Paper Spiders (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 1 nomination
A coming-of-age drama that thoughtfully handles hard-hitting themes, Paper Spiders is anchored by heartbreaking performances from its leads.
If you’re in the mood for a movie that’ll make you feel all the feels, Paper Spiders is the one for you. It’s a coming-of-age flick that tackles some heavy stuff, but does it with grace and sensitivity. The actors really bring their A-game, and you’ll be reaching for the tissues before you know it. Seriously, these performances are so good, they’ll break your heart into a million little pieces. But in a good way, you know? Like, you’ll be crying, but you’ll also be like, “Wow, that was some damn fine acting.” So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures, Particular Crowd
Distributor
Entertainment Squad
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Syracuse, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 50m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 22, 2021
Genre(s)
Drama/Comedy
Keyword(s)
starring Lili Taylor, Stefania Owen, Peyton List, Ian Nelson, Max Casella, David Rasche, directed by Inon Shampanier, written by Natalie Shampanier, drama, comedy, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Randy Myers, Guy Lodge, Katie Walsh, Teo Bugbee, Sheri Linden, Ezequiel Boetti, Jackie K Cooper, Danielle Solzman, Robin Holabird, David Kaplan, Staci Layne Wilson, Milana Vujkov, produced by Ash Christian, Anne Clements, PG, mental illness, coming-of-age, mother-daughter relationship, anxiety, college, new neighbor, paranoid delusions, interventions, reality, healing, bittersweet, English, Entertainment Squad
Worldwide gross: $2,992
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,154
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 355
US/Canada gross: $2,992
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,835
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,992
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,254
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,834
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
Stefania Owen – Melanie
Peyton List – Lacy
Ian Nelson – Daniel
Max Casella – Gary
David Rasche – Bill Hoffman
Director(s)
Inon Shampanier
Writer(s)
Natalie Shampanier
Producer(s)
Ash Christian, Anne Clements
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (44)
The screenplay from Natalie Shampanier is astute and purposeful. “Paper Spiders” doesn’t put a happy face on any of this, but it does instill hope and understanding.
May 27, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
If the film’s flirtations with full-tilt melodrama occasionally strain credibility, a pair of intuitive, thoughtfully inhabited performances pull proceedings back from the edge every time.
May 25, 2021
Guy Lodge
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Personal experience brings a rare honesty and authenticity to this film about mental illness.
May 7, 2021
Katie Walsh
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
It is a pleasure to see Lili Taylor sink her teeth into a starring role, and she plays her character’s manic descent with a palpable and heartbreaking practicality.
May 6, 2021
Teo Bugbee
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A sensitive blend of YA, PSA and nuanced characterizations.
September 3, 2020
Sheri Linden
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
A film that avoids at all cost to fall into cheesiness. [Full review in Spanish]
May 12, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Ezequiel Boetti
Otroscines.com
Outstanding acting and a script that takes a sober look at mental illness.
December 20, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Drawing upon personal experiences, Paper Spiders benefits from Lili Taylor and Stefania LaVie Owen’s performances.
November 1, 2021
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Paper Spiders never tries to cushion reality. Its purpose comes without a solution, simply a realization that many share this difficult situation.
October 29, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
The Shampaniers have crafted a compelling screenplay and the ensemble cast does an exemplary job bringing it to life.
September 3, 2021
David Kaplan
Kaplan vs. Kaplan
Paper Spiders is a low-fi indie with a lot of heart that provides much food for thought through an entertaining, bittersweet storyline.
August 30, 2021
Staci Layne Wilson
Fantastica Daily
A well-crafted, moving, bittersweet portrait of a deteriorating psyche, and the way any human suffering can be transcended with an open heart.
August 21, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film…
Plot
A mother and daughter’s relationship is tested as the mother’s mental health deteriorates, causing her to experience paranoid delusions, in the coming-of-age drama Paper Spiders.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Lili Taylor’s performance in Paper Spiders is described as “heartbreaking” by critics.
Inon-Shampanier.jpg
96%
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
18 nominations total
Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry offers an enlightening — and sometimes uncomfortable — look behind the scenes of a young star’s ascension.
If you’re a fan of Billie Eilish, you gotta check out her documentary, The World’s a Little Blurry. It’s like getting a backstage pass to her life, but be warned, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. You’ll see the good, the bad, and the awkward moments of her rise to fame. But hey, that’s what makes it so enlightening, right? Plus, you’ll get to see her adorable relationship with her brother Finneas, who’s basically her musical soulmate. So grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride with Billie.
Production Company(ies)
Apple Original Films, Interscope Films, Lighthouse Management & Media,
Distributor
NEON
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout and brief nude sketches
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 21m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 26, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, Billie Eilish, R.J Cutler, Trevor Smith, John Janick, Aleen Keshishian, coming-of-age, rise to fame, family, debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, R rating, language, nudity, English, NEON, critic reviews, fan reviews, box office, budget, producer, director, writer, actor, MPAA rating, behind the scenes, superstar, teenager, journey, road, stage, Spotify, SoundCloud, L.A story, vulnerability, anxiety, perfectionism, emotional scars, talent, brilliance, verité, contemporary music industry, prodigy, spotlight, fan service, Invisiline, midnight-dark narratives, emotional, uncomfortable, enlightening, intimate, fascinating, entertaining, haunting, engaging, honest, frank, sensational, connection, generation, voice, documentary filmmaking, young star, ascension, mythology, glimpse, making of, teen pop star, talent, lovely voice, musical, L.A story, Spotify, SoundCloud, record deal, fulfilling, balance, source, secret, tedious, brilliance, unafraid, emotional scars, mesmerizing, featured audience reviews, MCU, horror movies, Netflix series, TV shows, news, reviews, Fandango, privacy policy, terms and policies, accessibility
Worldwide gross: $139
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $151
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,163
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 16
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
R.J. Cutler – Director, Producer
Trevor Smith – Producer
John Janick – Executive Producer
Aleen Keshishian – Executive Producer
Director(s)
R.J. Cutler
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
R.J. Cutler, Trevor Smith
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
18 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (97) | Rotten (4)
The World’s a Little Blurry hews close to the Eilish mythology, yet still offers a rare glimpse behind the making of a teen pop star.
April 5, 2022
Alessa Dominguez
BuzzFeed News
TOP CRITIC
RJ Cutler’s film runs for two hours and 20 minutes, plus a discretionary intermission, and nothing in it suggests it should have been over half that length.
May 29, 2021 | Rating: 2/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
She’s very talented, as is her brother, musically. Lovely, lovely voice.
March 10, 2021
Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a great L.A. story and a fascinating look at how one becomes a musical superstar in this world where things like Spotify and SoundCloud are perhaps more important than getting signed to a big record deal.
March 10, 2021
Christy Lemire
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
I first balked at its 2 1/2-hour running time, but Cutler’s epic earns every second, showing us an artist who is frank, confident, vulnerable and anxiety-ridden by the need to be “perfect.”
March 4, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
There is a vast wealth of entertaining work in the form, but it’s almost never free to speak its mind. That said, this overlong film by the experienced R. J. Cutler is haunting and engaging.
March 4, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
R.J. Cutler’s documentary is an honest and frank documentation of a sensational young woman and her ability to withstand all the clutter to produce and connect to a generation of people through her voice.
December 5, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Shikhar Verma
High on Films
None of this proves either immediately satisfying or cinematically impressive enough to justify the film’s extended 140-minute runtime.
June 6, 2021
Ayeen Forootan
In Review Online
With a risky runtime of 140 minutes, the film never feels overlong, as it strikes a skilled balance between a fulfilling fan service and a verité epitome of the contemporary music industry as experienced by its prodigy in the spotlight.
June 1, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Weiting Liu
One Room With A View
While curious onlookers and casual fans will no doubt enjoy TWALBB, the super fans – those looking for the source of her midnight-dark narratives – might have to wait a bit longer for the Invisiline-rocking 16 year-old to let us in on the secret.
April 12, 2021
Dan Tabor
Phawker
The first hour is a bit tedious but in the second hour her brilliance and her talent unite.
March 26, 2021 | Rating: 6/10
Jackie K. Cooper
jackiekcooper.com
Of course, when you have your main subject unafraid to expose her emotional scars on-screen, then you can really just let your camera roll. Eilish is that mesmerizing.
March 17, 2021 | Rating: B
Jordan Ruimy
World of Reel…
Plot
“Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” is a documentary that follows the rise of the singer-songwriter as she navigates life on the road, on stage, and at home with her family, while writing, recording and releasing her debut album.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
One of the cast members of Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry is Billie Eilish herself.
R.J.-Cutler.jpg
96%
Playing with Sharks (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 100%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 9 nominations
A fascinating tribute to a pioneer as well as an engrossing act of environmental advocacy, Playing with Sharks makes up in enjoyment what it lacks in depth.
Playing with Sharks is a total blast! It’s like a love letter to a badass pioneer who also happens to be a total shark whisperer. And if you’re into saving the planet (who isn’t?), this flick will definitely float your boat. Sure, it’s not the most scholarly documentary out there, but who needs that when you’re having this much fun? Get ready to dive in and get hooked!
Production Company(ies)
Wildbear Entertainment, National Geographic
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Disney+)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:Australia
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, ocean, sharks, Valerie Taylor, Sally Aitken, Bettina Dalton, environmental advocacy, trailblazing advocate, marine wildlife conservation, photographer, misunderstood creatures, English, 1h 35m, Ron Taylor, Anna Godas, reviewed by Alonso Duralde, Randy Myers, Natalia Winkelman, John Anderson, Jessica Kiang, Peter Howell, Cody Dericks, Zofia Wijaszka, Alexandra MacAaron, Loren King, Robin Holabird, Sabrina McFarland, produced by Bettina Dalton, directed by Sally Aitken, written by Sally Aitken, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, producer names, critic names, actor names
Worldwide gross: $68,364
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $74,353
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,052
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 8,108
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
Valerie Taylor – Self
Sally Aitken – Director, Writer
Bettina Dalton – Producer
Anna Godas – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Sally Aitken
Writer(s)
Sally Aitken
Producer(s)
Bettina Dalton
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (2)
A front-row look at an extraordinary life.
December 3, 2021
Alonso Duralde
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
Taylor’s tireless commitment to [her] cause and her love for what the seas offer are inspiring for young and old alike.
August 2, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Are we meant to recoil from sharks or care for them? Likely some of both, but the documentary comes out looking unsure.
July 23, 2021
Natalia Winkelman
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
Playing With Sharks has its visual thrills but also tells one good story after another, not only about making movies and flirting with death but about the nature of the fish and the steely character of the movie’s human subject.
July 23, 2021
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
An enjoyable if by-the-numbers breeze through the remarkable life of Valerie Taylor, an ardent pioneer of marine wildlife conservation.
March 18, 2021
Jessica Kiang
Variety
TOP CRITIC
The film sounds an urgent call for conservation and states a truth: humans are the real apex predators.
February 4, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
It doesn’t…dive as deep on such an important subject as Taylor warrants. While it features undeniably interesting historical moments, the filmmaking on display…does not equal Taylor and her colleagues’ archival footage in aquatic action.
July 7, 2022 | Rating: 5/10
Cody Dericks
Next Best Picture
Playing with Sharks is a must-watch for everybody. Its a film that gives us an interesting insight into the life of one amazing woman and highlights the beauty of the ocean creatures that deserve a better reputation.
February 11, 2022 | Rating: A
Zofia Wijaszka
Daily Dead
The charismatic subject of writer-director and Emmy-nominee Sally Aitkin’s new documentary, ‘Playing with Sharks: the Valerie Taylor Story,’ has been at home in – and in love with – the ocean since she was in her early twenties.
August 5, 2021 | Rating: 8/10
Alexandra MacAaron
Women’s Voices for Change
[If] Valerie May Taylor didn’t exist, the movies would have to invent her. Luckily for us she does, and Sally Aitken’s fascinating documentary, Playing with Sharks… gives Taylor, now a spry 85, her well-deserved due.
July 30, 2021
Loren King
Newport This Week (RI)
Offering plenty of visuals to make that point, Valerie Taylor and Playing with Sharks make ideal summer viewing.
July 30, 2021
Robin Holabird
KUNR (Reno, NV)
Playing with Sharks not only offers an informative, eye-opening viewing experience for kids and families, but also the chance to participate in engaging deep-dive discussions about Taylor’s exceptional life journey.
July 30, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Sabrina McFarland
Common Sense Media…
Plot
Playing with Sharks is a documentary about photographer Valerie Taylor, who becomes an advocate for sharks and marine conservation.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Valerie Taylor, the subject of the documentary Playing with Sharks, is a trailblazing advocate for the ocean’s most maligned and misunderstood creatures.
Sally-Aitken.jpg
96%
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Oscars
44 wins & 80 nominations total
An electrifying dramatization of historical events, Judas and the Black Messiah is a forceful condemnation of racial injustice — and a major triumph for its director and stars.
Judas and the Black Messiah is like a bolt of lightning hitting you right in the feels. It’s a movie that tells the story of some serious historical events, but it does it in a way that’s so damn exciting you’ll forget you’re learning something. This flick is a big middle finger to racism and it’s a huge win for everyone involved in making it. The director and stars deserve a standing ovation for bringing this electrifying drama to life.
Production Company(ies)
BRON Studios, Bron Creative MACRO
Distributor
Warner Bros.
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (HBO Max), Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence and pervasive language
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 6m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 2021 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2021
Genre(s)
Biography
Keyword(s)
starring Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Martin Sheen, Ryan Coogler, Charles D King, Shaka King, directed by Shaka King, written by Will Berson, Shaka King, biography, box office, budget, reviewed by Namrata Joshi, Wenlei Ma, Mark Kermode, David Stratton, John Anderson, Linda Marric, James Luxford, Brian Eggert, Milana Vujkov, John Beifuss, Nick Boyd, Cory Woodroof, MPAA rating R, FBI informant, Black Panther Party, Chairman Fred Hampton, William O’Neal, Special Agent Roy Mitchell, Deborah Johnson, J Edgar Hoover, Warner Bros
Worldwide gross: $7,478,009
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,428,259
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,054
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 810,061
US/Canada gross: $5,478,009
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,957,919
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,756
US/Canada opening weekend: $2,027,076
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,204,661
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,194
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $26,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $28,277,775
Production budget ranking: 1,180
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $15,227,582
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$36,077,097
ROI to date (est.): -83%
ROI ranking: 1,909
LaKeith Stanfield – William O’Neal
Jesse Plemons – Roy Mitchell
Dominique Fishback – Deborah Johnson
Ashton Sanders – Jimmy Palmer
Martin Sheen – J. Edgar Hoover
Director(s)
Shaka King
Writer(s)
Will Berson, Shaka King
Producer(s)
Ryan Coogler, Charles D. King, Shaka King
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Oscars
44 wins & 80 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Song Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (345) | Top Critics (72) | Fresh (333) | Rotten (12)
Gifted as Hampton was with rare oratorial skills, the film on his life also tries to spin magic with his words…
May 18, 2021
Namrata Joshi
National Herald (India)
TOP CRITIC
Impressive, explosive and gut-wrenching.
March 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
It all adds up to a gripping drama…
March 14, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
This is a film made with a sense of outrage; although the events occurred so long ago, the ramifications that they led to are clearly still being felt in the US.
March 13, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
David Stratton
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
As a political statement, Judas is powerful, a quite relevant revisiting of an American past that, as William Faulkner would have observed, isn’t even past.
March 12, 2021
John Anderson
America Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Kaluuya is terrific..
March 11, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Linda Marric
The Jewish Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Towering performances from the leads remind us that these struggles from the past are vital to our understanding of the present.
March 1, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
James Luxford
City AM
Since Fred Hampton isn’t a name found in the average American history book, Judas and the Black Messiah shines a light on a story that demands attention today, and it’s told with care and substance.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Compensating in visual simplicity and narrative earnestness what it lacks in storytelling flair (…) bringing into focus the burning question of the ways credible popular movements could be corrupted from within.
February 8, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Milana Vujkov
Lola On Film
A vivid reimagining of history…
February 3, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
The film smartly explores the ideologies of the Black Panther Party and what they stood for.
December 28, 2021
Nick Boyd
Battle Royale With Cheese
King directs with such gravitas and command; it’s not a film you’ll forget anytime soon.
December 14, 2021
Cory Woodroof
Nashville Scene…
Plot
Fred Hampton, a young, charismatic activist, becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party – putting him directly in the crosshairs of the government, the FBI, and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, the authorities are going to need a man on the inside.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Daniel Kaluuya delivers a standout performance as Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.
Shaka-King.jpg
96%
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street (2021)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: 2 nominations
Like the show whose groundbreaking creation it commemorates, Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street is as enlightening as it is purely entertaining.
If you’re a fan of Sesame Street, you gotta check out Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street. It’s not just a documentary, it’s a journey through the history of one of the most iconic shows of all time. And let me tell you, it’s not just informative, it’s downright fun.
You’ll get to see how the show was created, from the early days of brainstorming to the first episode airing on TV. It’s fascinating to see how the team behind Sesame Street came up with the characters we all know and love, like Big Bird, Elmo, and Cookie Monster.
But it’s not all serious stuff. There are plenty of hilarious moments too, like when Jim Henson and Frank Oz try to figure out how to make a puppet ride a bicycle. And who knew that Oscar the Grouch was originally going to be orange?
Overall, Street Gang is a must-watch for anyone who grew up with Sesame Street or just loves great TV. It’s a celebration of creativity, friendship, and the power of education. Plus, you’ll get to sing along to some classic Sesame Street songs. What more could you want?
Production Company(ies)
Macrocosm Entertainment, Citizen Skull Productions, Bond It Media Capital
Distributor
Screen Media Films
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (HBO Max), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some thematic elements, language and smoking
Year of Release
2021
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:1h 47m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 23, 2021 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 13, 2021
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Sesame Street, Street Gang, Marilyn Agrelo, Trevor Crafts, Ellen Scherer Crafts, Lisa Diamond, PG, Joan Ganz Cooney, Fran Brill, Christopher Cerf, Emilio Delgado, Jim Henson, Jon Stone, critic reviews, uplifting, enlightening, behind the scenes, cultural phenomenon, groundbreaking, experimental, television, Muppets, archive footage, joyous, heartbreaking, revolutionary, producer, director, writer, actor, box office, budget, MPAA rating, social phenomenon, personal narratives, never before seen footage, aspect ratio, limited release, streaming, audience score, Tomatometer, verified purchase, Fandango, news, reviews, TV shows, movies, podcast, Thor, Marvel, Minions, documentary, Witch House, cleaning, Stay Prayed Up, Girl in the Picture, Hello, Goodbye, Everything in Between, Confessions from the Hart, The Prey: Legend of Karnoctus, The Sea Beast, Moon, 66 Questions, Dreaming Walls: Inside the Chelsea Hotel, The Road to Galena, Incantation, Dangerous Liaisons, Jewel, Warriors on the Field, Fair Play
Worldwide gross: $1,230
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,338
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,159
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 146
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
Fran Brill – Self
Christopher Cerf – Self
Emilio Delgado – Self
Jim Henson – Self
Jon Stone – Self
Director(s)
Marilyn Agrelo
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Trevor Crafts, Ellen Scherer Crafts, Lisa Diamond
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (99) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (5)
This account of the creation and development of the children’s television show Sesame Street is one of the most uplifting movies I have seen.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Stephen Romei
The Australian
TOP CRITIC
Illuminating, hilarious, tear-jerking and inspiring — this new documentary from Marilyn Agrelo (Mad Hot Ballroom) is an outstanding piece of work.
February 7, 2022
Brad Newsome
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The film delivers no end of joy.
January 27, 2022 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
There’s nothing less necessary than a gratuitously dirt-digging “exposé” of “Sesame Street.” But “Street Gang” isn’t too far behind in its inessentialness…
December 14, 2021
Inkoo Kang
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s not the rousing celebration I had hoped for; however, Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street is well-researched, big-hearted, and high-minded, which makes it a pretty solid tribute.
May 14, 2021
Kristy Puchko
Pajiba
TOP CRITIC
Watching Street Gang is a largely joyous experience, but there’s also something heartbreaking about it.
May 11, 2021
Stephanie Zacharek
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
It takes a documentary like this to appreciate just what a revolutionary production Sesame Street was.
June 8, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
Street Gang will be a terrific trip down memory lane for many and fascinating insight for even more. It even boasts Muppet out-takes — who could resist those?
March 31, 2022
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
The movie also shows some rare Muppet outtakes…including one scene that suggests even if Henson and Frank Oz didnt conceive Bert & Ernie as a gay couple the thought at least did occur to them pretty early on.
March 13, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
David Reddish
Queerty
“A reminder of Sesame Street’s power, and Henson’s (and Oz’s) inimitable gifts.”
February 9, 2022
Luke Goodsell
ABC News (Australia)
As lovely as you’d expect, but it’s also very moving, extremely funny and decidedly sweet.
January 25, 2022
Rob Aldam
Backseat Mafia
There’s a lot of great archive footage here from pivotal moments in the programme’s history.
December 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Jennie Kermode
Eye for Film…
Plot
Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street takes us inside the minds and hearts of the Sesame Street creators, artists, writers, and educators who, together established one of the most influential programs in television history. In late 1960s, Joan Ganz Cooney, a socially conscious female television executive was working in the fledgling world of public television. She was asked by friend Lloyd Morrisett Jr., who worked for the Carnegie Corporation of New York and who specialized in the psychological studies of pre-school children, to take on revolutionary experiment. Could Joan create a children’s show that would “master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them?” Inspired by the civil rights movement, Joan and Lloyd took this experiment one step further and began to envision using the new medium of television to educate all children, and specifically reach America’s “inner city” children to help close the educational gap that systemic racism and poverty had created. It was the right project, at the right time, and she needed the right group of people to make it happen. To harness the burgeoning power of television and create an educational, impactful, and entertaining show that could reach children nationwide. Cooney recruited visionary Muppets creator Jim Henson and acclaimed children’s television writer and director Jon Stone to craft the iconic and uplifting world of what became Sesame Street. Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street focuses on the first two experimental and groundbreaking decades of Sesame Street, highlighting this visionary “gang.” With interviews with the original surviving creators, and their families, we hear and see how “the gang” came together. They share stories of the challenges and stumbling blocks involved to create the show and its iconic characters, and also speak to confronting boundaries that came their way with unflinching purpose. All with a wicked sense of humor, and pure joy. The gang knew that they were part of something that was special, critically important, and bigger than themselves. Street Gang: How We Got To Sesame Street reintroduces the world to Joan’s gang. With exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, and original cast and creator interviews, audiences will meet the people that audaciously interpreted radical changes in society and engaged children in ways that entertained and educated them like never before. Now is the perfect time to tell the story of the show’s origins and inspire people to use purpose, and the power of creativity, to make a positive impact in our world.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features interviews with original Sesame Street creators, including Jim Henson and Joan Ganz Cooney.
Marilyn-Agrelo.jpg
96%
Corpus Christi (Boze cialo) (2020)
96%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
55 wins & 41 nominations total
Led by an impressive performance from Bartosz Bielenia, Corpus Christi thoughtfully and engagingly examines questions of faith and redemption.
If you’re looking for a movie that’ll make you think, Corpus Christi is the one for you. Bartosz Bielenia absolutely kills it in this flick, and the whole thing is just so darn engaging. It’s all about faith and redemption, and it’ll have you pondering life’s big questions long after the credits roll. Trust me, you won’t regret giving this one a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Aurum Film Canal+ Polska W F S Walter Film Studio,
Distributor
Film Movement
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Jasliska, Podkarpackie, Poland
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 35m
-
Language(s):Polish
-
Country of origin:France, Poland
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 2020 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2020
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Bartosz Bielenia, Eliza Rycembel, Aleksandra Konieczna, Tomasz Ziętek, Barbara Kurzaj, Leszek Lichota, directed by Jan Komasa, written by Mateusz Pacewicz, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Ann Hornaday, Paul Byrnes, Mark Feeney, Richard Whittaker, G Allen Johnson, Claudia Puig, Victor Pineyro, Josh Parham, Luis Fernando Galván, Pablo O Scholz, Sarah Ward, Leszek Bodzak, Aneta Cebula-Hickinbotham, Krzysztof Rak, produced by Film Movement, MPAA rating, faith, redemption, reformed criminal, seminary, priest, small town parish, Polish, Bartosz Bielenia’s performance, nuance, chameleon, martyred saint, soulful eyes, truth, hypocrisy, spiritual crisis, First Reformed, Catch Me If You Can, Spielberg, Paul Schrader, Joker, best actor contender, final 10 minutes, universal, cabbage roll, Shane, vodka, restrained, low-key narrative, cinematography, penetrating gaze, sears itself into memory, mournful gaze, exceptional performance, rhythm, liveliness, layers, power, glory, wildness, purity, electrifying performance
Worldwide gross: $9,961,273
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $11,367,460
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,932
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,239,636
US/Canada gross: $127,240
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $145,202
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,599
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,632
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,286
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,795
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
Eliza Rycembel – Eliza
Aleksandra Konieczna – Sacristan woman
Tomasz Ziętek – ‘Pinczer’
Barbara Kurzaj – Widow
Leszek Lichota – Mayor
Director(s)
Jan Komasa
Writer(s)
Mateusz Pacewicz
Producer(s)
Leszek Bodzak, Aneta Cebula-Hickinbotham, Krzysztof Rak
Film Festivals
Venice, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
55 wins & 41 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (101) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (2)
The power and the glory of “Corpus Christi” reside in the film’s leading man, whose ineffable combination of wildness and purity makes for an absolutely electrifying central performance.
February 7, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s Shane, with more vodka and fewer horses. It’s as Polish as a cabbage roll, yet startlingly universal.
October 21, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
Even when events get intense, even violent, and they do, there’s nothing abrupt. “Corpus Christi” never erupts. It unfolds.
April 24, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Mark Feeney
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Bielenia’s damp-eyed performance is the broken heart of this restrained and low-key narrative.
March 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A quite interesting and irresistible movie, a sort of cross between Paul Schrader’s recent film of spiritual crisis, “First Reformed,” and Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can.”
March 4, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
I really like this film… Beautifully shot.
February 29, 2020
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
One of 2019’s best movies, and that is a lot to say. If Joker hadn’t premiered, this would’ve been my best actor contender. The film is about hypocrisy and the final 10 minutes will absolutely blow your mind. [Full review in Spanish]
June 23, 2022 | Rating: 9/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
Bielenia is astounding in a role that requires so much nuance, and he manages to play all of those layers perfectly.
June 4, 2022 | Rating: 7/10
Josh Parham
Next Best Picture
It’s the nature of faith beyond religion… that gives the story rhythm and liveliness. [Full review in Spanish]
March 26, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Luis Fernando Galván
En Filme
With a penetrating gaze, Bartosz Bielenia… is capable of changing like a chameleon in the middle of the same shot. [Full review in Spanish]
March 18, 2021
Pablo O. Scholz
Clarín
There’s much about Bielenia’s exceptional performance that sears itself into memory, but that firm, mournful gaze that adorns his face again and again is unshakeably powerful and poignant.
March 1, 2021
Sarah Ward
Concrete Playground
Blessed with the soulful eyes of a martyred saint, Bielenia builds a persuasive character who tempts us to believe – and believe in – him, even when we know the truth.
February 7, 2021
Carol Cling
AWFJ Women on Film…
Plot
“Corpus Christi” is the story of a 20-year-old Daniel who experiences a spiritual transformation in a Youth Detention Center. The crime he commits prevents him from applying to the seminary and after his release on parole he is sent to work at a carpenter’s workshop. However Daniel has no intention of giving up his dream and dressed as a priest he decides to – minister a small-town parish.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bartosz Bielenia’s performance in Corpus Christi is described as “wildness and purity” and “astounding in a role that requires so much nuance.”
Jan-Komasa.jpg
96%
Athlete A (2020)
96%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins & 9 nominations
Harrowing yet essential viewing, Athlete A shines an unforgiving light on horrific abuses — as well as the culture that allowed them to continue unabated for years.
If you’re looking for a documentary that will make you feel all the feels, Athlete A is the one for you. It’s a real eye-opener that exposes some seriously messed up stuff that went down in the world of gymnastics. We’re talking about some truly harrowing stories of abuse that will make you want to scream. But as tough as it is to watch, it’s also essential viewing. This film shines a light on a culture that allowed these abuses to go on for way too long. It’s a wake-up call that we all need to hear. So grab some popcorn and get ready to be both horrified and inspired.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content including detailed descriptions of sexual abuse of minors
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jun 25, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Athlete A, documentary, sexual abuse, gymnasts, Indianapolis Star, Dr Larry Nassar, investigative journalism, USAG, sexism, abuse, women, Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, Serin Marshall, Jen Sey, Julie Parker Benello, PG-13, Randy Myers, Noel Murray, Tim Robey, Leslie Felperin, Adam Graham, Lucy Mangan, Gem Seddon, Brett Michael Dykes, Sarah Boslaugh, Casey Cipriani, Dan Buffa, Brooke Bajgrowicz, reviewed by San Jose Mercury News, Los Angeles Times, Daily Telegraph (UK), Hollywood Reporter, Detroit News, Guardian, SFX Magazine, Uproxx, TheArtsStl, Bustle, KSDK News (St Louis), directed by Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk, produced by Serin Marshall, Jen Sey, Julie Parker Benello, starring Maggie Nichols, Jerry Moran, Jen Sey, executive producer Richard Berge, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, documentary genre, Red Penguins, Rising Phoenix, Williams, Breslin and Hamill: Deadline Artists, American Exit
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
Jerry Moran – self
Jen Sey – self
Bonni Cohen – Director
Jon Shenk – Director
Richard Berge – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Serin Marshall, Jen Sey, Julie Parker Benello
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins & 9 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (58)
This is one of the best documentaries you’ll see this year.
February 15, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
Like a lot of recent documentaries about the overdue reckoning for sexual predators in positions of power, “Athlete A” is a reminder that the rot is sometimes within the system itself, not just within the criminals it benefits.
July 13, 2020
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
What’s striking about the film’s tone is its redemptive warmth. Though the details are chilling, it’s as if a cathartic space has been opened for these girls and their families to explain what they went through.
June 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
With a mere 103-minute running time, many viewers may find themselves wanting more.
June 29, 2020
Leslie Felperin
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
There’s a lot here, but “Athlete A” handles its material lithely, moving smoothly between Nassar’s survivors, the journalists who broke the story and the big picture of gold medals, Summer Games and national pride.
June 27, 2020 | Rating: B+
Adam Graham
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
Above all, though, it makes you wonder about men and power – does it corrupt, or do the corrupt seek it for further gratification of their desires? And why are they so willing to protect each other, however high the toll of misery paid by their victims.
June 26, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Lucy Mangan
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Not only is Athlete A an eye-opening look into the continued brilliance and hard work of investigative journalists, but it’s also a grim reminder of the evil that often hides in plain sight.
February 3, 2022
Gem Seddon
SFX Magazine
This revealing investigation into a sinister culture that’s hidden behind the success of its top female athletes makes you rethink everything you thought about the Olympic dream.
December 29, 2021
Brett Michael Dykes
Uproxx
…offers the perfect summing up of both the crimes of Larry Nasser, and of the overall toxic culture of American women’s gymnastics.
December 19, 2020 | Rating: 7/10
Sarah Boslaugh
TheArtsStl
Athlete A raises a lot of questions about the USAG’s practices.
November 16, 2020
Casey Cipriani
Bustle
Athlete A should help open a lot of minds.
November 5, 2020
Dan Buffa
KSDK News (St. Louis)
Athlete A is a well-crafted glimpse into the sexism and abuse that women have faced in gymnastics. It’s angering and disturbing, yet it is incredibly necessary.
August 10, 2020
Brooke Bajgrowicz
Mashable…
Plot
Athlete A is a documentary that exposes the sexual abuse of young gymnasts by Dr. Larry Nassar and the culture that allowed it to continue for years.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features interviews with Maggie Nichols, the first gymnast to report Nassar’s abuse to USA Gymnastics.
Bonni-Cohen.jpg
96%
A Secret Love (2020)
96%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 3 nominations
In telling one couple’s story, A Secret Love pays understated yet powerful tribute to a lifetime of choices and sacrifices made in the name of enduring devotion.
If you’re in the mood for a heartwarming flick that’ll make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, A Secret Love is the perfect pick. This movie tells the story of a couple who’ve been together for a lifetime, and the sacrifices they’ve made to keep their love alive. It’s a beautiful tribute to the power of true love, and it’ll leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to fall in love with A Secret Love.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-MA
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary/Drama
Keyword(s)
documentary, drama, LGBTQ+, baseball, lesbian relationship, lifetime of choices, sacrifices, devotion, Chris Bolan, directed by Chris Bolan, written by Chris Bolan, Alexa L Fogel, produced by Alexa L Fogel, Brendan Mason, Ryan Murphy, starring Pat Henschel, reviewed by Nell Minow, Katie Walsh, Lindsey Bahr, Taryn Allen, Jude Dry, Stephanie Zacharek, Cate Marquis, Sandie Angulo Chen, Jennifer Merin, Loren King, MaryAnn Johanson, Leslie Combemale, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Alexa L Fogel as writer, Jason Blum as executive producer, Alexis Martin Woodall as executive producer
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
Chris Bolan – Director, Writer
Alexa L. Fogel – Writer, Producer
Jason Blum – Executive Producer
Alexis Martin Woodall – Executive Producer
Brendan Mason – Producer
Ryan Murphy – Producer
Director(s)
Chris Bolan
Writer(s)
Chris Bolan, Alexa L. Fogel
Producer(s)
Alexa L. Fogel, Brendan Mason, Ryan Murphy
Film Festivals
South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (54)
The tenderness of this love story over nearly 70 years makes this movie a treasure. Because it is made by the nephew of one of the central characters, the access and understanding give the documentary a naturalness and intimacy…
November 22, 2021
Nell Minow
AWFJ Women on Film
TOP CRITIC
“A Secret Love” weaves the couple’s remarkable life story into a sensitive and intimate depiction of the two navigating the realities of growing older together…
May 21, 2020
Katie Walsh
Tribune News Service
TOP CRITIC
“A Secret Love” is guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings.
May 21, 2020 | Rating: 3/4
Lindsey Bahr
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The Chicago-based documentary expertly weaves together LGBTQ history, baseball, and the ups and downs of loving someone for a lifetime.
May 9, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4
Taryn Allen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
“A Secret Love” is full of the kind of gentle ribbing and loving chuckles one would expect from any adorable old couple, but it’s made all the more poignant by the fact of Pat and Terry’s trailblazing personal histories.
May 4, 2020 | Rating: B
Jude Dry
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
It’s enraging that society made them feel they had to hide. But their happiness is the ultimate triumph.
April 30, 2020
Stephanie Zacharek
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
If this amazing tale of bravura and love does not both impress and a bring a tear, nothing will.
November 22, 2021
Cate Marquis
AWFJ Women on Film
Despite a bit of tension between Pat (who has little living family) and Terry’s close relatives, who want the couple to move closer to them in Canada, this film is a heartfelt chronicle of a love story for the ages.
November 22, 2021
Sandie Angulo Chen
AWFJ Women on Film
The film is an inspiring celebration of Pat Henschel and pro baseball player Terry Donahue who are heroic, down to earth and thoroughly engaging characters whose love story is truly and profoundly moving.
November 22, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
This fascinating and inspiring look at ordinary LGBT lives woven through history is the best part of the film and the reason to watch.
November 22, 2021
Loren King
AWFJ Women on Film
A tear-jerker in the very best sense of the term, one that leaves you feeling deeply connected to and invested in its subjects.
November 22, 2021
MaryAnn Johanson
AWFJ Women on Film
The new documentary A Secret Love may not be as tight as it could be in terms of editing or inventiveness, but only the hardest hearts won’t warm to its story.
November 22, 2021
Leslie Combemale
AWFJ Women on Film…
Plot
A former baseball player keeps her lesbian relationship a secret from her family for seven decades in the documentary/drama film “A Secret Love”.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features former baseball player Pat Henschel and her lesbian partner Terry Donahue, whose relationship was kept secret from their family for seven decades.
Chris-Bolan.jpg
96%
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (2020)
96%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 34 nominations total
As entertaining as it is inspiring, Crip Camp uses one group’s remarkable story to highlight hope for the future and the power of community.
If you’re looking for a documentary that’s both inspiring and entertaining, then Crip Camp is the one for you. It’s a film that tells the story of a group of people who faced incredible challenges, but still managed to come together and create a community that changed the world.
The film is all about hope for the future, and it shows how even the most unlikely group of people can make a difference. It’s a story that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels.
But what really sets Crip Camp apart is its focus on community. It’s a film that shows how powerful it can be when people come together and support each other. And it’s a message that we could all use a little more of these days.
So if you’re looking for a documentary that’s both inspiring and entertaining, then Crip Camp is definitely worth checking out. It’s a film that will leave you feeling hopeful and inspired, and it’s one that you won’t soon forget.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for some language including sexual references
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, disability, summer camp, groundbreaking, inspiring, community, hope, civil rights, James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham, directed by, written by, produced by, Sara Bolder, MPAA rating, R, Dennis Billups, HolLynn D’Lil, Judith Heumann, Denise Sherer Jacobson, Lionel Je’Woodyard, reviewed by, Sophie Monks Kaufman, Alissa Wilkinson, Robbie Collin, Bedatri D Choudhury, Danny Leigh, Katie Rife, Victor Pineyro, Jason Shawhan, José Roberto Landaverde, Tim Brayton, Dennis Schwartz, Tim Stevens, cast, crew, critic reviews, audience score, box office performance, budget, Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God, The Fear of 13, Give Up Tomorrow, The American Meme, The Snatch Thief
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
HolLynn D’Lil – Self
Judith Heumann – Self
Denise Sherer Jacobson – Self
Lionel Je’Woodyard – Self
James Lebrecht – Self
Director(s)
James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham
Writer(s)
James Lebrecht, Nicole Newnham
Producer(s)
James Lebrecht, Sara Bolder, Nicole Newnham
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
11 wins & 34 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (100)
A vital and joyful work that puts a lesser-known part of American civil rights history on the map…
February 2, 2021
Sophie Monks Kaufman
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
At times it feels like Crip Camp bites off slightly too much for a movie that’s less than two hours long. But I can’t really blame the directors for cramming in as much information as they can.
February 2, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Alissa Wilkinson
Vox
TOP CRITIC
Crip Camp is the kind of documentary whose name circulates in must-watch lists for months: it’s an inspiring true story, accessibly told.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It visibilizes the history of one of the most invisibilized communities in this country.
April 23, 2020
Bedatri D. Choudhury
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
How strange – and how telling – that despite the wealth of big-screen documentaries released in the past 20 years, the story behind the remarkable Crip Camp has gone so long untold.
April 8, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Mostly, this is an empowering feel-good documentary about a small group of people who came together in the right place at the right time.
April 1, 2020 | Rating: B
Katie Rife
AV Club
TOP CRITIC
Crip Camp provides an inside view of the importance of freedom, expression, youth, pleasure and life. Things we often take for granted. Their fight paved the way for a better life. Incredible documentary. [Full review in Spanish]
October 22, 2021 | Rating: 7/10
Victor Pineyro
Seventh Art Studio
Do not miss this.
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
An ode to a community that breaks the barriers imposed by an inaccessible system every day. [Full Review in Spanish]
May 17, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
José Roberto Landaverde
Cine Premiere
Camp Jened feels more than worth of getting a whole film all to itself.
April 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Earnest educational feel-good documentary.
March 29, 2021 | Rating: A-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
While Crip Camp is not a perfect effort, its honesty about its participants and their world gives it an undeniable potency right to the last moment.
February 2, 2021
Tim Stevens
The Spool…
Plot
In the early 1970s, teenagers with disabilities faced a future shaped by isolation, discrimination and institutionalization. Camp Jened, a ramshackle camp “for the handicapped” in the Catskills, exploded those confines. Jened was their freewheeling Utopia, a place with summertime sports, smoking and makeout sessions awaiting everyone, and campers who felt fulfilled as human beings. Their bonds endured as they migrated West to Berkeley, California – a promised land for a growing and diverse disability community – where friends from Camp Jened realized that disruption and unity might secure life-changing accessibility for millions. Co-directed by Emmy®-winning filmmaker Nicole Newnham and film mixer and former camper Jim LeBrecht, this joyous and exuberant documentary arrives the same year as the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, at a time when the country’s largest minority group still battles daily for the freedom to exist. CRIP CAMP: A DISABILITY REVOLUTION is executive produced by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama; Tonia Davis and Priya Swaminathan; Oscar® nominee Howard Gertler and Ray Lifchez, Jonathan Logan and Patty Quillin; LeBrecht, Newnham and Sara Bolder produce.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
One of the cast members of Crip Camp is James Lebrecht, who is also one of the film’s directors and producers.
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96%
The Go-Go’s (2020)
96%RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Emulating the spirit of punk in form and function, The Go-Go’s is a raucous celebration of the pioneering band and a stylistic knockout that will blow viewers’ hair back.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s as rebellious as punk rock itself, then The Go-Go’s is your jam! This flick is a wild ride that pays tribute to the legendary band and will leave you feeling like you just got hit by a sonic boom. It’s like a hair dryer on full blast, but in a good way. The style is off the charts and the energy is contagious. So, buckle up and get ready to rock out with The Go-Go’s!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:NA
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2020
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, The Go-Go’s, all-girl band, punk, rock, female rock band, successful, No 1 on the charts, Alison Ellwood, directed by, Trevor Birney, Eimhear O’Neill, Corey Russell, produced by, David Blackman, Wally Eltawashy, executive producer, critic reviews, reviewed by, John Anderson, Wall Street Journal, David Fear, Rolling Stone, Kristen Lopez, indieWire, Sara Stewart, Book & Film Globe, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon.com, Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times, Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com, Sarah McMullan, Stuff.co.nz, Jason Shawhan, Nashville Scene, Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed, Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, producer names, actor names, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock
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
Trevor Birney – Producer
Eimhear O’Neill – Producer
Corey Russell – Producer
David Blackman – Executive Producer
Wally Eltawashy – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Alison Ellwood
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Trevor Birney, Eimhear O’Neill, Corey Russell
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (1)
As director Alison Ellwood shows in her briskly entertaining documentary — The Go-Go’s — the band’s members can explain away, with enormous charm, the naked ambition that made them the most successful “girl group” ever.
December 30, 2020
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The doc’s goal: Don’t think of the Go-Go’s as a bit of Reagan-era nostalgia, the musical equivalent of a Rubik’s cube. Think of them as a first-tier, kick-ass rock group, period, full stop, the end. Mission accomplished.
December 30, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
David Fear
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
“The Go-Go’s” is an entertaining and well-put together package on a musical group who should command the respect of their male peers.
December 3, 2020 | Rating: B-
Kristen Lopez
indieWire
TOP CRITIC
Anyone with even a passing interest in the Go-Go’s… must watch Alison Ellwood’s documentary.
August 6, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Sara Stewart
Book & Film Globe
TOP CRITIC
Watching the film, it’s pure pleasure to witness such scrappy exuberance, such mayhem so enthusiastically pursued.
August 3, 2020
Mary Elizabeth Williams
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
They still Got the Beat.
July 31, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The Go-Go’s are the most successful all-girl group of all time.
See, and hear, how they did it.
March 13, 2022 | Rating: A+
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
A compelling look at the most successful female rock band of all time.
February 22, 2022
Sarah McMullan
Stuff.co.nz
The Go-Go’s is a punchy, vibrant look at the quintet who stormed punk stages (even if it was just for a minute, Belinda Carlisle was one of The Germs and Gina Schock played drums for Edith Massey) and set pop records.
September 10, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
A refreshing film with some great insight in to instant fame, and the eighties.
January 2, 2021
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
That it’s hardly groundbreaking or seriously in-depth is likely the source of its charm — in just under two hours it provides a surprisingly satisfying “Behind the Music”-style survey of the career of a fascinating and criminally underrated band.
December 30, 2020
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Directed by Alison Ellwood, The Go-Go’s delivers everything you’d want out of a rock doc.
December 30, 2020
Benjamin H. Smith
Decider…
Plot
The Go-Go’s is a documentary about the first successful all-girl band to write their own songs and play their own instruments while making it to No. 1 on the charts.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Go-Go’s documentary features interviews with all the band members, including Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, and Charlotte Caffey.
Alison-Ellwood.jpg