The House I Live In (2012)
91%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 3 nominations
The House I Live In is a documentary that is as informative as it is infuriating. Director Eugene Jarecki takes a deep dive into America’s war on drugs, exposing the grotesque waste of resources and the devastating impact it has had on communities of color. While some critics argue that Jarecki’s analysis is too simplistic, his sincerity and emotional connection to his subjects make for a powerful viewing experience. The film offers no easy solutions, but it does force viewers to confront the harsh realities of a system that has turned America into the world’s largest jailer. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in social justice and political reform, and a scathing indictment of a broken system that desperately needs fixing.
The House I Live In” is a documentary that will make you want to scream, cry, and throw things at the TV all at once. It’s a powerful look at America’s failed war on drugs and the devastating impact it has had on communities and families. Director Eugene Jarecki doesn’t hold back in his criticism of the system, but he also takes the time to humanize the people affected by it. It’s a must-see for anyone who cares about justice and freedom, or just wants to be angry for a couple of hours. Bring tissues and a stress ball.
Production Company(ies)
Mooz Films, Cedrus Invest Bank Sunnyland Film
Distributor
Abramorama
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Stereo
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 48m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 2, 2013
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, war on drugs, America, Eugene Jarecki, Melinda Shopsin, Samuel Cullman, Christopher St John, directed by Eugene Jarecki, written by Eugene Jarecki, starring Eugene Jarecki, narrator, David Steven Simon, Charles Ogletree, Michael Bien, producer, box office, budget, critic reviews, reviewed by Claude Peck, Tom Long, Kate Muir, Peter Bradshaw, Nigel Andrews, David Jenkins, B Ruby Rich, C.J Prince, Daniel Green, Maria Garcia, MPAA rating, limited release, streaming, Abramorama, runtime, genre, English, audience score, Tomatometer, Roger Ebert, The Dissident, Roger Waters: The Wall, Side by Side, Bodied, 78/52, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, Girl in the Picture, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
Worldwide gross: $219,159
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $282,545
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,868
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 30,812
US/Canada gross: $210,752
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $271,707
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,483
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,453
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $21,212
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,496
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
David Steven Simon – Self
Charles Ogletree – Self
Michael Bien – Self
Eugene Jarecki – Director, Screenwriter
Melinda Shopsin – Producer
Samuel Cullman – Producer
Christopher St. John – Producer
Director(s)
Eugene Jarecki
Writer(s)
Eugene Jarecki
Producer(s)
Eugene Jarecki, Melinda Shopsin, Samuel Cullman, Christopher St. John
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (66) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (4)
The movie’s indictment would be more persuasive had Jarecki recognized that his audience likely already knows most of what he recaps, and can handle the odd scrap of ambiguity.
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Claude Peck
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
“The House I Live In” leaves you shaking your head in deadened wonder at the waste of it all.
December 7, 2012 | Rating: B+
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
One of the best documentaries out this year, and a must-see for Senate and Congress in America.
November 23, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
An angry and personal attack on America’s war on drugs contends it is a grotesquely wasteful public-works scheme.
November 22, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Jarecki is a stickler for sticking to his subject, or sub-subject, until it squeals like a leech victim.
November 22, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Jarecki offers 100 small conclusions rather than one big one for you to take away.
November 22, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Elegantly edited [and] thoroughly researched… Deservedly took the jury award for best U.S. documentary.
February 28, 2020
B. Ruby Rich
Film Quarterly
The subject matter alone makes this essential viewing if one has the chance to see it.
June 29, 2019 | Rating: 7.9/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
Despite presenting clean and precise analysis for the most part, Jarecki does stumble into simplistic didactic at several points in the film.
February 6, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
What makes The House I Live In so potent is the filmmaker’s sincerity. Despite a preference for sweeping statements and conclusions, he establishes palpable emotional connections to several of his subjects who are victims of the war on drugs.
August 21, 2018
Maria Garcia
Cineaste Magazine
Americans have long celebrated justice and freedom, but director Eugene Jarecki’s The House I Live In forces viewers to look closely at political policies that have turned the nation into the No. 1 jailer in the world.
July 16, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal
Whatever your politics, you will find things to astonish and flabbergast and enrage you in what is perhaps the most cool-headed examination of America’s relationship to illegal drugs ever.
July 2, 2013
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher…
Plot
From the dealer to the narcotics officer, the inmate to the federal judge, a penetrating look inside America’s criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of U.S. drug policy.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The House I Live In features narrator Eugene Jarecki, who also serves as the director and screenwriter.
Eugene-Jarecki.jpg
91%
Side by Side (2012)
91%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Keanu Reeves proves a groovy guide through this informative exploration of how technology is transforming cinema, with an even-handed defense for both the old and the new.
If you’re a film buff, you’ll love Side by Side. It’s like being a fly on the wall during a heated debate between some of the biggest names in the industry. Keanu Reeves is surprisingly engaging as the host, and the insights from James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, and others are fascinating. Whether you’re a die-hard celluloid fan or a digital devotee, this documentary will give you plenty to think about. Plus, who doesn’t love a good argument about the future of cinema?
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Plan B Entertainment, Initial Entertainment Group,
Distributor
Tribeca Film
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 38m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 17, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2013
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, technology, filmmaking, digital, celluloid, Keanu Reeves, James Cameron, David Fincher, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, directors, producers, writers, critics, genre, box office, budget, MPAA rating, Christopher Kenneally, Justin Szlasa, English, Tribeca Film, cast, crew, cinematographer, audience score, critic consensus, reviews, Side by Side, impact, future, Hollywood, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, TV shows, streaming, renewed, cancelled, premiere dates, worst horror movies, careers, newsletter, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $67,054
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $86,448
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,039
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 9,427
US/Canada gross: $58,825
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,839
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,702
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,956
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,968
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,725
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Christopher Kenneally – Director, Writer
Keanu Reeves – Producer
Justin Szlasa – Producer
Chris Cassidy – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Christopher Kenneally
Writer(s)
Christopher Kenneally
Producer(s)
Keanu Reeves, Justin Szlasa
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (5)
The documentary would have been that much better with a more explicit focus on why the average filmgoer should care.
September 10, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
David Wiegand
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
This is route-one stuff.No serious film enthusiast will, however, want to miss Side by Side.
February 15, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Maybe this geekily precise, Keanu Reeves-fronted documentary fretting over the death of celluloid needs to give digital its due.
February 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Keanu Reeves is a game frontman of this fact-filled, slightly chaotic doc about the rise of digital technology in film.
February 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s sweet and sparkling, as glassfuls of thought are provided by James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh and other champagne cinematic cerebra.
February 14, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s this simple: If you like movies, you need to see “Side by Side.”
September 27, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
The film’s breadth of opinions – of which there are too many to recount in a single article – indicates that there is no ‘right’ choice, and impressively captures a debate that may not rage forever.
February 13, 2020
Jim Ross
TAKE ONE Magazine
… if you’re a film nerd, you are IN ABSOLUTE HEAVEN while watching this, totally enamored of every word, and thrilled about hearing the debate.
March 4, 2019
Amie Simon
Three Imaginary Girls
Celluloid or digital film – which is the better format? Directors, cinematographers, editors and other film professionals weigh in on the question in Chris Kenneally’s densely packed doc, SIDE BY SIDE.
December 7, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4
Rania Richardson
The Villager
… a stunningly fascinating documentary…
September 18, 2017
Neely Swanson
Easy Reader (California)
…could have used more movie-specific discussions of the aesthetic implications of celluloid versus digital.
August 5, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Josh Larsen
LarsenOnFilm
Side By Side is a riveting, under-the-hood distillation of 100 years of Hollywood experimentation, innovation and expensive bravery.
March 13, 2013 | Rating: 5/5
Graham Young
Birmingham Post…
Plot
Investigates the history, process and workflow of both digital and photochemical film creation. It shows what artists and filmmakers have been able to accomplish with both film and digital and how their needs and innovations have helped push filmmaking in new directions. Interviews with directors, cinematographers, colorists, scientists, engineers and artists reveal their experiences and feelings about working with film and digital. Where we are now, how we got here and what the future may bring.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Keanu Reeves serves as both producer and on-screen guide in this documentary about the impact of digital technology on filmmaking.
Christopher-Kenneally.jpg
91%
Blancanieves (2013)
91%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
13 wins & 33 nominations total
Smartly written and beautiful to behold, Blancanieves uses its classic source material to offer a dark tale, delightfully told.
Blancanieves is like a Spanish version of Snow White, but with a twist. It’s filmed in black and white, with all the dialogue shown through intertitles, making it feel like a classic silent film. The cinematography is stunning, and the score is beautiful. It’s a visual spectacle that will leave you enchanted and invested in the characters. Plus, who doesn’t love a good fairytale with a little bit of mystery and tension thrown in? It’s a rare cinematic treat that will make your heart beat faster and leave you feeling truly magical.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Quiraing, Skye, Highland, Scotland, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 3, 2013
Genre(s)
Drama/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring Maribel Verdú, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ángela Molina, Pere Ponce, Macarena García, Sofia Oria, directed by Pablo Berger, written by Pablo Berger, drama, fantasy, PG-13, reviewed by J Hoberman, Mar Diestro-Dópido, Paul Byrnes, Kate Muir, David Parkinson, Anthony Quinn, David Bax, Richard Propes, Pamela Hutchinson, Debbie Lynn Elias, Mattie Lucas, Nicholas Bell, box office gross $218.8K, budget unknown, produced by Pablo Berger, Ibón Cormenzana, Jérôme Vidal
Worldwide gross: $396,592,829
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $511,297,162
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 280
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 55,757,597
US/Canada gross: $155,332,381
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $200,258,300
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 349
US/Canada opening weekend: $56,217,700
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $72,477,232
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 127
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $170,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $219,168,152
Production budget ranking: 70
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $118,022,050
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $174,106,960
ROI to date (est.): 52%
ROI ranking: 1,140
Daniel Giménez Cacho – Antonio Villalta
Ángela Molina – Doña Concha
Pere Ponce – Genaro
Macarena García – Carmen, Blancanieves
Sofia Oria – Carmencita
Director(s)
Pablo Berger
Writer(s)
Pablo Berger
Producer(s)
Pablo Berger, Ibón Cormenzana, Jérôme Vidal
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
13 wins & 33 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (113) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (107) | Rotten (6)
Filmed in glamorous black and white, all dialogue furnished via intertitles, the movie is less a pastiche than The Artist and, at least initially, it’s not as precious.
February 22, 2019
J. Hoberman
ARTINFO.com
TOP CRITIC
The pleasure resides as much in the layers upon layers of references to film history, to Spanish history, to fairytales, to Hollywood entertainment, as it does in its story of a little girl who loses everything.
July 31, 2018
Mar Diestro-Dópido
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s like watching a gorgeous tragi-comic opera written by Dickens and co-directed by Fellini and Almodovar.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The film is exquisitely shot and Macarena Garcia is achingly gorgeous as the fawn-eyed Carmen/Snow White.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A Spanish take on Snow White that picks up where The Artist left off and shows the full elegance of silent filmmaking.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
No film this year will look as swooningly beautiful, its deep-focus monochrome vividly rendered by the cinematographer Kiko de la Rica, and not many will sound as good, either, thanks to a score by Alfonso de Vilallong.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s not just the people who look great. Most of these compositions look like photographs in an art gallery, yet manage not to forfeit their cinematic immediacy.
March 17, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
if you are an adventurous moviegoer able to fully surrender yourself to a full-on sensory experience then this is very likely one film that will completely sweep you away.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Blancanieves is a strange piece of work, but a precious one, however, so even if it lacks ambition, its integrity and beauty are to be treasured.
March 23, 2020
Pamela Hutchinson
Silent London
A visual spectacle cloaked in a beautiful melancholy, Blancanieves is filmmaking at its finest and a true masterpiece.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
The kind of rare cinematic treat that makes the heart beat faster at the recognition of something truly magical in the way that only movies can provide.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Berger has managed to take a tale as old as time and enchant us to the point where we’re not only invested in the characters, but there’s tension and mystery as well.
July 24, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com…
Plot
Snow White, imprisoned daughter of the late king, escapes just as the Magic Mirror declares her the source of the Evil Queen’s immortality. The Queen sends her men, led by a local huntsman, to bring her back. But upon her capture, the huntsman finds he’s being played and turns against the Queen’s men, saving Snow White in the process. Meanwhile, Snow’s childhood friend, William, learns that she is alive and sets off to save her.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Macarena García, who plays Carmen/Blancanieves in the film, is a Spanish actress and singer who won the Goya Award for Best New Actress for her performance in the film.
Pablo-Berger.jpg
91%
The Secret World of Arrietty (2012)
91%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 12 wins & 6 nominations
Visually lush, refreshingly free of family-friendly clatter, and anchored with soulful depth, The Secret World of Arrietty lives up to Studio Ghibli’s reputation.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s like a warm hug on a rainy day, then The Secret World of Arrietty is the perfect choice. This charming animated film is a fresh take on The Borrowers, with beautiful artwork that will make you feel like you’re in a magical world. The story is sweet and simple, but it’s full of heart and will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Plus, who doesn’t love the idea of tiny people living in our world? It’s like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, but cuter and without the danger of getting eaten by a giant ant. So grab some popcorn, snuggle up under a blanket, and get ready to be transported to a world of wonder and whimsy.
Production Company(ies)
K T F Films,
Distributor
Walt Disney
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Japanese
-
Country of origin:Japan
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 17, 2012 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2012
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, David Henrie, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, Moises Arias, directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom, written by Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Karey Kirkpatrick, G-rated, fantasy, adventure, anime, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Elliott, Ryan Gilbey, Kate Muir, Deborah Young, Ben Sachs, Sara Michelle Fetters, Matt Brunson, Richard Propes, Julian Lytle, Leslie Combemale, Koda Kazar, produced by Toshio Suzuki, Walt Disney, The Secret World of Arrietty, Arrietty, Homily, Shawn, Pod, Hara, Spiller, tiny teenager, suburban home, human hosts, friendship, danger, family-friendly, soulful depth, Studio Ghibli’s reputation, visually lush, refreshingly free, anchored with soulful depth, Mary Norton’s classic The Borrowers, animated artwork, adults enchanted, children gripped, highest grossing Japanese film, Animation of the Year award, heartwarming story, gorgeous soundtrack, high attention to visual detail, environmental allegory, intelligent discussion on evolution, suspense, fantasy story, realistic, charming, slow attentive study, oasis of calm, childhood and nature, disturbing adult elements, gentle, outstandingly humourless, uncomplicated tale of adventure and friendship, strange environment, old school filmmaking
Worldwide gross: $149,411,550
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $192,625,020
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 719
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 21,006,000
US/Canada gross: $19,587,032
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,252,080
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,333
US/Canada opening weekend: $6,446,395
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,310,850
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,003
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $23,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $29,652,162
Production budget ranking: 1,162
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,967,689
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $147,005,169
ROI to date (est.): 322%
ROI ranking: 433
Amy Poehler – Homily – Voice
David Henrie – Shawn – Voice
Will Arnett – Pod – Voice
Carol Burnett – Hara – Voice
Moises Arias – Spiller – Voice
Director(s)
Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom
Writer(s)
Hayao Miyazaki, Keiko Niwa, Karey Kirkpatrick
Producer(s)
Toshio Suzuki
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
12 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (152) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (144) | Rotten (8)
It’s very pretty (plus a song that is like a gumdrop melting in your ear). Girls may enjoy the sweet, rather wistful story more than most boys.
December 8, 2014
David Elliott
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
What is so bewitching about the mostly static backgrounds in Arrietty is that they can be oxygenated at will by the smallest instance of judiciously placed movement, such as a single fluttering ladybird or a pair of jaunty butterflies in the foreground.
December 8, 2014
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Arrietty is a fresh take on Mary Norton’s classic The Borrowers, with animated artwork that will have adults enchanted and children gripped.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The fresh and simple story will win its share of young fans, though it lacks the disturbing adult elements might have attracted older audiences.
January 7, 2013
Deborah Young
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
[The film] pulses with feeling for childhood and nature and develops a surprising amount of suspense considering it takes place around a single suburban home.
January 7, 2013
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This divine hand-drawn animated adventure took my breath away on more than one occasion, and by the time it came to an end all I wanted to do was run up to the projection booth and make the theatre start it over from the beginning.
March 17, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
An oasis of calm in the normally hyperactive world of toon entertainment.
September 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
If you’ve never found yourself watching a Studio Ghibli film, then you owe it to yourself to do so.
September 22, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Children will very much entertained by all that is going on here. It has enough fun and comedy along with a great sense of adventure through the film.
January 11, 2020 | Rating: B+
Julian Lytle
Ignorant Bliss
The movie is a charming and slow attentive study of a friendship that teaches two budding youths, albeit of varying sizes, to learn trust, choose fearlessly and keep open hearts.
July 29, 2019
Leslie Combemale
Cinema Siren
Sometimes it is good to just sit back and have a calming slice of life story.
January 18, 2019
Koda Kazar
Freakin Awesome Network
So grounded that it makes its premise seem almost entirely plausible, and it makes it seem like even the smallest childhood fantasies might be real.
November 4, 2018 | Rating: 9/10
Johnny Gayzmonic
Fanboys of the Universe…
Plot
Fourteen-year-old Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler, Saoirse Ronan, and Mirai Shida) and the rest of the Clock family live in peaceful anonymity as they make their own home from items that they borrow from the house’s human inhabitants. However, life changes for the Clocks when a human boy discovers Arrietty.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of The Secret World of Arrietty includes Bridgit Mendler, Amy Poehler, David Henrie, Will Arnett, Carol Burnett, and Moises Arias.
Hiromasa-Yonebayashi.jpg
91%
Chasing Ice (2012)
91%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 5 nominations total
Chasing Ice captures the urgency of climate change while prevailing as entertainment, thanks the awe-inspiring scenery and James Balog’s charisma.
Chasing Ice is a documentary that will leave you feeling both amazed and depressed. The stunning images captured by James Balog are a testament to the beauty of nature, but also a stark reminder of the devastating effects of climate change. While the film may not be for everyone, it’s hard to deny the impact of seeing glaciers retreat in real-time. Plus, who doesn’t love a good daredevil hero? Balog’s determination and passion for photography are truly inspiring. Overall, Chasing Ice is a must-see for anyone who cares about the environment and wants to be moved by the power of nature.
Production Company(ies)
Amazon Studios, Stay Gold Features, Kindred Spirit
Distributor
Submarine Deluxe
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Bolivia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 14m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 9, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2014
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
Keyword(s)
Chasing Ice, documentary, biography, climate change, glaciers, James Balog, Extreme Ice Survey, Mark Monroe, Jeff Orlowski, Jerry Aronson, Paula Dupré Pesmen, PG-13, English, Submarine Deluxe, directed by Jeff Orlowski, written by Mark Monroe, produced by Jerry Aronson, Paula Dupré Pesmen, Jeff Orlowski, reviewed by Bilge Ebiri, Brad Newsome, Marjorie Baumgarten, David Jenkins, Mike McCahill, Tim Robey, Jordan M Smith, Daniel Green, Matt Neal, T’Cha Dunlevy, Margot Harrison, Simon Foster, starring James Woolsey, James Balog, Louie Psihoyos, Synte Peacock, Sylvia Earle, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, documentary film, climate crisis, melting glaciers, environmentalism, global warming, photography, time-lapse, awe-inspiring scenery, urgency, charisma, critic reviews, audience score, documentary filmmaking
Worldwide gross: $1,358,668
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,751,628
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,448
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 191,017
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
James Balog – self
Louie Psihoyos – self
Jeff Orlowski – director/producer
Synte Peacock – self
Sylvia Earle – self
Director(s)
Jeff Orlowski
Writer(s)
Mark Monroe
Producer(s)
Jerry Aronson, Paula Dupré Pesmen, Jeff Orlowski
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
9 wins & 5 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (72) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (3)
True, there’s no blood this time around, no gruesome images of dolphins dying, but it could be argued that the supernaturally beautiful images that Balog (and, by extension, Orlowski) captures are even more despairing and alarming…
March 25, 2020
Bilge Ebiri
Spirituality & Health
TOP CRITIC
[A] spectacular but depressing documentary.
October 31, 2018
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
If seeing equals believing, then this film’s documentation ought to sway the world. But daredevil heroes and sexy screen goddesses probably help the medicine go down.
February 15, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Is this about the hazards of global warming or the awesomeness of James Balog? Not entirely sure…
December 13, 2012 | Rating: 2/5
David Jenkins
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
If any film can convert the climate-change sceptics, Chasing Ice would be it: here, seeing really is believing.
December 13, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
National Geographic photographer James Balog illustrates climate change with time-lapsed records of glacial retreat.
December 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The doc is obviously a big screen advocacy spotlight for the project, but it is also a fascinating portrait of a man infatuated with nature, photography, and their combined ability to affect people in spellbinding ways.
February 9, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
Orlowski’s soulful direction, coupled with Balog’s evocative eye, predictably leads to a number of awe-inspiring juxtapositions, best sampled on the big screen.
February 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Daniel Green
CineVue
Orlowski’s documentary is brilliant because of the wondrous way it shows a worldwide story and a personal one at the same time.
March 29, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Matt Neal
ABC Radio (Australia)
While their persistence is remarkable, it is rewarded by the breathtaking yet heartbreaking images obtained. In every location, they find irrefutable evidence of the dramatic degradation of the planet’s glaciers.
April 7, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
T’Cha Dunlevy
Montreal Gazette
As a documentary, it offers most of its likely viewers grim confirmation of what they already know, rather than the thrill of discovery.
May 22, 2013 | Rating: 7/10
Margot Harrison
Seven Days
Less a didactic ‘message-movie’ than a study of one man’s steely determination, the debut helmer directs with a sure hand and no-frills aesthetic.
April 25, 2013
Simon Foster
sbs.com.au…
Plot
National Geographic’ photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change. But through his Extreme Ice Survey, he discovers undeniable evidence of our changing planet. In ‘Chasing Ice,’ we follow Balog across the Arctic as he deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras designed for one purpose: to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. Balog’s hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate. Traveling with a young team of adventurers by helicopter, canoe and dog sled across three continents, Balog risks his career and his well-being in pursuit of the biggest story in human history. As the debate polarizes America and the intensity of natural disasters ramp up around the world, ‘Chasing Ice’ depicts a heroic photojournalist on a mission to gather evidence and deliver hope to our carbon-powered planet
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
James Balog, the acclaimed photographer and subject of the documentary, is praised for his charisma and evocative eye in capturing the urgency of climate change.
Jeff-Orlowski.jpg
91%
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2012)
91%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
143 wins & 380 nominations total
Cerebral and thrilling, Once Upon a Time in Anatolia is a meditative procedural that maintains feverish intensity throughout its unhurried runtime.
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia is like a really long book that you can’t put down, even if your butt starts to hurt from sitting in an uncomfortable chair. It’s a police procedural that’s also an existential inquiry, set in a remote dreamscape of mystery and foreboding. But don’t worry, it’s not all darkness – there are moments of dark humor that will make you chuckle. And the cinematography is stunning, like a work of art. If you’re willing to give yourself a mental shot in the arm and embrace its patient, visually-enthralling style, you’ll be rewarded with a deeply resonant cinematic experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Lucasfilm,
Distributor
Cinema Guild
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 37m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, Spanish, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 4, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2012
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Muhammet Uzuner, Yilmaz Erdogan, Taner Birsel, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Firat Tanis, Ercan Kesal, directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, written by Ercan Kesal, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Stanley Kauffmann, Wesley Morris, Michael O’Sullivan, Sheri Linden, Donald Clarke, Derek Malcolm, Muhammet Uzuner as Cemal, Yilmaz Erdogan as Naci, Taner Birsel as Nusret, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan as Ali, Firat Tanis as Kenan, Ercan Kesal as Mukhtar, produced by Zeynep Ozbatur Atakan, MPAA rating, Turkish language, Cinema Guild, police procedural, mystery, human drama, existential inquiry, remote dreamscape, cerebral, thrilling, meditative procedural, feverish intensity, unhurried runtime
Worldwide gross: $374,565,754
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $432,793,701
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 356
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 47,196,696
US/Canada gross: $142,502,728
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $164,655,424
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 463
US/Canada opening weekend: $41,082,018
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $47,468,404
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 251
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $103,990,909
Production budget ranking: 386
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $55,999,104
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $272,803,688
ROI to date (est.): 171%
ROI ranking: 708
Yilmaz Erdogan – Naci
Taner Birsel – Nusret
Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan – Ali
Firat Tanis – Kenan
Ercan Kesal – Mukhtar
Director(s)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Writer(s)
Ercan Kesal, Ebru Ceylan, Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Producer(s)
Zeynep Ozbatur Atakan
Film Festivals
Cannes
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
143 wins & 380 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (79) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (73) | Rotten (6)
Ceylan’s own growing reputation will, I hope, continue to grow. He uses the realistic film as an avenue to what lies around and beyond the realism.
June 19, 2013
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
It runs 157 minutes, and I can’t say you don’t feel them. You do – but in the way you would, reading a very good book in an uncomfortable chair.
May 16, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
A movie of such dark, smoldering intensity that it’s easy to forget that half of it takes place in near darkness.
May 11, 2012 | Rating: 4/4
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A police procedural as existential inquiry, set in a remote dreamscape of mystery and foreboding.
April 5, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/5
Sheri Linden
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The denouement offers a satisfactory conclusion to a drama that, in its scope, rigour and discipline, confirms Ceylan as a contemporary master.
March 19, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
This is the best controlled film of this major director – even one of the best films of the past year.
March 16, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Derek Malcolm
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
As the title suggests, Ceylan’s new film unfolds like a good book. What seems a police procedural on the surface, Anatolia is a deeply felt human drama that is rich and nuanced as any great Russian novel.
February 28, 2021
Dustin Chang
Floating World
As meditative as it is methodical, stunningly photographed, and as existentially provocative as anything Albert Camus ever wrote.
August 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Michael J. Casey
Boulder Weekly
An opaque but excellent film, if you can give yourself the mental shot in the arm that may be required as the film begins its lengthy wrapping up process, you will be witness to an excellent piece of artistic cinema.
February 13, 2020
Jim Ross
TAKE ONE Magazine
Each new discovery is as pleasurable and as thought provoking as the last, adding up to a deeply resonant cinematic experience that continues to grow in estimation upon further reflection.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia was one of the highlights of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where it took home the Grand Prix.
March 18, 2019
Duncan Gray
MUBI
Those that can embrace its patient, visually-enthralling style and sparse, yet affecting dialogue will be rewarded with a film of grand ambition, delving deep into the human condition and questioning our very moral fabric.
December 19, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Daniel Green
CineVue…
Plot
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Once Upon a Time in Anatolia includes Muhammet Uzuner, Yilmaz Erdogan, Taner Birsel, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Firat Tanis, and Ercan Kesal.
Nuri-Bilge-Ceylan.jpg
91%
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011)
91%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 8 nominations
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 is a riveting and thought-provoking documentary that transports viewers back to a pivotal moment in American history. Through a combination of archival footage and contemporary interviews, director Goran Olsson captures the raw energy and passion of the Black Power movement, while also exploring its complexities and contradictions. From the fiery speeches of Stokely Carmichael to the poignant reflections of Angela Davis, the film offers a multifaceted portrait of a movement that continues to resonate today. With its powerful soundtrack and innovative structure, The Black Power Mixtape is a must-see for anyone interested in the history of race and social justice in America.
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 is a documentary that takes you back in time to the era of the Black Power movement. It’s not your typical documentary, but rather a raw and intimate look at the people who were part of this movement. From unrepentant revolutionaries like Angela Davis to their bell-bottomed white lawyers, this film is both thrilling and amusing. With music by the Roots and Michael Jackson, it’s a mind-expanding experience that corrects misconceptions and sets history straight. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in the history of the Black Power movement and its impact on American society.
Production Company(ies)
Absolute Clay Productions, Quincy Jones Productions, Shadow Catcher Entertainment,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):English, Swedish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 2011 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2011
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, black power movement, Sweden, journalists, interviews, speeches, Stokely Carmichael, Eldridge Cleaver, Angela Davis, Harry Belafonte, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, directed by Göran Olsson, written by Göran Olsson, produced by Annika Rogell, Axel Arnö, Gaspard Lamunière, reviewed by Mark Sinker, Ina Diane Archer, Lisa Kennedy, Joe Williams, Tom Long, Marc Savlov, Barbara Shulgasser, David Lamble, B Ruby Rich, Ren Jender, Steve Erickson, Stuart Klawans, starring Abiodun Oyewole, MPAA rating R, box office performance $264.3K, budget unknown, documentary film, racial politics, civil rights, oppression, prejudice, discrimination, social justice, historical footage, African American studies, contemporary commentary, professors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, bias, propaganda, unbalanced, eye-opening, emotional, chilling, moving, vital, modern American history, outsider perspective, incendiary events, powerful, raw, remarkable, mutual transformation, real time
Worldwide gross: $280,256
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $368,956
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,812
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 40,235
US/Canada gross: $273,749
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $360,390
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,417
US/Canada opening weekend: $17,316
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,796
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,466
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): SEK 5,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Talib Kweli – Voice
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – Voice
Angela Davis – Voice
Harry Belafonte – Voice
Erykah Badu – Voice
Director(s)
Göran Olsson
Writer(s)
Göran Olsson
Producer(s)
Annika Rogell, Axel Arnö, Gaspard Lamunière
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (4)
By resisting the impulse to let present-day moralists tamp the story into safe hindsight shape… it allows us to glimpse rawer and more remarkable elements of mutual transformation in real time.
July 6, 2018
Mark Sinker
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
Olsson includes material that might typically have been considered outtakes and lets clips play at length, reinforcing an impression of intimacy with the participants in the scene.
November 5, 2013
Ina Diane Archer
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Broken into nine chapters — one for each year — the documentary isn’t a rigorous work but a felt piece of vital, if flawed, art.
November 4, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s thrilling to hear from unrepentant revolutionaries such as Angela Davis and amusing to hear from their bell-bottomed white lawyers.
October 28, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 is not your standard documentary dealing with racism in America.
October 21, 2011 | Rating: B-
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
The timing of this release is more than perfect. And the story behind the film is nearly as interesting as the stories it tells.
October 21, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Docu about Black Power movement; language, violence.
July 14, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Barbara Shulgasser
Common Sense Media
With music by the Roots and Michael Jackson, this mind-expanding doc is an appropriate companion piece to Harvard Law School Professor Randall Kennedy’s penetrating new volume, Racial Politics and the Obama Presidency.
June 10, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
The result is astonishing, for stereotypes have long since replaced the vivid realities of that moment; now, revivified, its actors spin back into action, misconceptions corrected, history set straight.
February 28, 2020
B. Ruby Rich
Film Quarterly
A film that does seem eerily relevant right now is The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975.
March 12, 2019
Ren Jender
Bitch Flicks
The territory covered by “The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975” is relatively fresh, especially for viewers who didn’t live through the period.
March 5, 2018
Steve Erickson
Gay City News
The best thing about The Black Power Mixtape is that it plays out our disagreements, then and now, and plays them loud. Listen.
January 9, 2018
Stuart Klawans
The Nation…
Plot
Footage shot by a group of Swedish journalists documenting the Black Power Movement in the United States is edited together by a contemporary Swedish filmmaker.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 features commentary from notable voices such as Talib Kweli, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, and Erykah Badu.
Göran-Olsson.jpg
91%
Young@Heart (2007)
91%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 12 nominations
Full of endearing characters, this doc about a choir of “seniors behaving badly” is uplifting and delightful.
Young@Heart is the perfect documentary for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up. Sure, the filmmaker can be a bit awkward at times, but the members of the choir more than make up for it with their infectious energy and heartwarming performances. You’ll be tapping your toes and singing along in no time, and you might even shed a tear or two. Who knew that a group of senior citizens could be so kick-ass? This film will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired, and you’ll never look at your grandparents the same way again.
Production Company(ies)
Morgan Creek Entertainment, Davis-Films, August Entertainment,
Distributor
Fox
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Red Bluff, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements, mild language and an injury
Year of Release
2012
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 2008 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring, directed by, written by, documentary, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by, produced by, Stephen Walker, Sally George, Jane Villiers, Hannah Beckerman, Ed Marritz, Neptune Frost, 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, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play, Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel Movies, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Band’s Visit, Young at Heart, uplifting, endearing characters, choir, seniors behaving badly, contemporary rock, pop songs, thematic elements, some mild language, English, Fox, narrator, executive producer, cinematographer, Nell Minow, Paul Byrnes, David Stratton, Jake Wilson, Kat Brown, Joanne Laurier, Richard Propes, Kate Rodger, Dan DiNicola, Brian D Johnson, Jared H, Daniel P, Cita W
Worldwide gross: $4,448,728
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,735,409
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,131
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 625,454
US/Canada gross: $4,038,912
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,207,064
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,795
US/Canada opening weekend: $67,548
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $87,085
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,990
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Stephen Walker – Director
Jane Villiers – Executive Producer
Hannah Beckerman – Executive Producer
Sally George – Producer
Ed Marritz – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Stephen Walker
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Sally George
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 12 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (105) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (11)
April 21, 2012 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
If it…verges on being just slightly patronising at times, that’s a quarrel with the filmmakers, not its participants.
October 24, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s a pity that director Stephen Walker, who also narrates, imposes so much of himself on the material, asking at times the most insensitive questions.
October 17, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
As an interviewer Walker is habitually condescending and sometimes downright inane…
October 17, 2008 | Rating: 1.5/5
Jake Wilson
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The wonderful members of the choir, truly young at heart, overcome the occasional clumsiness of the filmmaker and you come away from this film feeling genuinely uplifted.
October 17, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
The devil may have all the best tunes, but it’s the elderly who nail them. Charming, heartwarming and totally kick-ass, you’ll never look at your grandparents in the same way.
October 17, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Kat Brown
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Young@Heart’s vocals are playful, but essential. Even the youngest of spectators are impressed by the liberating flamboyance of the chorus.
March 5, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
An entertaining and frequently moving documentary.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
This is one of those films the phrase “feel-good” was invented for.
September 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Rodger
Newshub (NZ)
Their music is not brilliant, but it is accomplished and soulful, head and shoulders above the usual output of senior citizen groups.
February 3, 2018
Dan DiNicola
The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
It’s not hard to figure out why this movie has triumphed at film festivals.
November 30, 2017
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Ya gotta love these guys! How could you NOT love these guys?
July 13, 2012 | Rating: 75/100
Dan Jardine
Cinemania…
Plot
An examination of the life of acclaimed ‘horse whisperer’ Buck Brannaman, who recovered from years of child abuse to become a well-known expert in the interactions between horses and people.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary Young at Heart features a group of senior citizens who perform contemporary rock and pop songs, but some critics found fault with the director’s approach and questioning of the choir members.
Stephen-Walker.jpg
91%
City of Life and Death (2011)
91%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: 17 wins & 13 nominations
Lu Chuan’s City of Life and Death is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the horrors of war with a rare authenticity and emotional depth. Shot in striking black and white, the film immerses the audience in the brutal siege of Nanjing, telling the story from both the perspective of the Japanese occupiers and the Chinese civilians. The performances are outstanding, with even the extras delivering searing portrayals of fear, defiance, cruelty, and guilt. Chuan’s attention to detail and dramatic complexity is exquisite, making this film a timelessly great work of art that commands our collective attention. It is not for the squeamish, but for those who can handle the relentless savagery, City of Life and Death is a must-see film that will leave you profoundly shaken and emotionally satisfied.
City of Life and Death is a movie that will leave you feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck, but in a good way. Okay, maybe not a good way, but definitely a way that will make you appreciate life a little more. The black and white cinematography is stunning, and the performances are so raw and real that you’ll forget you’re watching a movie. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby.
Production Company(ies)
3ality Digital Entertainment,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Changchun, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for wartime violence and atrocities including sexual assault, and for some sexuality and brief nudity
Year of Release
2009
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Mandarin, English, Japanese, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 25, 2011
Genre(s)
War
Keyword(s)
war, Chinese, Japanese, occupation, Nanking, conflict, soldier, officer, atrocities, Hideo Nakaizumi, Ye Liu, directed by Chuan Lu, written by Chuan Lu, produced by Sanping Han, box office gross $119.9K, reviewed by Tom Long, David Lewis, Joe Williams, John Hartl, Peter Rainer, Leonard Maltin, Joanne Laurier, Ard Vijn, Mattie Lucas, Kelly Jane Torrance, Ian Buruma, genre, MPAA rating, black and white, historical, drama, epic, emotional, powerful, haunting, authentic, searing, fear, defiance, cruelty, guilt, compassion, savagery, senseless, detail, complexity, atmosphere, feeling
Worldwide gross: $10,687,316
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $14,771,054
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,823
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,610,802
US/Canada gross: $122,558
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $169,389
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,575
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,610
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $7,754
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,752
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,585,329
Production budget ranking: 1,470
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,931,199
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,745,474
ROI to date (est.): -42%
ROI ranking: 1,633
Yuanyuan Gao – Miss Jiang
Hideo Nakaizumi – Kadokawa
Yuko Miyamoto
Sam Voutas – Durdin
Wei Fan – Mr. Tang
Director(s)
Chuan Lu
Writer(s)
Chuan Lu
Producer(s)
Sanping Han
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
17 wins & 13 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (4)
It is not an easy film, and perhaps a touch too relentless, but it is a great reminder of how bloody, mad and awful this world can be.
October 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Lu Chuan makes this feature film soar by telling the story both through the eyes of the Japanese occupiers and the defenseless Chinese civilians in the ancient capital. It makes the savagery all the more senseless.
September 22, 2011 | Rating: 4/4
David Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Exquisitely shot in black and white, with a rare attention to detail and dramatic complexity, “City of Life and Death” is a timelessly great film that commands our collective attention.
July 8, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
In almost any form, the story of the Nanking atrocities can leave you profoundly shaken. But Lu Chuan’s version may be the most compassionate and emotionally satisfying treatment to date.
July 7, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Here, in bloodless miniature, is the true obscenity of war.
June 24, 2011 | Rating: B+
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
Chinese filmmaker Chuan Lu has tackled a vast and ambitious subject in City of Life and Death. I knew very little about the siege on Nanjing (or Nanking, as Westerners have long referred to it) in 1937; I feel as if I understand it now, in all…
June 17, 2011
Leonard Maltin
leonardmaltin.com
TOP CRITIC
Great effort and care has gone into recreating what is known as the Rape of Nanking.
March 4, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Although it is not overtly gory, the film is powerfully shocking at times, and not for the squeamish. Those squeamish are missing something though… this movie is definitely recommended.
September 23, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Ard Vijn
ScreenAnarchy
Shot in striking black and white, the film almost feels like a living war document, with a haunting immediacy and authenticity that seems completely organic.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The performances, even of the extras, are all searing portrayals of fear, defiance, cruelty and guilt.
January 8, 2019 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner
City of Life and Death is not an analytical film…it is stronger on atmosphere and feeling.
November 5, 2018
Ian Buruma
The New York Review of Books
…epic in scope (truly a cast of thousands must have been recruited), but like the best war films also focuses on the cost to the individuals involved including the victors.
August 10, 2016 | Rating: 7/10
Sarah Boslaugh
Playback:stl…
Plot
During the 1937 occupation of Nanking, a conflicted Japanese soldier and a Chinese officer bring attention to the atrocities committed by Japanese forces in City of Life and Death.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Hideo Nakaizumi as a conflicted Japanese soldier.
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91%
The Interrupters (2011)
91%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 17 nominations
Impeccably crafted and edited, The Interrupters is a tough and honest documentary about street violence that truly has the power to inspire change.
The Interrupters is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and want to join the fight against street violence. Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams, and Eddie Bocanegra are the ultimate badasses turned good, and their work with CeaseFire is nothing short of inspiring. The film doesn’t rely on narration or interviews, but instead lets the raw footage speak for itself. And let me tell you, it speaks volumes. From the heart-wrenching stories of families affected by violence to the moments of hope and triumph, The Interrupters is a must-see for anyone who cares about making a difference in their community. So grab some tissues and get ready to be moved.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures,
Distributor
Cinema Guild
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Illinois, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 5m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 2011 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 14, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $286,457
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $377,120
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,808
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 41,125
US/Canada gross: $282,448
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $371,842
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,410
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,920
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,427
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,694
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ameena Matthews – Self
Gary Slutkin – Self
Kenneth Oliver – Self
Spencer Leak – Self
Fernando Bocanegra – Self
Steve James – Director, Producer
Alex Kotlowitz – Producer, Writer
Director(s)
Steve James
Writer(s)
Alex Kotlowitz
Producer(s)
Steve James, Alex Kotlowitz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (93) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (1)
Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra used to instigate Chicago street violence. Now they live for nipping it in the bud, block by treacherous block.
December 8, 2011 | Rating: A-
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
Where James’s film excels is as direct experiential cinema — without narration, onscreen interviews or acknowledgment of the presence of the camera — it is an intensely dramatic window into a world.
October 7, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
A sobering but not hopeless look at how the Windy City is attempting to turn around a rising tide of street shooting, through the work of a unique group called CeaseFire.
October 6, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
It’s a year in the life and death of the fight against the streetwise status quo, and James’ doc brings it all horrifically home.
September 30, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
There’s no doubt The Interrupters do some good; but there’s also no doubt the problem they’re facing is enormous.
September 16, 2011 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Realistically inspiring and, thankfully, not overly dramatized.
September 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Stephanie Merry
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s a heart wrenching tale of a few brave souls who take it upon themselves to step deep into this world … and do what they can to prevent further tragedy from happening.
August 3, 2020 | Rating: A+
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
A one-woman peace squad, [Ameena Matthews] burns up the screen whenever she’s on it.
February 28, 2020
B. Ruby Rich
Film Quarterly
The Interrupters makes the case that if you want less killing, you need, not more guns, but more neighbors.
September 16, 2019
Noah Berlatsky
Splice Today
This is essential, issue-based documentary filmmaking without the usual ham-fisted histrionics.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Ironically, the power of Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz’s incredible documentary is the fact that it’s unmediated.
January 9, 2019
Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest
The cameras are allowed access to places and moments that are so shocking in their vulnerability that it’s a wonder the filmmakers were allowed to shoot there in the first place.
September 28, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Yasmin Shehab
Cairo360…
Plot
The Interrupters tells the moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who try to protect their Chicago communities from the violence they once employed. From acclaimed director Steve James and bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz, this film is an unusually intimate journey into the stubborn, persistence of violence in our cities. Shot over the course of a year out of Kartemquin Films, The Interrupters captures a period in Chicago when it became a national symbol for the violence in our cities. During that period, the city was besieged by high-profile incidents, most notably the brutal beating of Derrion Albert, a Chicago High School student, whose death was caught on videotape. The film’s main subjects work for an innovative organization, CeaseFire, which believes that the spread of violence mimics the spread of infectious diseases, and so the treatment should be similar: go after the most infected, and stop the infection at its source. The singular mission of the “Violence Interrupters” – who have credibility on the streets because of their own personal histories
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Interrupters features former gang members and convicts who work as mediators to curb violence in their Chicago neighborhoods.
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