Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language, Netflix
 
Distributor
Sarigama Cinemas
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Hyderabad, India; Bulgaria; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Ukraine
 
MPAA / Certificate
NR
 
Year of Release
2023
 

 
Genre(s)
Action/Drama
 
Keyword(s)
RRR, action, drama, Telugu, S.S Rajamouli, D.V.V Danayya, S.S Rajamouli, Sai Madhav Burra, N.T Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgan, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, box office, budget, Dolby Atmos, Scope, 2.35:1, Sarigama Cinemas, reviewed by Alison Herman, Randy Myers, James Berardinelli, Nicholas Barber, Adam Kempenaar, Frank Scheck, Matt Brunson, Rahul Desai, Mukesh Manjunath, Robert Roten, Emiliano Basile, starring N.T Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgan, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, directed by S.S Rajamouli, produced by D.V.V Danayya, MPAA rating, freedom fighters, Komaram Bheem, Alluri Sitarama Raju, top-notch singing, dancing, entertainment, 3-hour runtime, colonizers, insane action sequences, Bollywood style musical numbers, fantastical spectacle, adventure
 

Cast & Crew

N.T. Rama Rao Jr.

Ram Charan

Ajay Devgan

Alia Bhatt

Shriya Saran

Komaram Bheem

Alluri Sitarama Raju

Venkata Rama Raju

Sita

Sarojini

N.T. Rama Rao Jr. – Komaram Bheem
Ram Charan – Alluri Sitarama Raju
Ajay Devgan – Venkata Rama Raju
Alia Bhatt – Sita
Shriya Saran – Sarojini
Samuthirakani – Venkateswarulu
Director – S.S. Rajamouli
Producer – D.V.V. Danayya
Writers – S.S. Rajamouli, Sai Madhav Burra

 

S.S. Rajamouli

S.S. Rajamouli

D.V.V. Danayya

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
S.S. Rajamouli
 
Writer(s)
S.S. Rajamouli, Sai Madhav Burra
 
Producer(s)
D.V.V. Danayya

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Alison Herman

Randy Myers

James Berardinelli

Nicholas Barber

Adam Kempenaar

The Ringer

San Jose Mercury News

ReelViews

BBC.com

Filmspotting

RRR
 All Critics (99) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (5)
 In a movie that also includes Bheem battling a tiger with his bare hands and an aerial rescue involving a motorcycle, “Naatu Naatu” may be the most impressive action sequence.
 
 March 10, 2023
 
 Alison Herman
 The Ringer
 TOP CRITIC
 The bonanza with a cast of what looks to be thousands and a storyline about getting back at colonizers is a blast throughout its 3-hour-plus running time.
 
 March 2, 2023 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Randy Myers
 San Jose Mercury News
 TOP CRITIC
 It taps into many of the basic emotional centers that have always made movies of this sort popular and, in the process, offers hope that there may still be room for non-IP epics to exist side-by-side with Hollywood’s overbranded franchises.
 
 December 31, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 James Berardinelli
 ReelViews
 TOP CRITIC
 What’s most amazing is that all these genres and tones fit so seamlessly together to tell one powerful story.
 
 December 27, 2022
 
 Nicholas Barber
 BBC.com
 TOP CRITIC
 I was expecting insane, rocket-fueled spectacle. I was not expecting an insane, rocket-fueled THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP with Ram Charan as Anton Walbrook… and N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Roger Livesey.
 
 December 9, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Adam Kempenaar
 Filmspotting
 TOP CRITIC
 You won’t be bored for a nanosecond.
 
 November 27, 2022
 
 Frank Scheck
 Hollywood Reporter
 TOP CRITIC
 One of 2022’s 20 best films.
 
 March 13, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Matt Brunson
 Film Frenzy
 It’s not just about men transitioning from ignorant to enlightened, sad to happy, or anti-hero to hero. It’s about humans morphing into fable, history turning into heavens and hells – and life transforming into visual literature.
 
 March 10, 2023
 
 Rahul Desai
 Film Companion
 …goosebumps raising, whiste-worthy, crazy, insane. Did I say outrageous?
 
 March 10, 2023
 
 Mukesh Manjunath
 Film Companion
 This big epic action movie reminds me of some of those Fast and Furious movies because of the really outlandish action sequences, but this film has the added attraction of Bollywood style musical numbers and a showy dance off.
 
 January 27, 2023 | Rating: B
 
 Robert Roten
 Laramie Movie Scope
 … A show that escapes realist drama at every turn. [Fulll review in Spanish]
 
 January 27, 2023 | Rating: 8/10
 
 Emiliano Basile
 EscribiendoCine
 Between the stunts, the music, and the acting, you don’t want to miss this fantastical spectacle of an adventure. It’s cinema at its finest!
 
 January 22, 2023
 
 Kristen Maldonado
 Pop Culture Planet…

 

Plot
Two legendary Indian revolutionaries go on a journey away from home before they start fighting for their country in the 1920’s.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Brazil, but not Belize, is marked as part of the British Empire in the large map on the meeting hall. Brazil was never a colony, protectorate or a client state of the UK, unlike Belize.
 

 
S.S.-Rajamouli.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Illumination, Peacock, Road Trip / Journey, Universal Pictures
 
Distributor
Universal Pictures
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Peacock), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
PG
 
Year of Release
2022
 

 
Genre(s)
Kids & family/Comedy
 
Keyword(s)
Puss in Boots, Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillen, Samson Kayo, Wagner Moura, Joel Crawford, Mark Swift, Paul Fisher, Tommy Swerdlow, Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation, PG, Rude Humor/Language, Action/Violence, Some Scary Moments, DreamWorks Animation, Shrek universe, Wishing Star, Black Forest, Goldilocks, Three Bears Crime Family, Big Jack Horner, The Big Bad Wolf, Box Office, Gross USA, $26.2M, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Scope (2.35:1), critic reviews, Andrea Thompson, Stephen Romei, Katie Walsh, Chris Hewitt, Jake Wilson, Sarah Jane, Linda and Al Lerner, Carla Renata, Jeffrey Harris, Dan Lybarger, Collier Jennings, audience score, verified ratings, movie info, director, producer, writer, release date, distributor, sound mix, aspect ratio, cast & crew, news, interviews, critic reviews, audience reviews, most anticipated movies, TV premiere dates, best horror movies, best TV & streaming, Fandango, Tomatometer
 

Cast & Crew

Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek

Olivia Colman

Harvey Guillen

Samson Kayo

Puss in Boots

Kitty Softpaws

Perro

Voice

Voice

Antonio Banderas – Puss in Boots (Voice)
Salma Hayek – Kitty Softpaws (Voice)
Olivia Colman – Voice
Harvey Guillen – Perro (Voice)
Samson Kayo – Voice
Wagner Moura – Voice

 

Joel Crawford

Paul Fisher

Mark Swift

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Joel Crawford
 
Writer(s)
Paul Fisher, Tommy Swerdlow
 
Producer(s)
Mark Swift

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Andrea Thompson

Stephen Romei

Katie Walsh

Chris Hewitt

Jake Wilson

Chicago Reader

The Australian

Tribune News Service

Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Age (Australia)

PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH
 All Critics (131) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (6)
 If things are resolved a bit too quickly and predictably, the sheer charm of the journey and the stellar voice cast make it nearly unnoticeable.
 
 December 23, 2022
 
 Andrea Thompson
 Chicago Reader
 TOP CRITIC
 This is an entertaining movie that asks a question all viewers might pause to think about: if you had just one wish, what would it be, and who would it be for, yourself or someone else?
 
 December 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
 Stephen Romei
 The Australian
 TOP CRITIC
 One gorgeous and dynamic fractured fairy tale
 
 December 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
 Katie Walsh
 Tribune News Service
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s easy to recommend all of that stuff to fans of Banderas or of the off-kilter fairy tale universe of “Shrek,” but the visual aspects of the film are not as strong.
 
 December 23, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
 Chris Hewitt
 Minneapolis Star Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 True, I can’t say I yearned to see this feline Zorro undergo a midlife crisis and face his own mortality. But given the character made his debut in Shrek 2 in 2004, it’s understandable that weariness would start to set in.
 
 December 23, 2022 | Rating: 2/5
 
 Jake Wilson
 The Age (Australia)
 TOP CRITIC
 It’s funny as hell and the performances were great across the board.
 
 December 22, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
 Sarah Jane
 Austin Chronicle
 TOP CRITIC
 Director Joel Crawford (The Cross: A New Age) with Januel Mercado create a tech updated, and more colorful, action-packed animated story. The script by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow brings a more edgy and satiric kind of comedy.
 
 January 1, 2023
 
 Linda and Al Lerner
 Movies and Shakers
 There is nothing better than watching and listening the to animated banter between Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas! It is literally cinematic gold and only enhanced by the performances from John Mulaney as Jack Horner and Harvey Guillén as Perrito.
 
 December 31, 2022
 
 Carla Renata
 The Curvy Film Critic
 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is not just good, it’s surprisingly great. The film offers the remnants of the Shrek franchise a much-needed shot in the arm and finally finds the groove for Puss in Boots as a character in a solo adventure.
 
 December 31, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Jeffrey Harris
 411mania
 Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has more dynamic and interesting characters than most live action films have. Screenwriters Tommy Swerdlow and Paul Fisher make the fearless feline more engaging by taking something away from him.
 
 December 30, 2022
 
 Dan Lybarger
 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
 It’s the perfect cap to the year, and it continues to prove that animation is a medium that can thrive when people give it a chance.
 
 December 30, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
 Collier Jennings
 But Why Tho? A Geek Community
 Ultimately, the exploration of Puss’s pain and glory (Remorse the Cat?) made this more than just a sharp and lovely cartoon film. It made it one of the year’s best films, one to be treasured by any age.
 
 December 30, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Jeff York
 The Establishing Shot…

 

Plot
Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. To find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives, he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest. But with one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: Kitty Softpaws. In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perrito. Together, the trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldi and the Three Bears Crime Family, Jack Horner, and the terrifying bounty hunger, the big, bad Wolf. Sequel to the 2011 animated film directed by Chris Miller.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels Goofs section for “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is currently empty.
 

 
Joel-Crawford.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Buffalo Film Works Paramount Pictures, Platinum Dunes
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Paramount+), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
 
Filming Location(s)
Buffalo, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Horror
 
Keyword(s)
starring Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, John Krasinski, directed by John Krasinski, written by John Krasinski, horror, PG-13, box office, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, reviewed by Mark Kermode, Donald Clarke, Kevin Maher, Simran Hans, Wenlei Ma, Christy Lemire, Jessie Gender, James Luxford, Jimmy Cage, Jeffrey Harris, Brian Eggert, Paramount Pictures, Dolby Atmos, scope, survival, monsters, sound, suspense, tension, sequel, family, world-building, aliens, thriller, bloody, disturbing images, violence, terror
 

Cast & Crew

Emily Blunt

Cillian Murphy

Millicent Simmonds

Noah Jupe

Djimon Hounsou

Evelyn Abbott

Emmett

Regan Abbott

Marcus Abbott

Man on Island

Emily Blunt – Evelyn Abbott
Cillian Murphy – Emmett
Millicent Simmonds – Regan Abbott
Noah Jupe – Marcus Abbott
Djimon Hounsou – Man on Island
John Krasinski – Lee Abbott

 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski

Michael Bay

Andrew Form

Brad Fuller

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
John Krasinski
 
Writer(s)
John Krasinski
 
Producer(s)
Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, John Krasinski

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award
12 wins & 36 nominations total
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Mark Kermode

Donald Clarke

Kevin Maher

Simran Hans

Wenlei Ma

Mark Kermode

Donald Clarke

Kevin Maher

Simran Hans

Wenlei Ma

A QUIET PLACE PART II
  All Critics (356) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (324) | Rotten (32)
  Krasinski’s instincts are very good, and once you’ve placed the primary action there…then it allows the story to move forward, maintain and even build on the tension of the original.
 
  June 23, 2021
 
  Mark Kermode
  Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
  TOP CRITIC
  “More of the same” has rarely been carried off with such elan.
 
  June 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Donald Clarke
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  The characters ooze slowly and lethargically away from each other, and without that farmhouse location, and the symbolic power of the family it implies, the horror movie tension simply evaporates.
 
  June 7, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Krasinski’s slick, skilful follow-up to his 2018 post-apocalyptic thriller works well as a genre exercise…
 
  June 6, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Simran Hans
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  While it’s not as fresh or surprising as the original, A Quiet Place Part II adeptly balances the demands of both the genre movie and the emotional impact of the family drama.
 
  June 5, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Wenlei Ma
  News.com.au
  TOP CRITIC
  Maybe nothing could have possibly matched the original for me. [But] everyone is very good in it. The kids, Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds, really are the stars here.
 
  June 3, 2021
 
  Christy Lemire
  FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
  TOP CRITIC
  A Quiet Place Part 2 proves that there’s still enough thrills in this concept to yell about.
 
  May 30, 2022
 
  Jessie Gender
  Jessie Gender YouTube Channel
  A Quiet Place Part II, like all sequels, battles to convince you that it was made for a reason other than the first one making a lot of money. It mostly succeeds, bringing the thrills and tension expected with the name, even if some depth is sacrificed.
 
  March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  A QUIET PLACE PART II is a good and consistent sequel, but I would have hoped for a bit more innovation and brutality. It is exciting and emotional again, but its trick is already well known by now.
 
  February 27, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Jimmy Cage
  Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews (YouTube)
  This is a great horror movie that focuses on building dread through a sheer feeling of terror and suspense over grisly violence, blood, and gore.
 
  February 18, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
 
  Jeffrey Harris
  411mania
  It’s an entertaining follow-up to the 2018 original.
 
  February 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  A Quiet Place Part II takes all the pieces needed to be a truly great horror sequel and ties them together with a flimsy and disappointing execution, that does the entire project a disservice.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Filmotomy…

 

Plot
With the newly acquired knowledge of the seemingly invulnerable creatures’ weakness, grief-stricken Evelyn Abbott finds herself on her own, with two young teens, a defenceless newborn son, and with no place to hide. Now, 474 days after the all-out alien attack in A Quiet Place (2018), the Abbotts summon up every last ounce of courage to leave their now-burned-to-the-ground farm and embark on a peril-laden quest to find civilization. With this in mind, determined to expand beyond the boundaries, the resilient survivors have no other choice but to venture into eerily quiet, uncharted hostile territory, hoping for a miracle. But, this time, the enemy is everywhere.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny or odd comments were found on Fresh Kernels about the film.
 

 
John-Krasinski.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Zentropa Entertainments, Film i Väst Zentropa International, Sweden
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Odense, Fyn, Denmark
 
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Action
 
Keyword(s)
riders of justice, action, Danish, Mads Mikkelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Lars Brygmann, Nicolas Bro, Gustav Lindh, revenge, thriller, Anders Thomas Jensen, Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Sidsel Hybschmann, written by Anders Thomas Jensen, box office gross $77.0K, MPAA rating, reviewed by David Stratton, Alison Willmore, Mark Kermode, Philip De Semlyen, Wendy Ide, Kevin Maher, Ema Sasic, Jessie Gender, Hernán Ferreirós, Yasser Medina, James Luxford, produced by Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Sidsel Hybschmann, directed by Anders Thomas Jensen, grief, loss, trauma, vigilantes, dark comedy, violence, witty screenplay, ensemble cast, character-driven comedy, satisfying depth, savory quirk, all-purpose leading man
 

Cast & Crew

Mads Mikkelsen

Nikolaj Lie Kaas

Andrea Heick Gadeberg

Lars Brygmann

Nicolas Bro

Markus

Otto

Mathilde

Lennart

Emmenthaler

Mads Mikkelsen – Markus
Nikolaj Lie Kaas – Otto
Andrea Heick Gadeberg – Mathilde
Lars Brygmann – Lennart
Nicolas Bro – Emmenthaler
Gustav Lindh – Bodashka
Anders Thomas Jensen – Director/Writer
Sisse Graum Jørgensen – Producer
Sidsel Hybschmann – Producer

 

Anders Thomas Jensen

Anders Thomas Jensen

Sisse Graum Jørgensen

Sidsel Hybschmann

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Anders Thomas Jensen
 
Writer(s)
Anders Thomas Jensen
 
Producer(s)
Sisse Graum Jørgensen, Sidsel Hybschmann

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 28 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

David Stratton

Alison Willmore

Mark Kermode

Philip De Semlyen

Wendy Ide

The Australian

New York Magazine/Vulture

Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review

Time Out

Observer (UK)

RIDERS OF JUSTICE
  All Critics (133) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (5)
  Suffused with character-driven comedy, and not avoiding elements of violence, this is an outstanding film. The ensemble cast is flawless and the witty and deliciously complex screenplay is among the best we’ve seen this year.
 
  October 2, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  David Stratton
  The Australian
  TOP CRITIC
  Mikkelsen manages to simultaneously lean into and dismantle tough-guy tropes while playing a stoic soldier reeling from the death of his wife in a train crash.
 
  August 11, 2021
 
  Alison Willmore
  New York Magazine/Vulture
  TOP CRITIC
  Fun in a “what on earth is happening” kind of way.
 
  August 5, 2021
 
  Mark Kermode
  Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
  TOP CRITIC
  What separates the ensuing mayhem from a thousand generic thrillers out there is an impish streak and writing that smartly juggles big ideas, mad gun battles and guilty laughs.
 
  July 28, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Philip De Semlyen
  Time Out
  TOP CRITIC
  [A] very violent, very funny and oddly life-affirming film.
 
  July 24, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  It is, thankfully, less macho than that sounds.
 
  July 23, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  …aside from the hefty action and dark comedy, what really stands out from this film is its grief component.
 
  June 27, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Ema Sasic
  Next Best Picture
  An engaging yet surprisingly funny tale about trauma, empathy, and loss that never lets you forget the path that giving into your pain can take you down, and how the cycle never ends unless you work to stop it.
 
  May 30, 2022
 
  Jessie Gender
  Jessie Gender YouTube Channel
  A major example of how to take rewarding genre cinema tropes and load them with new meaning… [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Hernán Ferreirós
  La Nación (Argentina)
  As an action comedy I’m taken by surprise by its wacky premise about accidental vigilantes. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  May 14, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Yasser Medina
  Cinemaficionados
  The title and posters for Riders of Justice suggest a Taken-style action flick, which this certainly isn’t. It is, however, a thoughtful comedy about those who are left behind by tragedy, and how the numbers don’t always add up to something meaningful.
 
  March 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  I went in expecting a cool action flick, but I was surprised at how funny this was and, dare I say, even a little profound with the concept of coincidences and the butterfly effect of events.
 
  February 19, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Jason Fraley
  WTOP (Washington, D.C.)…

 

Plot
Markus, a deployed military man, has to go home to his teenage daughter, Mathilde, when his wife dies in a tragic train accident. It seems to be plain bad luck – but it turns out that it might have been a carefully orchestrated assassination, which his wife ended up being a random casualty of.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Mads Mikkelsen is praised as an “all-purpose leading man” in Riders of Justice.
 

 
Anders-Thomas-Jensen.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions,
 
Distributor
A24
 
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)
Oklahoma, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and a rude gesture
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
Minari, drama, family, assimilation, Korean-American, Arkansas, grandmother, resilience, Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Youn Yuh-jung, Will Patton, Alan S Kim, Noel Cho, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, written by Lee Isaac Chung, produced by Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh, reviewed by Esther Zuckerman, Mark Kermode, Tara Brady, Clarisse Loughrey, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, James Luxford, Brian Eggert, Wilson Kwong, Nick Boyd, Alex Behan, Victor Pineyro, PG-13, box office gross $700.0K, A24
 

Cast & Crew

Steven Yeun

Jacob

Han Ye-ri

Monica

Youn Yuh-jung

Jacob

Monica

Soonja

Paul

David

Steven Yeun – Jacob
Han Ye-ri – Monica
Youn Yuh-jung – Soonja
Will Patton – Paul
Alan S. Kim – David
Noel Cho – Anne

 

Lee Isaac Chung

Lee Isaac Chung

Dede Gardner

Jeremy Kleiner

Christina Oh

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Lee Isaac Chung
 
Writer(s)
Lee Isaac Chung
 
Producer(s)
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
116 wins & 247 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
 

Top Reviews

Esther Zuckerman

Mark Kermode

Tara Brady

Clarisse Loughrey

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Thrillist

Observer (UK)

Irish Times

Independent (UK)

London Evening Standard

MINARI
  All Critics (314) | Top Critics (70) | Fresh (307) | Rotten (7)
  Chung and his cinematographer Lachlan Milne photograph the landscape beautifully, and you see how both Jacob and David can be entranced by its vastness, even for all the trouble it causes.
 
  July 29, 2021
 
  Esther Zuckerman
  Thrillist
  TOP CRITIC
  What makes this more than just another formulaic feelgood film is the grit with which Chung evokes the hardscrabble lives of his characters, balancing the dreamier elements of the drama with a naturalism that keeps it rooted in reality.
 
  April 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Mark Kermode
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A rare film about assimilation that can be equally cherished by both poles of the American political landscape. And everybody in between.
 
  April 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tara Brady
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  Minari is a story of the American Dream. But Chung’s brilliance is in how he adds depth and complexity to those foundational ideas – it’s in the spaces in between that we find love, loss, hope, and regret.
 
  April 2, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Though two last-act sequences dovetail a little too neatly, the word that covers this cinematic experience is “raw”.
 
  April 2, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  It briefly drags before the closing act, but that’s hardly a complaint.
 
  April 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  There’s so much going on beneath the surface of Minari, but those paying attention will find a story of immigration that is fascinating, as well as a tribute to family that will feel universal.
 
  March 2, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Minari is the kind of film that sends the viewer into their own childhood memories.
 
  February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  Minari is a film that uses cultural context and nuance to explore complex family dynamics and relationships, which at its core, equates to universal emotions that anyone can relate to.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Wilson Kwong
  easternKicks.com
  Exploring heavy subject matter, the picture shows us a microcosm of the American Dream in vivid detail and creates an indelible family portrait.
 
  December 28, 2021
 
  Nick Boyd
  Battle Royale With Cheese
  Funny, sad, thoughtful, endearing, it’s one of those movies that gets everything right. Yes, it’s an astutely observed insight to the immigrant experience in 1980s USA, but it’s also just a great movie about human beings being awesome.
 
  October 25, 2021
 
  Alex Behan
  Stuff.co.nz
  Young Alan Kim’s performance is essential, as it serves as a rear window to a marriage filled with uncertainty and dissatisfaction. A story about the challenges of immigrating and creating a family while still wanting success. [Full review in Spanish]
 
  September 30, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Victor Pineyro
  Seventh Art Studio…

 

Plot
Yearning to own a small patch of land and be more than a chicken sexer, the ambitious paterfamilias, Jacob Yi, relocates his Korean-American family: sceptical wife, Monica, and their children, David and Anne, from California to 1980s rural Arkansas, to start afresh and capture the elusive American Dream. However, new beginnings are always challenging, and to find out what is best for the family, let alone start a 50-acre farm to grow and sell Korean fruits and vegetables, is easier said than done. But, amid sincere promises, cultural unease, fleeting hopes, and the ever-present threat of financial disaster, Jacob is convinced that he has found their own slice of Eden in the rich, dark soil of Arkansas. Can grandma Soonja’s humble but resilient minari help the Yi family figure out their place in the world?
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Youn Yuh-jung’s performance as the foul-mouthed but loving grandmother is a standout in Minari.
 

 
Lee-Isaac-Chung.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
 
Distributor
Amazon Studios
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Prime Video), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language
 
Year of Release
2021
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary/Biography
 
Keyword(s)
Val Kilmer, documentary, biography, self-documentation, Hollywood, actor, artist, career, life, film, video, 16mm home movies, Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, Batman Forever, heart-filled, hilarious, raw, unflinching, self-chronicling, self-reflection, self-regard, pretentious, state of grace, intimate, unique, absorbing, reflective, Ting Poo, Leo Scott, Ali Alborzi, Andrew Fried, Brad Koepenick, Dane Lillegard, Jordan Wynn, Amazon Studios, R, some language, English, Jul 23 2021, limited release, Aug 6 2021, streaming, 1h 49m, distributor, box office, budget, critic reviews, reviewed by Tim Robey, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Robert Levin, Bilge Ebiri, Gary M Kramer, Leah Greenblatt, Ema Sasic, Andrea G Bermejo, Steve Crum, Simon Foster, MPAA rating, produced by, directed by, written by, starring Val Kilmer, Jack Kilmer, Ali Alborzi, Andrew Fried
 

Cast & Crew

Val Kilmer

Jack Kilmer

Ting Poo

Leo Scott

Ali Alborzi

Self

Self

Director

Director

Producer

Val Kilmer – Self
Jack Kilmer – Self
Ting Poo – Director
Leo Scott – Director
Ali Alborzi – Producer
Andrew Fried – Producer

 

Ting Poo

NA

Ali Alborzi

Andrew Fried

Val Kilmer

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Ting Poo, Leo Scott
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
Ali Alborzi, Andrew Fried, Val Kilmer, Brad Koepenick, Dane Lillegard, Ting Poo, Leo Scott, Jordan Wynn

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 24 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Tim Robey

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

Robert Levin

Bilge Ebiri

Gary M. Kramer

Daily Telegraph

ABC Radio

Newsday

New York Magazine/Vulture

Salon.com

VAL
  All Critics (123) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (115) | Rotten (8)
  You grow surprisingly attached to Val Kilmer as this goes along, and prepared to indulge his pretentious side as he grapples for a state of grace.
 
  December 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tim Robey
  Daily Telegraph (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A raw, honest portrait of self-reflection by one of Hollywood’s biggest names in a personally and professionally challenging period of transition.
 
  August 11, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
  ABC Radio (Australia)
  TOP CRITIC
  It presents an actor reckoning not only with the imprint left upon him by his roles, but with how to reconstitute one of his most difficult moments into a period of freedom.
 
  August 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
 
  Robert Levin
  Newsday
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s vibrant, quick, and alive, and Val Kilmer today makes for an entertaining guide, with his hammy facial gestures now doing double duty since he can’t talk.
 
  August 8, 2021
 
  Bilge Ebiri
  New York Magazine/Vulture
  TOP CRITIC
  The moral of “Val,” may be that Kilmer is his own worst enemy, an idea that gives the film its diffused power…. “Val” certainly engenders sympathy, but at times it feels like crocodile tears.
 
  August 6, 2021
 
  Gary M. Kramer
  Salon.com
  TOP CRITIC
  The result is undoubtedly a canny mediation on the vagaries of fame, but it feels more intimate and essential than that: a lifetime of searching and self-regard distilled, somehow, into a state of grace.
 
  August 6, 2021 | Rating: B+
 
  Leah Greenblatt
  Entertainment Weekly
  TOP CRITIC
  Getting poor reviews is likely hard for any actor, but Kilmer never let them define him. Nor did he ever let anything stand in his way of being his unequivocal self at every stage of his life, and today, we have the footage to see it all.
 
  June 27, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Ema Sasic
  Next Best Picture
  Tiptoes past the actor’s fame, falling into autohagiography.
 
  May 19, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
 
  Andrea G. Bermejo
  Cinemanía (Spain)
  A fascinating look about the actor whose life and times took a tragic turn.
 
  April 13, 2022 | Rating: A
 
  Steve Crum
  Crum on Showbiz
  Embodies not only the immense talent but also the rare empathy that Val Kilmer brought to his most invested characters.
 
  March 12, 2022 | Rating: 4.5/5
 
  Simon Foster
  Screen-Space
 
  Mr. Kilmer is slated to be in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, which was originally slated to be released in 2020. Cant wait to see the Iceman again. He can be my wingman anytime!
 
  February 14, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Michael A. Smith
  MediaMikes
  Are we to feel bad for him or happy he has kept us so entertained over the years? It’s unclear and admittedly, this makes Val even more interesting as perhaps both coexist …
 
  November 29, 2021
 
  Don R. Lewis
  Hammer to Nail…

 

Plot
Val Kilmer, one of Hollywood’s most mercurial actors, has been documenting his life and craft through film. He has amassed thousands of hours of footage, from home movies made with his brothers, to time spent in iconic roles for blockbuster films like Top Gun and Batman. This raw and wildly original documentary reveals a life lived to extremes and a heart-filled look at what it means to be an artist.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Val Kilmer, the subject of the documentary, has been documenting his own life and craft through film and video for over 40 years, amassing thousands of hours of footage.
 

 
Ting-Poo.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Charles Chaplin Productions,
 
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
 
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Mount Cotton, Queensland, Australia
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for action/violence, language and some suggestive material
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Adventure
 
Keyword(s)
starring Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Dan Ewing, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt, Amali Golden, directed by Michael Matthews, written by Brian Duffield, Matthew Robinson, Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, PG-13, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, $1.0M Box Office, reviewed by Brad Newsome, Ian Freer, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Clarisse Loughrey, Tim Robey, David Ehrlich, James Luxford, Brian Eggert, Jason Shawhan, Audrey Fox, DarkSkyLady, Nicolás Delgadillo, Dylan O’Brien as Joel, Jessica Henwick as Aimee, Dan Ewing as Cap, Michael Rooker as Clyde, Ariana Greenblatt as Minnow, Amali Golden as Ava
 

Cast & Crew

Dylan O’Brien

Joel

Jessica Henwick

Aimee

Dan Ewing

Joel

Aimee

Cap

Clyde

Minnow

Dylan O’Brien – Joel
Jessica Henwick – Aimee
Dan Ewing – Cap
Michael Rooker – Clyde
Ariana Greenblatt – Minnow
Amali Golden – Ava
Shawn Levy – Producer
Dan Cohen – Producer
Brian Duffield – Writer
Matthew Robinson – Writer
Michael Matthews – Director

 

Michael Matthews

Brian Duffield

Shawn Levy

Dan Cohen

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Michael Matthews
 
Writer(s)
Brian Duffield, Matthew Robinson
 
Producer(s)
Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen

 

Film Festivals
Cannes
 
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
3 nominations total
 
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
 

Top Reviews

Brad Newsome

Ian Freer

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Clarisse Loughrey

Tim Robey

Sydney Morning Herald

Empire Magazine

London Evening Standard

Independent (UK)

Daily Telegraph (UK)

LOVE AND MONSTERS
  All Critics (110) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (103) | Rotten (7)
  Appealing leads, a big heart and great monster design and splatter make terrific fun.
 
  April 28, 2021
 
  Brad Newsome
  Sydney Morning Herald
  TOP CRITIC
  Love And Monsters is a blast, an unassuming, immensely winning monster movie filled with great lo-fi creatures and a likeable cast. As a template for making a leaner, less bloated summer movie, Hollywood could do a lot worse.
 
  April 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Ian Freer
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  Director Michael Matthews has invented a new sub-genre: dank comedy.
 
  April 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  Plays it both sweet and silly.
 
  April 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  It’s not mock-heroic in a winking way; it doesn’t seem so pleased with its own punchlines. It’s rueful and shrugging.
 
  April 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tim Robey
  Daily Telegraph (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Michael Matthews’ “Love and Monsters” is the rarest kind of movie these days: A fun, imaginative, genre-mashing adventure that was made with a modest amount of big studio money.
 
  October 21, 2020 | Rating: B
 
  David Ehrlich
  indieWire
  TOP CRITIC
  While it never threatens to be something Earth-shattering, Love and Monsters entertains thanks to a lack of cynicism and a lead you actually want to see succeed.
 
  March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Love and Monsters checks a few of my I’m-a-sucker-for movie boxes.
 
  February 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
  Brian Eggert
  Deep Focus Review
  A post-apocalyptic romance that covers a lot of emotional ground, Love and Monsters is an entertaining and well-paced adventure…
 
  September 10, 2021
 
  Jason Shawhan
  Nashville Scene
  Through Dylan O’Brien’s undeniable charm, interesting monster design work, and a metric ton of plucky spirit, it engages in an unrelenting fight for your affection. And as much as you might want to write it off, you just can’t: it’s got too much heart.
 
  August 28, 2021
 
  Audrey Fox
  We Live Entertainment
  With a mix of comedy, action, and heartfelt moments, [Love And Monsters] … rises above mere popcorn entertainment – – and it doesn’t hurt that Michael Rooker is in it!
 
  July 2, 2021
 
  DarkSkyLady
  Nightmarish Conjurings
  Nothing short of a delight, even if it doesn’t offer anything particularly groundbreaking.
 
  June 26, 2021 | Rating: 4 / 5
 
  Nicolás Delgadillo
  Discussing Film…

 

Plot
After living underground for seven years following a Monsterpocalypse, Joel ventures out to find his high school girlfriend, Aimee, who is 80 miles away at a coastal colony, despite the dangerous monsters that stand in his way in Love and Monsters.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no goofy or funny or odd statement about the film Love and Monsters on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
Michael-Matthews.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
BRON Studios, Bron Creative MACRO
 
Distributor
Hulu
 
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Hulu)
 
Filming Location(s)
Palmdale, California, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some violence
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Comedy/Romance
 
Keyword(s)
starring Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, directed by Max Barbakow, written by Andy Siara, comedy, romance, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Charlotte O’Sullivan, Wendy Ide, Donald Clarke, Kevin Maher, Clarisse Loughrey, Linda Marric, Cody Dericks, James Luxford, David Gonzalez, Carson Timar, Dorothy Woodend, Lonita Cook, R rating, sexual content, language throughout, drug use, some violence, produced by Chris Parker, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Dylan Sellers, Becky Sloviter, Jorma Taccone
 

Cast & Crew

Andy Samberg

Cristin Milioti

J.K. Simmons

Meredith Hagner

Camila Mendes

Nyles

Sarah

Roy

Misty

Tala

Andy Samberg – Nyles
Cristin Milioti – Sarah
J.K. Simmons – Roy
Meredith Hagner – Misty
Camila Mendes – Tala
Tyler Hoechlin – Abe
Director – Max Barbakow
Producers – Chris Parker, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Dylan Sellers, Becky Sloviter, Jorma Taccone
Writer – Andy Siara

 

Max Barbakow

Andy Siara

Chris Parker

Andy Samberg

Akiva Schaffer

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Max Barbakow
 
Writer(s)
Andy Siara
 
Producer(s)
Chris Parker, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Dylan Sellers, Becky Sloviter, Jorma Taccone

 

Film Festivals
Sundance
 
Awards & Nominations
14 wins & 45 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Wendy Ide

Donald Clarke

Kevin Maher

Clarisse Loughrey

London Evening Standard

Observer (UK)

Irish Times

Times (UK)

Independent (UK)

PALM SPRINGS
  All Critics (248) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (235) | Rotten (13)
  Play it again, Samberg.
 
  April 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  Surface similarities to Groundhog Day are relegated to background noise, thanks to the crisp writing and the nihilistic bite of the humour.
 
  April 11, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  A philosophical comedy that is not afraid to aim the odd joke below the belt or, as resolution looms, to give in to sentimentality.
 
  April 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Donald Clarke
  Irish Times
  TOP CRITIC
  The boredom, the dread and the existential terror. It’s all there. Only this time it’s funny.
 
  April 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Kevin Maher
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Max Barbakow’s debut film, written by Andy Siara, offers a new way to look at a familiar format.
 
  April 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Clarisse Loughrey
  Independent (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Surprisingly, the film is able to tackle some pretty hefty existential issues, all the while offering up a genuinely heartening love story.
 
  April 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Linda Marric
  The Jewish Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  “Palm Springs” is the perfect balance of hilarious comedy and insightful writing, and it does what all the best films should do – it makes us reflect on our own existence.
 
  July 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Cody Dericks
  Next Best Picture
  Its the sweetness of the central relationship that makes Palm Springs one of the few times youll relish going to a destination wedding.
 
  March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
 
  James Luxford
  City AM
  Palm Springs eerily works as a metaphor for the growth and establishment of relationships and the feeling the current pandemic has created living life in a constant loop.
 
  February 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
 
  David Gonzalez
  Reel Talk Inc.
  With an incredibly smart screenplay and cast, it is a film that not only provides plenty of laughs, but also some legitimate heart and soul.
 
  February 12, 2022
 
  Carson Timar
  Filmotomy
  If you can handle more repetition in the name of fun and entertainment there’s actually a lot to be gained from the film’s gentle dissection of human foibles and the meaningless nature of time.
 
  November 8, 2021
 
  Dorothy Woodend
  The Tyee (British Columbia)
  What starts as a goofy, skit-like Groundhog Day morphs into a pleasant and interesting existential romance.
 
  September 14, 2021
 
  Lonita Cook
  KCTV5 News at 9…

 

Plot
While stuck at a wedding in Palm Springs, Nyles (Andy Samberg) meets Sarah (Cristin Milioti), the maid of honor and family black sheep. After he rescues her from a disastrous toast, Sarah becomes drawn to Nyles and his offbeat nihilism. But when their impromptu tryst is thwarted by a surreal interruption, Sarah must join Nyles in embracing the idea that nothing really matters, and they begin wreaking spirited havoc on the wedding celebration.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Andy Samberg, who plays Nyles in Palm Springs, is a former cast member of Saturday Night Live and a member of the comedy music group The Lonely Island.
 

 
Max-Barbakow.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, The Steve Tisch Company, Wendy Finerman Productions,
 
Distributor
Amirani Media
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate

 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)
documentary, CIA, MI6, Iran, Prime Minister Mossadegh, Operation Ajax, political intrigue, thriller, Taghi Amirani, Walter Murch, Paul Zaentz, reviewed by John Powers, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Tim Robey, Ian Freer, Angie Han, Josh Parham, Guillem Martinez Oya, Roger Moore, A.S Hamrah, Charles Koplinski, Andrew Gaudion, produced by Taghi Amirani, Paul Zaentz, directed by Taghi Amirani, written by Taghi Amirani, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, historical, espionage, American, British, international community, dirty politics, government reform, featured audience reviews, Fresh Kernels, movie reviews, TV shows, RT podcast, news, showtimes, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, renewed and cancelled TV shows, accessibility
 

Cast & Crew

Walter Murch

Taghi Amirani

Paul Zaentz

Walter Murch

Taghi Amirani

Paul Zaentz

Walter Murch – self
Taghi Amirani – Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematographer
Paul Zaentz – Producer

 

Taghi Amirani

Taghi Amirani

Taghi Amirani

Paul Zaentz

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
Taghi Amirani
 
Writer(s)
Taghi Amirani
 
Producer(s)
Taghi Amirani, Paul Zaentz

 

Film Festivals
Telluride
 
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 6 nominations
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

John Powers

Charlotte O’Sullivan

Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Tim Robey

Ian Freer

NPR

London Evening Standard

Times (UK)

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Empire Magazine

COUP 53
  All Critics (45) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (45)
  An exhilarating… historical documentary that unfolds with the pace and complexity of a thriller.
 
  September 10, 2020
 
  John Powers
  NPR
  TOP CRITIC
  Coup 53 is stranger than fiction and a terrifying reminder that the past never goes away.
 
  September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Charlotte O’Sullivan
  London Evening Standard
  TOP CRITIC
  [Amirani] transforms sifting through dusty plastic bags and filing cabinets into a thrilling detective case…
 
  September 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
 
  Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
  Times (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  With admirable tenacity and care, Amirani has dragged official secrets back into the light.
 
  September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tim Robey
  Daily Telegraph (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Part political drama, part history lesson, part gripping spy thriller, Coup 53 gives what has been relegated to a small footnote in Iran’s story the big, expansive, dramatic treatment it deserves.
 
  September 3, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Ian Freer
  Empire Magazine
  TOP CRITIC
  A documentary with the crackle of a spy thriller.
 
  September 1, 2020
 
  Angie Han
  FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
  TOP CRITIC
  There’s an incredibly fascinating story at the heart of Coup 53 that anybody who has an interest in world history and the effects of dirty politics will take an instant liking toward.
 
  June 5, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
 
  Josh Parham
  Next Best Picture
  A necessary film research about the nowadays status of iran. [full review in Spanish]
 
  August 8, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Guillem Martinez Oya
  Cinematismo
  After a brisk opening act, the film tends to bog down until we get to the third act’s bloody nitty gritty of the coup. “Coup 53” could stand to shed some minutes.
 
  May 13, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
 
  Roger Moore
  Movie Nation
  It’s an exhaustive, riveting exegesis…
 
  January 9, 2021
 
  A.S. Hamrah
  The Baffler
  Complex but rewarding, this is a deep dive into American and British espionage that reveals how the two superpowers collaborated to take down and reform the government of Iran in 1953, an operation pulled off under the nose of the international community.
 
  November 27, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
 
  Charles Koplinski
  Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam
  The weight of the reality of the situation at the time, and its overarching influence over the destiny of Iran, truly comes to bear in the latter half of the film, making the experience educational, enlightening and enthralling.
 
  September 15, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Andrew Gaudion
  THN…

 

Plot
COUP 53 is a documentary about the CIA/MI6 staged coup in 1953 in Iran that overthrew Prime Minister Mossadegh.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film or its cast.
 

 
Taghi-Amirani.jpg

 
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Interscope Films, Lighthouse Management & Media,
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)

 
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
 
Year of Release
2020
 

 
Genre(s)
Documentary
 
Keyword(s)

Cast & Crew

David Osit

David Osit

Maxyne Franklin

Teddy Leifer

David Osit

Director

Producer

Executive Producer

Executive Producer

Cinematographer

David Osit – Director
David Osit – Producer
Maxyne Franklin – Executive Producer
Teddy Leifer – Executive Producer
David Osit – Cinematographer

 

David Osit

NA

David Osit

Director

Writer

Producer

Producer

Producer

Director(s)
David Osit
 
Writer(s)
NA
 
Producer(s)
David Osit

 

Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
NA
 
Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Wendy Ide

Matt Turner

Tim Robey

Peter Bradshaw

Mark Kermode

Observer

Little White Lies

Daily Telegraph

Guardian

Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review

MAYOR
  All Critics (44) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (44)
  Deft editing and unexpectedly affecting music choices make for an engaging portrait of the kind of impassioned and dedicated politician who seems in short supply right now.
 
  January 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Wendy Ide
  Observer (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  Smart, yet somewhat one-sided and process-orientated portrait of a man and his municipality.
 
  January 4, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Matt Turner
  Little White Lies
  TOP CRITIC
  In its gently ironic way, the film depicts an urban centre keen to be treated, and run, as a genuine place to live, a town like any other.
 
  January 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
  Tim Robey
  Daily Telegraph (UK)
  TOP CRITIC
  The film lets you appreciate Hadid’s delicate and complex situation.
 
  December 30, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Peter Bradshaw
  Guardian
  TOP CRITIC
  The documentary, to me, seemed to be balanced and observational.
 
  December 30, 2020
 
  Mark Kermode
  Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
  TOP CRITIC
  While understated and deeply personal, Mayor cannot avoid the current conflagration in the region.
 
  December 12, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
 
  Richard Whittaker
  Austin Chronicle
  TOP CRITIC
  The imagery is disturbing but effective to accurately immerse one in this environment and feel what’s really at stake in this fight.
 
  June 5, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
 
  Josh Parham
  Next Best Picture
  Mayor is one of those brilliantly layered observational films that surge with vivid actualities – not necessarily a difficult task given that your subject is the lovable, impassioned mayor of a Palestinian city in the West Bank.
 
  December 2, 2021
 
  Barbara Goslawski
  That Shelf
  One can’t help but wish that Osit would occasionally dig a bit deeper, though that’s clearly not the intention here.
 
  April 5, 2021 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
 
  Richard Propes
  TheIndependentCritic.com
  A riveting and human portrait of the very likable Musa Hadid… Briskly paced and expertly edited, Mayor is a humbling reminder that not all politicians are cynical opportunists.
 
  March 12, 2021
 
  Karen Martin
  Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
  The film is filled with a surprising amount of good humor.
 
  February 8, 2021
 
  Dan Schindel
  Hyperallergic
  Far from a message movie, David Osit’s sensitive documentary is a captivating, enlightening, and ultimately terrifying look at how to survive day by day when the fight for liberation can seem everlasting.
 
  February 4, 2021 | Rating: A-
 
  Jordan Raup
  The Film Stage…

 

Plot
Mayor is a documentary that follows the life of Musa Hadid, the mayor of Ramallah, as he strives to lead his city into the future amidst bureaucracy and political turmoil.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no goofy, funny, or odd comment about the film or anyone in the cast on Fresh Kernels.
 

 
David-Osit.jpg