Life And Debt (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins
Life and Debt is a documentary that delves into the harsh realities of globalization and its impact on underdeveloped countries, specifically Jamaica. With a potent message that deserves to be heard, Stephanie Black’s film is a timely and never dull piece of agitprop that manages to synthesize theory and practice. It’s a brilliant expose of international carpetbagging that puts a human face on the debt crisis and the effects of open trade on a Third World country. As documentaries about economics go, this one is way, way up at the top, and should be mandatory viewing for anyone interested in globalization, which remains one of the most contentious issues of our times.
Life and Debt is a documentary that will make you want to pack your bags and head straight to Jamaica to help out. It’s a powerful and eye-opening look at the effects of globalization on underdeveloped countries, and it’s not afraid to call out the IMF and World Bank for their exploitative practices. While some critics found it a bit dry, I found it to be a fascinating and informative watch. Plus, the reggae soundtrack is a definite highlight. Overall, Life and Debt is a must-see for anyone interested in global economics and social justice.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Jamaica
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 20m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, globalization, Jamaica, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, aid organizations, economy, policies, Stephanie Black, directed by Stephanie Black, produced by Stephanie Black, written by Jamaica Kincaid, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Ed Rampell, Geoff Andrew, Andrew Pulver, Jamie Russell, Marc Savlov, Philip French, Cole Smithey, Andrew Rodgers, Dennis Schwartz, David Nusair, Joshua Tanzer, narrated by Belinda Becker, cinematography by Malik Hassan Sayeed, Richard Lannaman, Kyle Kibbe, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, social protest, underdeveloped countries, exploitation, debt crisis, open trade, Third World country, economic diatribe, patronizing, persuasive, contentious issues, human faces, featured audience reviews, Tomatometer, audience score, streaming, theaters, Dolby Stereo, Dolby SR, Dolby A, aspect ratio, flat, 1.85:1, distributor, New Yorker Films
Worldwide gross: $263,107
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $426,463
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,778
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 46,506
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
Stephanie Black – Director, Producer
Malik Hassan Sayeed – Cinematographer
Richard Lannaman – Cinematographer
Kyle Kibbe – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Stephanie Black
Writer(s)
Jamaica Kincaid
Producer(s)
Stephanie Black
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (4)
Powerfully illustrates what globalization has been doing to underdeveloped countries around the world.
August 20, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This case study of globalization’s effects on Jamaica is a timely, never dull piece of agitprop that comes off as a cross between Godard’s social protest docs and The Harder They Come.
August 20, 2007
Ed Rampell
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Talking heads are intercut to synthesise theory and practice, but as an economic diatribe this is a bit patronising and not wholly persuasive.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Here is a documentary that should be mandatory viewing for anyone interested in globalisation that, war or no war, remains one of the most contentious issues of our times.
March 25, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Andrew Pulver
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
As an expose of such international carpetbagging, Life + Debt is brilliant stuff.
February 26, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
An eye-opener and a primer on why the IMF and the World Bank are not to be trusted by emerging third-world countries.
March 10, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It is an instructive story of exploitation.
August 20, 2007
Philip French
Observer (UK)
Stephanie Black puts into context the differences between the Jamaica seen by tourists and the country inhabited by its oppressed people.
October 5, 2006 | Rating: 5/5
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
As documentaries about economics go, this one is way, way up at the top.
February 25, 2004
Andrew Rodgers
Zap2it.com
Its potent message deserves to be heard.
August 6, 2003 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Try to imagine the most boring lecture you’ve ever sat through, and you might have a vague conception of what it’s like watching Life and Debt.
August 1, 2003 | Rating: 1/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Puts a human face – many human faces – on the debt crisis and the effects of open trade on a Third World country.
March 11, 2003 | Rating: 4/4
Joshua Tanzer
Offoffoff…
Plot
“Life and Debt” is a documentary that exposes the negative impact of policies from international aid organizations on the Jamaican economy over the past 25 years.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Belinda Becker narrates the documentary Life and Debt.
Stephanie-Black.jpg
92%
Solaris (1976)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 4 nominations
Solaris is a haunting, meditative film that uses sci-fi to raise complex questions about humanity and existence.
Solaris is like a deep sea dive into the unknown, with its hypnotic pull and enigmatic adventure. Tarkovsky’s speculative visions explore the mysteries of life and death, the power of art, and the dangers of science. It’s a film that challenges and offers few easy answers, but ultimately leaves you feeling like you’ve been on a journey through space and time. And if you’re looking for a slow-moving, seat-squeaking bore, well, you might want to look elsewhere.
Production Company(ies)
Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet Corp. Goodmovies Entertainment,
Distributor
Image Entertainment Inc., Fox Lorber, Criterion Collection
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Akasaka, Minato, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1972
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 49m
-
Language(s):Russian, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1972 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $135,289
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,073,792
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,586
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 117,098
US/Canada gross: $22,168
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $175,948
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,564
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,537
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $91,569
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,964
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): RUR 1,000,000
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
Donatas Banionis – Kris Kelvin
Jüri Järvet – Dr. Snaut
Vladislav Dvorzhetskiy – Berton
Nikolay Grinko – Kelvin’s father
Anatoliy Solonitsyn – Dr. Sartorius
Director(s)
Andrei Tarkovsky
Writer(s)
Fridrikh Gorenshteyn, Stanislaw Lem, Andrei Tarkovsky
Producer(s)
Viacheslav Tarasov
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (64) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (5)
The film has a hypnotic pull, drawing the viewer deeper and deeper into its enigmatic adventure by crafting a world all its own.
May 18, 2017
Mark Olsen
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Andrei Tarkovsky’s pacing is less moved by narrative detail than thematic and metaphorical suggestion.
May 6, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/4
Clayton Dillard
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Tarkovsky’s speculative visions enfold the mysteries of death and rebirth, the lost paradise of childhood, the power of art to define identity, the menace of science as destructive vanity …
June 16, 2014
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
Proves the yin to Kubrick’s yang, not out of contrarian longing, but because that was the form best suited for the content Tarkovsky wanted to explore.
May 24, 2011 | Rating: 4/4
Rob Humanick
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The effects are scanty, the drama gloomy, the philosophy of the film thick as a cloud of ozone. The plot is not all that original either.
May 23, 2011
Jay Cocks
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Its discussion of passion and obsession, regret and reconciliation is consistently challenging and offers few easy answers.
May 23, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Solaris exists on several spatial, temporal, and fantastic levels at once.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
A scientist-sweating, slow moving, seat-squeaking bore.
June 30, 2021
Ruth Batchelor
Los Angeles Free Press
Ultimately I was really disappointed in Solaris but I am not sorry that I watched it.
April 1, 2021
Sarah Brinks
Battleship Pretension
It’s as if the film is a living, thinking thing: A reflection of what you want when you need it.
August 10, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Michael J. Casey
Boulder Weekly
Perfectly immaculate, using the chilliness of the way the location is framed to offset the profoundly human story being told there.
May 15, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
A profoundly beautiful and disturbing Russian film that reaches far beyond the realms of the future depicted in Kubrick’s 2001.
October 29, 2019
Lucie K. Scheuer
Los Angeles Free Press…
Plot
The Solaris mission has established a base on a planet that appears to host some kind of intelligence, but the facts are hazy and very secret. After the mysterious demise of one of the three scientists on the base, the main character is sent out to replace him. He finds the station run-down and the two remaining scientists cold and secretive. When he also encounters his wife who has been dead for ten years, he begins to appreciate the baffling nature of the alien intelligence.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Andrei-Tarkovsky.jpg
92%
Monsoon Wedding (2002)
92%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
7 wins & 15 nominations total
An insightful, energetic blend of Hollywood and Bollywood styles, Monsoon Wedding is a colorful, exuberant celebration of modern-day India, family, love, and life.
Monsoon Wedding is the perfect movie to watch if you’re in the mood for a big, chaotic, and heartwarming family drama. It’s like a Bollywood film, but with a more realistic and grounded approach. The characters are all so lovable and relatable, and the way the film explores the complexities of love and relationships is truly beautiful. Plus, the wedding scenes are just so much fun to watch! Overall, Monsoon Wedding is a must-see for anyone who loves a good family drama with a touch of humor and romance.
Production Company(ies)
Toho Company, Kurosawa Production Co.,
Distributor
USA Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, Central Delhi, Delhi, India
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, including some sex related dialogue
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):Hindi, English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 22, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 24, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, directed by Mira Nair, written by Sabrina Dhawan, Comedy, Drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Anthony Lane, Anupama Chopra, Joshua Rothkopf, Chuck Bowen, David Ansen, Jimmy Cage, Brian Eggert, Eve Tushnet, Allen Almachar, Soham Gadre, B Ruby Rich, produced by Caroline Baron, Mira Nair, MPAA rating R, family, love, India, Punjabi family, wedding ceremony, bonds, ensemble comedy, Hollywood, Bollywood, modern-day India, Delhi, relatives, universal, comedic ways, dramatic ways, touching, exuberant, colorful, life, relationships, culture, traditions, customs, secrets, madness, celebration, feel-good, wounding, confusing, appealing, snapshot of India, polymorphous culture, stereotype-shattering, cinema verite, galloping party movie, metaphor for the world, profound moments of truth, elaborately ornamented, fantastic acting, ode to love, cultural conflict, taboos, shockingly frank, revealing ways, deliriously joyous
Worldwide gross: $30,787,356
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $51,062,757
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,315
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,568,458
US/Canada gross: $13,885,966
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,030,744
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,365
US/Canada opening weekend: $68,546
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $113,688
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,887
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): ?7,000,000
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
Lillete Dubey – Pimmi Verma
Mira Nair – Director
Sabrina Dhawan – Writer
Caroline Baron – Producer
Mira Nair – Producer
Director(s)
Mira Nair
Writer(s)
Sabrina Dhawan
Producer(s)
Caroline Baron, Mira Nair
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
7 wins & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (128) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (122) | Rotten (6)
It gave the Hindi film industry an alternative way of portraying the Big Fat Indian Wedding, and all its non-stop accompanying tamasha….
June 28, 2021
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
This drama by Mira Nair has been hailed as a feel-good spree, but it’s better than that-a barely stable compound of the wounding, the confusing, and the appealing.
July 13, 2020
Anthony Lane
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
There is the madness of a family wedding, there’s a disturbing secret and there is also a snapshot of India at that moment in time. This is a film that doesn’t date.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
A late radical shift in tone, from jittery exuberance to ruinous alienation, strikes an impressive contemporary note amid all the obeisance to custom.
June 22, 2010
Joshua Rothkopf
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A big, galloping party movie in which the party in question is a clear metaphor for the world.
December 22, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Chuck Bowen
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Nair’s stereotype-shattering movie — like the polymorphous culture it illuminates — borrows from Bollywood, Hollywood and cinema verite, and comes up with something exuberantly its own.
August 18, 2008
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
MONSOON WEDDING is a wonderful film in which moments of lightheartedness and joy alternate and blend with profound moments of truth. Narrated in an elaborately ornamented way and fantastically acted.
April 8, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
Jimmy Cage
Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)
A celebration of life that acknowledges how family leads to both great love and anguish, yet out of that comes a willingness to endure and overcome.
February 26, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This is a fleet, gentle movie, and I enjoyed it…
September 13, 2021
Eve Tushnet
Patheos
The film is an ode to love, in all its messiness and bliss.
September 2, 2021
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
Nair confronts cultural conflict and taboos many times, which are explicitly shown in shockingly frank and revealing ways.
February 4, 2021
Soham Gadre
The Spool
Deliriously joyous.
February 28, 2020
B. Ruby Rich
The Nation…
Plot
A story set in the modern upper-middle class of India, where telecommunications and a western lifestyle mix with old traditions, like the arranged wedding young Aditi accepts when she ends the affair with a married TV producer. The groom is an Indian living in Texas, and all relatives from both families, some from distant places like Australia, come to New Delhi during the monsoon season to attend the wedding. The four-day arrangements and celebrations will see clumsy organization, family parties and drama, dangers to the happy end of the wedding, lots of music and even a new romance for the wedding planner Dubey with the housemaid Alice…
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Naseeruddin Shah plays Lalit Verma in the film.
Mira-Nair.jpg
92%
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 88%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
39 wins & 48 nominations total
A road movie that’s not only sexy, but intelligent as well.
Y Tu Mama Tambien is the kind of movie that makes you want to pack your bags, hop in a car, and go on a wild adventure with your best friends. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s equal parts funny, heartbreaking, and sexy. Alfonso Cuaron’s direction is masterful, and the performances from Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are pitch-perfect. Plus, the scenery is absolutely stunning. If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel all the feels, this is the one for you. Just maybe don’t watch it with your mother.
Production Company(ies)
The Directors Company, Saticoy Productions, Paramount Pictures,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Tepelmeme Villa de Morelos, Oaxaca, Mexico
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 45m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 2002 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 22, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Diana Bracho, Emilio Echevarría, Ana López Mercado, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, written by Alfonso Cuarón, Carlos Cuarón, Comedy, Drama, $13.6M box office, reviewed by Anupama Chopra, Jason Bailey, David Ansen, Kimberley Jones, Peter Rainer, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Jordan M Smith, PJ Nabarro, Sophie Gorman, Andrea Beach, Eric Melin, John Beifuss, MPAA rating R, produced by Alfonso Cuarón, Jorge Vergara
Worldwide gross: $33,616,692
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $56,653,823
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,275
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,178,170
US/Canada gross: $13,839,658
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $23,323,816
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,358
US/Canada opening weekend: $408,091
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $687,751
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,326
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $2,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $3,370,577
Production budget ranking: 1,964
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,815,056
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $51,468,190
ROI to date (est.): 993%
ROI ranking: 126
Gael García Bernal – Julio Zapata
Diego Luna – Tenoch Iturbide
Diana Bracho – Silvia Allende de Iturbide
Emilio Echevarría – Miguel Iturbide
Ana López Mercado – Ana Morelos
Self – Alfonso Cuarón (Director, Producer, Writer)
Self – Carlos Cuarón (Writer)
Self – Jorge Vergara (Producer)
Director(s)
Alfonso Cuarón
Writer(s)
Alfonso Cuarón, Carlos Cuarón
Producer(s)
Alfonso Cuarón, Jorge Vergara
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
39 wins & 48 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (137) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (126) | Rotten (11)
Y Tu Mama Tambien is the film that made me fall in love with Alfonso Cuaron.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
‘Y Tu Mam Tambin’ remains Cuarn’s most fascinating work – and, increasingly, an outlier in his idiosyncratic filmography.
June 18, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
The movie has an emotional kick that lingers like a primal memory. When the year is over, Cuaron’s film will be remembered as one of 2002’s finest.
August 18, 2008
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The funniest and most emotionally charged erotic road movie since Bertrand Blier’s Going Places.
January 16, 2003
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Marvelous, merry and, yes, melancholy film.
November 4, 2002 | Rating: A-
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Funny, heartbreaking, sultry and just alive through and through, Cuarón’s film is a work of fluid collaboration surfed upon with pure perfection from all parties involved.
November 4, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
It’s the near-silent scaffold Cuarón builds around the narrative tyranny of the bourgeois boys that becomes the moral of the story.
December 15, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
PJ Nabarro
One Room With A View
A powerful, mature film.
October 17, 2017
Sophie Gorman
The Herald (Ireland)
Bittersweet road-trip movie with graphic sex, language.
February 21, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Beach
Common Sense Media
… a coming-of-age film with startling emotional depth and complexity, set against the backdrop of class differences in Mexico.
October 6, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
Eric Melin
Lawrence.com
A sexy and often comical road trip that demonstrates how personal agendas and insecurities sabotage and corrupt not just personal but political ideals.
September 4, 2014 | Rating: 4/4
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)…
Plot
In Mexico City, late teen friends Tenoch Iturbide and Julio Zapata are feeling restless as their respective girlfriends are traveling together through Europe before they all begin the next phase of their lives at college. At a lavish family wedding, Tenoch and Julio meet Luisa Cortés, the twenty-something wife of Tenoch’s cousin Jano, the two who have just moved to Mexico from Spain. Tenoch and Julio try to impress the beautiful Luisa by telling her that they will be taking a trip to the most beautiful secluded beach in Mexico called la Boca del Cielo (translated to Heaven’s Mouth), the trip and the beach which in reality don’t exist. When Luisa learns of Jano’s latest marital indiscretion straight from the horse’s mouth, she takes Tenoch and Julio’s offer to go along on this road trip, meaning that Tenoch and Julio have to pull together quickly a road trip to a non-existent beach. They decide to head toward one suggested by their friend Saba, who seems a little confused himself of this beach’s location. On the road trip, which ends up not being totally harmonious, the three go on a trip of discovery. For Luisa, she has to figure out what to do with her immediate future based on the news from Jano and a secret she is keeping. And Tenoch and Julio have to figure out what their friendship really means as they grow up.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, who went on to have successful careers beyond this movie.
Alfonso-Cuarón.jpg
92%
The Devil’s Backbone (El Espinazo del diablo) (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 11 nominations
Creepily atmospheric and haunting, The Devil’s Backbone is both a potent ghost story and an intelligent political allegory.
Guillermo Del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone is like a spooky history lesson that you actually want to pay attention to. It’s got ghosts, political allegories, and a whole lot of creepiness. But don’t worry, it’s not all serious – there’s also some revenge and betrayal thrown in for good measure. Plus, the imagery is so striking that it’ll stick with you long after the credits roll. So if you’re in the mood for a horror flick that’s got a little something extra, give The Devil’s Backbone a watch. Just maybe don’t watch it alone in the dark.
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, A Band Apart Jersey Films,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Talamanca del Jarama, Madrid, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 46m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama/Horror
Keyword(s)
The Devil’s Backbone, R, Drama/Horror, 1h 46m, 92% Tomatometer, 119 Reviews, 89% Audience Score, 25,000+ Ratings, directed by Guillermo del Toro, written by Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz, starring Marisa Paredes, Eduardo Noriega, Federico Luppi, Fernando Tielve, Irene Visedo, Iñigo Garcés, reviewed by Jami Bernard, Bruce Diones, Joe Morgenstern, Nathan Rabin, Jonathan Holland, Martin Rubin, Carmen, Jacinto, Cásares, Carlos, Conchita, Jaime, produced by Sony Pictures Classics, box office gross USA $754.7K, MPAA rating R, Spanish language, ghost story, political allegory, orphans, Republican militia, violence, sexuality, language, surround sound, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Worldwide gross: $6,582,065
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,092,678
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,938
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,209,670
US/Canada gross: $755,249
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,272,812
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,129
US/Canada opening weekend: $34,963
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $58,923
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,139
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $4,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,583,798
Production budget ranking: 1,765
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,083,875
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$574,995
ROI to date (est.): -5%
ROI ranking: 1,424
Eduardo Noriega – Jacinto
Federico Luppi – Cásares
Fernando Tielve – Carlos
Irene Visedo – Conchita
Iñigo Garcés – Jaime
Director(s)
Guillermo del Toro
Writer(s)
Guillermo del Toro, Antonio Trashorras, David Muñoz
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (119) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (110) | Rotten (9)
Guillermo Del Toro’s The Devil’s Backbone is a really cool ghost story with an extraordinary human and political dimension.
October 14, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Del Toro’s elegant pacing and gothic touches imbue the proceedings with a cool mystery.
October 7, 2013
Bruce Diones
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
It’s a horror flick, and a creepily good one, that also functions as an allegory of the war that still haunts Spain seven decades later.
October 7, 2013
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The Devil’s Backbone augments its abundant creepiness with an equally powerful poignancy.
October 7, 2013
Nathan Rabin
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Though it fails in its final reels to capitalize on its early promise, pic is still stylish, accomplished and tremendously enjoyable fare.
October 18, 2008
Jonathan Holland
Variety
TOP CRITIC
An entertaining and atmospheric revenge tale.
September 24, 2007
Martin Rubin
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Devil’s Backbone truly is a masterful film, one rife with both symbolism and story. This is a poetic piece of cinema that manages to expose the horrors of war through the lens of fantasy.
July 24, 2017 | Rating: 9/10
Ford Maddox Brown
Starburst
A microcosm, that is like a small war, combining living and dead, resentments, betrayals and revenge in an exceptional way with an impeccable cast. [Full review in Spanish]
October 31, 2016
Lucero Solórzano
Excelsior
Although spooky, The Devil’s Backbone becomes weighed down by perhaps one too many subplots.
September 8, 2014 | Rating: 7/10
Austin Trunick
Under the Radar
What Del Toro provides with The Devil’s Backbone is the recognition that evil exists within the most routine of circumstances. That knowledge is as old as humanity’s belief in the fantastic, and just as powerful.
October 7, 2013
Serena Donadoni
Metro Times (Detroit, MI)
You may find that images from this movie clamber back into your memory weeks after you see it, and give your spine a chill.
October 7, 2013
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
Though the whodunnit takes a fairly predictable course, the Spanish Civil War background adds powerful narrative and symbolic weight, while the striking imagery is simply poetic.
October 7, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Andrew Collins
Radio Times…
Plot
It is 1939, the end of three years of bloody civil war in Spain, and General Franco’s right-wing Nationalists are poised to defeat the left-wing Republican forces. A ten-year-old boy named Carlos, the son of a fallen Republican war hero, is left by his tutor in an orphanage in the middle of nowhere. The orphanage is run by a curt but considerate headmistress named Carmen and a kindly Professor Casares, both of whom are sympathetic to the doomed Republican cause. Despite their concern for him, and his gradual triumph over the usual schoolhouse bully, Carlos never feels completely comfortable in his new environment. First of all, there was that initial encounter with the orphanage’s nasty caretaker, Jacinto, who reacts even more violently when anyone is caught looking around a particular storage room the one with the deep well. Second, and more inexplicable, is the presence of a ghost, one of the former occupants of the orphanage named Santi. Not long after Carlos’ arrival, Santi latches onto Carlos, badgering him incessantly at night and gloomily intoning, “Many of you will die.” As if that wasn’t enough to keep the orphanage’s occupants in an unrelenting state of terror, there’s the un-exploded bomb that dominates the orphanage’s courtyard, still ticking away; With the orphanage left defenseless by its isolation, and the swift progression of Franco’s troops, the ghost’s prediction seems depressingly accurate. Nevertheless, with every step of the plot, it becomes apparent that the ghost’s predictions as to who (or what) will die, the real source of danger and even the definition of death itself may be more ambiguous than first thought.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Federico Luppi’s performance as Dr. Casares is described as “superb, providing us with a true hero, a gentleman of class and compassion.”
Guillermo-del-Toro.jpg
92%
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
15 wins & 38 nominations total
Clever, funny, and delightful to look at, Monsters, Inc. delivers another resounding example of how Pixar elevated the bar for modern all-ages animation.
Monsters, Inc. is a timeless classic that continues to enchant audiences of all ages. With its smart and inventive storytelling, state-of-the-art animation, and lovable characters, it’s no wonder why Pixar continues to set the standard for all other animation projects. Plus, who can resist the brightly colored eye-candy and great gags that make this movie a fun and fast-paced adventure? It’s a roller coaster of emotions that will leave you feeling nostalgic and wanting more. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to be transported to the magical world of Monsters, Inc.!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures,
Distributor
Walt Disney Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Pixar Animation Studios – 1200 Park Avenue, Emeryville, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 32m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 17, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Fantasy
Keyword(s)
starring John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Mary Gibbs, Steve Buscemi, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly, directed by Pete Docter, written by Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston, Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson, comedy, fantasy, adventure, G rating, box office, budget, reviewed by Joe Morgenstern, David Ansen, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Robbie Collin, Tom Huddleston, Helen O’Hara, Cory Woodroof, Betsy Bozdech, Mike Massie, Debbie Lynn Elias, Matt Brunson, Rachel Wagner, Monsters Incorporated, Pixar, Darla K Anderson, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, SDDS, Dolby Stereo, DTS, Surround, Dolby A, Scope (2.35:1), Walt Disney Pictures, 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
Worldwide gross: $579,707,738
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $976,974,754
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 99
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 106,540,322
US/Canada gross: $290,642,256
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $489,816,036
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 83
US/Canada opening weekend: $62,577,067
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $105,460,408
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 78
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $115,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $193,808,171
Production budget ranking: 126
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $104,365,700
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $678,800,882
ROI to date (est.): 228%
ROI ranking: 579
Billy Crystal – Mike Wazowski – Voice
Mary Gibbs – Boo – Voice
Steve Buscemi – Randall – Voice
James Coburn – Henry J. Waternoose – Voice
Jennifer Tilly – Celia – Voice
Director(s)
Pete Docter
Writer(s)
Pete Docter, Jill Culton, Jeff Pidgeon, Ralph Eggleston, Andrew Stanton, Daniel Gerson
Producer(s)
Darla K. Anderson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
15 wins & 38 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (199) | Top Critics (54) | Fresh (191) | Rotten (8)
The uses of enchantment haven’t changed; kids still need, maybe more than ever, the special comfort of fabulous threats they can control.
April 4, 2018
Joe Morgenstern
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
It’s a terrific piece of work: smart, inventive and executed with state-of-the-art finesse.
March 7, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
If anything, it improves with age.
January 18, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Pixar’s soaringly lovely fourth feature …
January 17, 2013 | Rating: 5/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s in the visuals that ‘Monsters Inc’ comes to life, from the jazzy, Norman McLaren influenced opening to the hilarious, shakycam amateur-dramatic recap over the closing credits.
January 15, 2013 | Rating: 5/5
Tom Huddleston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Another chance to see Pixar’s most dazzling premise, now spruced up with a third dimension.
January 14, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Helen O’Hara
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Unflappably great; a clinic in world-building, character development, voice acting and voice casting, storytelling and balancing animation for kids and adults; an emotional, unforgettable roller coaster…
July 6, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
A fun, fast-paced story with plenty of wit and brightly colored eye-candy.
January 15, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Betsy Bozdech
DVDJournal.com
Pixar continues to set the standards for which all other animation projects attempt to reach.
November 7, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
[G]ood writing, great gags, superior animation, perfect casting, over the top energy and cuteness, and above-all – characters guaranteed to make Disney’s coffers go “ch-ching” with holiday toy buying!
November 13, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
A timeless toon tale.
June 20, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
It’s a delight.
April 26, 2019 | Rating: A
Rachel Wagner
rachelsreviews.net…
Plot
A city of monsters with no humans called Monstropolis centers around the city’s power company, Monsters, Inc. The lovable, confident, tough, furry blue behemoth-like giant monster named James P. Sullivan (better known as Sulley) and his wisecracking best friend, short, green cyclops monster Mike Wazowski, discover what happens when the real world interacts with theirs in the form of a 2-year-old baby girl dubbed “Boo,” who accidentally sneaks into the monster world with Sulley one night. And now it’s up to Sulley and Mike to send Boo back in her door before anybody finds out, especially two evil villains such as Sulley’s main rival as a scarer, chameleon-like Randall (a monster that Boo is very afraid of), who possesses the ability to change the color of his skin, and Mike and Sulley’s boss Mr. Waternoose, the chairman and chief executive officer of Monsters, Inc.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Monsters, Inc. on Fresh Kernels.
Pete-Docter.jpg
92%
Baran (2002)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: NA
The lyrical Baran is a moving film, both for its love story and political underpinnings.
Baran is a film that will make you feel all the feels. The naturalistic acting of the cast is so good, you’ll forget you’re watching a movie. The story is heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, and the attention to detail is exceptional. You’ll be left with images of muddy footprints and gazing faces long after the credits roll. It’s a haunting ode to humanity that will stay with you for a long time. Plus, the love story is so sweet, it’ll give you cavities. Don’t miss this one!
Production Company(ies)
AOI Promotion Fuji Television, Network GAGA.
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 34m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2002
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Baran, Afghan refugees, Iranian teenage boy, unrequited love, drama, Majid Majidi, directed by Majid Majidi, written by Majid Majidi, produced by Majid Majidi, Hossein Abedini, Zahra Bahrami, Reza Naji, PG, Miramax Films, box office gross $125.9K, reviewed by Ted Shen, Misha Berson, Jay Carr, Robert Denerstein, Michael Wilmington, Ella Taylor, Emanuel Levy, Philip Martin, Pablo Villaça, Urban Cinefile Critics, John A Nesbit, Cynthia S, Daisy M, Leo L, 89% Tomatometer, 90% audience score, Persian, 1h 34m, May 3, 2002, May 3, 2002 theatrical release, October 15, 2002 streaming release, Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1), Fouad Nahas, Baran photos
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
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
Zahra Bahrami – Rahmat & Baran
Reza Naji – Memar
Majid Majidi – Director, Writer, Producer
Director(s)
Majid Majidi
Writer(s)
Majid Majidi
Producer(s)
Majid Majidi, Fouad Nahas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (7)
The film is remarkable for the naturalistic acting of its cast, particularly the tender performances of the two leads, Hossein Abedini and Zahra Bahrami.
March 23, 2010
Ted Shen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It stays with you in fleeting images of gazing faces, muddy footprints, small fires lit against the chill.
December 20, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Misha Berson
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
It reminds us of what a film can be when it’s drawn from the heart of an artist who believes in the medium as something more than a product or commodity.
December 13, 2002 | Rating: 4/4
Jay Carr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
August 9, 2002 | Rating: B+
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
A mix of gritty realism, crisp storytelling and radiant compassion that effortlessly draws you in.
July 20, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
More timely than its director could ever have dreamed, this quietly lyrical tale probes the ambiguous welcome extended by Iran to the Afghani refugees who streamed across its borders, desperate for work and food.
July 19, 2002
Ella Taylor
L.A. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
June 17, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
February 6, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Uma comovente (e divertida) histria de amor.
August 24, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Filled with honest performances and exceptional detail, Baran is a gentle film with dramatic punch, a haunting ode to humanity.
June 22, 2003
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
a wonderfully warm human drama that remains vividly in memory long after viewing
March 30, 2003 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
The faces of its inarticulate characters tell the story, and Majidi has put some amazing faces on the screen.
December 19, 2002 | Rating: B
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer…
Plot
“Baran” is a heart-wrenching drama about an Iranian teenage boy named Lateef who falls in love with an Afghan refugee named Baran, leading him to make a life-changing decision.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The naturalistic acting of the cast, particularly the tender performances of the two leads, Hossein Abedini and Zahra Bahrami, is remarkable according to Fresh Kernels.
Majid-Majidi.jpg
92%
The Road Home (Wo de fu qin mu qin) (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 19 wins & 10 nominations
Beautifully filmed, The Road Home is a simple touching and tender love story.
The Road Home is a movie that will make you feel all the feels. It’s a love story that spans generations and will have you reaching for the tissues by the end. But don’t worry, it’s not all tears – there are plenty of moments that will make you smile and even laugh. Zhang Ziyi gives a fantastic performance and proves that she’s more than just a kung-fu queen. Overall, it’s a beautiful film that celebrates the simple things in life and reminds us of the power of love.
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Tvorcheskoe Obedinienie Pisateley i Kinorabotnikov
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby SR
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 30m
-
Language(s):Mandarin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 15, 2000 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2001
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Zhang Ziyi, Sun Honglei, Zhao Yulian, Li Bin, Chang Guifa, Sung Wencheng, directed by Yimou Zhang, written by Shi Bao, drama, G rating, Sony Pictures Classics, $1.3M box office, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Colin Kennedy, Marrit Ingman, Roger Moore, Susan Stark, Michael Wilmington, Greg Muskewitz, Kelly Vance, Mark Halverson, Pablo Villaça, Jeffrey Overstreet, North China, village, teacher, love story, funeral, city businessman, village school, childhood, romance, simple, touching, tender, beautifully filmed, emotionally satisfying, delicately simple, nostalgic, tribute, beauty, heroism, Zhang Ziyi’s performance, Yimou’s direction, sumptuously filmed, ordinary folk, falling in love, poignant music, reconciliation, reminiscing, Chinese film
Worldwide gross: $6,780,490
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,427,081
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,929
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,246,138
US/Canada gross: $1,280,490
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
Honglei Sun – Luo Yusheng
Yulian Zhao – Zhao Di (Old)
Bin Li – Grandmother
Guifa Chang – Mayor (Old)
Wencheng Sung – Mayor
Self – Director: Yimou Zhang
Self – Producer: Yu Zhao
Self – Writer: Shi Bao
Director(s)
Yimou Zhang
Writer(s)
Shi Bao
Producer(s)
Yu Zhao
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
19 wins & 10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (71) | Rotten (9)
About love acutely desired in youth and fiercely remembered in old age… delicately simple and emotionally satisfying.
March 2, 2004 | Rating: B+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
April 21, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Colin Kennedy
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
March 10, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
If this film’s coda doesn’t move you to tears, you’d better make an appointment with your cardiologist.
August 24, 2001
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
A layered, delicately but surely romantic tribute to the simplicity and grace of a bygone era.
August 20, 2001 | Rating: 4/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Celebrates a beauty and heroism around us that we often miss in both our movies and our lives.
July 19, 2001 | Rating: 4/4
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
April 4, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Greg Muskewitz
eFilmCritic.com
In the spirit of the best nostalgic village pics, only one thing happens, and yet it turns out to mean everything to its characters.
May 4, 2010
Kelly Vance
East Bay Express
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Mantendo seus habituais comentrios polticos em segundo plano, Yimou narra uma histria de amor simples, mas tocante, trazendo Zhang Ziyi numa performance absolutamente adorvel.
March 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
For the way it gave me room to ponder, for the gift of its colors, and for the delicate performance by Zhang Ziyi… it’s one of my favorite films of 2001.
January 15, 2005 | Rating: A
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
Zhang Ziyi, who is considered to be the movies new queen of kung-fu shows that she can do more than just kick *** here.
November 7, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette…
Plot
A city businessman returns to his rural hometown for his father’s funeral and spends a day teaching at the village school, fulfilling his father’s wish and falling in love with a local woman in the process, in the touching and tender love story, The Road Home.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Zhang Ziyi, who is considered to be the movie’s new queen of kung-fu, shows that she can do more than just kick *** here.
Yimou-Zhang.jpg
92%
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 4 Oscars
102 wins & 134 nominations total
The movie that catapulted Ang Lee into the ranks of upper echelon Hollywood filmmakers, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon features a deft mix of amazing martial arts battles, beautiful scenery, and tasteful drama.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is like a beautiful dream that you never want to wake up from. It’s a martial arts fairy tale that’s both magical and mesmerizing. The fight scenes are so intense and specific that you can’t help but be drawn into the drama. And let’s not forget about the stunning visuals that make you feel like you’re gliding across walls and treetops yourself. It’s a movie that’s both pulpy and profound, tackling issues of honor and devotion while still managing to have fun. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for?
Production Company(ies)
Liberty Films,
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia Tristar
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Huangshan region, Anhui Province, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence and some sexuality
Year of Release
2001
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):Chinese, English, Mandarin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 22, 2000 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 5, 2001
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Chang, Liang Hsiung, Cheng Pei-pei, Ang Lee, Li-Kong Hsu, William Kong, Wang Du-lu, Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus, Kuo Jung Tsai, Adventure, Action, PG-13, Sony Pictures Classics, Columbia Tristar, $128.1M, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Scope (2
Worldwide gross: $213,525,736
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $359,852,456
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 425
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 39,242,362
US/Canada gross: $128,078,872
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $215,849,843
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 313
US/Canada opening weekend: $663,205
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,117,692
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,267
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $17,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28,649,904
Production budget ranking: 1,175
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,427,973
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $315,774,579
ROI to date (est.): 716%
ROI ranking: 173
Michelle Yeoh – Yu Shu Lien
Zhang Ziyi – Jen Yu, Jiao Long
Chen Chang – Lo “Dark Cloud”, Luo Xiao Hu
Liang Hsiung – Sir Te
Cheng Pei-pei – Jade Fox
Director(s)
Ang Lee
Writer(s)
Wang Du-lu, Hui-Ling Wang, James Schamus, Kuo Jung Tsai
Producer(s)
Li-Kong Hsu, William Kong, Ang Lee
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 4 Oscars
102 wins & 134 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (159) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (155) | Rotten (4)
I cannot express to you how beautiful and stunning it is.
May 18, 2020
Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
TOP CRITIC
Crouching Tiger doesn’t so much break new ground as reconfigure the genre with the pomp and ceremony of Western production values and psychological nuance.
March 6, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Amazing, magical martial arts fairy tale.
December 22, 2010 | Rating: 5/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The smartest and smartest-looking action movie of the year.
July 19, 2003 | Rating: 4/4
Glenn Lovell
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
It’s abundantly clear that Lee, in conjunction with fight choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping (famed for The Matrix), has brought to these standard tropes his own elevating, near-feline sensibilities.
April 25, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
A firebrand of a movie, bold, dramatic, and haunting.
May 8, 2002 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
Ang Lee’s dreamlike film transcends its hybrid roots; it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.
October 26, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Amy Bracken Sparks
Cleveland Free Times
Each scene has very specific, intense stakes involved, which makes them that much more dramatic.
December 9, 2020
Germain Lussier
io9.com
By casting Chow Yun-fat-maybe the biggest marquee name outside the US at the time-Lee found a star who could unite all the elements of this feminist Qing Dynasty epic.
September 16, 2020
A.S. Hamrah
The Baffler
These scenes define their own reality – the performers glide across walls, treetops and ponds while lashing out in full flight – but crucially, never inspire disbelief.
May 1, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Lee’s spin on the Hong Kong action film is a subversive, delicately stated coming-of-age story.
January 29, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
It’s at once pulpy and profound, a movie that never forgets to have fun even as it’s tackling such straight-faced issues as honor, devotion and compassion.
October 29, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing…
Plot
In early nineteenth-century China, in the waning years of the Qing dynasty, the renowned swordsman who yearns for enlightenment, Li Mu Bai, decides to give up his legendary Green Destiny sword: the sharp four-hundred-year-old blade of heroes. To mark the end of a blood-stained career, Li entrusts the excellent female warrior, Yu Shu Lien, with the precious weapon to deliver it to Governor Yu; however, once there, an audacious and nimble masked thief manages to steal it. As Shu Lien is hot on the trail of the skilled burglar, unrequited loves; fervent passions; an unconquerable desire for freedom, and bitter loose ends stand in the way. Can Mu Bai shake off his violent past?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh lead the cast in this visually stunning martial arts epic.
Ang-Lee.jpg
92%
Together (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: NA
An epic gangster drama that earns its extended runtime, The Irishman finds Martin Scorsese revisiting familiar themes to poignant, funny, and profound effect.
The Irishman is like a big, juicy steak that you savor every bite of, even though you know it’s going to take a while to finish. It’s a slow burn, but it’s worth it for the incredible performances and the masterful storytelling. Plus, who doesn’t love seeing Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci back in action? It’s a must-watch for any fan of gangster movies, or just great cinema in general. Just make sure you have plenty of snacks and a comfy seat, because you’re in for a ride.
Production Company(ies)
Producers Sales Organization R S L Entertainment, Moviecorp V III
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:3h 29m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2019
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin, Harvey Keitel, Stephen Graham, directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Steven Zaillian, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Scott Marks, Wenlei Ma, Namrata Joshi, David Stratton, Chris Hewitt, James Berardinelli, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Taylor Baker, Christopher Bourne, Lonita Cook, MPAA rating R, truck driver, gangster, hit man, Teamster, organized crime, Pennsylvania crime family, Russell Bufalino, Jimmy Hoffa, Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Gastón Pavlovich, Randall Emmett, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Gerald Chamales, Irwin Winkler, Troy Allen, Netflix, Dolby Atmos
Worldwide gross: $14,572,229
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $1,034,829
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
Al Pacino – Jimmy Hoffa
Joe Pesci – Russell Bufalino
Anna Paquin – Peggy Sheeran
Harvey Keitel – Angelo Bruno
Stephen Graham – Anthony Provenzano
Director – Martin Scorsese
Producer – Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Gastón Pavlovich, Randall Emmett, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Gerald Chamales, Irwin Winkler, Troy Allen
Writer – Steven Zaillian
Director(s)
Martin Scorsese
Writer(s)
Steven Zaillian
Producer(s)
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Gastón Pavlovich, Randall Emmett, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Gerald Chamales, Irwin Winkler, Troy Allen
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (458) | Top Critics (87) | Fresh (436) | Rotten (22)
It didn’t take a genius to see that television was finally poised to win the war against movies. I just didn’t expect my teacher to be leading the charge against theatrical exhibition.
January 29, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Scott Marks
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Irishman is a much more deliberate and weighty gangster film – by comparison, Goodfellas is a riot. But it’s a vibe that works in its gravitas.
December 23, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
The affecting, ruminative finale and the melancholic last scene leaves a metaphorical door ajar in our hearts, a deep hollow that’s hard to fill…
December 12, 2019
Namrata Joshi
The Hindu
TOP CRITIC
Despite its length, The Irishman is riveting. It confirms Scorsese as one of the great American filmmakers.
December 12, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
There are 209 minutes in “The Irishman” and not one of them is wasted.
November 21, 2019
Chris Hewitt
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Whether seen on the big screen or a small one, The Irishman is among 2019’s best motion pictures and should receive its share of Oscar attention in 2020.
November 18, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
The best comparison one could make to The Irishman is David Lean’s similarly epic-sized Lawrence of Arabia (1962), a biography that examines its subject for four hours before conceding to its unknowability.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The Irishman gives its audience so many emotions and is poignant, funny, violent, and beautiful. It is a modern-day mobster masterpiece from a master of his craft.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
A towering achievement in storytelling not just cinema.
January 14, 2022 | Rating: 90/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Irishman represents, with its somber and mournful mood, what may be Scorsese’s farewell to the sort of gangster tales that largely made his reputation.
September 18, 2021
Christopher Bourne
ScreenAnarchy
A wonderful three and a half hours… a very human story.
September 16, 2021
Lonita Cook
KCTV5 News at 9
The Irishman is grand and ambitious, asking unanswerable questions about legacy, sorrow, and death.
August 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Laura Potier
Outtake Mag…
Plot
In the 1950s, truck driver Frank Sheeran becomes a hit man for the Pennsylvania crime family led by Russell Bufalino and also works for powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa in Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster drama, The Irishman.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Irishman stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci, who are all known for their iconic roles in gangster films.
Martin-Scorsese.jpg