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Off-center and pensive sits co-star Kieran Culkin upside a blue wall on this poster for Burr Steers' Igby Goes Down
Igby Slocumb is 17 years old and from a wealthy family, but he wants to break free and find his own path in life. Which is easier said than done.
Igby Goes Down is written and directed by debuting Burr Steers (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016)).
It is a morbid, funny and tragic dramedy. Kieran Culkin (No Sudden Move (2021)) is strong as Igby; Claire Danes (Evening (2007)) is terribly cute, - until she chooses Ryan Phillippe's (Antitrust (2001)) Ollie over his younger brother Igby, - and Susan Sarandan (The Client (1994)) and Jeff Goldblum (Hotel Artemis (2018)) are funny.
The film is very New-Yorker intellectual and too much at times. Bill Pullman (The Equalizer 2 (2018)) doesn't really work as Igby's mentally ill father, and the good-spirit Mickey-Mousing of the opening music is grating. But although Igby Goes Down, like its title character, isn't flawless, it is an original and brisk movie.
[Igby Goes Down premiered 23 May (Seattle International Film Festival) and runs 98 minutes. Phillippe was paid 500k $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from February - April 2001 in New York. The film opened #24 to a 306k $ first weekend in 10 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #15 and in 156 theaters (different weeks), grossing 4.7 mil. $ (68.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd an 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 689k $ (10 %) and Germany with 499k $ (7.3 %). The film was nominated for 2 Golden Globes and an Independent Spirit award and won a National Board of Review award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. The film is among the last to show the original World Trade Center twin towers. Steers returned with 3 TV credits prior to his theatrical return 17 Again (2009). Culkin returned in Lymelife (2008); Danes in The Hours (2002). Igby Goes Down is certified fresh at 75 % with a 6.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
Will Smith looks extremely sour in a leather jacket on this metal-toned poster for Alex Proyas' I, Robot
Chicago 2035: A policeman starts investigating the death of an inventor who was central in the now widespread use of robots, and the implications become dangerous.
I, Robot is written by Akiva Goldsman (The Dark Tower (2017)) and Jeff Vintar (Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)) and directed by Alex Proyas (Spirits of the Air: Gremlins of the Clouds (1987)).
It is ironic that a film which exhibits the cold and eerie nature of robots itself seems robotic. Will Smith (Men in Black II (2002)) is the politically correct figurehead on this action picture that's so chockful of clichés that is almost hurts to watch it.
The vision of the future offered here is exceedingly optimistic, - the energy aspect alone is a joke. The performances and execution are generally sexless and lacking in flavor, as well as thoroughly cleansed of any semblance of movie magic. The quality that I, Robot does have going for it are the impressively created CG robots, which are frightening.
= Box office success (returned 2.94 times its cost)
[I, Robot premiered 7 July (Los Angeles) and runs 115 minutes. Smith was paid 28 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from May - October 2003 in British Columbia, including in Vancouver, in California and in Chicago, Illinois. The film opened #1 to a 52.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#4), grossing 144.8 mil. $ (41 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 33.8 mil. $ (9.6 %) and the UK with 32.9 mil. $ (9.3 %). The film was nominated for the Best Visual Effects Oscar, lost to Spider-Man 2, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Proyas returned with Fad Gadget by Frank Tovey (2006, video) and theatrically with Knowing (2009). Smith returned with a voice performance in Shark Tale (2004), Club Oscar (2005, short) and theatrically and physically in Hitch (2005). I, Robot is rotten at 57 % with a 6.0/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
A nightmarish monster with a clown's appearance lurks on this striking poster for Tommy Lee Wallace's It
A group of seven friends from the town Derry in Maine need to revisit their birthplace as adults to once again kill the mystical evil that resides in its sewer system...
It is written by Lawrence D. Cohen (Carrie (1976)) and co-writer/director Tommy Lee Wallace (Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)), adapting the same-titled 1986 novel by Stephen King (Roadwork (1981)).
It is a recommendable and entertaining horror series, though mostly due to King's eminent story and ideas. The execution is structured very like a TV series with cliffhangers and annoying fade cuts.
The acting performances are a mixed bag, except for Tim Curry's (Gingerclown (2013)) spectacular turn as Pennywise the clown. The novel has had significant trimmings done to make it serviceable to broadcasting, but Wallace's It is still a haunting and admirable work.
[It was first broadcast 18 November (USA; Brazil) and runs two episodes totaling 192 minutes. The budget was reportedly double the norm for a miniseries at the time. Shooting took place from May - July 1990 in British Columbia, including in Vancouver, New York and in Chicago, Illinois. The show performed excellently at ABC, totaling 30 mil. viewers, becoming the network's biggest hit of the year. It also drew huge viewership of more than 6 mil. when first screened in the UK on BBC One in 1994. It won 1/2 Primetime Emmy nominations. Wallace returned with And the Sea Will Tell (1991, TV movie). Curry returned with a voice performance in TaleSpin (1990, TV-series) and physically and theatrically in Oscar (1991); Richard Thomas (Billions (2017-19)) in Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (1991, TV movie); and Jonathan Brandis (Aladdin (1994-95)) in Gabriel's Fire (1991, TV-series). It is fresh at 68 % with a 6.0/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
Striking new and familiar characters and thrilling situations are teased on this expert poster for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
It is 1938, and Indiana Jones' estranged father has gone missing in a search for the Holy Grail. Up against the ruthless Nazis once again, Indiana must save his father and obtain the Grail.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is written by Jeffrey Boam (The Phantom (1996)), with George Lucas (American Graffiti (1973)) and Menno Meyjes (The Siege (1998)) contributing story elements, and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 10th feature it is. It is the 3rd in the Indiana Jones franchise.
The weakest in the 'original trilogy' in my opinion, Last Crusade is still a terrific adventure film. Many have expressed that its strength is its father/son story-line and the scenes of Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)) and Sean Connery (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)) in this capacity. I would only partially agree: Although Connery - and Denholm Elliott (Keys to Freedom (1988)) as another endearing geezer, the character Marcus Brody, - are good fun, I still think that Ford's interplay with Karen Allen (in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)) and Kate Capshaw (in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)) is more potent.
The pace is decreased, especially from the wonderfully hectic Temple of Doom, but there are many fun moments along the way. Best, however, may be the opening minutes, which introduces us to Indiana Jones as a boy, in the guise of the fantastic River Phoenix (Little Nikita (1988)), in a fabulous sequence on horseback and circus train (!) across the gorgeous Utah plains.
[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was released 24 May (North America) and runs 128 minutes. Several story-lines were developed into scripts before getting thrown out in the years leading up to the production for various reasons. Ford was paid 4.9 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from May - September 1988 in England, including in London, Jordan, Spain, Italy, Germany, California, including in San Francisco, Utah, Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. The film opened #1 to a 29.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it stayed #1 for another weekend and spent another 5 in the top 5 (#2-#2-#4-#5-#5), grossing 197.1 mil. $ (41.6 % of the total gross). It was the highest-grossing film of the year globally but the 3rd highest-grossing of the year in North America, behind Batman, selling approximately 49 mil. tickets domestically. It was nominated for 3 Oscars, winning for Best Sound Effects Editing. It lost Best Score (John Williams) to Alan Menken for The Little Mermaid and Best Sound to Glory. It was also nominated for 3 BAFTAs, a Golden Globe and a Grammy, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. IMDb's users have rated the film in at #117 on the site's Top 250, sitting between A Separation (2011) and Die Hard (1988). Indiana Jones returned in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) with returning star and filmmakers. Spielberg first returned with Always (1989). Ford returned first in Presumed Innocent (1990); Connery in Family Business (1989). Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is certified fresh at 84 % with an 8.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?
Vivid characters and dramatic situations in wild colors adorn this spectacular poster for Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Years prior to the events in Raiders of the lost Ark (1981), archeologist/explorer Indiana Jones is escaping a volatile situation in Shanghai, as he finds himself, along with two companions, recruited to help an impoverished Indian village whose children have been stolen ...
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is written by Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz(American Graffiti (1973), both), with George Lucas (Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)) contributing story elements, - and directed by Ohioan master filmmaker Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express (1974)), whose 7th feature it is. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and a prequel to the first film.
My personal favorite in the beloved series, although widely discarded as "too dark" and "less comedic", I say that Temple of Doom is the ultimate adventure movie: A maddeningly paced spectacle that feels like one long delicious chase. It is stuffed with evil Chinese and Indians, mystical elements, horror, action and wonderful performances: Harrison Ford (The Fugitive (1993)) is tremendous as the exemplary man hero; Kate Capshaw (Love Affair (1994)) is terrific as the nightclub singer tag-along who is not well equipped for India; but it is Ke Huy Quan (Encino Man (1992)) who takes the cake and enriches the film most profoundly throughout as the fresh-faced mirth-maker 'Short Round'.
Spiced with unforgettable set pieces such as the mine scene, the dinner scene, - but perhaps most unforgettable, the bug scene, which stands tall as among the grossest scenes in cinema history. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom also has a hugely fulfilling ending. It is a complete masterpiece.
[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom premiered 8 May (California) and runs 118 minutes. Ford was reportedly paid 4.5 mil. $ for his performance, mysteriously less than the 5.9 mil. $ he reportedly commanded for the first film. Shooting took place from April - September 1983, with reshoots in January 1984, in England, California, Arizona, Washington, Florida, Sri Lanka and China. The film opened #1 to a 25.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 5 weeks in the top 5 (#2-#3-#3-#3-#5), grossing 179.8 mil. $ (54 % of the total gross). It was the highest-grossing film of the year globally and the 3rd highest-grossing in North America, behind Beverly Hills Cop and Ghostbusters, where it sold 53.5 mil. tickets. Due to critique of the film's PG-rating and at the insistence of Spielberg, also influenced by the release two weeks later of the Spielberg executive-produced Gremlins (1984), the MPAA created the PG-13 rating for similarly intense, violent fare appropriate for older children. The film was nominated for 2 Oscars, winning for Best Visual Effects. It lost Best Score (John Williams) to Maurice Jarre for A Passage to India. It also won 1/4 BAFTA nominations, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave the film a 4/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Spielberg later distanced himself from the film, whereas Lucas and Ford have spoken lovingly about it. Indiana Jones returned in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) with returning star and filmmakers. Spielberg first returned with Strokes of Genius (1984, miniseries, segments), Amazing Stories (1985, TV-series) and theatrically with The Color Purple (1985). Ford returned in Witness (1985). Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is certified fresh at 77 % with a 7.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?
