph Restaino, David Carrico, Adam Paulsen, Steve Tisch, Nicolas Cage

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
35 wins & 69 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Wenlei Ma

Jake Wilson

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Simran Hans

Clarisse Loughrey

News.com.au

The Age

ABC Radio

Observer

Independent

PIG
  All Critics (258) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (249) | Rotten (9)
  If you have an open mind, you will be rewarded with a melancholic and poignant story, and a superb, triumphant performance from Cage who has no trouble reminding audiences that he is an Oscar winner capable of incredible range and depth.
 
  November 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Wenlei Ma
  News.com.au
  TOP CRITIC
  There are few actors who could pull off this tonal balancing act as successfully as Cage… Over the years, some have questioned how far he’s in on his own joke — but at this point, there’s no doubting his finely tuned sense of the ridiculous.
 
  October 13, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Jake Wilson
  The Age (Australia)
  TOP CRITIC
  A deeply moving film with twists and turns that few could see coming, Pig is – amongst other things – a timely reminder of just how good Nicolas Cage is at his job.
 
  September 22, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
  ABC Radio (Australia)
  TOP CRITIC
  Though the film is teed up as a kind of John Wick-style revenge bender, Cage’s star persona is soon smartly subverted.
 
  August 21, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Pig shouldn’t be a revelation to anyone who’s been following these men’s careers, but it’s a perfect reminder of how easily we can underestimate people.
 
  August 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Action-packed and yet gently meditative.
 
  August 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Linda Marric
  The Jewish Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  [Nicolas Cage] brings a grace to his scenes in the kitchen, showing us a man whose respect for the raw materials of his dishes borders on spiritual and whose ease with the tools of the trade reveals a mastery born of experience.
 
  July 5, 2022
 
  Sean Axmaker
  Stream on Demand
  Tranquil, and sensible.
  [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 16, 2022
 
  Ruben Peralta Rigaud
  Cocalecas
  A stunning, spellbinding piece of cinema.
 
  May 10, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Dan Bayer
  Next Best Picture
  Dark, brooding yet surprisingly sentimental, Pig takes a simple concept of a truffle hunter looking for his stolen pig and turns this offbeat mystery into an emotionally moving story. The film’s main appeal is a standout performance by Nicolas Cage.
 
  April 18, 2022
 
  Carla Hay
  Culture Mix
  At no point did I forget that I was watching a Nicolas Cage performance. This supposedly heartfelt little drama feels forced from beginning to end.
 
  March 9, 2022
 
  Kyle Smith
  National Review
  Like finding a truffle in the mud, Pig may be rough around the edges but offers something very different. If you only see one of the three Nicolas Cage films out this year, make it this.
 
  March 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM…

 

Plot
With his only connection to the outside world lying in Portland businessman Amir, taciturn, meditative hermit Rob has found solace deep in the heart of the dense Oregon forests and the unique bond with his only companion: his beloved truffle-hunting pig. Tired of grappling with the profound sadness of prolonged grief, Rob relies on a simple daily routine to keep his sanity, self-respect, and dignity, utterly unaware that he has already caught unwanted attention. Now, his best friend is missing, and revenge can only make things worse. Indeed, strange as it sounds, inconsolable Rob only wants his pig back, and if he has to, he’ll go to the edge of the world to find her. But first things first. Who has Rob’s pig?
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Nicolas Cage gives a “standout performance” in Pig, according to Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Michael-Sarnoski.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Hecht-Lancaster Productions, Steven Productions,
 
Distributor
Focus Features
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence including sexual assault, language throughout, some sexual material and drug use
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Mystery & thriller
 
Keyword(s)
Promising Young Woman, Carey Mulligan, Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, comedy, mystery, thriller, R rating, box office, $6.4M, Dolby Atmos, Scope, 2.35:1, reviewed by Alessa Dominguez, Udita Jhunjhunwala, Wendy Ide, Siddhant Adlakha, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, Desirée De Fez, Cole Smithey, James Luxford, David Gonzalez, Brian Eggert, Nick Boyd, audience score 87%, directed by Emerald Fennell, written by Emerald Fennell, starring Carey Mulligan, Laverne Cox, Bo Burnham, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Focus Features, English, released Dec 25, 2020, streaming Jan 15, 2021, reviewed by 412 critics, 372 fresh, 40 rotten, 1h 53m
 

Cast & Crew

Carey Mulligan

Laverne Cox

Bo Burnham

Clancy Brown

Jennifer Coolidge

Cassandra

Gail

Ryan

Stanley

Susan

Carey Mulligan – Cassandra
Laverne Cox – Gail
Bo Burnham – Ryan
Clancy Brown – Stanley
Jennifer Coolidge – Susan
Christopher Mintz-Plasse – Neil

 

Emerald Fennell

Emerald Fennell

Margot Robbie

Josey McNamara

Tom Ackerley

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Emerald Fennell
 
Writer(s)
Emerald Fennell
 
Producer(s)
Margot Robbie, Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
116 wins & 193 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Alessa Dominguez

Udita Jhunjhunwala

Wendy Ide

Siddhant Adlakha

Charlotte O’Sullivan

BuzzFeed News

Scroll.in

Observer (UK)

London Evening Standard

Times (UK)

PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
  All Critics (412) | Top Critics (71) | Fresh (372) | Rotten (40)
  The film’s take on power and trauma is deeper than the usual pop feminism.
 
  April 5, 2022
 
  Alessa Dominguez
  BuzzFeed News
  TOP CRITIC
  Fennell and Mulligan deliver what they promise, from the design and performances to the tension and provocation.
 
  August 19, 2021
 
  Udita Jhunjhunwala
  Scroll.in
  TOP CRITIC
  Mulligan’s withering disdain is a thing of beauty.
 
  April 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Whenever Promising Young Woman approaches challenging material, it treats it like a hot stove and snaps its hand back as if on instinct.
 
  April 17, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
  Siddhant Adlakha
  Observer
  TOP CRITIC
  The plot definitely has less plausible patches. Then again, because everything’s so stylised, the lapses of logic don’t grate. And though the upbeat ending has irked some critics, I adored it.
 
  April 17, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  Strong movies divide reactions. The great ones truly polarise. This is somewhere perfectly, smartly, sweetly in between.
 
  April 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The much-needed combination of courage and anger is a delicate cocktail. In Promising Young Woman, this intense cocktail spills and causes a tonal discord… Yet, it would be unfair to cling onto those flaws. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 14, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Desirée De Fez
  Fotogramas
  Frat boy mentality goes straight to hell.
  Romance this.
 
  March 23, 2022 | Rating: A+
 
  Cole Smithey
  ColeSmithey.com
  Promising Young Woman takes risks to shine a light on a troubling subject, bringing the best out of both director and star.
 
  March 2, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Promising Young Woman is one of the best and most original films of the year. It can take an overused sub-genre and create a movie that respectfully explores prominent social issues while keeping cinephiles enthralled and entertained.
 
  February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  David Gonzalez
  Reel Talk Inc.
  With its tonal imbalance and provocative choices, it’s an experience designed to incite debate among viewers.
 
  February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  “Promising Young Woman,” a provocative and uncompromising dark drama.
 
  December 28, 2021
 
  Nick Boyd
  Battle Royale With Cheese…

 

Plot
Pushing thirty, and defined by a hideous crime involving her bosom friend, Nina, emotionally scarred medical school dropout, Cassie, knows firsthand that some wounds never heal. Leading an uneventful existence, still living with her parents, waiting tables at a cheap coffee shop to earn a living, Cassie has found the perfect way to deal with the painful past. Dressed to kill, at night, Cassie frequents the local bars and nightclubs, pretending to be dead-drunk, utterly helpless and vulnerable. And, every week, lethally beautiful Cassie is on the prowl for all sorts of nocturnal predators and other wolves in sheep’s clothing, who are unaware that, sometimes, the hunter can become the prey. Then, Ryan, a kindly and caring old classmate who is the bee’s knees, enters the picture, and just like that, Cassie wants out. However, everybody knows that breaking bad habits is easier said than done. Could Ryan be the one?
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing goofy or funny or odd is said about the film or anyone in the cast.
 

 
Emerald-Fennell.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Bandai Visual Company, Cine Qua Non Films, Engine Film
 
Distributor
Kino Lorber
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Identifying Features, Drama, Spanish, Fernanda Valadez, Jack Zagha Kababie, Astrid Rondero, Yossy Zagha, Mercedes Hernández, David Illescas, Juan Jesús Varela, Ana Laura Rodríguez, Armando García, Laura Elena Ibarra, reviewed by Adam Nayman, Simran Hans, Peter Bradshaw, Ty Burr, Carlos Aguilar, Robert Abele, Jeffrey Overstreet, Josh Parham, Kent Turner, Cate Marquis, MaryAnn Johanson, Jennifer Merin, 99% Tomatometer, 71 Reviews, 84% Audience Score, immigrant experience, Mexico, United States, slow-burning, harrowing, tragedy, criminal gangs, grief, loss, chaos, corruption, market forces, border story, odyssey, investigation, descent, thriller, Cormac McCarthy, dreamy imagery, intimate perspective, heartbreaking performance, criminal gangs, box office performance, budget, Kino Lorber, Scope (2.35:1), MPAA rating
 

Cast & Crew

Mercedes Hernández

David Illescas

Juan Jesús Varela

Ana Laura Rodríguez

Armando García

Magdalena

Miguel

Jesús

Olivia

Rigo

Mercedes Hernández – Magdalena
David Illescas – Miguel
Juan Jesús Varela – Jesús
Ana Laura Rodríguez – Olivia
Armando García – Rigo
Laura Elena Ibarra – Chuya

 

Fernanda Valadez

Astrid Rondero

Jack Zagha Kababie

Astrid Rondero

Fernanda Valadez

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Fernanda Valadez
 
Writer(s)
Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez
 
Producer(s)
Jack Zagha Kababie, Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez, Yossy Zagha

 

Film Festivals
Sundance, Tribeca
 
Awards & Nominations
28 wins & 23 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Adam Nayman

Simran Hans

Peter Bradshaw

Ty Burr

Carlos Aguilar

The Ringer

Observer (UK)

Guardian

Boston Globe

AV Club

IDENTIFYING FEATURES
  All Critics (71) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (70) | Rotten (1)
  The film uses Magdalena as both a viewer surrogate and witness, stranding her in a series of agonizing real-time set pieces and letting the stray details of place and culture speak eloquently for themselves.
 
  July 19, 2021
 
  Adam Nayman
  The Ringer
  TOP CRITIC
  A sunrise stains a lake pink, a violent flashback is blurry and unsubtitled; Valadez’s expressionist images give texture to the abstract emotions of rage and pain.
 
  May 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  This film is a cry of rage or a cry for help, on behalf of people in Mexico who have been abandoned to lawlessness, corruption and the vast market forces created by its northern neighbour.
 
  April 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Peter Bradshaw
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  An austere, gorgeously shot parable of chaos and loss in modern Mexico, “Identifying Features” is an assured directorial debut from Fernanda Valadez…
 
  January 29, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Ty Burr
  Boston Globe
  TOP CRITIC
  Making her feature debut, Mexican writer-director Fernanda Valadez finds a personal tragedy within a national one… She’s made a humanitarian lament by way of a slow-burn thriller.
 
  January 23, 2021 | Rating: A
 
  Carlos Aguilar
  AV Club
  TOP CRITIC
  Equal parts odyssey, investigation and descent, this eerily shattering dispatch from the heart of a grief-beset country… has the power to expand our notions of what a border story is.
 
  January 23, 2021
 
  Robert Abele
  Los Angeles Times
  TOP CRITIC
  A nerve-wracking journey reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s ventures into blood-soaked wildernesses, where what you imagine … will only teach you that your imagination is not large enough to fathom the wickedness wreaking havoc in the world.
 
  June 30, 2022 | Rating: A-
 
  Jeffrey Overstreet
  Looking Closer
  Valadez’s extraordinary direction results in a display of dreamy imagery that emphasizes a rich commentary and an intimate perspective.
 
  June 5, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
  Josh Parham
  Next Best Picture
  So assured and impactful is its ending that it can get away with three or four powerful twists.
 
  December 20, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Kent Turner
  Film-Forward.com
  Mercedes Hernandez gives a heartbreaking performance as the mother, in director Fernanda Valadez’s award-winning, shocking expose of the problem of criminal gangs preying on travelers going to the North.
 
  November 18, 2021
 
  Cate Marquis
  AWFJ Women on Film
  This is a devastating film, weeping with grief and devastated anguish.
 
  November 18, 2021
 
  MaryAnn Johanson
  AWFJ Women on Film
  This is not an easy film to watch, but it is one that really must be seen because it so poiniantly points to an ongoing issue that is, as it exists in real life, persistently under-addressed.
 
  November 18, 2021
 
  Jennifer Merin
  AWFJ Women on Film…

 

Plot
Identifying Features follows a mother’s journey to find her son who has left Mexico to find work in the United States, offering a harrowing look at the immigrant experience.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Mercedes Hernandez gives a heartbreaking performance as the mother in Identifying Features.
 

 
Fernanda-Valadez.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)

 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, thematic material and some language
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Western/Adventure
 
Keyword(s)
News of the World, Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Mare Winningham, Michael Angelo Covino, Ray McKinnon, Elizabeth Marvel, Paul Greengrass, Gary Goetzman, Gail Mutrux, Gregory Goodman, Luke Davies, Western, Adventure, Drama, PG-13, Universal Pictures, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Scope, box office, budget, reviewed by Linda Marric, Mark Kermode, Clarisse Loughrey, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Ryan Gilbey, Donald Clarke, James Luxford, Brian Eggert, Gianmarco Farfán, Witney Seibold, Robin Holabird, directed by Paul Greengrass, written by Paul Greengrass, Luke Davies, produced by Gary Goetzman, Gail Mutrux, Gregory Goodman, starring Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Mare Winningham, Michael Angelo Covino, Ray McKinnon, Elizabeth Marvel, PG-13 rating, Western genre, Adventure genre, Drama genre, Universal Pictures distributor, Dolby Atmos sound mix, Dolby Digital sound mix, Scope aspect ratio, $12.7M box office gross USA, Linda Marric review, Mark Kermode review, Clarisse Loughrey review, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh review, Ryan Gilbey review, Donald Clarke review, James Luxford review, Brian Eggert review, Gianmarco Farfán review, Witney Seibold review, Robin Holabird review
 

Cast & Crew

Tom Hanks

Helena Zengel

Mare Winningham

Michael Angelo Covino

Ray McKinnon

Captain Kidd

Johanna

Doris Boudlin

Almay

Simon Boudlin

Tom Hanks – Captain Kidd
Helena Zengel – Johanna
Mare Winningham – Doris Boudlin
Michael Angelo Covino – Almay
Ray McKinnon – Simon Boudlin
Elizabeth Marvel – Mrs. Gannett

 

Paul Greengrass

Paul Greengrass

Gary Goetzman

Gail Mutrux

Gregory Goodman

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Paul Greengrass
 
Writer(s)
Paul Greengrass, Luke Davies
 
Producer(s)
Gary Goetzman, Gail Mutrux, Gregory Goodman

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
5 wins & 81 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Linda Marric

Mark Kermode

Clarisse Loughrey

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Ryan Gilbey

Observer

Independent

Metro Newspaper

New Statesman

Irish Times

NEWS OF THE WORLD
  All Critics (266) | Top Critics (56) | Fresh (234) | Rotten (32)
  A beautifully crafted, no frills adventure which often feels like an homage to Westerns of yore.
 
  February 20, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Linda Marric
  The Jewish Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  I found this a rewarding and entertaining drama, heavy with the weight of the past, yet buoyed up by the possibilities of the future.
 
  February 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Mark Kermode
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Their journey packs in all the usual thrills of the genre – the shootouts and the ravenous jaws of nature – though Greengrass doesn’t approach the material with the kineticism of Captain Phillips (also starring Hanks) or the Bourne films.
 
  February 12, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s all solid, well-turned stuff and, of course, you know you’re in safe hands with Hanks, whose acting is so effortlessly good that you’re in danger of not fully appreciating i
 
  February 11, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
  Metro Newspaper (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  News of the World has many of these wise, unforced moments on its way to a final scene in which the on-screen audience applauds wildly. My sentiments exactly.
 
  February 10, 2021
 
  Ryan Gilbey
  New Statesman
  TOP CRITIC
  Greengrass’s charming western would form the ideal centrepiece for a festival that showcased directors working hard to be something other than what we expect them to be.
 
  February 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Donald Clarke
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  News Of The World is a quietly intriguing film, told at a gentle pace.
 
  March 1, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  News of the World is so straightforward that it could have been made by anyone, which is to say the craft is mostly invisible.
 
  February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  Helena Zengel is an actress with a great future. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  November 4, 2021
 
  Gianmarco Farfán
  Cinencuentro
  A frontier picaresque with gorgeous photography, two excellent lead performances, and a not-so-subtle jab at modern media manipulation.
 
  September 13, 2021
 
  Witney Seibold
  Critically Acclaimed Podcast
  The reteaming once again works to create a satisfying movie that urges audiences to look beyond expected frailties and find reward in possibilities.
 
  July 16, 2021
 
  Robin Holabird
  KUNR (Reno, NV)
  News of the World is a triumph, and a reminder that Tom Hanks still has so much greatness left to give us.
 
  June 29, 2021
 
  Matthew Jackson
  The Huntsville Item (TX)…

 

Plot
Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe. On the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will. Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Tom Hanks stars in News of the World as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd.
 

 
Paul-Greengrass.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Element Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, Stefani Robinson Company
 
Distributor
Searchlight Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Prague, Czech Republic
 
MPAA / Certificate
PG-13
 
Year of Release
2023
 

 
Genre(s)
Biography/History
 
Keyword(s)
Chevalier, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucy Boynton, Joseph Bologne, Stephen Williams, Stefani Robinson, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Dianne McGunigle, Searchlight Pictures, Element Pictures, PG-13, Biography, History, Drama, Music, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, Radheyan Simonpillai, Christy Lemire, Odie Henderson, Manuel Betancourt, Adam Graham, Alan French, Courtney Howard, Fletcher Powell, Carla Hay, Robert Kojder, Matt Rodriguez, critic reviews, producer names, MPAA rating, director names, writer names, actor names, Marie Antoinette, violinist-composer, fencer, falling out, ill-fated love affair, French society, African slave, French plantation owner, tour de force performance, microaggressions, invisible barriers, swashbuckling, heat, creative ecstasy, boldness, oppression, racial barriers, costume designs, historical information, period piece biopic, talents, shining performance
 

Cast & Crew

Kelvin Harrison Jr

Joseph Bologne

Samara Weaving

Lucy Boynton

Ronke Adekoluejo

Joseph Bologne

Marie-Josephine

Marie Antoinette

Nanon

Montalembert

Kelvin Harrison Jr. – Joseph Bologne
Samara Weaving – Marie-Josephine
Lucy Boynton – Marie Antoinette
Ronke Adekoluejo – Nanon
Marton Csokas – Montalembert
Alex Fitzalan – Philippe
Director – Stephen Williams
Producers – Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Stefani Robinson, Dianne McGunigle
Writer – Stefani Robinson

 

Stephen Williams

Stefani Robinson

Ed Guiney

Andrew Lowe

Stefani Robinson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Stephen Williams
 
Writer(s)
Stefani Robinson
 
Producer(s)
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Stefani Robinson, Dianne McGunigle

 

Film Festivals
Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Sara Michelle Fetters

Radheyan Simonpillai

Christy Lemire

Odie Henderson

Manuel Betancourt

MovieFreak.com

CTV’s Your Morning

RogerEbert.com

Boston Globe

AV Club

CHEVALIER
 All Critics (92) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (17)
 Joseph Bologne’s story is inherently fascinating, and Williams and Robinson tell it with imaginative vitality.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Sara Michelle Fetters
 MovieFreak.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Engaging when imagining how Bologne existed in 18th century France with the understanding we have now about microaggressions and invisible barriers.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Radheyan Simonpillai
 CTV’s Your Morning
 TOP CRITIC
 A solid and handsome portrait that’s also frustratingly conventional in its structure and tone.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Christy Lemire
 RogerEbert.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Though it occasionally pulls its punches, the blows “Chevalier” does land sting and leave a mark.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Odie Henderson
 Boston Globe
 TOP CRITIC
 As a celebration of a musical genius, Chevalier is a wildly entertaining ride, a thrilling history lesson in the making that remains as timely as ever.
 
 April 21, 2023
 
 Manuel Betancourt
 AV Club
 TOP CRITIC
 “Chevalier” makes a case for its subject that his story should be told. But it feels like a starting point for learning about him, a story rather than the story, about who he was and what he meant to history.
 
 April 20, 2023 | Rating: C
 
 Adam Graham
 Detroit News
 TOP CRITIC
 Harrison will come away the big winner of Chevalier as he continues his ascent upward in the acting world.
 
 April 22, 2023 | Rating: 7/10
 
 Alan French
 Sunshine State Cineplex
 Chevalier is a ravishing visual feast hampered by a movie-of-the-week caliber script.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 2 out of 5
 
 Courtney Howard
 Fresh Fiction
 A story that should have been full of swashbuckling, heat, creative ecstasy, and boldness instead turns inert, muted, and moody.
 
 April 21, 2023
 
 Fletcher Powell
 KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
 Chevalier has its share of corny ‘only in a movie’ moments, but the essential truths of oppression and racial barriers in society have the most resonance in this story. Kelvin Harrison Jr. gives an admirable performance. The costume designs are gorgeous.
 
 April 21, 2023
 
 Carla Hay
 Culture Mix
 Chevalier‘s electric performances, vibrant costumes, heavenly compositions, and operatic love story steeped in emotionally devastating tragedy further a desire to seek out more historical information about Joseph Bologne
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Robert Kojder
 Flickering Myth
 A solid period piece biopic that explores Joseph Bologne’s brilliance and talents as Kelvin Harrison Jr. shines in the role.
 
 April 21, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Matt Rodriguez
 Shakefire…

 

Plot
Chevalier tells the incredible true story of Joseph Bologne, an illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette and her court.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Kelvin Harrison Jr. delivers a “tour de force performance” as Joseph Bologne in Chevalier, according to Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Stephen-Williams.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Amigo Media,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Brian Dennehy, Hong Chau, Lucas Jaye, Laurent Rejto, Stan Carp, Jerry Adler, directed by Andrew Ahn, written by Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nick Schager, Roxana Hadadi, Richard Brody, David Fear, Scott Marks, Christy Lemire, Cory Woodroof, Jason Adams, Steven Warner, Bianca Garner, Richard Propes, produced by x, MPAA rating, character study, fundamental decency, poignant farewell, late Brian Dennehy, loneliness, mother-son relationship, cleaning out a house, kindness, connection, isolation, reaching out, independent filmmaking, sense of place, youth, memory, friendship, noteworthy performances
 

Cast & Crew

Hong Chau

Lucas Jaye

Brian Dennehy

Laurent Rejto

Stan Carp

Kathy

Cody

Del

Cashier

Lester

Hong Chau – Kathy
Lucas Jaye – Cody
Brian Dennehy – Del
Laurent Rejto – Cashier
Stan Carp – Lester
Jerry Adler – Rodger

 

Andrew Ahn

Hannah Bos

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Andrew Ahn
 
Writer(s)
Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals
Berlin, Tribeca, Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 21 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Nick Schager

Roxana Hadadi

Richard Brody

David Fear

Scott Marks

Esquire Magazine

Pajiba

New Yorker

Rolling Stone

San Diego Reader

DRIVEWAYS
  All Critics (79) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (1)
  Driveways isn’t simply one of the late Brian Dennehy’s final performances-it’s also one of his finest.
 
  January 27, 2021
 
  Nick Schager
  Esquire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  What resonates is the movie’s understanding of how we come and go through life, of how a house becomes a home, of how even the smallest acts of kindness can open doors that never quite close.
 
  June 5, 2020
 
  Roxana Hadadi
  Pajiba
  TOP CRITIC
  The three lead actors carry the movie and do the heavy dramatic lifting gracefully; their sheer presence reaches far beyond the confines of the story.
 
  May 26, 2020
 
  Richard Brody
  New Yorker
  TOP CRITIC
  “For a movie about isolation and the risk of reaching out, it’s a generous example of how nourishing a sense of connection really is.”
 
  May 20, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Fear
  Rolling Stone
  TOP CRITIC
  This is one of those quiet gems where we get dropped into the lives of a handful of characters at what turns out to be a crucial turning point in all their lives.
 
  May 14, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Scott Marks
  San Diego Reader
  TOP CRITIC
  This is such a lovely, delicate, and quietly moving film.
 
  May 12, 2020
 
  Christy Lemire
  FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
  TOP CRITIC
  This is independent filmmaking at its finest.
 
  March 11, 2022
 
  Cory Woodroof
  Williamson Home Page
  Its sense of place, both precise and impressionistic, lives in the sweet spot of youth, of memory, of things we haven’t half-thought about in ages
 
  January 10, 2022
 
  Jason Adams
  My New Plaid Pants
  Like the light dew that kisses the lawns and homes of its protagonists in the early morning light, [Driveways] will dissipate from your memory in a matter of minutes.
 
  June 5, 2021
 
  Steven Warner
  In Review Online
  A heart-warming and much-needed story that shows the power of friendship and features some very strong and noteworthy performances.
 
  May 5, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Bianca Garner
  Next Best Picture
  I loved every moment of Driveways, a bit of a rarity these days.
 
  April 6, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
 
  Richard Propes
  TheIndependentCritic.com
  A great little film. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  March 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  José Martín
  El antepenúltimo mohicano…

 

Plot
Driveways follows a lonely boy who helps his mother clean out his late aunt’s house, leading to unexpected connections and moments of kindness.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Driveways features one of the late Brian Dennehy’s finest performances.
 

 
Andrew-Ahn.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Element Pictures, Film 4 Film Nation Entertainment,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (HBO Max)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, sexual assault, hip-hop mogul, Russell Simmons, Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering, Jamie Rogers, Amy Herdy, Sara Newens, Sil Lai Abrams, Tarana Burke, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Jenny Lumet, directed by Kirby Dick, directed by Amy Ziering, produced by Jamie Rogers, produced by Kirby Dick, produced by Amy Herdy, written by Kirby Dick, written by Sara Newens, written by Amy Ziering, reviewed by David Fear, reviewed by Louise Rugendyke, reviewed by Mark Kermode, reviewed by Wendy Ide, reviewed by Kevin Maher, reviewed by Philip De Semlyen, reviewed by Milana Vujkov, reviewed by Alex Behan, reviewed by Martha K Baker, reviewed by Armond White, reviewed by Stephen Kearse, reviewed by Carla Hay, Neptune Frost, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Battles Without Honor and Humanity, Last Breath, Triumph of the Will, Heart of Glass, Kriemhild’s Revenge, The Hunting Ground, #MeToo, sexual misconduct, racism, sexism, women’s stories, documentary filmmaking, Hollywood, entertainment industry, power dynamics, abuse of power, survivor stories, Black women, intersectionality, social justice, cultural change, activism, accountability, justice, truth, empowerment
 

Cast & Crew

Sil Lai Abrams

Tarana Burke

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

Jenny Lumet

Kirby Dick

Sil Lai Abrams

Tarana Burke

Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw

Jenny Lumet

Kirby Dick

Sil Lai Abrams – self
Tarana Burke – self
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw – self
Jenny Lumet – self
Kirby Dick – director
Amy Ziering – director
Jamie Rogers – producer
Kirby Dick – producer
Amy Herdy – producer
Kirby Dick – writer
Sara Newens – writer
Amy Ziering – writer

 

Kirby Dick

Kirby Dick

Jamie Rogers

Kirby Dick

Amy Herdy

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering
 
Writer(s)
Kirby Dick, Sara Newens, Amy Ziering
 
Producer(s)
Jamie Rogers, Kirby Dick, Amy Herdy

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 2 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Fear

Louise Rugendyke

Mark Kermode

Wendy Ide

Kevin Maher

Rolling Stone

Sydney Morning Herald

Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review

Observer (UK)

Times (UK)

ON THE RECORD
  All Critics (73) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (1)
  [An] undeniably moving, unsettling film…
 
  February 15, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  David Fear
  Rolling Stone
  TOP CRITIC
  Their stories have not been told. It’s shocking to hear, yet so obvious. And that’s what makes On the Record such a compelling watch — it lays out in the clearest possible terms the ramifications for black women who dare to stand up.
 
  August 26, 2020
 
  Louise Rugendyke
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  It is told with conviction and rigorous honesty…
 
  August 19, 2020
 
  Mark Kermode
  Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
  TOP CRITIC
  A must watch.
 
  June 28, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  [T]his is the quintessential conversation starter, smartly edited and always thought-provoking.
 
  June 27, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  This compelling story of sexual assault and powerful men violently abusing their positions is a reminder than the #MeToo movement didn’t begin – or end – with Harvey Weinstein.
 
  June 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Philip De Semlyen
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  The fiercely talented Dixon, in her expressive and precise way, describes the experience of leaving the job she excelled in and loved as holding her breath for 16 years.
 
  July 31, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Milana Vujkov
  Lola On Film
  While this film doesn’t provide justice, it does give a voice to these long-silenced women and provides unique insight into why it’s so much harder for black women to stand up and be heard when confronting their abusers.
 
  June 10, 2021
 
  Alex Behan
  Stuff.co.nz
  Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, who co-directed the searing documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” about serial rapes on college campuses, have directed another outstanding wedge film.
 
  October 20, 2020
 
  Martha K. Baker
  KDHX (St. Louis)
  On the Record is propaganda made on the divide-and-conquer principle of the progressive movement.
 
  August 21, 2020
 
  Armond White
  National Review
  By detaching itself from Simmons’s legacy, On the Record centers the women’s stories.
 
  July 28, 2020
 
  Stephen Kearse
  The Nation
  On the Record co-directors Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering don’t lose sight of the overall message…Sexual misconduct should not be excused because of someone’s race, and #MeToo survivors should not be shamed or pressured to keep silent because of their race.
 
  July 19, 2020
 
  Carla Hay
  Culture Mix…

 

Plot
On the Record is a documentary that examines the sexual assault allegations against hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, using harrowing first-person accounts to confront the entrenched sexism of an industry and its culture.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sil Lai Abrams is part of the cast of On the Record.
 

 
Kirby-Dick.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Hideout Pictures, Shout! Factory Shout! Studios,
 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Govan Graving Docks, Glasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland, UK
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, some disturbing images, and language
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, directed by Sam Mendes, written by Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns, war, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Simran Hans, Wenlei Ma, Namrata Joshi, David Sexton, Adam Graham, Mark Kermode, Victor Pineyro, Jimmy Cage, Brian Eggert, James Luxford, Carson Timar, Salome Gonstad, R-rated, Universal Pictures, Dolby Atmos, Scope (2.35:1), Lance Corporal Schofield, Lance Corporal Blake, Captain Smith, Lieutenant Leslie, Lieutenant Joseph Blake, Lauri
 

Cast & Crew

George MacKay

Dean-Charles Chapman

Mark Strong

Andrew Scott

Richard Madden

Lance Corporal Schofield

Lance Corporal Blake

Captain Smith

Lieutenant Leslie

Lieutenant Joseph Blake

George MacKay – Lance Corporal Schofield
Dean-Charles Chapman – Lance Corporal Blake
Mark Strong – Captain Smith
Andrew Scott – Lieutenant Leslie
Richard Madden – Lieutenant Joseph Blake
Claire Duburcq – Lauri

 

Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes

Pippa Harris

Jayne-Ann Tenggren

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Sam Mendes
 
Writer(s)
Sam Mendes, Krysty Wilson-Cairns
 
Producer(s)
Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Callum McDougall, Brian Oliver

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
134 wins & 206 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Visual Effects Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Simran Hans

Wenlei Ma

Namrata Joshi

David Sexton

Adam Graham

Monocle

News.com.au

The Hindu

London Evening Standard

Detroit News

1917
  All Critics (466) | Top Critics (76) | Fresh (412) | Rotten (54)
  As a genre piece, I think it’s really interesting — well made and immersive. But as a kind of emotional movie that really pulled me in, I don’t know if it did that.
 
  January 27, 2020
 
  Simran Hans
  Monocle
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s an immersive, visceral and meticulously crafted film that has the emotional stakes to match.
 
  January 19, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Wenlei Ma
  News.com.au
  TOP CRITIC
  The film dazzles at each step, one encounter and adventure after another shot like a set piece, complete in itself with MacKay’s stoic presence adding to the pathos and poignancy.
 
  January 18, 2020
 
  Namrata Joshi
  The Hindu
  TOP CRITIC
  The film is thrilling, moving on effectively from one shocking set piece to another, studding the narrative too with starry cameos.
 
  January 14, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  David Sexton
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a tense, unnerving ride that accomplishes its goal of translating the first-person experience of war better than any war movies that have come before it. It’s a level up.
 
  January 14, 2020 | Rating: A
 
  Adam Graham
  Detroit News
  TOP CRITIC
  The way in which the film is choreographed, the music is very important…the film actually stops, bringing everyone together in a quasi-religious silence…very moving and effective.
 
  January 13, 2020
 
  Mark Kermode
  Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
  TOP CRITIC
  For experiences like the one I had in the theatre watching this is why I love film. Constantly asking myself how they did this. Probably Sam Mendes’ best movie to date. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 23, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
  Victor Pineyro
  Seventh Art Studio
  Unfortunately I dont see what most see in 1917. Respectively, I hardly feel anything except some respect for the technical achievements. But that alone isnt enough – it actually slightly damages the film overall.
 
  April 25, 2022 | Rating: 6/10
 
  Jimmy Cage
  Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)
  The film’s formal indulgences distract from its dramatic potential.
 
  February 22, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  What makes it so special is the balance between artistry and realism. Mendes reaches down into the mud and finds something beautiful.
 
  February 21, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  1917 is a technical masterpiece that comes together with genuine powerful emotion to become a captivating work of art.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Filmotomy
  We should be drawn into the personal story–director Sam Mendes loosely based the movie on his grandfather Alfred’s wartime experiences–but instead, we’re watching all the smoke and mirrors. It’s sound and fury that could signify so much more.
 
  November 16, 2021
 
  Salome Gonstad
  Comic Years…

 

Plot
April 1917, the Western Front. Two British soldiers are sent to deliver an urgent message to an isolated regiment. If the message is not received in time the regiment will walk into a trap and be massacred. To get to the regiment they will need to cross through enemy territory. Time is of the essence and the journey will be fraught with danger.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Unfortunately, Fresh Kernels does not provide any goofy or funny comments about the film or anyone in the cast.
 

 
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