Production Company(ies)
Therapy Content Roswell Films,
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
American Roofing Co. Building – 297 Kansas Street, Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
PG
 
Year of Release
1974
 

 
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
 
Keyword(s)
starring Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Frederic Forrest, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Michael Higgins, Harrison Ford, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Francis Ford Coppola, mystery, thriller, PG, box office gross $114.8K, reviewed by Michael Phillips, Kenneth Turan, Ed Potton, Adam Nayman, Michael Sragow, Radheyan Simonpillai, Matt Brunson, Dennis Harvey, Sean Burns, Josh Larsen, Ray Pride, Neely Swanson
 

Cast & Crew

Gene Hackman

John Cazale

Frederic Forrest

Allen Garfield

Cindy Williams

Harry Caul

Stan

Mark

William P. “Bernie” Moran

Ann

Gene Hackman – Harry Caul
John Cazale – Stan
Frederic Forrest – Mark
Allen Garfield – William P. “Bernie” Moran
Cindy Williams – Ann
Michael Higgins – Paul

 

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Francis Ford Coppola
 
Writer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola
 
Producer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
14 wins & 16 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Michael Phillips

Kenneth Turan

Ed Potton

Adam Nayman

Michael Sragow

Chicago Tribune

Los Angeles Times

Times (UK)

The Ringer

New Yorker

THE CONVERSATION
  All Critics (65) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (2)
  Its enveloping chill feels, looks and – crucially, in a story about a man who eavesdrops for a living – sounds as arresting as ever.
 
  January 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  Michael Phillips
  Chicago Tribune
  TOP CRITIC
  “The Conversation” truly feels both timeless and of the moment.
 
  January 27, 2022
 
  Kenneth Turan
  Los Angeles Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Set against a claustrophobic backdrop of post-Watergate paranoia, Coppola’s favourite of his films hinges on the intonation of a single word.
 
  March 1, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Ed Potton
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Coming after the dark, sumptuous classicism of The Godfather, The Conversation’s choppy, elliptical style looked almost like the work of a different filmmaker, one willing to take risks with new forms and techniques.
 
  April 6, 2020
 
  Adam Nayman
  The Ringer
  TOP CRITIC
  Thanks to Walter Murch’s keen, intuitive sound montage and Hackman’s clammy, subtle performance, the movie captures [an] elusive and universal fear-that of losing the power to respond, emotionally and morally, to the evidence of one’s own senses.
 
  August 15, 2016
 
  Michael Sragow
  New Yorker
  TOP CRITIC
  Coppola shows off his arty aspirations by doing for audio technology what Antonioni did for photography. But The Conversation is a different animal entirely, steering clear of the existential dilemmas in Antonioni’s film and creating a character pi
 
  June 11, 2009 | Rating: 93/100
 
  Radheyan Simonpillai
  AskMen.com
  TOP CRITIC
  Very much a piece of its time, snuggling up nicely to other paranoia thrillers like The Parallax View and Three Days of the Condor.
 
  April 10, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Matt Brunson
  Film Frenzy
  As quiet as its repressed protagonist, The Conversation is an ascetic puzzle that rivets despite defying all conventional genre sensationalism.
 
  February 11, 2022
 
  Dennis Harvey
  48 Hills
  Sure, I suppose you could stream it. But you know how some movies need to be seen on a big screen? ‘The Conversation’ needs to be heard in an auditorium on the kind of equipment you dont have at home.
 
  February 4, 2022
 
  Sean Burns
  The ARTery
  …a bravura mixture of sound and editing.
 
  January 29, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  Josh Larsen
  LarsenOnFilm
  Its hypnotic hold does not flag, no matter how many times you’ve seen it. Surveillance and guilt: secrets and sharers. Its paranoia matches that of any old denizen of our modern world.
 
  January 28, 2022 | Rating: 10/10
 
  Ray Pride
  Newcity
  For the most part, the acting is quite good. Gene Hackman as Harry is expert at being creepy, voyeuristic, stolid, and vulnerable.
 
  January 26, 2022
 
  Neely Swanson
  Easy Reader (California)…

 

Plot
Harry Caul is a devout Catholic and a lover of jazz music who plays his saxophone while listening to his jazz records. He is a San Francisco-based electronic surveillance expert who owns and operates his own small surveillance business. He is renowned within the profession as being the best, one who designs and constructs his own surveillance equipment. He is an intensely private and solitary man in both his personal and professional life, which especially irks Stan, his business associate who often feels shut out of what is happening with their work. This privacy, which includes not letting anyone into his apartment and always telephoning his clients from pay phones is, in part, intended to control what happens around him. His and Stan’s latest job (a difficult one) is to record the private discussion of a young couple meeting in crowded and noisy Union Square. The arrangement with his client, known only to him as “the director”, is to provide the audio recording of the discussion and photographs of the couple directly to him alone in return for payment. Based on circumstances with the director’s assistant, Martin Stett, and what Harry ultimately hears on the recording, Harry believes that the lives of the young couple are in jeopardy. Harry used to be detached from what he recorded, but is now concerned ever since the deaths of three people that were the direct result of a previous audio recording he made for another job. Harry not only has to decide if he will turn the recording over to the director, but also if he will try and save the couple’s lives using information from the recording. As Harry goes on a quest to find out what exactly is happening on this case, he finds himself in the middle of his worst nightmare.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Gene Hackman delivers one of his best performances as the paranoid surveillance expert Harry Caul.
 

 
Francis-Ford-Coppola.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Government of West Bengal
 
Distributor
Picturehouse
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Pacific Ocean
 
MPAA / Certificate
– Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, some disturbing images and smoking.
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
 
Keyword(s)
Becoming Cousteau, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Liz Garbus, Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Mridu Chandra, Dan Cogan, Evan Hayes, documentary, biography, PG-13, National Geographic Documentary Films, box office, budget, reviewed by Phil Hoad, Marina Ashioti, David Stratton, Christy Lemire, Bilge Ebiri, Paul Byrnes, Erick Estrada, Tom O’Brien, James Luxford, Carson Timar, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, starring Vincent Cassel, directed by Liz Garbus, written by Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), 1h 33m, Picturehouse, 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, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
 

Cast & Crew

Vincent Cassel

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Liz Garbus

Mark Monroe

Pax Wassermann

Narrator

Self

Director

Writer

Writer

Vincent Cassel – Narrator
Jacques-Yves Cousteau – Self
Liz Garbus – Director
Mark Monroe – Writer
Pax Wassermann – Writer
Mridu Chandra – Producer

 

Liz Garbus

Mark Monroe

Mridu Chandra

Dan Cogan

Liz Garbus

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Liz Garbus
 
Writer(s)
Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann, Mark Monroe, Pax Wassermann
 
Producer(s)
Mridu Chandra, Dan Cogan, Liz Garbus, Evan Hayes

 

Film Festivals
Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
2 wins & 11 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Phil Hoad

Marina Ashioti

David Stratton

Christy Lemire

Bilge Ebiri

Guardian

Little White Lies

The Australian

FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)

New York Magazine/Vulture

BECOMING COUSTEAU
  All Critics (59) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (1)
  Becoming Cousteau is no hagiography, but greater distance might have also allowed Garbus to reflect more on the man’s environmental legacy.
 
  November 10, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Phil Hoad
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  A nuanced portrait of an oceanographer whose warnings are more prescient than ever.
 
  November 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Marina Ashioti
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  He appears to have been a remarkable man, and Becoming Costeau, this detailed portrait of him, does him full justice.
 
  October 30, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  David Stratton
  The Australian
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s a very traditional documentary in many ways, but if you are fascinated by this man and his life… I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
 
  October 28, 2021
 
  Christy Lemire
  FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
  TOP CRITIC
  No wonder entire generations were captivated by this stuff. It wasn’t just the subject matter; it was the filmmaking itself. Garbus conveys that beautifully while briskly threading Cousteau’s biography and emotional journey throughout.
 
  October 28, 2021
 
  Bilge Ebiri
  New York Magazine/Vulture
  TOP CRITIC
  The director Liz Garbus does a workman-like job of telling this part of his story, with hints about the darker side. Cousteau was a complex and driven man, whose views about the world changed markedly.
 
  October 22, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Paul Byrnes
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  A “simple” account of [Cousteau’s] life and work… that brings forth the weighty and uncomfortable central idea: Was Cousteau the first marine environmentalist of consequence? [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 30, 2022
 
  Erick Estrada
  Cinegarage
  Getting access to the Cousteau archives provided Garbus the chance to create a celebrity-oriented doc that didn’t have to rely on familiar footage or a parade of talking heads, and that alone helps to make “Becoming Cousteau” stand apart from the pack.
 
  June 15, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Tom O’Brien
  Next Best Picture
  Cousteau disliked his films being called documentaries, which he described as a lecture from someone who knows more than you. Being Cousteau might be conventional in its storytelling at times, but captures enough to do the great man justice.
 
  March 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Becoming Cousteau uses exceptionally strong filmmaking which isn’t afraid to take risks and create a unique voice of its own to give the legendary figure a deserved comprehensive capturing of his work and legacy.
 
  February 12, 2022 | Rating: A
 
  Carson Timar
  ButteredPopcorn
  A visually appealing documentary about Jacques Cousteau’s vast and enthralling explorations of the watery world.
 
  February 7, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
  Spirituality & Practice
  This in-depth documentary peels back the onion layers of complexity in Cousteau’s irrepressible personality…essential viewing.
 
  January 9, 2022 | Rating: A
 
  Cole Smithey
  ColeSmithey.com…

 

Plot
A look at the life, passions, achievements and tragedies surrounding the famous explorer and environmentalist Jacques Cousteau, featuring an archive of his newly restored footage.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Vincent Cassel as the narrator.
 

 
Liz-Garbus.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Hell’s Kitchen Films, Universal Pictures,
 
Distributor
Focus Features
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some violence and strong language
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Belfast, Kenneth Branagh, drama, PG-13, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, Jude Hill, Colin Morgan, written by Kenneth Branagh, directed by Kenneth Branagh, produced by Kenneth Branagh, Laura Berwick, Becca Kovacik, Tamar Thomas, box office gross $9.2M, powerful performances, directorial craft, personal project, narrative deficits, uplifting, tragic details, dialogue, stable community, understanding life, joy, laughter, music, movies, childhood, adulthood, world turned upside down, loving community, personal experience, Troubles, Protestant mobs, Irish Catholics, autobiographical, soundtrack, Van Morrison songs, labor of love, immensely moving, feelgood memoir, growing up, problem of perspective, childhood experiences, scars, hearts, sweet, neat, light, vivid, soulful, snapshot, swelling uncertainty, emotional filters, filmmaker, city’s history, proud, scars, hearts, Oscar frontrunner, manipulative, sentimental, sincere, affectionate, involving, childhood memoir, perfectly enjoyable, simple TV movie-of-the-week, crowd-pleasing, complex story, greater nuance, scrutiny, feel-good movie of the year, solid film, young boy, gangs, hidden messages, classic black and white films, Bicycle Thieves, terrific cinematography, simple, subtle screenplay, immersed in story
 

Cast & Crew

Caitriona Balfe

Judi Dench

Jamie Dornan

Ciarán Hinds

Jude Hill

Ma

Granny

Pa

Pop

Buddy

Caitriona Balfe – Ma
Judi Dench – Granny
Jamie Dornan – Pa
Ciarán Hinds – Pop
Jude Hill – Buddy
Colin Morgan – Billy Clanton

 

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh

Kenneth Branagh

Laura Berwick

Becca Kovacik

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Kenneth Branagh
 
Writer(s)
Kenneth Branagh
 
Producer(s)
Kenneth Branagh, Laura Berwick, Becca Kovacik, Tamar Thomas

 

Film Festivals
Telluride, Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
51 wins & 236 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Winners, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Sandra Hall

David Stratton

Simran Hans

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Deborah Ross

Sydney Morning Herald

The Australian

Observer (UK)

London Evening Standard

The Spectator

BELFAST
  All Critics (318) | Top Critics (70) | Fresh (275) | Rotten (43)
  Whimsical in the most imaginative sense, their conversations make it very easy to give [Kenneth Branagh] the benefit of the doubt. If the reality was not like this, it should have been.
 
  February 7, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Sandra Hall
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  The film, with a soundtrack of mostly familiar but appropriate Van Morrison songs, is clearly a labour of love, and the final scenes are immensely moving.
 
  February 7, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  David Stratton
  The Australian
  TOP CRITIC
  Kenneth Branagh’s unabashedly feelgood memoir of growing up in Belfast as the Troubles erupted in the late 1960s suffers from a problem of perspective.
 
  January 22, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  I loved it.
 
  January 22, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  The film is manipulative, and sentimental, and it does sometimes feel derivative… But it is also sincere, affectionate, involving and presses its buttons so deftly I welled up exactly as I was supposed to. At least three times.
 
  January 21, 2022
 
  Deborah Ross
  The Spectator
  TOP CRITIC
  A twinkly-eyed childhood memoir – and rigorously fashioned to be an Oscar frontrunner.
 
  January 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A sweet, neat and light but still vivid and soulful snapshot of growing up amid swelling uncertainty.
 
  June 25, 2022
 
  Sarah Ward
  Concrete Playground
  A portrait with emotional filters from a filmmaker defined by his city’s history… Branagh feels proud of his childhood experiences in Belfast, of the scars they left and the hearts they broke. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 15, 2022
 
  Erick Estrada
  Cinegarage
  Belfast conforms itself into a pretty fable about pain. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 8, 2022
 
  Javier Ocaña
  El Pais (Spain)
  The film is awarded more for its wrapping than for its content. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 25, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Alejandro G. Calvo
  Sensacine
  … More reverie than vigor, a children’s story painted with gray tears and perfect melodies. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Paula Vázquez Prieto
  La Nación (Argentina)
  Escapes absolute objectivity and enamors its audience with nostalgia, and quality.
  [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 13, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Luis Angel H. Mora
  Cine Premiere…

 

Plot
Belfast, 15 August 1969. Surrounded by sporadic violence and growing danger, nine-year-old Buddy finds himself confronted with the ugly reality of sectarian conflict. And, as the suffocating stranglehold of increasing turmoil tightens around his once-peaceful working-class neighbourhood, Buddy tries his best to understand The Troubles
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Judi Dench stars in Belfast as Granny.
 

 
Kenneth-Branagh.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
K T C A Minneapolis Kartemquin Films, Sprockets Music
 
Distributor
Saban Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Jones & Sons, Stamford Works, 3 Gillett Street, London, England, UK
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive language and some drug use.
 
Year of Release
2022
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama/Mystery & Thriller
 
Keyword(s)
starring Stephen Graham, Vinette Robinson, Alice Feetham, Hannah Walters, Malachi Kirby, Izuka Hoyle, directed by Philip Barantini, written by Philip Barantini, James Cummings, drama, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Mark Kermode, Nick De Semlyen, Clarisse Loughrey, Donald Clarke, Kevin Maher, Deborah Ross, John Lui, James Luxford, Danny Brogan, Chris Wasser, Nicola Austin, produced by Hester Ruoff, Bart Ruspoli, MPAA rating R, London, restaurant, head chef, health and safety inspector, staff, management, customers, personal crisis, professional crisis, tension, knife’s edge, tightrope, gripping, bold formal approach, thrilling, immersive experience, tower achievement, exceptional story, technical and artistic tour de force, one-shot drama, remarkable performance, tower achievement, experienced, MCU, horror movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming movies, anticipated movies, renewed TV shows, cancelled TV shows, worst horror movies, Fandango, Tomatometer
 

Cast & Crew

Stephen Graham

Andy Jones

Vinette Robinson

Carly

Alice Feetham

Andy Jones

Carly

Beth

Emily

Tony

Stephen Graham – Andy Jones
Vinette Robinson – Carly
Alice Feetham – Beth
Hannah Walters – Emily
Malachi Kirby – Tony
Izuka Hoyle – Camille

 

Philip Barantini

Philip Barantini

Hester Ruoff

Bart Ruspoli

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Philip Barantini
 
Writer(s)
Philip Barantini, James Cummings
 
Producer(s)
Hester Ruoff, Bart Ruspoli

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 14 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Mark Kermode

Nick De Semlyen

Clarisse Loughrey

Donald Clarke

Kevin Maher

Observer

Empire Magazine

Independent

Irish Times

Times

BOILING POINT
  All Critics (68) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (67) | Rotten (1)
  A divine comedy barrelling towards inevitable tragedy, played out in hell’s kitchen where someone is bound to get burned.
 
  January 9, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Mark Kermode
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A fast-paced and hectic kitchen thriller that, though it tries to spin a few too many plates, pulls you deep into a fascinating, detailed world most of us know little about.
 
  January 9, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Nick De Semlyen
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Boiling Point does a thorough job of parachuting you into the sweaty, unforgiving confines of a restaurant kitchen.
 
  January 7, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Stephen Graham winds worry round pressure to create a believably one-the-edge chef. The medium is definitely part of the message.
 
  January 7, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Donald Clarke
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s an utterly convincing and immersive experience.
 
  January 7, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  It is a terrific ride driven by Graham’s honest, urgent, vulnerable performance.
 
  January 6, 2022
 
  Deborah Ross
  The Spectator
  TOP CRITIC
  Nobody here looks like an actor trying to be a dishwasher, waiter or cook. Everyone disappears into their roles. Standouts include Vinette Robinson, playing the ultra-competent sous chef Carly, a woman whose loyalty to Andy has been sorely tested.
 
  May 19, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  John Lui
  The Straits Times (Singapore)
  The third act contains a crescendo of misfortune thats ahem hard to swallow, but by this point youll be too invested to pick holes. Boiling Point finds an exceptional story in an ordinary setting, and special performances in every frame.
 
  March 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  A film that is experienced rather than enjoyed, you’ll be wanting a long lie down by the closing credits.
 
  January 25, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Danny Brogan
  Common Sense Media
  Barantini’s dizzying one-shot drama, however, is so much more than a gimmick. It is a towering achievement in performance and direction, and Graham is remarkable in the lead.
 
  January 13, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Chris Wasser
  Sunday Independent (Ireland)
  Boiling Point proves a tense and utterly immersive experience.
 
  January 13, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Nicola Austin
  We Have a Hulk
  ]A] technical and artistic tour de force. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  January 10, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kiko Vega
  Espinof…

 

Plot
On the busiest night of the year at a popular London restaurant, head chef Andy Jones struggles to balance personal and professional crises while trying to cater to the demands of customers and diffuse tensions between management and his diverse staff in the gripping drama/mystery thriller, Boiling Point.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Stephen Graham delivers a “towering achievement in performance” as the lead in Boiling Point, according to one critic.
 

 
Philip-Barantini.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
2.4.7. Films, France 3 Cinéma The Kennedy Marshall Company,
 
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Hive, drama, Albanian, Blerta Basholli, directed by Blerta Basholli, written by Blerta Basholli, Yllka Gashi, Fahrije, Çun Lajçi, Haxhi, Aurita Agushi, Zamira, Kumrije Hoxha, Nazmije, Adriana Matoshi, Lume, Molikë Maxhuni, Emine, Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka, Yll Uka, produced by Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka, Yll Uka, Zeitgeist Films, box office gross $13.8K, MPAA rating, drama, women empowerment, Kosovo war, widows, local food product, patriarchal society, self-determination, financial future, feud, Eastern Europe, civil unrest, misogyny, loss, freedom, critic reviews, reviewed by Simran Hans, Tara Brady, Jake Cunningham, Peter Bradshaw, Philip De Semlyen, Fatima Sheriff, Sarah Ward, Ema Sasic, Elsa Fernández-Santos, Loren King, Louie Fecou, Rich Cline, produced by, directed by, written by, starring
 

Cast & Crew

Yllka Gashi

Fahrije

Çun Lajçi

Haxhi

Aurita Agushi

Fahrije

Haxhi

Zamira

Nazmije

Lume

Yllka Gashi – Fahrije
Çun Lajçi – Haxhi
Aurita Agushi – Zamira
Kumrije Hoxha – Nazmije
Adriana Matoshi – Lume
Molikë Maxhuni – Emine
Blerta Basholli – Director, Writer
Valon Bajgora – Producer
Agon Uka – Producer
Yll Uka – Producer

 

Blerta Basholli

Blerta Basholli

Valon Bajgora

Agon Uka

Yll Uka

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Blerta Basholli
 
Writer(s)
Blerta Basholli
 
Producer(s)
Valon Bajgora, Agon Uka, Yll Uka

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
19 wins & 11 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Simran Hans

Tara Brady

Jake Cunningham

Peter Bradshaw

Philip De Semlyen

Observer

Irish Times

Empire Magazine

Guardian

Time Out

HIVE
  All Critics (73) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (73)
  Basholli understands that healing is possible, even if closure isn’t.
 
  March 19, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The feel-good finale is well-earned and the glimpse of the women on whom the film is based is, for once, not merely a watermark of authenticity, but a genuinely moving vista.
 
  March 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tara Brady
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Hive cooks up a beautifully delicate rally for independence and justice, brought out through precise processes of the communal culinary experience.
 
  March 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Jake Cunningham
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  This is a richly intelligent drama, in which every word and every shot counts.
 
  March 16, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Peter Bradshaw
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  Hive is never quite a feelgood film, but there is a tangible sense of joy as Fahrije begins to lead her fellow widows to a place of healing and the promise of better times ahead.
 
  March 11, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Philip De Semlyen
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  A succinct drama with limited scope, but respectful of its subjects’ intimacies.
 
  March 10, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Fatima Sheriff
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  A powerhouse of a true tale that’s brought to the screen with a devastatingly potent lead performance, Hive is simply unshakeable.
 
  June 25, 2022
 
  Sarah Ward
  Concrete Playground
  Films from the Balkans often connect back to the war in the 1990s … While Basholli honors that past in her film, the focus on women in an area where misogyny still lingers takes the film in a whole new emotional direction.
 
  June 21, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Ema Sasic
  Next Best Picture
  Blerta Basholli successfully depicts, with clear and simple language, the hostility that surrounds her: that exclusive place where women are not allowed to enter. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 14, 2022
 
  Elsa Fernández-Santos
  El Pais (Spain)
  The film is anchored by Gashi’s quietly commanding performance as a resilient woman who wants only to survive with dignity which, in the end, honors her husband more than suffering in silence.
 
  May 31, 2022
 
  Loren King
  Newport This Week (RI)
  This is basically an underdog story, and Basholli handles the job expertly, making sure we are on board with Fahrije, and never allowing us to forget the backstory that motivates the characters.
 
  April 4, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Louie Fecou
  Ready Steady Cut
  Basholli maintains a superbly understated approach, allowing big feelings to gurgle strongly under the surface. She captures the textures of this culture beautifully, finding powerfully warm expressions of humanity in between the darker ones.
 
  March 24, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Rich Cline
  Shadows on the Wall…

 

Plot
Hive is a drama based on the true story of Fahrije, who leads a group of widows in her patriarchal village to launch a business selling a local food product, but their will to begin living independently is met with hostility from the men in the village.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Yllka Gashi’s performance in Hive is described as “outstanding” by critics.
 

 
Blerta-Basholli.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Pictures,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Sci-fi/Comedy
 
Keyword(s)
sci-fi, comedy, time-travel, low-budget, Japanese, Kazuchika Yoshida, Takahiro Otsuki, Makoto Ueda, Junta Yamaguchi, starring Kazunari Tosa, Aki Asakura, Megumi, Riko Fujitani, Gôta Ishida, Yoshifumi Sakai, Masashi Suwa, directed by Junta Yamaguchi, written by Makoto Ueda, produced by Kazuchika Yoshida and Takahiro Otsuki, reviewed by Richard Whittaker, Amy Nicholson, Jeannette Catsoulis, Nick Allen, David Parkinson, Erick Estrada, Jimmy Cage, James Mudge, Dennis Harvey, Carey-Ann Pawsey, Daniel M Kimmel, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget
 

Cast & Crew

Aki Asakura

Riko Fujitani

Gôta Ishida

Yoshifumi Sakai

Masashi Suwa

Aki Asakura

Riko Fujitani

Gôta Ishida

Yoshifumi Sakai

Masashi Suwa

Aki Asakura – Megumi
Riko Fujitani – self
Gôta Ishida – self
Yoshifumi Sakai – self
Masashi Suwa – self
Kazunari Tosa – self
Junta Yamaguchi – Director
Kazuchika Yoshida – Producer
Takahiro Otsuki – Producer
Makoto Ueda – Writer

 

Junta Yamaguchi

Makoto Ueda

Kazuchika Yoshida

Takahiro Otsuki

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Junta Yamaguchi
 
Writer(s)
Makoto Ueda
 
Producer(s)
Kazuchika Yoshida, Takahiro Otsuki

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Richard Whittaker

Amy Nicholson

Jeannette Catsoulis

Nick Allen

David Parkinson

Austin Chronicle

FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)

New York Times

RogerEbert.com

Radio Times

BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES
  All Critics (65) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (1)
  Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes may well be the most endearing film since the equally ambitious and innocuous Last Cut of the Dead, and it’s just as heartwarming.
 
  February 1, 2022
 
  Richard Whittaker
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  A lot of goofball fun… The timing on it is absolutely flawless.
 
  January 29, 2022
 
  Amy Nicholson
  FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
  TOP CRITIC
  However cleverly constructed and enthusiastically executed, this debut feature – shot on an iPhone in a single location – rarely surmounts the twistiness of its premise and the repetitiveness of its setups.
 
  January 25, 2022
 
  Jeannette Catsoulis
  New York Times
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s so wild, and very telling of this movie’s brilliance, that there’s so much intricate blocking and camera movement from debut director Junta Yamaguchi, and yet you’re still caught up in the narrative momentum more than anything else.
 
  August 9, 2021
 
  Nick Allen
  RogerEbert.com
  TOP CRITIC
  The film fizzes with ideas, tapping into our obsession with technology while exploring millennial mores with a keen satirical edge.
 
  June 23, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Parkinson
  Radio Times
  The film points at hundreds of ideas and, merrily, hits them all. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  June 1, 2022
 
  Erick Estrada
  Cinegarage
  BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES is a really wonderfully creative and extremely impressive low-budget time travel comedy that delivers a hilariously quirky mindfuck.
 
  March 13, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Jimmy Cage
  Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)
  Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is a huge amount of fun, and serves to underline that science fiction doesnt need a budget to be effective, and the importance of innovation and great writing in filmmaking in general.
 
  March 10, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  James Mudge
  easternKicks.com
  This anomaly induces amazement, amusement, and panic in turn…
 
  March 4, 2022
 
  Dennis Harvey
  48 Hills
  A fun independent film which features precious few boring moments. Also original and quirky.
 
  February 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Carey-Ann Pawsey
  Orca Sound
  While we know that such devices are more fantasy than science fiction, the people behind Beyond The Infinite Two Minutes have clearly worked out the ramifications of their set-up, and then have a blast letting things play out.
 
  January 28, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Daniel M. Kimmel
  North Shore Movies
  The movie benefits greatly from its electric concept and high-energy cast, not to mention an almost casual and completely believable approach to fatalistic philosophy.
 
  January 24, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Michael J. Casey
  Boulder Weekly…

 

Plot
Cafe owner Kato lives right above his cafe. Suddenly he gets a message from himself. He learns that the TV screen in his cafe is two minutes ahead of time. When his friends discover this, they play around with it. But they get into trouble when they use the TV to get their hands on some money. It soon turns out that money belongs to some gangsters.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a high-energy cast.
 

 
Junta-Yamaguchi.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Dream Works Animation, Mad Hatter Entertainment, Vertigo Entertainment,
 
Distributor
Neon
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, art, friendship, theft, forgiveness, Norwegian, Barbora Kysilkova, Karl-Bertil Nordland, Øystein Stene, Benjamin Ree, Ingvil Giske, Morgan Neville, reviewed by David Stratton, Paul Byrnes, Nick Schager, Ed Potton, Wendy Ide, Leila Latif, James Luxford, CJ Sheu, Travis Johnson, Sarah Ward, CJ Johnson, directed by Benjamin Ree, written by Benjamin Ree, produced by Ingvil Giske, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Czech artist, paintings, unlikely friendship, criminal, victim, twists, turns, heartbreak, failure, redemption, surprising, heist, villains, intimacy, compassion, true-crime tale, relationship saga, surprising turn of events, familiar subjects, genre-mixing, boundary-blurring, human need, photo-realistic, pathos, darkness, surprise
 

Cast & Crew

Barbora Kysilkova

Karl-Bertil Nordland

Øystein Stene

Benjamin Ree

Ingvil Giske

Barbora Kysilkova

Karl-Bertil Nordland

Øystein Stene

Benjamin Ree

Ingvil Giske

Barbora Kysilkova – Self
Karl-Bertil Nordland – Self
Øystein Stene – Self
Benjamin Ree – Director
Ingvil Giske – Producer
Morgan Neville – Executive Producer

 

Benjamin Ree

NA

Ingvil Giske

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Benjamin Ree
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Ingvil Giske

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
18 wins & 29 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Stratton

Paul Byrnes

Nick Schager

Ed Potton

Wendy Ide

The Australian

Sydney Morning Herald

The Daily Beast

Times (UK)

Observer (UK)

THE PAINTER AND THE THIEF
  All Critics (111) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (107) | Rotten (4)
  If this were a fiction film it would surely be dismissed as totally unbelievable; since it’s not, this portrait of two totally fascinating characters proves to be as riveting as any thriller.
 
  April 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  David Stratton
  The Australian
  TOP CRITIC
  The Painter and the Thief is a superb Norwegian documentary about a painter who befriended the criminal who stole two of her paintings. He then became her muse.
 
  March 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Paul Byrnes
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  A true-crime tale reconfigured into a unique relationship saga, replete with twists, turns, heartbreak, failure and redemption that’s as surprising as it is well-earned.
 
  February 2, 2021
 
  Nick Schager
  The Daily Beast
  TOP CRITIC
  Benjamin Ree’s extraordinary documentary feels like a movie – there’s a heist, villains who are not what they seem, scenes of striking intimacy and some fabulous twists.
 
  November 2, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Ed Potton
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Fascinating, confounding and continually surprising…
 
  November 1, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A beautiful story about extraordinary compassion.
 
  October 30, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Leila Latif
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  A story of forgiveness over judgement, The Painter and The Thief is a satisfying journey capped by a surprising turn of events in the final moments. It demands that you look at familiar subjects in a different way, and comes away all the richer for it.
 
  February 26, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Genre-mixing, and not just boundary-blurring, has finally come to documentaries.
 
  October 5, 2021
 
  CJ Sheu
  Review Film Review
  To be seen, to be heard, to be accepted – isn’t that all anyone really wants?
 
  September 2, 2021
 
  Travis Johnson
  sbs.com.au
  Fascinating, thoughtful, moving and astonishing… unfurls a tale so layered and wild that it can only be true.
 
  March 28, 2021
 
  Sarah Ward
  Concrete Playground
  An almost uncomfortably intimate portrait of the strange vagaries of human need … Like Kysilkova’s paintings, The Painter and the Thief is photo-realistic but artfully constructed for maximum pathos, darkness and surprise.
 
  March 21, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  CJ Johnson
  Film Mafia
  The film can’t make the case that the story, while unusual, is inherently interesting. Odd couples have existed since time immemorial, and Ree never illuminates these two people enough to make their stories worthy of a documentary.
 
  February 8, 2021
 
  Alex Bentley
  CultureMap…

 

Plot
The Painter and the Thief is a documentary about a Czech artist who befriends the man who stole two of her paintings, leading to a compelling portrait of compassion and forgiveness.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova and the man who stole two of her paintings, Karl-Bertil Nordland.
 

 
Benjamin-Ree.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros. Pictures, Endeavor Content One Community
 
Distributor
Netflix
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout, some violence, bloody images and drug use
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
History/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Eddie Redmayne, Alex Sharp, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, directed by Aaron Sorkin, written by Aaron Sorkin, history, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Matthew Rozsa, David Sims, Tasha Robinson, Robbie Collin, Lindsey Bahr, Angie Han, David Gonzalez, Brian Eggert, Carson Timar, Leigh Paatsch, Maria Lattila, producer Stuart M Besser, Matt Jackson, Tyler Thompson, Marc Platt, MPAA rating R, Netflix, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Bobby Seale, critic reviews, audience reviews, courtroom drama, protests, 1968 Democratic National Convention, conspiracy, federal government, drug use, bloody images, language throughout, some violence, English, limited release, streaming, runtime 2h 9m, distributor Netflix, aspect ratio Scope (2.35:1), ensemble cast, Frank Langella, Mark Rylance
 

Cast & Crew

Eddie Redmayne

Tom Hayden

Alex Sharp

Rennie Davis

Sacha Baron Cohen

Tom Hayden

Rennie Davis

Abbie Hoffman

Jerry Rubin

David Dellinger

Eddie Redmayne – Tom Hayden
Alex Sharp – Rennie Davis
Sacha Baron Cohen – Abbie Hoffman
Jeremy Strong – Jerry Rubin
John Carroll Lynch – David Dellinger
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – Bobby Seale
Director – Aaron Sorkin
Producers – Stuart M. Besser, Matt Jackson, Tyler Thompson, Marc Platt
Writer – Aaron Sorkin

 

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin

Stuart M. Besser

Matt Jackson

Tyler Thompson

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Aaron Sorkin
 
Writer(s)
Aaron Sorkin
 
Producer(s)
Stuart M. Besser, Matt Jackson, Tyler Thompson, Marc Platt

 

Film Festivals
Toronto
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 6 Oscars
57 wins & 190 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Matthew Rozsa

David Sims

Tasha Robinson

Robbie Collin

Lindsey Bahr

Salon.com

The Atlantic

Polygon

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Associated Press

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7
  All Critics (334) | Top Critics (68) | Fresh (297) | Rotten (37)
  The Trial of the Chicago 7 might be the ultimate movie about how to fight the far right — an artistic testament to pragmatism and a cry of rage in the era of Donald Trump and Derek Chauvin.
 
  April 26, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Matthew Rozsa
  Salon.com
  TOP CRITIC
  By the end, I had given myself over to the Hollywood veneer. Chicago 7 is a particularly shiny rendering of history, but Sorkin wisely places the focus on America’s failings, even as he celebrates the people striving to fix them.
 
  December 3, 2020
 
  David Sims
  The Atlantic
  TOP CRITIC
  As with all things Sorkin, it takes liberties with the truth – this is not a film to watch in place of reading up on the history – but it’s a damn good supplement for that history, and taken as a comment on our modern justice system.
 
  December 1, 2020
 
  Tasha Robinson
  Polygon
  TOP CRITIC
  The Trial of the Chicago 7 is both a courtroom drama for the ages and an urgent shot across the bows.
 
  November 20, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Robbie Collin
  Daily Telegraph (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  If anyone was born to make a film about the infamous federal trial surrounding the protests outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention, it’s Aaron Sorkin.
 
  October 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Lindsey Bahr
  Associated Press
  TOP CRITIC
  Chicago 7 is a crowdpleaser first and foremost, and in that regard it succeeds on almost every level… Just don’t expect it to be as revolutionary as some of those it calls its heroes.
 
  October 24, 2020
 
  Angie Han
  Mashable
  TOP CRITIC
  While the term important film is overused, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is one of the years essential must-see films.
 
  February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  David Gonzalez
  Reel Talk Inc.
  Sorkin has tapped into something. Whether it’s called Capraesque or Spielbergian, the label denotes a film that accesses our emotions and ideological sympathies in simple but undeniable ways.
 
  February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  The Trial of the Chicago 7 might not be the most revolutionary film of the year when it comes to thesis, but its craft and basic effectiveness is undeniable.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Filmotomy
  [A] spirited and very entertaining affair…
 
  September 3, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Leigh Paatsch
  Herald Sun (Australia)
  As an ensemble piece, the film is exceptional, and it laments Sorkin as an interesting director, who still has much to learn in terms of visual storytelling.
 
  August 10, 2021 | Rating: 5/10
 
  Maria Lattila
  The Digital Fix
  Seems rushed and too close to the heart of the filmmaker to be more grounded in living history than in personal sentiment, but it has Mark Rylance to hold that balance.
 
  July 31, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Milana Vujkov
  Lola On Film…

 

Plot
In Chicago 1968, the Democratic Party Convention was met with protests from activists like the moderate Students for a Democratic Society led by Tom Hayden and the militant Yippies led by Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, which led to violent confrontations with the local authorities. As a result, seven of the accused ringleaders are arraigned on charges like Conspiracy by the hostile Nixon administration, including Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers who was not involved in the incident. What follows is an unfair trial presided by the belligerent Judge Hoffman (No relation) and prosecuted by a reluctant but duty-bound Richard Schultz. As their pro bono lawyers face such odds, Hayden and his fellows are frustrated by the Yippies’ outrageous antics undermining their defense in defiance of the system even while Seale is denied a chance to defend himself his way. Along the way, the Chicago 7 clash in their political philosophies even as they learn they need each other in this fight.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sacha Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Abbie Hoffman is described as “riotously funny” by Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Aaron-Sorkin.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Tremolo Productions,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type

 
Filming Location(s)
Hudson Theatre – 141 W. 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Musical
 
Keyword(s)
David Byrne, American Utopia, Spike Lee, musical, concert film, Broadway, international musicians, executive producer, Len Blavatnik, Meredith Bennett, David Bither, MPAA rating, critic reviews, Tim Robey, Simran Hans, Clarisse Loughrey, Beth Webb, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, Cory Woodroof, Brian Eggert, Christopher Bourne, Jason Shawhan, Dan Stubbs, Witney Seibold, audience reviews, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, TV shows, box office performance, budget, producer names, reviewed by, written by, directed by, starring
 

Cast & Crew

David Byrne

Spike Lee

Meredith Bennett

David Bither

Len Blavatnik

Self

Director

Executive Producer

Executive Producer

Executive Producer

David Byrne – Self
Spike Lee – Director
Meredith Bennett – Executive Producer
David Bither – Executive Producer
Len Blavatnik – Executive Producer
David Byrne – Executive Producer

 

Spike Lee

NA

NA

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Spike Lee
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
NA

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Primetime Emmys
4 wins & 18 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Tim Robey

Simran Hans

Clarisse Loughrey

Beth Webb

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Monocle

Observer (UK)

Independent (UK)

Empire Magazine

London Evening Standard

DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA
  All Critics (137) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (134) | Rotten (3)
  What they’ve managed to do is create a permanent record of this amazing show, which I think will go down as one of the most meticulously crafted and contemplated performances by a major musician in history.
 
  March 13, 2021
 
  Tim Robey
  Monocle
  TOP CRITIC
  Director Spike Lee and musician David Byrne have created a crowd-pleaser with this spry concert film of Byrne’s 2018 tour turned Broadway performance.
 
  December 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  It would have been a miraculous celebration of neighbourly love even if it hadn’t been released in the middle of a pandemic. But, in these circumstances, that sense of temporary relief feels intoxicating.
 
  December 17, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Bolstered by Lee’s trenchant, intimate direction, Byrne reframes a peerless setlist of songs as a testament to hope and humanity that implores himself and his audience to keep going.
 
  December 17, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Beth Webb
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  This is Byrne’s show, but it’s also Lee’s tale of the unexpected. Enjoy.
 
  December 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  A little dose of David Byrne, unless you’re a devoted Talking Heads fan, can go a long way.
 
  December 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A sonic beam of joy and relief.
 
  March 11, 2022
 
  Cory Woodroof
  Williamson Home Page
  American Utopia acknowledges that comfort zones sometimes need to be breached to make progress as a whole, that we all need to get better at dealing with our social anxieties, presumptions, and empathizing with others.
 
  February 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  One of the most transcendent experiences to be found on any size of screen this year.
 
  September 26, 2021
 
  Christopher Bourne
  In Review Online
  …Spike Lee and David Byrne work very well together in this mordant, magnificent document of a Broadway performance of American Utopia…
 
  September 9, 2021
 
  Jason Shawhan
  Nashville Scene
  New York’s finest team up for a greatest hits extravaganza that doubles as one of 2020’s best films…
 
  May 18, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Dan Stubbs
  NME
  Terse, almost frills-free filmmaking from Lee results in a show about something that has been in short supply: Hope.
 
  April 22, 2021
 
  Witney Seibold
  Critically Acclaimed Podcast…

 

Plot
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film directed by Spike Lee, featuring singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians performing songs from the hit Broadway musical “American Utopia.”
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film featuring singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians.
 

 
Spike-Lee.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Aamir Khan Productions, Jhamu Sughand Productions,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Hulu)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, COVID-19, pandemic, public health officials, response, government, Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger, directed by, produced by, written by, reviewed by, MPAA rating, box office performance, budget, critic names, Taison Bell, Michael Bowen, Rick Bright, Caroline Chen, Dr Tom Frieden, narrator, English, 2h 3m, genre, timely, update, information, Trump White House, kleptocratic, science-bashing, vipers, thorough, tedious, grim, bureaucratic indifference, invisible killer, crash course, sequel, Act I, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming, anticipated movies, TV & streaming, renewed & cancelled TV shows, worst horror movies, careers, newsletter, Fandango, Fresh Kernels
 

Cast & Crew

Alex Gibney

Taison Bell

Michael Bowen

Rick Bright

Caroline Chen

Narrator

self

self

self

self

Alex Gibney – Narrator
Taison Bell – self
Michael Bowen – self
Rick Bright – self
Caroline Chen – self
Dr. Tom Frieden – self

 

Alex Gibney

Alex Gibney

Alex Gibney

Ophelia Harutyunyan

Suzanne Hillinger

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger
 
Writer(s)
Alex Gibney
 
Producer(s)
Alex Gibney, Ophelia Harutyunyan, Suzanne Hillinger

 

Film Festivals
Telluride
 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 7 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Sam Adams

Richard Roeper

Richard Whittaker

Eric Kohn

Zach Long

Slate

Chicago Sun-Times

Austin Chronicle

indieWire

Time Out

TOTALLY UNDER CONTROL
  All Critics (103) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (102) | Rotten (1)
  This isn’t the story of an inevitable tragedy. It’s the story of a disaster that everyone saw coming and let happen anyway.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Sam Adams
  Slate
  TOP CRITIC
  This is about as timely as a documentary can be, and yet it’s already in need of an update.
 
  February 7, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Richard Roeper
  Chicago Sun-Times
  TOP CRITIC
  It takes a village to burn itself to the ground, and no one is better at contextualizing such huge events, and structuring the information into a clear and transparent narrative, than documentarian Alex Gibney.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Richard Whittaker
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  None of the fancy gimmicky in “Totally Under Control” can top the sheer emotional turmoil on display from its key subjects.
 
  February 7, 2021 | Rating: B
 
  Eric Kohn
  indieWire
  TOP CRITIC
  A timely and competent first chapter, but it’s only a fragment of a story that’s still being written.
 
  February 7, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Zach Long
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s sobering, often indecently gripping material that, in broad strokes, confirms widely circulated impressions of the Trump White House as a nest of kleptocratic science-bashing vipers.
 
  February 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The information presented is thorough, yet never comes across as tedious or overwhelmingly grim.
 
  June 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Josh Parham
  Next Best Picture
  Ready to feel the fresh white-hot Hell of unbearable outrage?
 
  April 22, 2021
 
  Witney Seibold
  Critically Acclaimed Podcast
  Totally Under Control tells an unfortunate story of bureaucratic indifference to an invisible killer.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Johnny Loftus
  Decider
  If you’ve been following the COVID news, you may think you know the story behind the U.S. government’s response. But we learned new things from this documentary.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
  Spirituality & Practice
  Sadly, this expert and powerfully important film likely will spawn a sequel before all of this is finally over. Look at Totally Under Control as Act I.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Pete Hammond
  Deadline Hollywood Daily
  If you’ve somehow gotten to 2020 without forming a complete, informed opinion of the political landscape in the U.S., carve out two hours and settle in for a crash course.
 
  February 7, 2021
 
  Adam Rosenberg
  Mashable…

 

Plot
Totally Under Control is a documentary that discusses the U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Narrator Alex Gibney is also the writer and producer of Totally Under Control.
 

 
Alex-Gibney.jpg