Starred Up (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 84%
Awards & Nominations: 17 wins & 22 nominations
Smart, hard-hitting, and queasily realistic, Starred Up is an instant classic of U.K. prison cinema.
Starred Up is like a rollercoaster ride, but instead of loops and drops, it’s filled with tension and danger. The film does an excellent job of showing the harsh reality of prison life, and the performances are top-notch. Jack O’Connell is a force to be reckoned with, and his portrayal of a troubled young man is both heartbreaking and terrifying. Director David Mackenzie doesn’t shy away from the brutality of the situation, but he also manages to find moments of humanity and compassion. Overall, Starred Up is a gripping and intense film that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Production Company(ies)
Universum Film
Distributor
Tribeca Film
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 27, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 3, 2015
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Ben Mendelsohn, Rupert Friend, Jack O’Connell, Sam Spruell, David Ajala, Peter Ferdinando, directed by David Mackenzie, written by Jonathan Asser, crime, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Sims, David Ehrlich, Walter V Addiego, Kate Muir, David Denby, Ann Hornaday, Taylor Baker, Cory Woodroof, Karl Delossantos, David Harris, Christopher Preston, MPAA rating, Gillian Berrie, Brian Coffey, Tribeca Film, adult prison, juvenile facility, violent father, explosive teenager, cutthroat culture, prison life, gang violence, corruption
Worldwide gross: $3,025,189
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,780,722
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,253
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 412,292
US/Canada gross: $54,915
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $68,630
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,715
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,358
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,945
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,647
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
Rupert Friend – Oliver
Jack O’Connell – Eric
Sam Spruell – Governor Hayes
David Ajala – Tyrone
Peter Ferdinando – Dennis Spencer
Director(s)
David Mackenzie
Writer(s)
Jonathan Asser
Producer(s)
Gillian Berrie, Brian Coffey
Film Festivals
Tribeca, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
17 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (117) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (1)
Mackenzie is seeking to understand how all this explosive male energy can co-exist under such brutal conditions, and the answer is with great difficulty.
September 22, 2016
David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
What makes Starred Up such a riveting experience is that, despite the often unintelligible brogues in which its characters speak, the film so vividly depicts the cutthroat culture of prison life that nothing gets lost in translation.
September 27, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Ehrlich
Complex
TOP CRITIC
Director David Mackenzie has empathy for the characters, but also knows how to ratchet up the tension and make the scene of mayhem pack a wallop.
September 25, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
Walter V. Addiego
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Take one teenager. Add raw testosterone. Arm with unquenchable, unreasoning anger. Lock in pressure-cooker cell. Unleash. Roll camera.
September 23, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
[An] unusually cohesive and exciting prison drama …
September 22, 2014
David Denby
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
“Starred Up” manages to be sympathetic, not only because of O’Connell’s galvanizing turn, but also Asser and director David Mackenzie’s unwavering commitment to portraying his character with as much compassion as brutal honesty.
September 18, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Episode 27: Valhalla Rising / Bronson / Starred Up / True Detective S3
September 9, 2021 | Rating: 86/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Throughout, Starred Up keeps the audience in its own prison of nervous tension and worry, as Mackenzie casts a shadow of terrifying unpredictability over each scene. That unease is heightened by O’Connell’s masterful performance.
September 9, 2021
Cory Woodroof
Nashville Scene
What I love about Starred Up is it’s almost devoid of sentimentality. Any that there is doused in a heavy dose of realism.
August 6, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Karl Delossantos
Smash Cut Reviews
A provocative if downbeat film that will likely grip you from its opening scenes to the end.
November 27, 2019 | Rating: 3.2/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
Despite its use of tried-and-tested tropes, David Mackenzie has made something that feels incredibly refreshing and relevant.
June 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Christopher Preston
One Room With A View
Comes armed with a fine cast, topical subject matter and just enough subversion of a well-worn genre stable to please those exhausted by mindless gangster slash ’em ups.
March 8, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Daniel Green
CineVue…
Plot
Eric Love is a 19 year old teenager who is so violent he has been ‘Starred Up’ (Moved to Adult prison) where he finds his father Neville who Eric hasn’t seen since he was 5 (since he was put into care). Neville tries to get Eric to settle down, so Eric gets a chance to go through therapy with Oliver.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jack O’Connell’s performance in Starred Up is described as “an explosion of brilliance, announcing him as a major new talent.”
David-Mackenzie.jpg
92%
The Way He Looks (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 27 wins & 22 nominations
Compassionate, emotionally detailed, and populated with resonant characters, The Way He Looks leaves a warmth that lingers.
The Way He Looks is a heartwarming and charming film that will make you believe in love again. This coming-of-age story about a blind teenager falling in love with his classmate is both poignant and funny. The film beautifully captures the awkwardness and messiness of growing up, while also exploring the complexities of friendship and first love. The trio of friends at the center of the story are endearing and relatable, and the romance between the two boys is sweet and genuine. Overall, The Way He Looks is a must-see film that will leave you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
Distributor
Strand Releasing
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Rua Dr. Carlos Norberto de Souza Aranha, São Paulo, Brazil
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Portuguese
-
Country of origin:Brazil
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 7, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2015
Genre(s)
Drama/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Ghilherme Lobo, Fábio Audi, Tess Amorim, Selma Egrei, Eucir de Souza, Isabela Guasco, directed by Daniel Ribeiro, written by Daniel Ribeiro, Drama, Romance, Lgbtq+, $101.1K box office, reviewed by David Lewis, Darian Lusk, Ben Sachs, Peter Keough, Matthew Lickona, Randy Cordova, Amanda Jane Stern, MPAA rating not mentioned, produced by Diana Almeida, Daniel Ribeiro, Strand Releasing, Beasts of No Nation, God’s Own Country, 13TH, Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief, Corpus Christi
Worldwide gross: $1,207,841
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,509,496
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,492
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 164,612
US/Canada gross: $101,451
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $126,788
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,624
US/Canada opening weekend: $26,334
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $32,911
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,345
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
Fábio Audi – Gabriel
Tess Amorim – Giovana
Selma Egrei – Maria
Eucir de Souza – Carlos
Isabela Guasco – Karina
Director(s)
Daniel Ribeiro
Writer(s)
Daniel Ribeiro
Producer(s)
Diana Almeida, Daniel Ribeiro
Film Festivals
Berlin, Venice
Awards & Nominations
27 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (3)
This exquisite film – about a blind teenager who falls in love with a classmate – will charm you from beginning to end.
June 30, 2020
David Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film offers something much deeper, and what is not said makes it refreshing, and beautiful.
April 14, 2017
Darian Lusk
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Brazilian writer-director Daniel Ribeiro displays an assured sense of tone in this debut feature, sustaining an air of fragile beauty but never once slipping into preciousness.
January 9, 2015
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Ribeiro lacks a sense of dramatic construction, with the narrative stumbling about thoughtlessly, retracing the same ground over and over.
December 18, 2014 | Rating: 2/4
Peter Keough
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Brazilian gay coming-of-age tale, almost quaint in its old-fashioned sweetness and gentle dramatics.
November 14, 2014 | Rating: 2/5
Matthew Lickona
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
A warm, smart and thoroughly delightful coming-of-age story.
November 13, 2014 | Rating: 5/5
Randy Cordova
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
A wonderful film, a truly touching love story that captures growing up in all of its messy, awkward, sometimes painful beauty.
June 6, 2022
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
The Way He Looks is a poignant coming-of-age movie with an incredibly sweet romance at its core.
July 14, 2020
Amanda Jane Stern
Film Inquiry
This may be the first feature to trace with humor and compassion how hard it is to be gay, blind and in love…
June 18, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Daniel Ribeiro achieves in his debut a natural, sensitive, refreshing film full of overflowing emotions without falling into sentimentality or exaggeration. [Full Review in Spanish]
April 23, 2020
Lucía Ros Serra
Espinof
“The trio of friends are getting closer and/or away from each other and the relationships between them are becoming more complex”.
July 18, 2019 | Rating: 2/4
Ernesto Diezmartinez
Cine Vértigo
The Way He Looks is tight, well balanced and good humored. It depicts the subtle pain of rejection, conflict and jealousy without being disproportionately melodramatic.
June 20, 2017
Indra Arriaga
Anchorage Press…
Plot
Leonardo is a blind teenager dealing with an overprotective mother while trying to live a more independent life. To the disappointment of his best friend, Giovana, he plans to go on an exchange program abroad. When Gabriel, a new student in town, arrives at their classroom, new feelings blossom in Leonardo making him question his plans.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film stars Ghilherme Lobo as the blind teenager, Leonardo.
Daniel-Ribeiro.jpg
92%
Citizenfour (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
44 wins & 39 nominations total
Part real-life thriller, part sobering examination of 21st century civil liberties, Citizenfour transcends ideology to offer riveting, must-see cinema.
Citizenfour is like a spy movie, but without all the cheesy stuff like car chases and bikini babes. Instead, it’s a real-life thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. With footage from inside the Ecuadorian embassy and Snowden’s flight to Moscow, you’ll feel like you’re right there with them. And if you’re looking for a scary movie to watch on Halloween, look no further than Citizenfour. It’s got all the horror you need, with the added bonus of being a culturally critical work that’s important to see. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride.
Production Company(ies)
El Deseo Renn Productions, France 2 Cinéma
Distributor
Radius TWC
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Room 1014, Mira Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):English, Portuguese, German
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 24, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 25, 2015
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Citizenfour, documentary, Edward Snowden, Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky, R rating, government surveillance, whistleblowing, Hong Kong, Moscow, Julian Assange, Jacob Appelbaum, William Binney, Ewen MacAskill, Jeremy Scahill, box office, gross USA, $2.8M, runtime 1h 54m, Radius TWC, reviewed by Stephen Romei, Paul Byrnes, Richard Corliss, Bill Stamets, Joe Williams, Sam Adams, Jordan M Smith, Brian D Johnson, Ren Jender, Kiko Martinez, James Clay, directed by Laura Poitras, produced by Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky, documentary genre, Fresh Kernels, Tomatometer, audience score, documentary film, espionage thriller, civil liberties, real-life thriller, horror picture, character study, whistleblowing, privacy invasion, government exploitation, one-sided documentary, consequences analysis
Worldwide gross: $3,780,692
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,724,909
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,194
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 515,257
US/Canada gross: $2,800,870
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,500,380
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,907
US/Canada opening weekend: $126,321
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $157,869
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,765
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
Julian Assange – Self
Jacob Appelbaum – Self
William Binney – Self
Ewen MacAskill – Self
Jeremy Scahill – Self
Director(s)
Laura Poitras
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, Dirk Wilutzky
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
44 wins & 39 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Documentary Feature Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (146) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (140) | Rotten (6)
Laura Poitras’s Oscar-nominated documentary Citizenfour is proof that you can make an espionage thriller without car chases, bikini babes or martinis.
February 19, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
There’s footage from within the Ecuadorian embassy in London as Julian Assange helps with the flight that takes Snowden to Moscow, where he claims political asylum. These scenes give the film an unprecedented level of immediacy and dramatic tension.
February 18, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Poitras’ movie works even better as a horror picture — perfect for Halloween week.
January 5, 2015
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This thoughtful film is designed with taste.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Bill Stamets
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The message of the movie is as clear as Siberian ice: Whether you’re a Tea Partier, an Occupier or just an ordinary Joe, you might be the next citizen who’s stranded in limbo.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 4/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
The scariest thing you’ll see this Halloween is Edward Snowden swearing in disbelief at the end of Laura Poitras’ gripping, disturbing documentary.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: A-
Sam Adams
Philadelphia City Paper
TOP CRITIC
One would be hard pressed to find a more culturally critical cinematic work than Poitras’ risky, revealing film Citizenfour.
October 21, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
So much is revealed by those leaks that it would be easy for Poitras to have buried us in data. But she lets the film unfold as a character study, with long silences and lingering close-ups as we watch Snowden come to terms…
August 8, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Citizenfour, I had to keep reminding myself, shows us history in the making. I had to keep telling myself what I was seeing was important because most of it is otherwise pretty dull.
March 11, 2019
Ren Jender
Bitch Flicks
Watching this real-time whistleblowing is nothing short of unbelievable.
December 31, 2018 | Rating: A-
Kiko Martinez
San Antonio Current
Poitras takes the facts at face value considering her source is an enemy of the state, but the revelations are no less reeling.
December 8, 2018 | Rating: B
James Clay
Fresh Fiction
What seems most remarkable in that hotel room in Hong Kong is Snowden’s freedom from anxiety.
November 16, 2018
David Bromwich
The New York Review of Books…
Plot
In January 2013, Laura Poitras started receiving anonymous encrypted e-mails from “CITIZENFOUR,” who claimed to have evidence of illegal covert surveillance programs run by the NSA in collaboration with other intelligence agencies worldwide. Five months later, she and reporters Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill flew to Hong Kong for the first of many meetings with the man who turned out to be Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her. The resulting film is history unfolding before our eyes.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Citizenfour includes Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and other real-life figures involved in the government surveillance scandal.
Laura-Poitras.jpg
92%
Nightcrawler (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
42 wins & 124 nominations total
Restless, visually sleek, and powered by a lithe star performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler offers dark, thought-provoking thrills.
Nightcrawler is a film that will leave you feeling like you need a shower, but in the best way possible. Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Louis Bloom is nothing short of mesmerizing, and the film’s scathing commentary on the world of television news is both unnerving and haunting. It’s a one-man show, with Gyllenhaal making the movie his own from the very beginning. If you’re looking for a gritty urban comedy noir that will keep you on the edge of your seat, Nightcrawler is the film for you. Just don’t forget to bring some hand sanitizer.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Open Road
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Chinatown Express – 252 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence including graphic images, and for language
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Datasat
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 57m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 31, 2014 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 10, 2015
Genre(s)
Drama/Crime
Keyword(s)
starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed, Ann Cusack, Kevin Rahm, directed by Dan Gilroy, written by Dan Gilroy, produced by Michel Litvak, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy, drama, crime, mystery, thriller, R-rated, box office gross $32.4M, reviewed by Dwight Brown, Emily St James, Joe Williams, Kate Erbland, Nigel Andrews, Scott Marks, Danilo Castro, Matt Brunson, Cory Woodroof, Jason Adams, Alex Bentley, Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance, media commentary, lack of empathy, Los Angeles, cameraman, police scanner, shocking crimes, news director, ratings, violence, graphic images, language, Datasat, Dolby Digital
Worldwide gross: $47,398,992
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $59,236,759
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,263
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,459,843
US/Canada gross: $32,381,217
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $40,468,336
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,161
US/Canada opening weekend: $10,441,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $13,048,611
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 857
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,622,851
Production budget ranking: 1,645
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,720,405
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,893,502
ROI to date (est.): 262%
ROI ranking: 512
Rene Russo – Nina
Bill Paxton – Joe Loder
Riz Ahmed – Rick
Ann Cusack – Linda
Kevin Rahm – Frank Kruse
Director(s)
Dan Gilroy
Writer(s)
Dan Gilroy
Producer(s)
Michel Litvak, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Lancaster, Jennifer Fox, Tony Gilroy
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
42 wins & 124 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (277) | Top Critics (74) | Fresh (263) | Rotten (14)
Intriguing, unnerving and haunting.
March 7, 2017
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Nightcrawler, on its surface, is a relatively straightforward thriller, built around a slightly improbable but very effective main character, a man who starts as an antihero and plunges straight ahead toward villainy.
September 26, 2016
Emily St. James
Vox
TOP CRITIC
Like an alternate version of Network in which Faye Dunaway cannibalizes the conscientious William Holden character, Nightcrawler cleverly dispenses with any debate about the tyranny of ratings and the erosion of privacy.
January 4, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/4
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Make no mistake, Nightcrawler is a major work for everyone involved.
January 4, 2015 | Rating: A
Kate Erbland
Film School Rejects
TOP CRITIC
Filmmaker Gilroy, brother to Tony (of the darkly marvellous Michael Clayton), makes every cinematic second count. If you blink you miss a tell-tale reaction shot, a vital visual plot clue, or a brilliant cut-in.
January 4, 2015
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
A gritty urban comedy noir, a scathing, Network-worthy disembowelment of television newsgatherers that will leave you craving a shower.
January 4, 2015 | Rating: 5/5
Scott Marks
San Diego Reader
TOP CRITIC
Nightcrawler is simply one of the best crime films of the 2010s.
May 17, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Danilo Castro
Next Best Picture
In a knockout performance, Jake Gyllenhaal plays Louis Bloom, the type of guy who would not only sell his own mother but would chop her up into tiny pieces to facilitate the transaction.
April 10, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
Nightcrawler can be a hard film to stomach at times, but its message is sound. Outside of the strong craftsmanship, the film is a scarily magnetic character study of a guy who dreamed the American Dream in the absolute worst way possible.
February 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
A razor’s edge satire you’ll be so busy being enthralled by you won’t even notice the adrenaline shot of righteous anger being shot straight into your veins
January 10, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
There are a number of factors that contribute to the success of Nightcrawler … but if ever a film were a one-man show, it is this one, as Gyllenhaal makes the movie his own from minute one.
September 2, 2021
Alex Bentley
CultureMap
Jake Gyllenhaal’s transformation deserves an Oscar in one of this year’s best films…
May 26, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Dan Brightmore
NME…
Plot
NIGHTCRAWLER is a thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling – where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a “knockout performance” as the unsettling and manipulative Louis Bloom.
Dan-Gilroy.jpg
92%
The Overnighters (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 19 nominations
Hard-hitting, absorbing, and painfully relevant, The Overnighters offers an urgent and compassionate picture of life in 21st century America.
The Overnighters is a documentary that will make you question everything you thought you knew about altruism and the human condition. It’s like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, taking you from inspiration to devastation in just 90 minutes. But don’t worry, you won’t need a box of tissues for this one – just a strong drink to help you process all the twists and turns. Moss does an incredible job of letting the story unfold naturally, without forcing any narrative on it. And the visuals? Let’s just say that drill towers and blistering flames have never looked so metaphorical. Overall, The Overnighters is a total corker of a film that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Newmarket Capital Group Team Todd I Remember Productions,
Distributor
Drafthouse Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and brief strong language
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 41m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2014 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 7, 2015
Genre(s)
Documentary/Drama
Keyword(s)
documentary, drama, North Dakota, homeless workers, oil fields, pastor, controversy, church, PG-13, mature thematic material, brief strong language, Jesse Moss, directed by Jesse Moss, written by Jesse Moss, produced by Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine, box office, gross USA, $109.6K, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Tom Long, Eric Kohn, Brian Tallerico, Nigel Andrews, Lisa Kennedy, Q.V Hough, David Harris, Ryan Syrek, C.J Prince, D.W Mault, Stephen Saito, Jay Reinke, Andrea Reinke, Alan Mezo, Shelly Schultz, Keegan Edwards, Michael Batten, starring Jay Reinke, Andrea Reinke, Alan Mezo, Shelly Schultz, Keegan Edwards, Michael Batten
Worldwide gross: $110,763
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $138,426
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,986
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,096
US/Canada gross: $110,763
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $138,426
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,608
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,324
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,404
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,794
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
Andrea Reinke – self
Alan Mezo – self
Shelly Schultz – self
Keegan Edwards – self
Michael Batten – self
Jesse Moss – director, producer, writer
Amanda McBaine – producer
Director(s)
Jesse Moss
Writer(s)
Jesse Moss
Producer(s)
Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Film Festivals
Sundance, Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 19 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (2)
An existentially probing documentary with more layers than a twisty Hollywood thriller, at turns inspiring, challenging, sobering and finally devastating.
February 25, 2015 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
It develops into a study of obsession, hypocrisy, righteousness and self-doubt, questioning motive and then gob-smacking the audience with the wholly unexpected.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
While initially a gentle interrogation of Christian dogma, The Overnighters expands to a larger investigation of altruism and its roots in private psychologies.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: A
Eric Kohn
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Moss lets his characters and their stories unfold, crafting a film from them intuitively through the right interview questions and the art of editing, but never placing a narrative on it that feels forced.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 4.5/5
Brian Tallerico
Film Threat
TOP CRITIC
Full of ambush, surprise, illumination, it’s a total corker. And Moss and his camera, somehow, are there every time a new bottle of truth is opened, with a gush, a pop or an explosion.
January 5, 2015 | Rating: 5/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Moss uses images of drill towers or blistering flame as visual metaphors for other things transpiring on screen: the fracturing of a family, the heated fury that comes with a sense of betrayal.
December 19, 2014
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post
TOP CRITIC
“Moss highlights the personal struggles of many who find themselves re-awakened in northwestern North Dakota, and others who simply fade in and fade out.”
June 28, 2022
Q.V. Hough
Vague Visages
Although The Overnighters runs only 90 minutes, it feels much longer than that.
November 27, 2019 | Rating: 2.8/5
David Harris
Spectrum Culture
The big takeaway for me was how brutal the burden is for those who truly embrace the core conceits of the Christian faith and its insistence upon caring for any and all who need help, no matter the sins of their past.
August 6, 2019 | Rating: A-
Ryan Syrek
The Reader (Omaha, NE)
The fact that something so inherently dramatic comes from the world of non-fiction makes this feel like a truly rare sight.
June 12, 2019 | Rating: 8.4/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
A film that sheds layers like a rotting onion, this is cinema that forces a narrative that is constant.
April 3, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
D.W. Mault
CineVue
Moss goes where the story takes him as Reinke’s altruism increasingly appears to be an exercise in futility, chasing lost causes and threatening to become one himself.
November 22, 2018
Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest…
Plot
Broken, desperate men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor risks everything to help them.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Overnighters features real people, including pastor Jay Reinke and various homeless workers seeking jobs in North Dakota’s oil fields.
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92%
Live Die Repeat: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 11 wins & 38 nominations
Gripping, well-acted, funny, and clever, Edge of Tomorrow offers entertaining proof that Tom Cruise is still more than capable of shouldering the weight of a blockbuster action thriller.
Edge of Tomorrow is like Groundhog Day meets Independence Day, but with Tom Cruise as the hero. It’s a wild ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. The action scenes are intense and the sci-fi elements are mind-bending, but what really sets this movie apart is the humor. Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt have great chemistry and their banter will have you laughing out loud. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves action movies, sci-fi, or just a good time at the movies. Live. Die. Repeat. And then watch it again.
Production Company(ies)
The Samuel Goldwyn Company,
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Datasat Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 53m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 6, 2014 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 7, 2014
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way, directed by Doug Liman, written by Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, action, PG-13, Warner Bros Pictures, Erwin Stoff, Tom Lassally, Jason Hoffs, Gregory Jacobs, Jeffrey Silver, $100.2M, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, Dylan Green, Dwight Brown, David Sims, Richard Roeper, Richard Lawson, Danielle Solzman, Douglas Davidson, Robert Sims, Michael J Casey, Taylor Baker, Cate Young, time loop, aliens, military, combat, invincible, blockbuster, sci-fi, humor, thrilling, clever, well-acted, pulse-pounding, character-driven, Guardians of the Galaxy, Divergent, Thor: Ragnarok, Kingsman: The Secret Service, RoboCop
Worldwide gross: $370,541,256
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $463,082,905
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 313
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 50,499,772
US/Canada gross: $100,206,256
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $125,232,490
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 605
US/Canada opening weekend: $28,760,246
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $35,943,038
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 363
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $178,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $222,455,005
Production budget ranking: 62
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $119,792,020
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $120,835,879
ROI to date (est.): 35%
ROI ranking: 1,215
Emily Blunt – Rita Vrataski
Brendan Gleeson – General Brigham
Bill Paxton – Master Sergeant Farell
Jonas Armstrong – Skinner
Tony Way – Kimmel
Director(s)
Doug Liman
Writer(s)
Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth
Producer(s)
Erwin Stoff, Tom Lassally, Jason Hoffs, Gregory Jacobs, Jeffrey Silver
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
11 wins & 38 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (332) | Top Critics (83) | Fresh (302) | Rotten (30)
Edge of Tomorrow is a rousing adventure filled with pulse-pounding thrills and surprising dashes of character-driven humor, the film a breathless two hours of fun worth celebrating.
July 5, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
[Edge of Tomorrow] may not be as smart as it could’ve been in the broad strokes, but a clever, well-acted thrill ride like this doesn’t really need to have its head fully in the game, now does it?
August 15, 2017
Dylan Green
Shadow and Act
TOP CRITIC
Credit a smart script, smarter direction, excellent production elements and an unflappable leading man for taking you to hell and back — over and over again.
March 21, 2017
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Edge of Tomorrow is the perfect mix of blustering action and sci-fi thinky nonsense that is best enjoyed without picking at it too much.
September 22, 2016
David Sims
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
This is one of my favorite movies of the year so far.
June 27, 2015
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper.com
TOP CRITIC
This is the kind of thoughtfully constructed movie that other summertime blockbusters should aspire to be more like, clever and cool and never giving you that ho-hum sense that you’ve seen it all before.
June 27, 2015
Richard Lawson
Vanity Fair
TOP CRITIC
Edge of Tomorrow: Live. Die. Repeat manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats in this WWII-esque sci-fi action thriller.
July 5, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Even if I can’t forgive the ridiculousness of the final moments of “Edge of Tomorrow” … everything leading up to that ending still rules and does so even harder with the improved picture and sound.
July 4, 2022
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
Death becomes Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow, a gripping and meticulously constructed futuristic thriller that finds his untested soldier fighting aliens while stuck in a time loop.
January 22, 2022
Robert Sims
Lights Camera Austin
A fascinating premise with a disappointing visual style.
December 1, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Episode 37: Edge of Tomorrow / Forbidden Planet / High Life
October 4, 2021 | Rating: 84/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
The Angel of Verdun is an action heroine with the skills needed to ride into battle, but the empathy to reach out to the partner she just met.
March 19, 2021
Cate Young
Thirty, Flirty + Film…
Plot
An alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Major William Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop-forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Vrataski take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy!
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tom Cruise stars as Major William Cage in Edge of Tomorrow.
Doug-Liman.jpg
92%
The LEGO Movie (2014)
92%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
72 wins & 67 nominations total
Boasting beautiful animation, a charming voice cast, laugh-a-minute gags, and a surprisingly thoughtful story, The Lego Movie is colorful fun for all ages.
The Lego Movie is the ultimate love letter to Legos, and it’s not just for kids. With its clever writing, stunning animation, and hilarious jokes, this movie is a must-see for anyone who has ever played with Legos. It’s a film that will make you laugh, cry, and want to build something amazing. Plus, it’s got Batman, so what more could you want? Whether you’re a die-hard Lego fan or just looking for a fun family movie night, The Lego Movie is sure to be a hit.
Production Company(ies)
M K2 Productions, C E D Productions, France 3 Cinéma
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for mild action and rude humor
Year of Release
2014
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1 Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):English, Turkish
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 7, 2014 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2014
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, directed by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, written by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, comedy, adventure, PG rating, box office gross $257.8M, reviewed by Chris Stuckmann, Katey Rich, Peter Hartlaub, Kate Erbland, Maricar Estrella, Emmet Brickowski, Lord Business, President Business, The Man Upstairs, Vitruvius, Wyldstyle, Lucy, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Metal Beard, Dan Lin, Roy Lee, Warner Bros Pictures
Worldwide gross: $468,266,122
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $585,214,285
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 232
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 63,818,352
US/Canada gross: $257,966,122
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $322,392,444
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 169
US/Canada opening weekend: $69,050,279
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $86,295,394
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 96
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $60,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $74,984,833
Production budget ranking: 566
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $40,379,333
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $469,850,119
ROI to date (est.): 407%
ROI ranking: 340
Will Ferrell – Lord Business, President Business, The Man Upstairs (Voice)
Morgan Freeman – Vitruvius (Voice)
Elizabeth Banks – Wyldstyle, Lucy (Voice)
Will Arnett – Batman, Bruce Wayne (Voice)
Nick Offerman – Metal Beard (Voice)
Director(s)
Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Writer(s)
Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Producer(s)
Dan Lin, Roy Lee
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
72 wins & 67 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (255) | Top Critics (64) | Fresh (244) | Rotten (11)
Hilarious and heartfelt in the right ways, The Lego Movie also successfully pokes fun at the genre cliches we’re all so used to.
April 23, 2015 | Rating: A-
Chris Stuckmann
ChrisStuckmann.com
TOP CRITIC
It’s one of the few movies based on a toy with no explicit story behind it. And it is, so far, the only one that’s really good.
January 3, 2015
Katey Rich
Vanity Fair
TOP CRITIC
The movie is a wonderful surprise, cleverly written and executed brick by brick with a visual panache.
January 3, 2015 | Rating: 4/4
Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Lord and Miller’s sensibilities are continually clever, and The Lego Movie works hard to gradually deliver surprising payoffs to what seem to be throwaway bits.
January 3, 2015 | Rating: 8.3/10
Kate Erbland
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
The Lego Movie has enough wit and wisdom to send a recession-age message to families on the importance of thinking through problems with creativity.
January 3, 2015
Maricar Estrella
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
TOP CRITIC
The Lego Movie is a brilliant technical achievement.
April 4, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Evan Williams
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
It’s the best possible ad for Legos that the company could have ever hoped for, and it achieves that by embedding in its very concept the kind of play that has kept both kids and adults playing with Legos for years.
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Dan Bayer
Next Best Picture
The LEGO Movie is a beautifully animated film that remains one of the best films of 2014.
March 9, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
A poignant children’s film, which injected American animation with a surge of energy, style, and confidence, The LEGO Movie took the most surprising stances…
March 29, 2021
Kanishk Devgan
Film Companion
The weirdest, most psychedelic kid’s entertainment since H.R. Pufnstuf.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Surprisingly action-packed and high-octane.
December 4, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It is a film best experienced and best experienced as a beloved experience between adults and the children they love.
September 13, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com…
Plot
The LEGO Movie is a 3D animated film which follows lead character, Emmet a completely ordinary LEGO mini-figure who is identified as the most “extraordinary person” and the key to saving the Lego universe. Emmet and his friends go on an epic journey to stop the evil tyrant, Lord Business.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The voice cast of The Lego Movie includes Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, Morgan Freeman, and Will Arnett.
Phil-Lord.jpg
92%
Philomena (2013)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Oscars
33 wins & 86 nominations total
Based on a powerful true story and led by note-perfect performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Philomena offers a profoundly affecting drama for adult filmgoers of all ages.
Philomena is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and question your beliefs all at once. Despite its heavy themes, the film manages to balance drama and comedy in a way that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking. Judi Dench delivers a powerful performance that will leave you in awe, while Steve Coogan’s portrayal of a cynical journalist adds a touch of humor to the mix. The story is a rollercoaster of emotions that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Overall, Philomena is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good story with heart and soul.
Production Company(ies)
Romaine Film Corporation,
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references
Year of Release
2013
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 37m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United Kingdom
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 22, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 15, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Michelle Fairley, Barbara Jefford, Anna Maxwell Martin, Mare Winningham, directed by Stephen Frears, written by Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Deborah Ross, Anna Smith, Monica Castillo, David Stratton, Kate Erbland, Liam Lacey, Richard Crouse, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Chris McCoy, Debbie Lynn Elias, Nicholas Bell, PG-13, Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward, Weinstein Co., Dolby Digital, Philomena Lee, Martin Sixsmith, Sally Mitchell, Sister Hildegarde, Jane, Mary
Worldwide gross: $100,129,872
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $127,199,786
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 907
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,871,296
US/Canada gross: $37,709,979
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $47,904,798
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,092
US/Canada opening weekend: $128,435
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $163,157
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,745
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $12,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $15,244,176
Production budget ranking: 1,506
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,208,989
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $103,746,620
ROI to date (est.): 442%
ROI ranking: 295
Steve Coogan – Martin Sixsmith
Michelle Fairley – Sally Mitchell
Barbara Jefford – Sister Hildegarde
Anna Maxwell Martin – Jane
Mare Winningham – Mary
Director(s)
Stephen Frears
Writer(s)
Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope
Producer(s)
Gabrielle Tana, Steve Coogan, Tracey Seaward
Film Festivals
Cannes, Venice, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Oscars
33 wins & 86 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (200) | Top Critics (68) | Fresh (181) | Rotten (19)
It is quiet, restrained, unfussy, and has, at its heart, an injustice so grave it will make your blood boil. You will also cry.
September 5, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
Despite its weighty themes, Stephen Frears’ film is almost as much a comedy as a drama.
September 6, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Anna Smith
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
The movie is a bit of a puzzle coming from atheist co-writer Steve Coogan and the script grapples with these big questions of religion, class, and justice in a way that’s far beyond the typical teary human-interest story.
May 10, 2016
Monica Castillo
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
One of the best purely British films of the year.
December 23, 2013 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
[The final act is] a great half hour or so of film — funny, charming, sad, satisfying — but the rest of Philomena isn’t so up to snuff.
December 22, 2013 | Rating: B-
Kate Erbland
Film School Rejects
TOP CRITIC
What at first seems formulaic comedy gains a deeper resonance as we see how they represent two responses to cruelty and injustice — first outrage, and with time, eventually, forgiveness.
December 22, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Transcends its roots as a class study, becoming instead a poignant and funny story of forgiveness and the true nature of love.
February 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
It’s a brooding mystery that focuses more on studying characters than unearthing clues.
December 4, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
It features a deeply felt and gripping performance from Judi Dench.
September 20, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Besides Dench’s fierce eyes, the most interesting part of Philomena is watching the picture of the lost son unfold as the buddy-cop pairing of Dench and Coogan ferret out his life story.
January 8, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
[A] story that took a lifetime, will now touch your heart for a lifetime.
January 7, 2020
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
It’s intelligently written and genuinely performed, even if the film is rather visually banal.
August 29, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com…
Plot
When former journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is dismissed from the Labour Party in disgrace, he is at a loss as to what do. That changes when a young Irish woman approaches him about a story of her mother, Philomena Lee (Dame Judi Dench), who had her son taken away when she was a teenage inmate of a Catholic convent. Martin arranges a magazine assignment about her search for him that eventually leads to America. Along the way, Martin and Philomena discover as much about each other as about her son’s fate. Furthermore, both find their basic beliefs challenged.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Judi Dench delivers a “fierce” and “gripping” performance in Philomena, according to one critic review.
Stephen-Frears.jpg
92%
12 Years a Slave (2013)
92%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
242 wins & 337 nominations total
It’s far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave’s unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant — and quite possibly essential — cinema.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel all the emotions, 12 Years a Slave is it. Director Steve McQueen doesn’t hold back in showing the brutal reality of slavery, but he also captures moments of beauty and humanity in the midst of it all. The performances are top-notch, and the cinematography is stunning. Just be prepared to have your heart broken and your eyes opened.
Production Company(ies)
Svensk Filmindustri
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Madame John’s Legacy, the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence/cruelty, some nudity and brief sexuality
Year of Release
2013
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 14m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 4, 2014
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Giamatti, directed by Steve McQueen, written by John Ridley, biography, American slavery, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nijla Mu’min, J Hoberman, Candice Frederick, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Jen Chaney, Jason Bailey, Josh Parham, Justin Brown, Brandon Collins, Catherine Springer, Jason Adams, Joanne Laurier, R-rated, Fox Searchlight, produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Arnon Milchan, Anthony Katagas
Worldwide gross: $187,733,202
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $238,486,504
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 602
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 26,007,252
US/Canada gross: $56,671,993
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $71,993,155
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 908
US/Canada opening weekend: $923,715
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,173,440
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,259
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $20,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $25,406,961
Production budget ranking: 1,237
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $13,681,648
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $199,397,895
ROI to date (est.): 510%
ROI ranking: 252
Michael Fassbender – Edwin Epps
Benedict Cumberbatch – William Ford
Paul Dano – Tibeats
Garret Dillahunt – Armsby
Paul Giamatti – Theophilus Freeman
Director – Steve McQueen
Producers – Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Anthony Katagas
Writer – John Ridley
Director(s)
Steve McQueen
Writer(s)
John Ridley
Producer(s)
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Anthony Katagas
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
242 wins & 337 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (377) | Top Critics (94) | Fresh (358) | Rotten (19)
Director McQueen, drawing on the visual aesthetic of his previous works Shame and Hunger, never shies away from frames that capture the ways that beauty exists in the most painful situations.
January 20, 2021
Nijla Mu’min
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
12 Years a Slave is, like The Trial, a trapdoor over the abyss. Although less abrupt than Kafka’s novel, the movie wastes little time before plunging its viewer into a nightmare of dehumanization.
March 4, 2018
J. Hoberman
Harper’s Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Ambitious, honest and horrifying all at once, 12 Years a Slave may not be the easiest film to watch more than once, but it will stay with you forever once you see it.
September 6, 2017 | Rating: A
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
Add the visionary direction by Steve McQueen, the British Turner Prize-winning artist turned film-maker (Hunger, Shame) and you have an out-and-out stunner.
September 6, 2017
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
A significant, necessary piece of work, one that stays with you long after you rise out of your theater seat.
February 26, 2017
Jen Chaney
Washington City Paper
TOP CRITIC
Movies can do a great many things – they can make us laugh, or incite our heroism, or frighten us, or make us cry. ’12 Years a Slave’ makes us feel, deeply and urgently.
June 18, 2016
Jason Bailey
Flavorwire
TOP CRITIC
McQueen’s vision is one that articulates the overwhelming bleakness of this chapter of history while also recognizing the fleeting moments of emotional serenity that could oddly descend.
May 27, 2022 | Rating: 10/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
A lot of the slave movies we see turn around and become a white savior movie, which this one avoided. Every element of this film is done so well and always has a deeply emotional impact on me. It is really captivating.
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Justin Brown
Medium Popcorn
Steve McQueen did a masterful job of finding the balance between some heavy content while making it look visually stunning. The score, performances and cinematography was phenomenal.
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brandon Collins
Medium Popcorn
It is a story that demanded to be told, demanded to be heard and it is absolutely perfectly done and deserves to be seen.
July 25, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Catherine Springer
CathsFilmForum.com
Steve McQueen’s film renders the unfathomable brutality of this period in our history tangible in a way that I’ve never seen captured on-screen before
July 2, 2021 | Rating: A
Jason Adams
The Film Experience
Any understanding of slavery as a historical phenomenon is absent, despite the occasional reference to slaves as property.
February 27, 2021
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site…
Plot
Based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty personified by a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Director Steve McQueen is a British Turner Prize-winning artist turned filmmaker.
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92%
Fruitvale Station (2013)
92%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 36 wins & 57 nominations
Passionate and powerfully acted, Fruitvale Station serves as a celebration of life, a condemnation of death, and a triumph for star Michael B. Jordan.
Fruitvale Station is a film that will make you feel all the feels. It’s not just a movie about police brutality, it’s a movie about a man who loved his family and wanted to do better. Michael B. Jordan’s performance is so good, you’ll forget he’s acting. And while it’s not an easy watch, it’s an important one. So grab some tissues and get ready to be moved.
Production Company(ies)
Svensk Filmindustri
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Oakland, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some violence, language throughout and some drug use
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 25m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2013 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Michael B Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Ahna O’Reilly, Kevin Durand, Chad Michael Murray, Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi, directed by Ryan Coogler, written by Ryan Coogler, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Fikri, Jenna Marotta, Candice Frederick, Nijla Mu’min, Dwight Brown, Kate Muir, Jason Adams, Dayne Linford, Allen Almachar, Tom Meek, David Lamble, R rating, police brutality, true story, San Francisco, New Year’s Eve, family, friends, tragedy, celebration of life, condemnation of death, triumph, passion, powerfully acted
Worldwide gross: $17,385,830
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $22,086,055
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,681
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,408,512
US/Canada gross: $16,101,339
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,454,304
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,407
US/Canada opening weekend: $386,291
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $490,724
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,412
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $900,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,143,313
Production budget ranking: 2,082
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $615,674
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,327,068
ROI to date (est.): 1,156%
ROI ranking: 105
Octavia Spencer – Wanda
Melonie Diaz – Sophina
Ahna O’Reilly – Katie
Kevin Durand – Officer Caruso
Chad Michael Murray – Officer Ingram
Director(s)
Ryan Coogler
Writer(s)
Ryan Coogler
Producer(s)
Forest Whitaker, Nina Yang Bongiovi
Film Festivals
Sundance, Cannes
Awards & Nominations
36 wins & 57 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (215) | Top Critics (84) | Fresh (202) | Rotten (13)
First-time director Ryan Coogler chose to tell Grant’s story as a narrative instead of a documentary to centre his voice and his life, in the process raising important questions about police brutality and the value of black lives.
July 13, 2021
Fikri
Autostraddle
TOP CRITIC
Fruitvale Station offers no social remedies, but by recreating Grant’s final hours, it actualizes him as a man, not just a rally cry.
March 31, 2020
Jenna Marotta
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
While Fruitvale Station is elevated by Jordan’s portrayal, the supporting cast, whose characters surround Oscar even during his most internal struggles, is also magnetic to watch.
September 7, 2017 | Rating: A-
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
This is a film for the people, a film for feelers and thinkers who want to see a story about a flawed person who loved his daughter and family.
August 14, 2017
Nijla Mu’min
Shadow and Act
TOP CRITIC
Michael B. Jordon honed his talent on series like The Wire and Friday Night Lights. His performance seems natural but that doesn’t mean it was easy to achieve. It’s subtle, deep and fiery.
March 21, 2017 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Coogler’s realistic debut recreates Grant’s final day with affection, refusing to cast him as either saint or sinner.
September 23, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
For something attempting to be intimate, it’s instead kind of smothering
January 14, 2022
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants
Ultimately, Fruitvale Station is a great film because it sticks to a single core concept – the portrayal of a single life, the mundane, difficult, and sublime nature of which was lost in the media controversy and the ensuing riots.
February 25, 2021
Dayne Linford
Battleship Pretension
This is not an easy film to watch, but it’s an important one. It should be and needs to be seen.
July 24, 2020 | Rating: A
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
Prophetic and timely…and a painful yet insightful view into what ails America today.
June 22, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
Coogler provides a suspenseful moral parable overflowing with the kind of incongruities that pepper the lives of our martyrs: Harvey, Matthew and Tyler Clementi.
June 19, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Fruitvale Station is one “must see” stop for all movie-goers.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens…
Plot
This is the true story of Oscar, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions: being a better son to his mother, whose birthday falls on New Year’s Eve, being a better partner to his girlfriend, who he hasn’t been completely honest with as of late, and being a better father to T, their beautiful 4 year old daughter. He starts out well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family, and strangers, each exchange showing us that there is much more to Oscar than meets the eye. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale BART station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Michael B. Jordan delivers a “sensitive portrayal of a troubled young man” in Fruitvale Station, according to audience reviews on Fresh Kernels.
Ryan-Coogler.jpg