For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
A timely and poignant examination of gays, their families and religion.
For the Bible Tells Me So” is a documentary that tackles the issue of homosexuality and religion. While some critics found it imperfect, others praised it for its thought-provoking and emotionally sweeping message. The film takes a witty and compassionate view of what coming out in a religious family feels like, both to adult gay kids and their bewildered parents. It reveals how inaccurate interpretations of the Bible cause widespread despair and the destruction of lives. Overall, it’s a necessary and masterfully crafted work that could spark much-needed conversations. Plus, the animation sequence is a bit weird, but we’ll let it slide.
Production Company(ies)
Atticus Group Vision Quest Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
documentary, LGBTQ+, religion, conservative Christians, homophobia, families, gay son, gay daughter, religious leaders, values, interpretation, Bible, equal rights, director, Daniel G Karslake, writer, Helen R Mendoza, box office, gross USA, $309.1K, Gene Robinson, Victor Robinson, Brenda Poteat, David Poteat, reviewed by Hank Sartin, Melissa Anderson, J.R Jones, Jessica Reaves, Marrit Ingman, Sara Michelle Fetters, David Lamble, Mattie Lucas, Jennifer Merin, Michael Sragow, Pablo Villaça, Phil Villarreal, produced by, MPAA rating, English, 1h 35m, runtime
Worldwide gross: $312,751
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $448,037
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,761
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 48,859
US/Canada gross: $312,751
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $448,037
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,350
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,412
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,618
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,691
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
Victor Robinson – Self
Brenda Poteat – Self
David Poteat – Self
Daniel G. Karslake – Director, Writer
Director(s)
Daniel G. Karslake
Writer(s)
Daniel G. Karslake, Helen R. Mendoza
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (1)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Melissa Anderson
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Progressive clergy provide enough historical context to neutralize the handful of Bible verses prohibiting homosexual acts, but Karslake never confronts the broader issues of sexuality and procreation that bedevil even moderate Christians.
January 11, 2008
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
This is a compelling, thought-provoking portrait of a quiet challenge rising within America’s churches.
November 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Jessica Reaves
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
If imperfect, the film is also necessary.
October 27, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
For the Bible Tells Me So is a great documentary and an even better motion picture, and as a testament to faith and family I can’t imagine a finer example than this.
October 26, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
The documentary takes a witty and compassionate view of what coming out in a religious family feels like, both to adult gay kids and their bewildered parents.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
A masterfully crafted, deeply moving work that could spark much needed conversations.
July 6, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Karslake reveals ways Scripture has been used to discriminate against homoexuality, and shows how inaccurate interpretations of the Bible cause widespread despair and the destruction of lives.
June 9, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Jennifer Merin
About.com
July 16, 2008 | Rating: B+
Michael Sragow
Baltimore Sun
Excessivamente convencional em sua estrutura e contendo sua parcela de graves tropeos (a seqncia em animao), este filme ainda assim merece aplausos pela eloqncia de seus entrevistados, pelo teor de sua mensagem e pela paixo com que a defende.
March 19, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
One message rings clear throughout the occasionally muddled but always emotionally sweeping film: A true abomination is twisting the words of Scripture to match bigotry.
January 17, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
“For the Bible Tells Me So” is a documentary that explores how conservative Christians use their interpretation of the Bible to deny equal rights to homosexuals, following five families with openly gay children and interviewing religious leaders.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with various religious leaders and five families with openly gay children.
Daniel-G.-Karslake.jpg
94%
The Devil Came on Horseback (2007)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 5 nominations
The Devil Came on Horseback is both a strong primer on the complexities of the situation in Darfur and a harrowing first-person doc.
The Devil Came on Horseback” is a documentary that will leave you with haunting images of the genocide in Darfur. Former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle’s story is told through filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern’s lens, and it’s a deeply moving account of his efforts to educate the world about the violence he witnessed. While the film’s political analysis may be clumsy, the faces of carefree children mugging into the camera provide a welcome balm on the wounds of systemic depravity. Overall, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone who wants to open their eyes and conscience to the horrors of the world.
Production Company(ies)
Break Thru Films,
Distributor
International Film Circuit [us]
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Sudan
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2008
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 28m
-
Language(s):English, Arabic
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 25, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Darfur, ethnic cleansing, African Union, former Marine, Brian Steidle, New York Times, Nicholas Kristof, photographic evidence, Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg, Eileen Haag, Ira Lechner, Arabic, International Film Circuit, directed by Ricki Stern, directed by Anne Sundberg, written by Ricki Stern, written by Anne Sundberg, produced by Eileen Haag, produced by Ira Lechner, reviewed by Mark Holcomb, reviewed by Matt McNally, reviewed by Owen Williams, reviewed by Joshua Katzman, reviewed by John Monaghan, reviewed by Marrit Ingman, reviewed by Joanne Laurier, reviewed by David Lamble, reviewed by Debbie Lynn Elias, reviewed by Jeffrey Chen, reviewed by James Wegg, reviewed by Sam Jordison, genre: documentary, box office: $132.3K, MPAA rating: not rated, Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy With Time, Sir! No Sir!, Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire, The Five Obstructions, Manufactured Landscapes, budget: unknown, critic names: Mark Holcomb, Matt McNally, Owen Williams, Joshua Katzman, John Monaghan, Marrit Ingman, Joanne Laurier, David Lamble, Debbie Lynn Elias, Jeffrey Chen, James Wegg, Sam Jordison
Worldwide gross: $134,495
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $185,262
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,944
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 20,203
US/Canada gross: $132,782
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $182,902
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,560
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,143
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $15,349
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,594
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 Sundberg – Director
Ricki Stern – Writer
Anne Sundberg – Writer
Omar Amanat – Executive Producer
Eileen Haag – Producer
Director(s)
Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
Writer(s)
Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
Producer(s)
Eileen Haag, Ira Lechner
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (2)
November 17, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Holcomb
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
The Devil Came On Horseback sets out to shock. The images caught by Steidle’s camera will stay with you long after his personal story – given too much time in relation to events – has faded from memory.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Matt McNally
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A decent attempt at outling the crises but crucially lacking much depth.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Owen Williams
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Filmmakers Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg chronicle his burgeoning activism in the face of the U.S. government’s indifference as the government of Sudan works systematically to eradicate black Africans from the region.
January 4, 2008
Joshua Katzman
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The Devil Came on Horseback is a documentary account of Steidle’s ongoing efforts to educate the world about the violence he witnessed as an unarmed military observer for the African Union in 2004.
October 12, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
The film’s approach suits an audience broader than the usual documentary crowd, though it’s worth mentioning that those pictures can really stay with you.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
[A] deeply misguided film…
September 2, 2020
Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern show us hauntingly beautiful aerial shots of Western Darfur.
May 26, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
Nick and George Clooney opened my eyes as to the horrors of the genocide in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle, together with filmmakers Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern opened my conscience.
November 7, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens
This documentary stares truth in the face in more ways than one.
August 30, 2009 | Rating: 8/10
Jeffrey Chen
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
To balance the chilling reality of the powerful having their unabated way with the miserably weak, the faces of carefree children mugging into the camera is a welcome balm on the wounds of systemic depravity.
July 23, 2009 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Wegg
JWR
Clumsy filmmaking and political analysis do not detract from the horror of the events the film bears witness too, nor the importance of its message.
April 11, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Sam Jordison
Film4…
Plot
The tragedy taking place in Darfur as seen through the eyes of an American witness and who has since returned to the US to take action to stop it. Uses the photographs and first hand testimony of former U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle to take the viewer on a journey into the heart of Darfur, Sudan, where an Arab run government is systematically executing a plan to rid the province of its black African citizens. As an official military observer, Steidle had access to parts of the country that no journalist could penetrate. Ultimately frustrated by the inaction of the international community, Steidle resigned and returned to the US to expose the images and stories of lives systematically destroyed. We witness Steidle’s transformation from soldier to observer to witness and, finally, to passionate activist and moral hero.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Former Marine Capt. Brian Steidle is the main subject of the documentary, The Devil Came on Horseback.
Ricki-Stern.jpg
94%
In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)
94%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Director David Sington poetically interwove 20th Century’s cosmonautic history with its effect on the public’s view of their country, their heroes and their future.
In the Shadow of the Moon is out of this world! Okay, sorry for the cheesy pun, but seriously, this documentary is a must-watch. The footage of the moon landing is stunning and the interviews with the astronauts are fascinating. Sure, some critics may say it doesn’t answer the big question of “what was it all for?” but who cares when you’re watching history being made? Plus, it’s a great reminder of our potential and our place in the universe. So grab some popcorn and get ready for liftoff!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 40m
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States, Canada
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 7, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 19, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary/Adventure
Keyword(s)
In the Shadow of the Moon, PG, Documentary, Adventure, 1h 40m, 95% Tomatometer, 91% Audience Score, NASA, Apollo program, President John F Kennedy, man on the moon, archival footage, surviving astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Soviet Union, test flights, 1969 moon landing, United States, David Sington, John Battsek, Julie Goldman, ThinkFilm, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Charles Duke, John Young, mild language, incidental smoking, brief violent images, directed by David Sington, produced by John Battsek and Julie Goldman, written by N/A, reviewed by Joshua Rothkopf, Ben Kenigsberg, Steven D Greydanus, Amy Nicholson, Anthony Quinn, Sukhdev Sandhu, Leigh Paatsch, Charles Cassady, Gary Arnold, Robert Davis, Margaret Pomeranz, starring Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, Alan Bean, Eugene Cernan, Charles Duke, John Young
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
Alan Bean – self
Eugene Cernan – self
Charles Duke – self
John Young – self
David Sington – Director
John Battsek – Producer
Julie Goldman – Producer
Director(s)
David Sington
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
John Battsek, Julie Goldman
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (113) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (107) | Rotten (6)
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
November 16, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
October 29, 2008 | Rating: A
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The crowd-pleaser has enough ambition to pitch a one-size-fits-all philosophy based on the Apollo crew’s revelation that looking down from space, our problems seem trivial.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: B
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
Respectful, enthusiastic and occasionally rather touching as the men, now in their seventies, recall how it felt up there. Yet the really important question never gets asked: what was it all for?
November 2, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The shots of the Moon, even after so many effects-heavy studio films have tried to recreate the look, are uncanny.
November 2, 2007
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A captivating and revelatory experience from beginning to end.
November 9, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Lofty recap of the Apollo moon program.
December 15, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Charles Cassady
Common Sense Media
The single most stirring and satisfying feature of 2007.
October 18, 2008
Gary Arnold
Washington Times
It never hurts to be reminded of our potential and our insignicance, and who better to do the reminding than clean-cut American boys who’ve covered up the entire world with their thumbs.
June 3, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
I wouldn’t have missed this chance to revisit one of earth’s most significant encounters with deep space for anything.
March 19, 2008 | Rating: 4.5/5
Margaret Pomeranz
At the Movies (Australia)
At the heart of the film is the beautifully remastered footage of the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing (some previously unseen), interspersed with testimonials from not only two of the men who were there, who describe their innermost thoughts and feelings.
March 1, 2008
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile…
Plot
In 1988, Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook), hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with all surviving astronauts from the Apollo program, except for Neil Armstrong.
David-Sington.jpg
94%
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
94%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
109 wins & 115 nominations total
Pan’s Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbinding fable.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a movie that will take you on a journey through a magical world filled with wonder and terror. The story is both beautiful and horrifying, and the creature effects are superbly handled. Guillermo Del Toro’s unique imagination is on full display, and it’s truly astounding to watch his mind come to life on screen. While some critics may have found the film less than perfect, I found it to be a masterpiece that blends magical worlds and fairy tales with grim, real-world evilness. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves fantasy and adventure, and it will leave you spellbound long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
Tequila Gang Estudios Picasso Esperanto Filmoj
Distributor
Picturehouse
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
El Espinar, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for graphic violence and some language
Year of Release
2007
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Surround 7.1
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 0m
-
Language(s):Spanish
-
Country of origin:Mexico
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 2006 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 15, 2007
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
starring Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Álex Angulo, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, directed by Guillermo del Toro, written by Guillermo del Toro, fantasy, drama, war, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nigel Andrews, Peter Bradshaw, David Stratton, Nicholas Barber, Ryan Gilbey, Helen Cowley, Victor Pineyro, Fico Cangiano, Brian Eggert, Jim Rohner, Charlotte Harrison, MPAA rating R, Alfonso Cuarón, Bertha Navarro, Frida Torresblanco, produced by Guillermo del Toro, Picturehouse, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Flat (1.85:1), Capt Vidal, Mercedes, Ofelia, Doctor, Pan, Pale Man, Carmen, bewitchingly bonkers, technically accomplished, radiant superlatives, majestic production design, profound and moving, Guillermo Del Toro returns fairy tales back to their deathly origins, emotionally wrenching war tale, surrealist, haunting, beautiful, rare, truly one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, imaginative, political/historical drama, fantasy/horror, childhood fantasies, visually striking, enchanting fantasia, stark and brutal reality, outstanding performance, heavy weight, smouldering villain, modern masterpiece
Worldwide gross: $83,862,032
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $120,138,055
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 937
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,101,206
US/Canada gross: $37,646,380
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $53,930,996
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,037
US/Canada opening weekend: $568,641
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $814,617
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,301
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $19,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $27,218,790
Production budget ranking: 1,208
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $14,657,318
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $78,261,947
ROI to date (est.): 187%
ROI ranking: 660
Maribel Verdú – Mercedes
Ivana Baquero – Ofelia
Álex Angulo – Doctor
Doug Jones – Pan, Pale Man
Ariadna Gil – Carmen
Director(s)
Guillermo del Toro
Writer(s)
Guillermo del Toro
Producer(s)
Alfonso Cuarón, Bertha Navarro, Guillermo del Toro, Frida Torresblanco
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
109 wins & 115 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Art Direction Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Cinematography Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Winners
All Critics (241) | Top Critics (62) | Fresh (229) | Rotten (12)
Bewitchingly bonkers.
November 12, 2014
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s so audacious and so technically accomplished, and arrives here garlanded with so many radiant superlatives, that I wish I liked it more.
November 12, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
The story is a compelling and deeply involving one, and the film is both beautiful, exciting, and sometimes horrifying. The creature effects are superbly handled.
November 12, 2014 | Rating: 4.5/5
David Stratton
At the Movies (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
It’s less of a labyrinth than a forest path, one that takes you through wonderful scenery but doesn’t lead anywhere.
November 12, 2014
Nicholas Barber
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
We are never allowed to get truly lost in Pan’s Labyrinth. The fantasy sequences are fetching when they should be intoxicating, while the scenes above ground are largely prosaic.
November 12, 2014
Ryan Gilbey
New Statesman
TOP CRITIC
Watching the unique explosions of Guillermo del Toro’s mind realise themselves on screen is truly astounding.
November 12, 2014 | Rating: 5/5
Helen Cowley
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
The script is undoubtedly better than the movie. Majestic production design in what remains as one of the fantasy classics. Del Toro’s eternal beginnings. [Full review in Spanish]
June 16, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
Del Toro’s finest work to date, beautifully blends magical worlds and fairy tales with grim, real-world evilness. The results are profound and moving. [Full review in Spanish]
June 13, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
Guillermo Del Toro returns fairy tales back to their deathly origins.
March 18, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Pan’s Labyrinth proved that del Toro’s most intimate and imaginative stories are also his most resonant and beautiful…
April 14, 2021
Jim Rohner
Battleship Pretension
Insert list of superlatives here – I just love this film so so so so much.
December 12, 2020
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
It’s rare to see a production of such breathtaking magnitude, with an absolutely singular vision and spellbinding fantasy components.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins…
Plot
In 1944 Falangist Spain, a girl, fascinated with fairy-tales, is sent along with her pregnant mother to live with her new stepfather, a ruthless captain of the Spanish army. During the night, she meets a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the center of the labyrinth. He tells her she’s a princess, but must prove her royalty by surviving three gruesome tasks. If she fails, she will never prove herself to be the true princess and will never see her real father, the king, again.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Doug Jones plays both Pan and the Pale Man in the film, and had to undergo extensive makeup and prosthetics for both roles.
Guillermo-del-Toro.jpg
94%
The Departed (2006)
94%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Won 4 Oscars
97 wins & 141 nominations total
Featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast, The Departed is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality we come to expect from Martin Scorsese.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s got it all – action, suspense, and a killer cast – then The Departed is the flick for you. Leo, Damon, and Wahlberg are all at the top of their game, and even Jack Nicholson gets in on the fun as a ruthless mob boss. Sure, it’s violent, but that’s just a Scorsese trademark. Plus, there’s some surprising humor thrown in, especially in the banter between Baldwin and Wahlberg. So grab some popcorn and settle in for a wild ride with The Departed.
Production Company(ies)
Warner Bros., Plan B Entertainment, Initial Entertainment Group,
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
SUNY Maritime College, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material
Year of Release
2006
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS DTS
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 32m
-
Language(s):English, Cantonese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2006 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 13, 2007
Genre(s)
Crime/Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, James Badge Dale, David O’Hara, Kevin Corrigan, Robert Wahlberg, Kristen Dalton, Thomas B Duffy, John Cenatiempo, Armen Garo, Joseph Riccobene, Billy Smith, Conor Donovan, Shay Duffin, Amanda Lynch, Jill Brown, Richard Hughes, James P Anderson, John Polce, John Rue, Brian Smyj, Tracey Paleo, Kristen Dalton, Sallie Toussaint, Larry Mitchell, John Farrer, Terry Serpico, Frank Ciornei, David Conley, John McConnell, John Rue, directed by Martin Scorsese, written by William Monahan, produced by Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, Graham King, crime, mystery, thriller, drama, R-rated, box office gross $132.4M, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Jonathan Romney, Sukhdev Sandhu, Christopher Orr, Anthony Quinn, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Sean Axmaker, Stephen Silver, Robin Holabird, David Walsh, Mike Massie, Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan, Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello, Mark Wahlberg as Sgt Dignam, Martin Sheen as Capt Queenan, Ray Winstone as Mr French
Worldwide gross: $291,480,452
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $429,833,710
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 360
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 46,873,905
US/Canada gross: $132,399,394
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $195,243,703
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 363
US/Canada opening weekend: $26,887,467
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $39,649,793
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 312
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $90,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $132,719,136
Production budget ranking: 269
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $71,469,255
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $225,645,318
ROI to date (est.): 111%
ROI ranking: 900
Matt Damon – Colin Sullivan
Jack Nicholson – Frank Costello
Mark Wahlberg – Sgt. Dignam
Martin Sheen – Capt. Queenan
Ray Winstone – Mr. French
Director(s)
Martin Scorsese
Writer(s)
William Monahan
Producer(s)
Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, Graham King
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 4 Oscars
97 wins & 141 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Directing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Editing Winners, Oscar Best Picture Winners, Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (284) | Top Critics (73) | Fresh (257) | Rotten (27)
The biggest draw, of course, are the star acts: Caprio, Damon and Mark Wahlberg in particular are electric.
January 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/4
Namrata Joshi
Outlook
TOP CRITIC
If you like Scorsese, or if you just like thrillers, you’ll have a good time.
February 27, 2018
Jonathan Romney
Independent on Sunday
TOP CRITIC
The Departed is an example of a cinematic master seeking to live up to the veneration with which he is regarded by his pupils.
January 25, 2015
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Not only is The Departed not among the best of Scorsese’s films; it’s not even the best version of this film.
January 25, 2015
Christopher Orr
The Atlantic
TOP CRITIC
Nicholson is on good-to-great form as the paternal brute, and lends an inimitable relish to certain lines in William Monahan’s screenplay.
January 25, 2015 | Rating: 3/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
As in his remake of Cape Fear, Scorsese has mucked up a B-movie he professes to love: producing something full of twists but devoid of that lovely, fluttery, rare thing: surprise.
January 25, 2015
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
[Scorsese] turns the clever cat-and-mouse story of two rival informants scrambling to save themselves from discovery, into a star-studded mob opera spiked with grimy underworld detail and juiced with adrenaline and suspicion.
June 25, 2022
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand
The movie that finally brought Scorsese gold (15th anniversary)
October 14, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
Violent (a Scorsese trademark) and energetic, the fast-paced, compelling story features terrific performances and surprising humor, especially in repartee between Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg…
August 10, 2021
Robin Holabird
Robin Holabird
Scorsese claims to be appalled by the violence in life and in his own films, yet he continues to glamorize sociopaths.
February 14, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
Just might be Scorsese’s most complex, well-balanced gangster flick.
November 21, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
While Nicholson steals the film’s long set-up, the second half of The Departed becomes a psychologically taut battle of wits and nerves between Billy and Colin…
May 15, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter…
Plot
In this crime-action tour de force, the South Boston state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello’s confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the state police as an informer for the syndicate is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they have penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy – and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save themselves. But is either willing to turn on their friends and comrades they’ve made during their long stints undercover?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Mark Wahlberg’s performance in The Departed is described as “electric” by critics.
Martin-Scorsese.jpg
94%
Mountain Patrol (Kekexili) (2006)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: 21 wins & 22 nominations
In a setting both visually stunning and cruel, this Eastern film evokes the epic spirit of old-fashioned Westerns.
Mountain Patrol: Kekexili is a movie that will take your breath away, both figuratively and literally. The stunning scenery and intense chase scenes will leave you in awe, while the environmental message will make you want to hug a tree (or at least recycle). It’s like Moby Dick, but with yaks instead of whales. And if you’re not convinced yet, there’s a scene where a guy gets sucked into quicksand. Need I say more?
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Huayi Brothers Media, National Geographic World Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
China
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for violence and disturbing images, brief sexuality and language
Year of Release
2004
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Mandarin, Tibetan
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Aug 29, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Mountain Patrol: Kekexili, starring Duobujie, Zhang Lei, Qi Liang, Xueying Zhao, directed by Chuan Lu, written by Chuan Lu, drama, PG-13 rating, box office gross of $142.2K, reviewed by Marrit Ingman, Steven Rea, Robert Denerstein, Bruce Westbrook, John Hartl, Roger Ebert, Panos Kotzathanasis, Rob Humanick, Jeffrey Chen, Eric D Snider, Jack Garner, Phil Villarreal, endangered antelope, poaching, Tibet, volunteer patrolmen, environmental awareness, spiritual mindfulness, Western, true story, Dolby Digital, Yang Du, Zhonglei Wang, Aug 29 2006, 1h 30m, Chinese language
Worldwide gross: $185,920
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $293,286
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,860
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 31,983
US/Canada gross: $143,383
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $226,185
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,523
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,915
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $26,683
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,410
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): CN¥10,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Zhang Lei – Ga Yu
Qi Liang – Liu Dong
Xueying Zhao – Leng Xue
Ma Zhanlin
Gensong Yongcuo
Yang Jin
Director(s)
Chuan Lu
Writer(s)
Chuan Lu
Producer(s)
Yang Du, Zhonglei Wang
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
21 wins & 22 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (1)
Mixes environmental awareness and spiritual mindfulness with its chase scenes through grand scenery.
June 3, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Breathtakingly beautiful, breathtakingly brutal and simply breathtaking.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Much of the time, the movie plays like a catalog of challenges sprawled over terrain so forbidding that you can’t watch it without feeling a steep measure of awe.
May 19, 2006 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
Instead of a laudable ecological crusade, the film feels more like a futile Captain Ahab obsession, with patrol leader Ri Tai (Duobujie) vainly chasing a poaching kingpin through the harsh, windy wilderness.
May 12, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
One of the most beautiful and disturbing widescreen epics in last year’s Seattle International Film Festival.
May 5, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
What is remarkable is that this film is based on a true story, and filmed on the actual locations.
May 5, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Lu Chuan uses a rather unique approach for his narrative, combining elements of documentary , road movie, and western
January 19, 2020
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
An ode to the great sacrifices that often accompany the will to do the right thing.
November 5, 2007 | Rating: B+
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth
Moby Dick with a progressive spin.
October 13, 2006 | Rating: 8/10
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
August 14, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com
One of those films that opens eyes to distant lands and problems and yet carries a sense of drama and a humane moral tone that conveys an appeal that’s simultaneously exotic and universal.
July 28, 2006 | Rating: 8/10
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
The film’s most memorable visual spectacle, of a man getting sucked into a pool of quicksand, is also the most resonant. Man may think he rules over nature, but it can take him back at any moment.
July 6, 2006 | Rating: 3/4
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star…
Plot
The Tibetan Mountain Patrol, a self-sponsored outcast regimen established to eliminate illegal slaughtering of endangered Tibetan Antelopes by impoverished local and out-of-province peasants, intimately engages with a half-Tibetan journalist from Beijing in a desolate depiction of human nature in the outskirts of Kekexili.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a cast of mostly non-professional actors, with many of the patrolmen playing themselves.
Chuan-Lu.jpg
94%
War of the Worlds (2005)
94%RT Audience Score: 42%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
16 wins & 49 nominations total
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War of the Worlds delivers on the thrill and paranoia of H.G. Wells’ classic novel while impressively updating the action and effects for modern audiences.
War of the Worlds is the ultimate popcorn flick that will have you on the edge of your seat. With thrilling action scenes and a story that will tug at your heartstrings, this movie is a must-see. Plus, who doesn’t love watching stuff blow up into oblivion? Spielberg’s direction is spot-on, and Tom Cruise delivers a performance that will leave you in awe. So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the ride. Just make sure to hold on tight!
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks Pictures, Amblin Entertainment,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
JF Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for frightening sequences of sci-fi violence and disturbing images
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS Dolby Atmos
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 56m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 29, 2005 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 28, 2005
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Justin Chatwin, Tim Robbins, Rick Gonzalez, directed by Steven Spielberg, written by H.G Wells, Josh Friedman, David Koepp, Adventure, Action, PG-13, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Wendy Ide, Nell Minow, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Jessica Winter, Ken Tucker, Scott Tobias, Anton Bitel, David Walsh, Mike Massie, Leigh Paatsch, Allison Rose, Danielle Solzman, alien invasion, family drama, special effects, visual flare, long takes, explosive action, CGI, green screen, thrilling, scary, moving, funny, captivating, popcorn flick, paranoia, modern audiences, adaptation, H.G Wells’ classic novel, electromagnetic pulses, lightning strike, alien invasion, protect his children, seek refuge, Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson, Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS, Flat (1.37:1)
Worldwide gross: $603,873,119
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $920,292,568
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 111
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 100,359,059
US/Canada gross: $234,280,354
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $357,039,354
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 149
US/Canada opening weekend: $64,878,725
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $98,874,095
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 83
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $132,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $201,165,800
Production budget ranking: 113
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $108,327,783
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $610,798,985
ROI to date (est.): 197%
ROI ranking: 633
Dakota Fanning – Rachel Ferrier
Miranda Otto – Mary Ann
Justin Chatwin – Robbie
Tim Robbins – Harlan Ogilvy
Rick Gonzalez – Vincent
Director(s)
Steven Spielberg
Writer(s)
H.G. Wells, Josh Friedman, David Koepp
Producer(s)
Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
16 wins & 49 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (265) | Top Critics (60) | Fresh (199) | Rotten (66)
This superior popcorn flick revels in the unabashed joy of blowing stuff into oblivion.
July 5, 2022
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The story is affecting, the action scenes are thrilling, the issues are resonant.
August 15, 2013 | Rating: B+
Nell Minow
Beliefnet
TOP CRITIC
Spielberg’s calculations turn out to be more prominent than any effects they could possibly produce, and the less pretentious 1953 version by producer George Pal emerges as more likable.
June 8, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The film succeeds as pure sensation, an exacting distillation of fear.
June 24, 2006
Jessica Winter
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds is huge and scary, moving and funny-another capper to a career that seems like an unending succession of captivations.
May 12, 2006
Ken Tucker
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
There likely won’t be a more gripping film this year than Spielberg’s War Of The Worlds, which at its best glides along like choreography with a camera, slowly parsing out information while shrouding the rest in shadow and suggestion.
September 26, 2005
Scott Tobias
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
its human hero strap[s] explosive devices to his body in a campaign of guerrilla warfare and suicide bombing against an overwhelming force – all tactics of, precisely, the othered terror on which America had recently declared war.
October 16, 2021
Anton Bitel
BFI
The great weakness, ultimately, of the film is that its ambivalence, unease and discomfort about American realities in general and the “war on terror” in particular are not placed in the forefront, developed or worked through to the end.
February 15, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
The carnage is more colossal than in most disaster movies, the sets are spectacularly ominous, the CG is impressive, and the desperation is more psychologically trying.
November 9, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
War of the Worlds pulses with excitement, danger and palpable nervous energy that generates a legitimate and lasting awe.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Spielberg always delivers a quality product and teaming him with Cruise results in a well done, modern rendition of this classic story.
May 17, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
While the Wells story is a classic, Spielberg manages to find a way to truly make War of the Worlds his own.
May 13, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies…
Plot
An ordinary man has to protect his children against alien invaders in this science fiction action film freely adapted from the classic story by H.G. Wells. Ray Ferrier (Tom Cruise) is a dockworker living in New Jersey, divorced from his first wife Mary Ann (Miranda Otto) and estranged from his two children Rachel and Robbie (Dakota Fanning and Justin Chatwin), of whom he has custody on weekends. On one such visitation, looking after the kids becomes a little more difficult when, after a series of strange lighting storms hit his neighborhood, Ray discovers that a fleet of death-ray robotic spaceships have emerged nearby, part of the first wave of an all-out alien invasion of the Earth. Transporting his children from New York to Boston in an attempt to find safety at Mary Ann’s parents’ house, Ray must learn to become the protector and provider he never was in marriage.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Tom Cruise stars as dockworker Ray Ferrier in War of the Worlds.
Steven-Spielberg.jpg
94%
Murderball (2005)
94%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
17 wins & 13 nominations total
An entertaining and gripping documentary that shows being confined to a wheelchair doesn’t mean the fun has to end.
Murderball is like a prison movie, but instead of shivs and shanks, it’s all about wheelchairs and rugby balls. This documentary is a celebration of the human spirit, showcasing the power of the human body to adapt and heal. It’s a kick-ass showcase of what spinal injury enabled, not excluded. And let’s be real, there’s little room for tears in the testosterone-riddled territory of quadriplegic rugby. So, grab some popcorn and get ready to witness the mental and physical fortitude of these wheelchair-bound athletes who insist on living life to the fullest.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, MTV Films, Participant
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and sexual content
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 25m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 8, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 29, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Murderball, documentary, quad rugby, wheelchair, full-contact, paraplegic, sport, 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece, directed by Henry Alex Rubin, directed by Dana Adam Shapiro, written by Dana Adam Shapiro, produced by Jeffrey V Mandel, produced by Dana Adam Shapiro, executive producer Randy Manis, starring U.S quad rugby team, box office gross $1.5M, R rating, reviewed by Richard Corliss, reviewed by J.R Jones, reviewed by Dave Calhoun, reviewed by Steve O’Hagan, reviewed by Matthew Leyland, reviewed by Tasha Robinson, reviewed by Felicia Feaster, reviewed by Nick Rogers, reviewed by Jay Antani, reviewed by Cole Smithey, 98% Tomatometer, 141 critic reviews, 89% audience score, 10,000+ ratings
Worldwide gross: $1,751,895
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,669,859
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,339
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 291,151
US/Canada gross: $1,531,154
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,333,453
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,995
US/Canada opening weekend: $57,286
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $87,303
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,988
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,750,211
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $2,667,292
Production budget ranking: 1,993
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,436,337
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$1,433,771
ROI to date (est.): -35%
ROI ranking: 1,601
Dana Adam Shapiro – Director, Writer
Jeffrey V. Mandel – Producer
Dana Adam Shapiro – Producer
Randy Manis – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Henry Alex Rubin, Dana Adam Shapiro
Writer(s)
Dana Adam Shapiro
Producer(s)
Jeffrey V. Mandel, Dana Adam Shapiro
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
17 wins & 13 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (141) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (138) | Rotten (3)
Murderball is no Rocky-esque hymn to the human spirit. It’s more like a prison movie…
August 4, 2008
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
An honest, down-to-earth account of how life goes on for people with disabilities.
March 26, 2007
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
What emerges is more interesting, thankfully, than a linear offering of sporting triumph in the face of adversity.
June 24, 2006
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A leftfield sports documentary that’s as insightful and thought-provoking as it is fast and furious.
April 1, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Steve O’Hagan
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
One of 2005’s very best documentaries.
October 25, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Leyland
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Few sports movies with a premise this powerful ever bother to dig this deep.
September 26, 2005
Tasha Robinson
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Murderball is a movie that’s easier to admire than adore, and its makers wouldn’t have it any other way.
December 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
A celebration of the human spirit and a testimony of the power of the human body to adapt and heal.
September 17, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Murderball tends to buck the feel-good vibe and good guy-bad guy arc of that genre… Instead, the film depicts a more profound and lifelong battle waged between these men and the circumstance they find themselves in.
February 3, 2020
Felicia Feaster
Creative Loafing
There’s little room for tears in the testosterone-riddled territory of quadriplegic rugby. “Murderball” spat on that power of the human spirit stuff and rolled along to a kick-ass showcase of not what spinal injury excluded, but what it enabled.
September 19, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
a triumph of filmmaking: of structure, character development, and pacing
August 21, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
The quadriplegic rugby sport referred to as “Murderball” is lovingly examined in a well-crafted documentary that goes a long way toward showing the mental and physical fortitude of these wheelchair bound athletes who insist on living life to the fullest.
April 16, 2009 | Rating: B+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com…
Plot
Quad rugby as played by the US team, between 2002 games in Sweden and the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Young men, most with spinal injuries, play this rough and tumble sport in special chairs, seated gladiators. We get to know several and their families. They talk frankly about their injuries, feelings in public, sex lives, competitiveness, and love of the game. There’s also an angry former team member gone north to coach the Canadian team, tough on everyone, including his viola-playing son. We meet a recently injured man, in rehab, at times close to despair, finding possible joy in quad rugby. After Athens, the team meets young men injured in war: the future stars of Team USA.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing specific is mentioned about the cast in this Fresh Kernels entry.
Henry-Alex-Rubin.jpg
94%
Downfall (Der Untergang) (2004)
94%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
22 wins & 34 nominations total
Downfall is an illuminating, thoughtful and detailed account of Hitler’s last days.
If you’re looking for a movie that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, Downfall is definitely not it. But if you want a gripping, intense, and brutally honest look at the final days of Hitler and the Third Reich, then this is the movie for you. The performances are incredible, especially Bruno Ganz as Hitler, who manages to make you feel both repulsed and sympathetic towards the man. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s an important one, and it will stay with you long after the credits roll. Just maybe don’t watch it on a first date.
Production Company(ies)
Constantin Film Norddeutscher Rundfunk Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributor
Newmarket Film Group
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
St. Petersburg, Russia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and some nudity
Year of Release
2005
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital DTS
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 34m
-
Language(s):German, Russian, French, English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2005
Genre(s)
War
Keyword(s)
Downfall, R, War, 2h 34m, Bruno Ganz, Alexandra Maria Lara, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Matthes, Juliane Köhler, Heino Ferch, directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, written by Bernd Eichinger, produced by Bernd Eichinger, reviewed by David Ansen, Roger Moore, Marc Savlov, Rene Rodriguez, Rick Groen, Geoff Pevere, James Croot, Leigh Paatsch, Miles Fielder, Tracy Moore, David Keyes, Nick Rogers, starring Adolf Hitler, Traudl Junge, Magda Goebbels, Joseph Goebbels, Eva Braun, Albert Speer, illuminating, thoughtful, detailed, Hitler’s last days, Third Reich, box office gross $5.5M, Fresh Kernels, Tomatometer 90%, audience score 94%, some nudity, disturbing images, strong violence, German, Newmarket Film Group, surround sound
Worldwide gross: $92,181,574
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $140,483,182
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 866
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 15,319,867
US/Canada gross: $5,509,040
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $8,395,685
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,672
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,195
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $27,729
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,391
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 13500000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $20,573,775
Production budget ranking: 1,353
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $11,078,978
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $108,830,429
ROI to date (est.): 344%
ROI ranking: 404
Alexandra Maria Lara – Traudl Junge
Corinna Harfouch – Magda Goebbels
Ulrich Matthes – Joseph Goebbels
Juliane Köhler – Eva Braun
Heino Ferch – Albert Speer
Director(s)
Oliver Hirschbiegel
Writer(s)
Bernd Eichinger
Producer(s)
Bernd Eichinger
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
22 wins & 34 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (141) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (14)
Does Downfall “humanize” Hitler and his henchmen, as its critics have complained? Yes, and it should: to pretend these villains were less than human is to let ourselves off the hook, to take the easy and dangerous exit of demonology.
January 22, 2013
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
May be the definitive account of Hitler’s final days and the collapse of the Third Reich.
April 8, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Some demons are too extreme to comprehend, but Hirschbiegel’s film nonetheless provides a painfully unflinching glimpse into the outer workings of the mortally wounded Third Reich.
April 3, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
With a steely, unblinking resolve, Downfall stares into the abyss, but does not pretend to comprehend it.
April 1, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Viewed through a North American lens, the movie itself seems more familiar than fascinating, more innocuous than inflammatory, and, at 21/2 hours, more tedious than anything else.
March 18, 2005 | Rating: 2/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
For emotional effect it trades less in the spectacle of ebbing power than the tragedy of power’s mysterious thrall.
March 18, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
It is a stunning performance of light and shade, tracing his descent from total denial to despair, disillusionment and defeat.
March 26, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
Most impressive of all is how, with the world closing in on the ranting, paranoid monster, Ganz ratchets down his performance from towering to cowering in minute increments.
April 3, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
It asks a great deal of indulgence from its audience, almost as though nothing less than an endurance test would do in dealing with this heavyweight subject. And that, despite admirable aims, doesn’t make for great cinema.
April 24, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
Miles Fielder
The List
Provocative look at Hitler’s last days is extremely violent.
May 20, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Tracy Moore
Common Sense Media
…an unflinching, hard, relentlessly honest movie that refuses to ask questions that have easy answers. It is also brilliantly acted, written and focused…
June 29, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
David Keyes
Cinemaphile.org
“Downfall” isn’t about commuting history’s sentence for the Nazis, but heeding its warning – a gruesome, sustained-tension lesson about informed politics and whether those who left evil to its own devices could arrive at a place of complicit guilt.
September 25, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap…
Plot
Charting the last 10 days of Hitler’s life, from his 56th birthday on April 20th, 1945 to his suicide on April 30th, Downfall uses multiple characters to show the chaos of a country coming apart at the seams, from Hitler’s henchman under the streets of Berlin, to the soldiers and civilians fighting and dying as the Soviet Army ravaged the city above. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2005.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bruno Ganz’s portrayal of Adolf Hitler in Downfall is considered one of the best screen performances of the infamous leader.
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94%
Head-On (2005)
94%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 25 wins & 14 nominations
Head-On is a punky, noisy romance that captures the essence of contemporary classics such as My Beautiful Laundrette and Trainspotting. Fatih Akin’s raw and powerful film takes us on a multileveled journey from despair to “do something” that is both violent and sexy, funny and sad. The spectacle of people developing feelings for each other through layers of mutual narcissism, self-loathing, and raging terror of intimacy is a testament to the two lead performances. While the storytelling rhythms can be jarring, it seems true to the disconnect of Cahit’s and Sibel’s lives. Beyond its pleasures as a good piece of storytelling, Head-On also provides interesting commentary on the clash between different cultures. Overall, Head-On is a gloomy fairy-tale version of a Hollywood romantic film that is directed with extraordinary confidence and maturity by the 32-year-old Fatih Akin.
Head-On is a punk rock love story that will make you want to dye your hair black and start a mosh pit in your living room. The chemistry between the two cultural misfits is electric, and the raw emotion and powerful performances will leave you feeling like you just got punched in the gut (in a good way). Sure, the storytelling rhythms can be a little jarring, but that’s just part of the film’s charm. Plus, it’s got some interesting commentary on cultural clashes, so you might even learn something while you’re headbanging.
Production Company(ies)
ARTE Bavaria Film International, Corazón International,
Distributor
Strand Releasing
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Fabrik, Altona, Hamburg, Germany
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong graphic sexuality, pervasive language, some brutal violence and drug content
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital EX
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 2m
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Language(s):German, Turkish, English
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Country of origin:France, Germany
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 13, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Birol Ünel, Sibel Kekilli, Catrin Striebeck, Güven Kiraç, Meltem Cumbul, Cem Akin, directed by Fatih Akin, written by Fatih Akin, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Sukhdev Sandhu, David Ansen, Nick Schager, Roger Moore, Geoff Pevere, Rick Groen, Yasser Medina, Nigel Floyd, Brian Miller, Mark Halverson, Ethan Alter, MPAA rating R, immigrants, traditional, modern, Hamburg, Germany, mental institution, suicidal, marriage, Turkish, romance, provocative, emotional, punky, noisy, My Beautiful Laundrette, Trainspotting, powerful, multileveled, despair, love, cultural misfits, violence, sexuality, pervasive language, drug content, brutal violence, strong graphic sexuality, Strand Releasing, Stefan Schubert, Ralph Schwingel, produced by Stefan Schubert, Ralph Schwingel
Worldwide gross: $11,065,801
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $17,456,151
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,760
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,903,615
US/Canada gross: $435,395
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $686,830
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,263
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,216
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $24,003
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,447
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
Sibel Kekilli – Sibel Güner
Catrin Striebeck – Maren
Güven Kiraç – Seref
Meltem Cumbul – Selma
Cem Akin – Yilmaz Güner (Bruder)
Director(s)
Fatih Akin
Writer(s)
Fatih Akin
Producer(s)
Stefan Schubert, Ralph Schwingel
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
25 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (88) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (80) | Rotten (8)
A punky, noisy romance full of life and emotion and ideas that captures the moment in the style of contemporary classics such as My Beautiful Laundrette and Trainspotting.
April 1, 2019
Sukhdev Sandhu
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
That this marriage of convenience between two cultural misfits will eventually lead to love may sound like a contrivance, but that’s not at all the way it plays. Akin’s raw, powerful, multileveled movie takes us places we never expected to go.
March 13, 2018
David Ansen
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
Ultimately more provocative than insightful.
April 10, 2006 | Rating: B
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness
TOP CRITIC
Akin makes this a most intriguing, if roundabout, journey from despair to ‘do something.’
July 1, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The power of Akin’s film, which is considerably aided by the two lead performances … comes from the spectacle of people developing feelings for each other even through numbing layers of mutual narcissism, self-loathing and raging terror of intimacy.
June 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Violent and sexy and funny and sad.
June 17, 2005 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
One of the few films by the German Turkish director Fatih Akin that gets me hooked from start to finish. [Full review in Spanish]
February 26, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Yasser Medina
Cinemaficionados
From its stunning opening sequence to its merciless fatalistic conclusion, this is directed with extraordinary confidence and maturity by the 32-year-old Fatih Akin.
April 23, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Nigel Floyd
The List
The storytelling rhythms can be a little jarring, almost like early Spike Lee, but this seems true to the disconnect of Cahit’s and Sibel’s lives.
February 19, 2019
Brian Miller
Seattle Weekly
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Beyond its pleasures as a good piece of storytelling, Head-On also provides some interesting commentary on the clash between different cultures.
March 1, 2007
Ethan Alter
Film Journal International
A gloomy fairy-tale version of a Hollywood romantic film that barely gets past its gloomy outlook on life.
October 5, 2005 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews…
Plot
In ‘Gegen die Wand’ Cahit, a 40-something male from Mersin in Turkey has removed everything Turkish from his life. He has become an alcoholic drug addict and at the start of the movie wants to end it all. Sibel a 20-something female from Hamburg wishes to please her Turkish parents yet yearns for freedom. She has had her nose broken by her brother for being seen holding hands with a boy and yet she can not break her mother’s heart and run away. She too attempts suicide and she first approaches Cahit there at the Hospital. Sibel asks Cahit to marry her, as she believes this to be the way out of her parent’s house. She promises Cahit that their relationship will be like roommates, not like a married couple. The film follows Sibel and Cahit as they get married, become closer and eventually fall in love.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Lead actor Birol Ünel won the Best Actor award at the 2004 European Film Awards for his performance in Head-On.
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