EO (2022)
94%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Bravely updating Bresson with brilliant results, EO is a donkey-driven drama that’ll stubbornly stick with you long after the credits roll.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s a little off the beaten path, EO might just be the ticket. It’s a donkey-driven drama that takes some cues from the classic Bresson films, but manages to put its own unique spin on things. And let me tell you, it’s a ride you won’t soon forget.
The story follows a stubborn donkey and his equally stubborn owner as they navigate the ups and downs of life in a small village. It’s a slow burn, to be sure, but the payoff is well worth it. By the time the credits roll, you’ll feel like you’ve been on a journey with these characters.
One thing that really sets EO apart is the stunning cinematography. The landscapes are breathtaking, and the way the camera lingers on the donkey’s expressive face is truly something to behold. And the score is hauntingly beautiful, adding to the film’s overall sense of melancholy.
All in all, EO is a movie that’s not afraid to take risks. It’s not your typical Hollywood fare, but that’s what makes it so special. So if you’re in the mood for something a little different, give EO a shot. Who knows, you might just fall in love with that stubborn little donkey.
Production Company(ies)
Amazon Studios, DUST, Intrepid Pictures, MGM Studios, Prime Video, Tyler Perry Studios, VOD
Distributor
Janus Films
Release Type
Streaming
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 28m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 2022 Limited
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
EO, Drama, Polish, donkey-driven, Bresson, animal perspective, melancholic, joy, pain, innocence, Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, produced by Ewa Piaskowska, Eileen Tasca, written by Ewa Piaskowska, Mateusz Kosciukiewicz, Sandra Drzymalska, Isabelle Huppert, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Tomasz Organek, Lolita Chammah, Janus Films, $49.4K box office, 97% Tomatometer, 93% audience score, reviewed by Justin Chang, C.J Prince, K Austin Collins, Oliver Jones, John Powers, Stephanie Zacharek, Neely Swanson, Alan Zilberman, Mark Dujsik, Rosa Parra, Dustin Chang
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Isabelle Huppert – The Countess
Lorenzo Zurzolo – Vito
Mateusz Kosciukiewicz – Mateo
Tomasz Organek – Dude
Lolita Chammah – Dora
Director – Jerzy Skolimowski
Producers – Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski, Eileen Tasca
Writers – Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski
Director(s)
Jerzy Skolimowski
Writer(s)
Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski
Producer(s)
Ewa Piaskowska, Jerzy Skolimowski, Eileen Tasca
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (2)
The world we share with EO is cold and cruel, which doesn’t mean we have to be.
December 2, 2022
Justin Chang
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
In its relentless pursuit of disorienting audiences and unmooring them from narrative conventions, EO compels us to see the world differently, and therefore helps us see it from a perspective outside our own.
November 25, 2022
C.J. Prince
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It’s funny. The comedy of EO is in its randomness. But so is the tragedy. Moments that play like punchlines do the double duty of making us both laugh and wince.
November 23, 2022
K. Austin Collins
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Like most good art, EO is better felt then interpreted or completely understood.
November 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Oliver Jones
Observer
TOP CRITIC
EO is a thrillingly imaginative piece of filmmaking: a strange, haunting epic about a donkey that couldn’t feel more of our moment.
November 23, 2022
John Powers
NPR
TOP CRITIC
EO may be one of the greatest movies ever made about the spirit of animals, as much as we can know it.
November 19, 2022
Stephanie Zacharek
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Skolimowski and Piaskowska have produced a film that takes us on a thoughtful journey that offers much to contemplate about the essence of being.
December 2, 2022
Neely Swanson
Beverly Hills Courier
Director Jerzy Skolimowski would probably agree the donkey’s fate is inevitable, and his film is an angry cry that it does not have to be.
December 1, 2022
Alan Zilberman
Washington City Paper
In one way… [the] movie is a patient rumination on how humans imbue animals with purpose and value … In another way, the whole thing is a sentimental crock.
December 1, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
This film shows a compelling lens to the way humans treat animals and how we often never take into account that they too can feel and understand.
November 30, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/5
Rosa Parra
The Daily Chela
EO is an allegory for how people, not by their own volition, get uprooted, go through unimaginable hardships and alienation, only to be at the mercy of a handful of strangers who ultimately don’t have any stake in their lives.
November 29, 2022
Dustin Chang
ScreenAnarchy
Skolimowski’s arresting film forces the audience to experience the joys and heartbreaks of this nomadic creature.
November 29, 2022
Jeanne Kaplan
Kaplan vs. Kaplan…
Plot
EO is a drama about a grey donkey named EO who experiences joy and pain, meets good and bad people, and endures the wheel of fortune in his life’s journey, all while never losing his innocence.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
Jerzy-Skolimowski.jpg
94%
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 11 Oscars
334 wins & 358 nominations
Led by an outstanding Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All at Once lives up to its title with an expertly calibrated assault on the senses.
Incredible acting, stunning visuals, and a really deep, powerful story — Everything Everywhere All at Once has it all.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
A24
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R
Year of Release
2022
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:2h 12m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2022 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2022
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $125,694,190
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $133,527,822
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 886
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 14,561,376
US/Canada gross: $75,583,702
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $80,294,301
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 860
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted):
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted):
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.):
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.):
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Stephanie Hsu – Joy Wang, Jobu Tupaki
Ke Huy Quan – Waymond Wang
James Hong – Gong Gong
Jamie Lee Curtis – Deirdre Beaubeirdra
Jenny Slate – Debbie the Dog Mom
Director(s)
Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Writer(s)
Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Producer(s)
Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
11 Oscars
334 wins & 358 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (321) | Top Critics (67) | Fresh (305) | Rotten (16)
There are moments when the title seems too literal. Exhaustion creeps in. But successive second winds follow.
June 10, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
The Daniels and their wow of a star Michelle Yeoh turn this visionary absurdist comedy into a volcano of creative ideas in full eruption. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.
May 20, 2022
Peter Travers
ABC News
TOP CRITIC
The result may be a tad overlong and convolutedly overstuffed, but it made me laugh, cry and think…
May 15, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Rich performances collide with big ideas, wrapped in a nuanced understanding of how we treat each other. And there are butt jokes. So many wonderful, dumb butt jokes. What more could you ask for?
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
I’ve rarely felt more impaled on the fence by a film, because, exactly as promised, it’s everything at once – good and not good; fresh yet still a formula; cramped, strenuous, full to the brim.
May 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
While not entirely without fault, you would be pressed to find a film as brilliantly chaotic or as original as Kwan and Scheinert’s film.
May 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Everything Everywhere All At Once can be compared to many, many things, but one of the most complimentary things I can say about any movie is that this one felt like a live-action Don Hertzfeldt film.
July 6, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
A phantasmagorical time-shifting multiverse explosion of kung-fu sci-fi. Chaos reigns supreme, with the screen ablaze with every trick in a director’s arsenal, like an immersive demo of sensory overload.
June 27, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
It’s a whirl, a swirl, a trip, a blast and a juggle as well and, in this universe, the Daniels wouldn’t have it any other way.
June 24, 2022
Sarah Ward
Concrete Playground
This is the true virtue that catapults this film into an instant classic: It finds beauty in the ordinary. [Full review in Spanish]
June 24, 2022
Rafael Santisteban
Cinencuentro
After maybe, 10-15 minutes of normal stuff — taxes, laundry, family tensions — this movie takes off into some of the most imaginative and just plain what-tha’-??????? territory you’ve ever seen.
June 23, 2022
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Saporta Report (Atlanta)
Not the perfect movie they’ve been hyping about, but a visually stunning feature with Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan at the top of their game. An interesting story about embracing the uncertainty of our own destiny. Twenty minutes too long IMO.
June 18, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Alejandro Turdo
Hoy Sale Cine…
Plot
An aging Chinese immigrant is swept up in an insane adventure, where she alone can save the world by exploring other universes connecting with the lives she could have led.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The instructions Evelyn receive before she starts her multiverse journey have a misspelling in the last line: “PS: Don’t forget to breath”, which is visible in the rapid shots (including the first one) whilst the main in-focus shot when she’s reading the instructions correctly spell “breathe”.
Dan-Kwan.jpg
94%
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
94%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: NA
An emotionally raw and respectful portrait of Anthony Bourdain, Roadrunner marks another unflinchingly honest documentary from director Morgan Neville.
An essential watch for Anthony Bourdain fans, this documentary takes a tough but fair look at his life — and some of the many lives he affected.
Production Company(ies)
CNN Films, HBO Max Tremolo Productions,
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (HBO Max), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 59m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 16, 2021 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 28, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Roadrunner, Anthony Bourdain, documentary, Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Amy Entelis, Lizzie Fox, R rating, English, Focus Features, Dolby Digital, $5.2M box office, reviewed by David Fear, Sophie Gilbert, Richard Brody, Angie Han, Claudia Puig, Ty Burr, John Lui, Tatsam Mukherjee, Carson Timar, Graeme Tuckett, Nick Rogers, Dorothy Woodend, directed by Morgan Neville, produced by Morgan Neville, written by Morgan Neville, produced by Caitrin Rogers, starring Anthony Bourdain, executive produced by Amy Entelis, executive produced by Lizzie Fox, emotional, respectful, behind-the-scenes, cultural icon, Academy Award-winning, unflinching, intimate, impact, life, death, suicide, grief, anger, memories, chef, writer, adventurer, provocateur, raw, honest, tribute, fascinating, witty, complicated, American sweetheart, sharp, kind, unforgiving, personal, universal, happiness, meaning, void, memories, featured audience reviews, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming, Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel movies, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The Terminal List, Stay Prayed Up, Girl in the Picture, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
Worldwide gross: $5,490,713
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,971,736
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,120
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 651,225
US/Canada gross: $5,354,970
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,824,101
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,764
US/Canada opening weekend: $1,988,795
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,163,027
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,196
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
Morgan Neville – Director, Producer
Caitrin Rogers – Producer
Amy Entelis – Executive Producer
Lizzie Fox – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Morgan Neville
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (145) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (132) | Rotten (13)
The movie wants to celebrate the life of someone who left his mark. It also hopes to explore the gap between those two poles. That it only comes mildly close to succeeding in the latter respect doesn’t detract from the sheer pleasure of his company.
August 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Fear
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
“I want to make a film about why he was who he was”… For the next two hours, Roadrunner seems to dodge all the parts of its subject’s life that might offer concrete answers to Neville’s question.
July 26, 2021
Sophie Gilbert
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
The documentary is a mere encyclopedia-like info-product, which reduces its rich audiovisual archival material and its heartfelt interviews with people who knew and loved Bourdain to freeze-dried sound and image bites.
July 21, 2021
Richard Brody
New Yorker
TOP CRITIC
I don’t think it works particularly as well as a deep exploration of some of the weightier topics it touches on — like mental illness or addiction — but it’s a really cathartic tribute for all of his fans who still miss him dearly.
July 21, 2021
Angie Han
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Overall, I found it compelling. It’s a well-made portrait of a fascinating, witty, and complicated man.
July 21, 2021
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
If you miss Anthony Bourdain – and for many, the celebrity chef’s death in 2018 felt like the loss of a close and troubled friend – Morgan Neville’s “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” is a salve.
July 20, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Neville presents a generous summary of the qualities that made Bourdain a beloved public intellectual.
May 4, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
John Lui
The Straits Times (Singapore)
Its a stellar profile of an American sweetheart, that is sharp, kind and unforgiving just like its subject.
February 23, 2022
Tatsam Mukherjee
Firstpost
Both incredibly personal and beautifully universal, this is a raw and authentic look at life and the complexity of happiness which achieves more than nearly any other film in recent memory has.
February 22, 2022
Carson Timar
Clapper
I came out of the film admiring and missing Bourdain even more than I had going in.
December 8, 2021
Graeme Tuckett
Stuff.co.nz
After a pretty but vacant 80 minutes, “Roadrunner” evokes its namesake’s nemesis – running into the ravine by interrogating what or who precipitated Bourdain’s 2018 death by suicide, with all the aesthetic choices of some tawdry true-crime series.
November 10, 2021 | Rating: 1/5
Nick Rogers
Midwest Film Journal
Everyone who loved the man grapples with their grief and anger, trying to wrest some meaning from the void that suicide leaves behind, and only memories remain. It is beyond bittersweet.
November 9, 2021
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)…
Plot
A documentary about Anthony Bourdain and his career as a chef, writer and host, revered and renowned for his authentic approach to food, culture and travel.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features the voice of Anthony Bourdain himself, as well as interviews with his friends and colleagues.
Morgan-Neville.jpg
94%
Mass (2021)
94%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Mass requires a lot of its audience, but rewards that emotional labor with a raw look at grief that establishes writer-director Fran Kranz as a filmmaker of tremendous promise.
Mass is a movie that will make you feel like you need a hug from your mom afterwards. It’s a heavy watch, but the performances are so good that you can’t look away. The film is like a therapy session, where the characters are trying to work through their grief and anger. It’s not always pretty, but it feels real. If you’re in the mood for a good cry, Mass is the movie for you. Just make sure you have some tissues handy.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Bleecker Street
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.00 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2021 Limited
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton, Breeda Wool, Michelle N Carter, directed by Fran Kranz, written by Fran Kranz, drama, PG-13, Bleecker Street, box office gross $145.0K, reviewed by Jordan King, Linda Marric, Danny Leigh, Tim Robey, Peter Bradshaw, Jake Coyle, Elsa Fernández-Santos, Zofia Wijaszka, Eulàlia Iglesias, Matt Brunson, Christopher Cross, David Lynch, producer Dylan Matlock, Casey Wilder Mott, J.P Ouellette
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ann Dowd – Linda
Jason Isaacs – Jay
Martha Plimpton – Gail
Breeda Wool – Judy
Michelle N. Carter – Kendra
Director(s)
Fran Kranz
Writer(s)
Fran Kranz
Producer(s)
Dylan Matlock, Casey Wilder Mott, J.P. Ouellette
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (193) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (183) | Rotten (10)
It may be a tough watch, but, boasting a quartet of excellent performances, Fran Kranz’s directorial debut is a technically adept, emotionally exhausting yet deeply cathartic film that couldn’t be more timely.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Jordan King
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
While stories such as We Need To Talk about Kevin capitalised on the shock value of its horrifying events by playing with a non-linear narrative, Kranz’s film doesn’t feel the need for any extra artifice.
January 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Movies trade in closure. Mass is honest enough to admit it is not always there to be had.
January 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
We see not one glimpse of the calamity that’s blighted these lives, but in the eyes and faces of the four actors, we see it all.
January 20, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Mass is a wonderfully acted, if claustrophobic, ordeal of emotional pain.
January 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The performances are too internalized to seem theatrical. Often, “Mass” is most moving when they’re simply listening.
October 28, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jake Coyle
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
A catharsis of four cylinders that traverses torturous paths from which anger, impotence and sorrow try to find a way through, or at least, a little light. [Full review in Spanish]
June 8, 2022
Elsa Fernández-Santos
El Pais (Spain)
… Places an almost sacred value on the cathartic power of dialogue. [Full review in Spanish]
May 19, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Eulàlia Iglesias
Fotogramas
A powerful drama.
April 23, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
While engaging to watch because of the acting, Mass is a poorly constructed, exhausting look at the grieving process and the difficulty found in trying to move on from an unspeakable, unjust tragedy.
April 10, 2022 | Rating: 2.5/5
Christopher Cross
Tilt Magazine
“At its most searing, ‘Mass’ suggests that talking your way through the thorniest thickets of tragedy wont be enough to find answers, and its to the first-time filmmakers credit that this comes across not as a lament, but as a place of clarity.”
February 21, 2022
David Lynch
KENS 5 TV
Mass truly breaks any boundaries and is one of a few films that delve into another side of the story in this scenario. The film is a very powerful depiction of loss, forgiveness, and the coming together of two sides.
February 11, 2022 | Rating: A
Zofia Wijaszka
Daily Dead…
Plot
The tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man and the arrival of a charismatic priest. When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Jason Isaacs, known for his roles in the Harry Potter franchise and The OA, delivers a powerful performance as a grieving father in Mass.
Fran-Kranz.jpg
94%
7 Prisoners (7 prisioneiros) (2021)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 4 nominations
A hard-hitting drama that feels disconcertingly real, 7 Prisoners blends sharp storytelling with a searing social conscience.
7 Prisoners” is a movie that will make you feel like you need a hug and a stiff drink at the same time. It’s a gut-wrenching look at the corrupt and degrading system of modern-day slavery in Brazil. But don’t let that scare you away from watching it. The director, Alexandre Moratto, proves himself to be a master of storytelling, and Christian Malheiros gives a performance that will leave you speechless. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one. Just make sure you have some tissues and a bottle of whiskey nearby.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, some violence and a sexual reference
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39:1
-
Runtime:1h 33m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:Brazil
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 11, 2021
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
7 Prisoners, drama, Portuguese (Brazil), R-rated, directed by Alexandre Moratto, written by Alexandre Moratto and Thayná Mantesso, produced by Ramin Bahrani, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Fernando Meirelles, Alexandre Moratto, starring Christian Malheiros as Mateus, Rodrigo Santoro as Luca, Cecilia Homem de Mello, Vitor Julian as Ezequiel, Lucas Oranmian as Isaque, Bruno Rocha, reviewed by Philip De Semlyen, Monica Castillo, Wendy Ide, Randy Myers, Isabelia Herrera, Danny Leigh, Christopher Cross, Carson Timar, Tom Meek, Filipe Freitas, Marshall Shaffer, box office performance unknown, budget unknown
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Rodrigo Santoro – Luca
Cecilia Homem de Mello – self
Vitor Julian – Ezequiel
Lucas Oranmian – Isaque
Bruno Rocha – self
Alexandre Moratto – Director
Ramin Bahrani – Producer
Andrea Barata Ribeiro – Producer
Fernando Meirelles – Producer
Alexandre Moratto – Writer
Thayná Mantesso – Writer
Director(s)
Alexandre Moratto
Writer(s)
Alexandre Moratto, Thayná Mantesso
Producer(s)
Ramin Bahrani, Andrea Barata Ribeiro, Fernando Meirelles, Alexandre Moratto
Film Festivals
Venice, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (45) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (1)
If the pay-offaims for the gut and misses, the journey to that point provides a searing microcosm of a corrupt and degrading system.
November 18, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Philip De Semlyen
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
With “7 Prisoners,” Moratto proves himself as a director of many talents.
November 18, 2021 | Rating: B+
Monica Castillo
The Playlist
TOP CRITIC
The rather on-the-nose storytelling grows increasingly complex and interesting the further that the protagonist ventures into morally ambiguous territory.
November 17, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Moratto’s follow-up to his gem “Socrates” is gripping, well-acted and feels disturbingly like a documentary.
November 11, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Rather than being a simple examination of a social problem, the film excels at excavating the deep-rooted, sprawling violence that affects everyone living under hierarchies of power.
November 11, 2021
Isabelia Herrera
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
This film about modern slavery is as emotionally gruelling as you might expect, with a story you need to be ready for. It is also one that will brilliantly wrongfoot you.
November 11, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
7 Prisoners pulls no punches in portraying a world so hellbent on destroying what little humanity it has left.
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Christopher Cross
Tilt Magazine
7 Prisoners feels like a near-modern-masterpiece, with both Alexandre Moratto and Christian Malheiros cementing themselves as two of the strongest voices working in film today.
February 12, 2022
Carson Timar
Clapper
A dark tale depicting the unholy union of organized crime, systemic corruption and gross classism in Brazil.
December 16, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day
The line between victim and accomplice can be very thin, raising complex moral dilemmas.
December 5, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Filipe Freitas
Always Good Movies
It’s a searing indictment of the systems that govern upward mobility – or lack thereof – as experienced and felt through the fully human experience of protagonist Mateus (Christian Malheiros).
December 2, 2021
Marshall Shaffer
Decider
A ingenious exploration of the way capital transforms its underclass into their own exploiters.
November 18, 2021 | Rating: B+
Vincent Mancini
Uproxx…
Plot
To provide a better life for his family in the country, 18-year-old Mateus accepts a job in a junkyard in São Paulo for his new boss, Luca. But when he and a few other boys become trapped in the dangerous world of human trafficking, Mateus will be forced to decide between working for the very man who imprisoned him or risk his and his family’s future.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sorry, there is no mention of the film AT&T NOW WITH HYPER-GIG SPEEDS or any cast members in the Fresh Kernels article provided.
Alexandre-Moratto.jpg
94%
The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)
94%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
46 wins & 57 nominations total
Eye-catching and energetic, The Mitchells vs. the Machines delivers a funny, feel-good story that the whole family can enjoy.
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is the perfect movie for anyone who loves a good dysfunctional family story mixed with some apocalyptic adventure. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, and will have you shedding tears of both joy and sadness. Plus, the voice casting is spot on, with some standout performances from the likes of Abbi Jacobson and Olivia Colman. And let’s not forget the film’s important message about the value of every single person, especially those living with disabilities. All in all, it’s a refreshing triumph that’s sure to win your heart (and maybe even an Oscar).
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for action and some language
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 54m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 23, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 30, 2021
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Danny McBride – Rick Mitchell (Voice)
Maya Rudolph – Linda Mitchell (Voice)
Michael Rianda – Aaron Mitchell (
Director(s)
Michael Rianda
Writer(s)
Michael Rianda, Jeff Rowe
Producer(s)
Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Kurt Albrecht
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
46 wins & 57 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (202) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (195) | Rotten (7)
Putting the “fun” in “dysfunction” is what The Mitchells vs. The Machines is about, and what family doesn’t have some issues?
January 13, 2022
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s the kind of movie you immediately want to watch again and again.
July 29, 2021
Esther Zuckerman
Thrillist
TOP CRITIC
Whether it’s tears of joy or tears of sadness, Mitchells vs the Machines will have you shedding a few of either or both.
June 5, 2021 | Rating: Big Screen Watch
Damian Levy
DamianMichaelMovies.com
TOP CRITIC
In its celebration of these characters… this film demonstrates how indispensable every single one of us is, and how much those living with disabilities have to offer the world, if only people took the time to notice.
June 4, 2021
Jodie Hare
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
In “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” family life is a brilliant, ever-changing collage.
May 12, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Jake Coyle
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The voice casting is terrific, and Coleman is especially funny…
May 10, 2021
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
A reflection on the possibilities of the internet and what we’ve created with it… [Full review in Spanish]
June 17, 2022
Erick Estrada
Cinegarage
It’s a refreshing triumph that may or may not win the Oscar – but it’s almost certain to win your heart.
May 19, 2022
John Paul King
Washington Blade
The feature debut of Mike Rianda, The Mitchells vs The Machines is both a great coming of age film, a fantastic story of a family coming together and learn to be better, and a highly entertaining apocalyptic adventure.
April 1, 2022
Rafael Motamayor
Collider
Frenetic and fast-paced, it’s become popular because of a massive marketing campaign.
March 28, 2022 | Rating: 5/10
Susan Granger
SSG Syndicate
The animated film The Mitchells vs. the Machines puts a high-energy spin on the over-used apocalypse concept, by balancing heartwarming earnest about family with biting satire about technology obsessions.
March 27, 2022
Carla Hay
Culture Mix
…an exceedingly slick animated adventure that is, to a progressively distressing degree, dominated by larger-than-life, over-the-top action set-pieces…
March 20, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews…
Plot
An animated action-comedy about an ordinary family who find themselves in the middle of their biggest family challenge yet…saving the world from the robot apocalypse. No big deal, right? It all starts when creative outsider Katie Mitchell is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people,” when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last totally-not-awkward-or-forced road trip. But just when the trip can’t get any worse, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot uprising. Everything from smart phones, to roombas, to evil Furbys are employed to capture every human on the planet. Now it’s up to the Mitchells, including upbeat mom Linda, quirky little brother Aaron, their squishy pug, Monchi, and two friendly, but simple-minded robots to save humanity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Danny McBride voices the character of Rick Mitchell in The Mitchells vs. The Machines.
Michael-Rianda.jpg
94%
Onward (2020)
94%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 65 nominations total
It may suffer in comparison to Pixar’s classics, but Onward makes effective use of the studio’s formula — and stands on its own merits as a funny, heartwarming, dazzlingly animated adventure.
Onward is a magical adventure that will have you laughing, crying, and wishing you had a pet dragon. The animation is stunning, the characters are lovable, and the world-building is top-notch. It’s a heartwarming story about brotherhood, loss, and the power of love that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. Plus, who doesn’t love a good quest to find a magical gem? Overall, Onward is a must-see for anyone who loves a good Pixar movie or just wants to escape into a fantastical world for a couple of hours.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
Distributor
Walt Disney
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Disney+), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 43m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2020 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 6, 2020
Genre(s)
Comedy/Adventure
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer, Ali Wong, John Ratzenberger, directed by Dan Scanlon, written by Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin, comedy, adventure, fantasy, PG rating, box office gross $60.4M, reviewed by Wenlei Ma, tt stern-enzi, Mark Kermode, Roxana Hadadi, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Wendy Ide, Daniel Howat, Jeffrey Harris, Cory Woodroof, Brian Eggert, David Gonzalez, Mat Brunet, teenage elf brothers, magical quest, late father, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles, unimaginable discoveries, dear Mom, legendary manticore, spend one more day, heartwarming, Pixar, bright animation, character design, world building, creativity, tension, heartfelt moments, tearjerkers, family values, great animation, world building, derivative, Meh
Worldwide gross: $141,940,042
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $161,977,067
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 807
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,663,802
US/Canada gross: $61,555,145
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $70,244,603
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 917
US/Canada opening weekend: $39,119,861
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $44,642,233
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 269
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $175,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $199,703,948
Production budget ranking: 119
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $107,540,576
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$145,267,457
ROI to date (est.): -47%
ROI ranking: 1,669
Chris Pratt – Barley Lightfoot – Voice
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Laurel Lightfoot – Voice
Octavia Spencer – Manticore – Voice
Ali Wong – Officer Gore – Voice
John Ratzenberger – Construction Worker Felix – Voice
Director(s)
Dan Scanlon
Writer(s)
Dan Scanlon, Jason Headley, Keith Bunin
Producer(s)
Kori Rae
Film Festivals
Berlin
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
4 wins & 65 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (343) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (303) | Rotten (40)
There’s a lot to like in Onward, the least of which is its bright, appealing animation, character design and world building, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from an outfit as accomplished as Pixar.
April 6, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
A very sweet story, good but not great…kids will love it.
April 3, 2020
tt stern-enzi
WXIX-TV (Cincinnati, OH)
TOP CRITIC
The second half pulled it together. By the end of it, I was like, “well done.”
March 30, 2020
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
Onward feels a bit more subdued than a typical Pixar affair, and while the movie wears its heart on its sleeve, it might not be quite as engaging for younger viewers.
March 25, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Roxana Hadadi
Chesapeake Family Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Do families need fathers? Scanlon delivers a love song to atypical clans, which couldn’t end on a sweeter, or clearer, note.
March 10, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The fractious bond between the brothers and their aching anger at the loss of a parent are evoked with exquisite sorrow and clarity.
March 8, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Onward tackles grief, loss, and emptiness head-on. This is a film that will truly entertain your young ones, but I have no doubt it will move you as well. Bring the tissues.
May 20, 2022 | Rating: 8/10
Daniel Howat
Next Best Picture
Onward has its issues and pacing problems, but once it gets out of the first act, this journey about the bond of brotherhood is on par with some of Pixar’s best.
April 4, 2022 | Rating: 8.5/10
Jeffrey Harris
411mania
Scanlon has a wicked sense of humor, and his version of happily ever after is part of the draw here.
March 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
As ever, Pixar employs ironies and reference material that has a way of playing better with adults.
February 21, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This film is full of heart, magic, and whimsy that Ian and Barley would love the audience to embody in their everyday lives.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
David Gonzalez
Reel Talk Inc.
Onward is a decently enjoyable feature that does make the most out of its uninterestingly boring concept.
February 16, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Mat Brunet
AniMat’s Review (YouTube)…
Plot
In a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, go on a journey to discover if there is still a little magic left out there in order to spend one last day with their father, who died when they were too young to remember him. Like any good quest, their journey is filled with magic spells, cryptic maps, impossible obstacles and unimaginable discoveries. When the boys’ fearless mom, Laurel, realizes that her sons are missing, she teams up with the legendary winged-lion-scorpion former warrior
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tom Holland voices the character of Ian Lightfoot in Onward.
Dan-Scanlon.jpg
94%
Dark Waters (2019)
94%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: 10 nominations
Dark Waters powerfully relays a real-life tale of infuriating malfeasance, honoring the victims and laying blame squarely at the feet of the perpetrators.
Dark Waters is like a horror movie, but instead of a monster, it’s capitalism that’s the villain. Mark Ruffalo gives a great performance as the hero fighting against a corrupt corporation, and the film does a good job of showing how difficult it can be to do the right thing in a society that values profit over people. It’s not the most uplifting movie, but it’s an important one that will make you think twice about what’s really going on behind the scenes of big businesses. Plus, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?
Production Company(ies)
Participant Willi Hill Killer Content
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited), Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for thematic content, some disturbing images and strong language
Year of Release
2019
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 6m
-
Language(s):English, Korean
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2019 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2019
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Dark Waters, PG-13, drama, 2h 6m, Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, directed by Todd Haynes, written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan, produced by Mark Ruffalo, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler, box office gross $11.1M, reviewed by Kambole Campbell, Wenlei Ma, Bilge Ebiri, Sandra Hall, Kevin Maher, David Stratton, Dan Bayer, Brian Eggert, Taylor Baker, Kip Mooney, Hosea Rupprecht, PG-13 rating, Focus Features, real-life tale, attorney, dark secret, unexplained deaths, largest corporations, expose the truth, risking future, family, life, strong language, disturbing images, thematic content, environmental thriller, capitalism, corruption, toxic chemicals, DuPont, Cincinnati Corporate Attorney, investigation, 20 years, Erin Brockovich, corporate greed, cover-ups, lives left in the balance, defeated, hunched over workaholic, wife, hard working citizens, low key characterizations, righteous anger, system, safety, well-being, Great Camp
Worldwide gross: $23,108,017
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $26,700,263
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,588
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,911,697
US/Canada gross: $11,136,084
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $12,867,239
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,542
US/Canada opening weekend: $102,606
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $118,557
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,875
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
Anne Hathaway – Sarah Bilott
Tim Robbins – Tom Terp
Bill Camp – Wilbur Tennant
Victor Garber – Phil Donnelly
Mare Winningham – Darlene Kiger
Director(s)
Todd Haynes
Writer(s)
Mario Correa, Matthew Michael Carnahan
Producer(s)
Mark Ruffalo, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (232) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (207) | Rotten (25)
A tale of the horrors caused by capitalism and how it empowers people into other avenues of corruption…
June 10, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Kambole Campbell
NME
TOP CRITIC
Dark Waters is as gripping as it is terrifying, and it’ll claw into your consciousness in the same way that poisonous forever chemicals have claimed squatter’s rights in your body.
April 6, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
…by focusing on the individuals involved, and laying out a compelling moral vision, Dark Waters also works as a powerful metaphor for those cases when persistence and compassion have pushed society forward.
March 20, 2020
Bilge Ebiri
Spirituality & Health
TOP CRITIC
The groundswell of dogged determination propelling this environmental thriller is so powerful that it deals effortlessly with the knotty tangle of facts packed into its plot. Much of this is down to the film’s star and initiator, Mark Ruffalo.
March 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Sandra Hall
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The subject deserved better.
March 3, 2020 | Rating: 2/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ruffalo’s performance alone is worth the price of a ticket…
March 3, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
You come to see Mark Ruffalo speechify against a large company doing Very Bad Things, and you get exactly that. Nothing more, nothing less.
May 13, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Dan Bayer
Next Best Picture
The most successful part of Dark Waters is how it portrays American society as one that fears doing the right thing because of the repercussions, while it’s far easier just to keep quiet, blissfully unaware, and toe the line.
February 23, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
This is one of the first films in a long time that feels genuinely “important” in a non-partisan and unbiased way.
January 14, 2022 | Rating: 90/100
Taylor Baker
Drink in the Movies
Grim but engaging.
August 12, 2021 | Rating: B+
Kip Mooney
College Movie Review
Dark Waters calls upon all of us to do what’s right to help those around us even if that causes discomfort and suffering.
August 12, 2021
Hosea Rupprecht
Pauline Center for Media Studies
How a screenplay this shoddy makes it to one of our greatest film-makers unmolested I can’t fathom, but it’s poisoned from the bottom up — knee deep cliches sanded clean of substance
July 14, 2021
Jason Adams
My New Plaid Pants…
Plot
A corporate defense attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bill Camp’s performance as Wilbur Tennant in Dark Waters is described as “magnificent” by one critic.
Todd-Haynes.jpg
94%
Sound of Metal (2020)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
88 wins & 176 nominations total
An evocative look at the experiences of the deaf community, Sound of Metal is brought to life by Riz Ahmed’s passionate performance.
Sound of Metal is a movie that will hit you harder than a drum solo. Riz Ahmed’s performance is a force to be reckoned with, and the film’s portrayal of disabilities as differences rather than handicaps is refreshing. Sure, it occasionally gets lost in visual flourishes, but that’s a small price to pay for a movie that challenges, entertains, uplifts, and unites. Plus, you don’t hear movies like this every day, so it’s definitely worth a watch. Just make sure you have some tissues handy for the emotional journey.
Production Company(ies)
Caviar Flat 7 Productions, Ward Four
Distributor
Amazon Studios
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Prime Video), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Antwerp, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout and brief nude images
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):English, American, Sign, Language, French
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 4, 2020
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Mathieu Amalric, Darius Marder, Sacha Ben Harroche, Bert Hamelinck, Abraham Marder, drama, box office, budget, reviewed by Tara Brady, Linda Marric, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Mark Kermode, Kevin Maher, Clarisse Loughrey, James Luxford, Brian Eggert, Witney Seibold, Tom Beasley, Angelo Muredda, DarkSkyLady, MPAA rating R, deaf community, hearing loss, punk-metal drummer, heroin addict, sober house, sound design, Dolby Digital, Amazon Studios, scope, 2.35:1, directed by Darius Marder, produced by Sacha Ben Harroche and Bert Hamelinck, written by Darius Marder and Abraham Marder
Worldwide gross: $516,520
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $589,435
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,699
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 64,279
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Olivia Cooke – Lou
Paul Raci – Joe
Mathieu Amalric – Richard Berger
Jamie Ghazarian – Concert Goer
Michael Tow – Pharmacist
Director(s)
Darius Marder
Writer(s)
Darius Marder, Abraham Marder
Producer(s)
Sacha Ben Harroche, Bert Hamelinck
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
88 wins & 176 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Editing Winners, Oscar Best Sound Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (277) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (269) | Rotten (8)
A drama that’s as visceral and hard-hitting as its protagonist’s drum solos.
April 16, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Marder does away with the stigma attached to disabilities, choosing to represent them as differences rather than handicaps.
April 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Simply put, you don’t hear movies like this every day.
April 14, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A film that deserves to be seen by the widest possible audience, reminding us of cinema’s unique ability to challenge, entertain, uplift and unite.
April 11, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Somebody, please, give Riz Ahmed a starring vehicle worthy of his talents.
April 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Ahmed’s performance is a force to be reckoned with.
April 9, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Sound of Metal occasionally gets lost in the visual flourishes, but this is a small gripe when compared to a performance that reveals an actor hitting his stride as an artist.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
James Luxford
City AM
Sound of Metal is a stirring character study about finding inner peace.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Spearheaded by a dynamite lead performance, this story of recovery and, more so, denial, reaches and aching honesty.
September 13, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast
The final act’s quietly played emotional turmoil – in which Cooke really gets to spread her wings – is a triumph, building to an elegant and heart-warming finale.
July 29, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Beasley
Flickering Myth
As inconsistent and inherently dubious as this aural gambit may be, it achieves a kind of blunt-force effectiveness in tandem with the earnest, wild-eyed performance by Ahmed.
July 13, 2021
Angelo Muredda
Cinema Scope
Sound of Metal is a profound journey that we rarely see depicted in film.
July 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
DarkSkyLady
Nerdist…
Plot
Keeping at bay his inner demons by devoting himself to art, metal drummer, Ruben, has been living for the moment for the past four years. Then, while on tour with his lead-singer/girlfriend, Lou, Ruben realises that his hearing is rapidly deteriorating. As this sudden hearing loss turns his world upside down, and numbing fear paired with angry denial take over, Ruben reluctantly accepts to join a small deaf community overseen by Joe, a compassionate Vietnam War veteran. Now, Ruben needs to find some solid ground, understand that being deaf is not a handicap and that deafness isn’t something to fix. But, is Ruben willing to accept his new life and learn how to be deaf?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Riz Ahmed’s performance in Sound of Metal is described as “passionate” by critics.
Darius-Marder.jpg
94%
The Kingmaker (2019)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 14 nominations
The Kingmaker aims a disquieting spotlight at the private life of a divisive public figure — as well as the ways in which unchecked power seduces and corrupts.
The Kingmaker” is a wild ride through the life of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the Philippines. From her massive shoe collection to her involvement in the country’s politics, this documentary has it all. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion, but you just can’t look away. Lauren Greenfield does an excellent job of balancing the opulence of Marcos’ life with the atrocities committed during her husband’s regime. It’s a cautionary tale of what can happen when power goes unchecked, and it’s definitely worth a watch. Plus, you’ll never look at a pair of shoes the same way again.
Production Company(ies)
Evergreen Pictures, Candescent Films, Artemis Rising Foundation
Distributor
Greenwich Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some disturbing violent content
Year of Release
2019
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 41m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States, Denmark
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2019 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring Imelda Marcos, directed by Lauren Greenfield, written by Lauren Greenfield, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Brad Newsome, John Anderson, Mark Kermode, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Simran Hans, Kevin Maher, David Lamble, Karen Krizanovich, Christopher James, Brandy McDonnell, Hilary A White, Christopher Llewellyn Reed, R rating, Filipino politics, Imelda Marcos’ private life, unchecked power, corrupts, Frank Evers produced, Julie Parker Benello executive produced, Shana Hagan cinematographer, controversial history, Greenwich Entertainment distributed, Sans Soleil, Man From Reno, The Attack, Weekend, Threads, disturbing violent content, opulent life, oblivious narcissism, Filipino politician
Worldwide gross: $304,840
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $352,229
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,821
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 38,411
US/Canada gross: $122,587
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $141,644
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,602
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,523
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,558
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,470
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
Lauren Greenfield – Director, Writer
Frank Evers – Producer
Julie Parker Benello – Executive Producer
Shana Hagan – Cinematographer
Director(s)
Lauren Greenfield
Writer(s)
Lauren Greenfield
Producer(s)
Frank Evers
Film Festivals
Venice, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (2)
It’s grimly compelling viewing as Marcos gives filmmaker Lauren Greenfield intimate access to her opulent life and oblivious narcissism.
March 11, 2020
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The Kingmaker is a thoroughly entertaining primer on the past, present, and perhaps future of Filipino politics
February 27, 2020
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
What’s interesting about the film is that at the center is this ludicrous, ridiculous figure. As the doc scratches away at this, you see grotesque horror, and I thought that was a very astute way of approaching this.
December 31, 2019
Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review
TOP CRITIC
From her very first simper, I was hooked. Some see Imelda as one of the world’s greatest villains. After this tour of her closet, that shoe fits.
December 18, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Greenfield’s portrait is damning.
December 15, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s dark material, expertly handled.
December 13, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A well-researched cautionary tale of what can befall a nation that allows a familial pack of jackals to loot the resources of a struggling, impoverished country.
May 22, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
It’s almost as if [Lauren Greenfield has] been working up to this; it’s a perfectly logical move for her after her last two films.
March 9, 2020
Karen Krizanovich
Monocle
Even with repeated beats, The Kingmaker still begs to be watched. What it lacks in focus it makes up in personality.
January 13, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Christopher James
AwardsCircuit.com
The Kingmaker is less a historical biography than a timely cautionary tale.
December 23, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brandy McDonnell
The Oklahoman
Greenfield is careful to balance the vast shoe collections and showers of banknotes with victim testimony about the notorious period of martial law Imelda’s husband imposed on enemies of the state.
December 20, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Hilary A White
Sunday Independent (Ireland)
Imelda holds our attention, throughout, even as we marvel at her constitutional inability (or, more likely, unwillingness) to think critically about her misdeeds.
December 19, 2019
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
Hammer to Nail…
Plot
An extraordinary look into the controversial political career of Imelda Marcos. As the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos is best known for her opulent lifestyle, but it was her behind-the-scenes influence of her husband’s presidency that rocketed her to the global political forefront. A journey through the Marcos family’s long history of corruption, extravagance and brutality, this documentary tells a cautionary tale of a powerful female leader whose questionable sense of reality divided a nation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features controversial Filipino politician Imelda Marcos and her family.
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