The Proposal (2009) - Bullock, Reynolds & Co. make this cookie cutter romcom work

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+ Best On-Screen Couple of the Year: Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds + Best Romcom of the Year

 

Two beloved Hollywood stars in a twinkle-eyed proposal on this poster for Anne Fletcher's The Proposal

A zealous New York editor gets into a clinch with the immigration authorities, because she is from Canada. To get out of the situation, she makes her personal assistant her fiancée. 

 

The Proposal is written by Peter Chiarelli (Crazy Rich Asians (2018)) and directed by Anne Fletcher (Step Up (2006)).

It is a thoroughly charming and well-made crowd-pleaser romcom. There's never any doubt about the direction of the at first professional boss/employee relationship at the film's core, and the road there might not be packed with surprises, but the stars sell the film in role model fashion nevertheless:

Ryan Reynolds (Red Notice (2021, VoD)) is cute-as-pie here, and Sandra Bullock (Bird Box (2018, VoD)) is full of wonderful facial expressions and seems perfect for this part. Betty White (Bones 2015-17)) is the film's funny third leg, and she also brings a lot of life and joy to The Proposal, along with Mary Steenburgen (Grace and Frankie (2020, TV-series)) and Oscar Nuñes (Mr. Iglesias (2019-20)), who is hilarious as the character Ramone.

The entire plot part about the immigration agent pursuing the 'couple' with grotesque questions is (of course) completely unrealistic, - but the film's other qualities weigh out this issue with aplomb.

 

Related posts:

 

Anne Fletcher: The Guilt Trip (2012) - Rogen/Streisand buoy low-fuel road dramedy

2009 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV] 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 40 mil. $

Box office: 317.3 mil. $
= Huge hit (returned 7.93 times the cost)

[The Proposal premiered 1 June (Hollywood) and runs 108 minutes. Julia Roberts was offered the lead but declined it. Shooting took place from April - June 2008 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The film opened #1 to a 33.6 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 4 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#3-#5-#5), grossing 163.9 mil. $ (51.7 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 19.2 mil. $ (6.1 %) and Germany with 18.5 mil. $ (5.8 %). The film was nominated for a Golden Globe, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. It made in excess of 90 mil. $ on the North-American home video market. Fletcher returned with The 82nd Annual Academy Awards (2010, segment) and theatrically with The Guilt Trip (2012). Bullock returned in All About Steve (2009); Reynolds in Paper Man (2009). The Proposal is rotten at 45 % with a 5.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Proposal?

Popular Music/Populärmusik från Vittula (2004) - Wild coming-of-age in country-side Sweden

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Two boys in various outdoor situations make up this unclear poster for Reza Bagher's Popular Music

Two boys in a small corner of Sweden near the Finnish border become friends and later start a rock band in their homestead, which is eating into them.

 

Popular Music is written by Erik Norberg (Iskungen (2001, short)) and co-writer/director Reza Bagher (Vingar av Glas (2000)), adapting the same-titled 2000 novel by Mikael Niemi (Astrotruckers/Svålhålet (2004)). The original Swedish title translates to 'popular music from Vittula'.

It is a high-energy coming-of-age drama (think C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)) with many funny scenes (the asphalt scene and the church scene are especially memorable.) And four sweet lads at the front, playing Matti and Niila at ages 7 and 15, respectively.

But the narrative is also a jumbled affair, devil-may-care and dynamic, which at times almost seems to forget the boys in order to relate something amusing about fringe area Swedes and Finlanders. We suddenly leave Matti and Niila as boys to find them again almost ten years later with no explanation or clear understanding of who is who. (They have changed an incredible lot.)

There is plenty of fun in Popular Music, but the direction is unclear. It becomes very dark and dramatic in periods after excessive abandon, which also demands more of the average viewer than can be expected.

 

Watch a 1-minute clip from the film here, uploaded by the actor in the clip who gets hit by a bus in the clip, without it being planned, and who calls director Bagher a 'demon' in the caption, claiming that extreme working hours and stress led to accidents and lax safety during production

 

Cost: Reportedly 2.224 mil. €, approximately 2.37 mil. $

Box office: Uncertain - but at least 1.52 mil. $

= Uncertain; projected huge flop (projected return of 0.64 times its cost)

[Popular Music premiered 19 September (Sweden) and runs 105 minutes. Shooting took place from August - October 2003 in Sweden. The film has two markets listed on its Box Office Mojo: Finland (932k $) and Norway with 416k $. Sweden is missing, and so is Denmark, where 11k bought admission (approximately 123k $). Iranian-born Bagher never returned as a filmmaker after the film's release. 5.5k IMDb members have given Popular Music a 6.5/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Popular Music?

Practical Magic (1998) or, Witch Sister Trouble

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The two female stars send catty eyes from this playful poster for Griffin Dunne's Practical Magic

Two sisters who are (naturally) diametric opposites return as adults to their witch aunts, when the one sister's happiness has suddenly ended, and the other sister has fallen in love with a dubious Bulgarian.

 

Practical Magic is written by Adam Brooks (Beloved (1998)), Akiva Goldsman (Winter's Tale (2014)) and Robin Swicord (Matilda (1996)), adapting Alice Hoffman's (Second Nature (1994)) same-titled 1995 novel, and directed by Griffin Dunne (Addicted to Love (1997)).

It is a strange film to look back on, and in today's Hollywood environment also incredible as a strong constellation of almost only female stars in a film without a strong pre-existing IP, made on a gigantic budget. Sandra Bullock (Speed (1994)) impresses, mostly, however, by making such an outlandish universe as this concrete and seemingly believe in it. As a viewer I didn't buy a second of it, but Practical Magic has a certain bizarre attraction in its changes from horror to humor to romance, changes that it performs without much success.

The witches are good women, whose power is embraced by their surrounding society here in a film with high production values that best case don't help it, and worst case ruined it.

 

Related posts:

Griffin Dunne: 2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

Fierce People (2005) - Wittenborn and Dunne's savagely under-appreciated coming-of-age gem
An American Werewolf in London (1981) - Landis' great, funny, scary werewolf favorite (actor) 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 75 mil. $

Box office: 68.3 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.91 times its cost)

[Practical Magic was released 16 October (North America, India) and runs 104 minutes. Nicole Kidman (Dogville (2003)) was paid 6 mil. $ for her performance in the film. Shooting took place from February - May 1998 in Washington State and in California. The film opened #1 to a 13.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#2-#3), grossing 46.7 mil. $ (68.4 % of the total gross). Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Dunne returned with Lisa Picard Is Famous (2000). Bullock returned in Welcome to Hollywood (1998); Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Practical Magic is rotten at 23 % with a 4.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Practical Magic?

Primary Colors (1998) - Nichols' bloated political caricature bomb

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Against black background and a vivid American flag, the stars (and an unnamed black co-star) are aligned on this poster for Mike Nichols' Primary Colors

A smart communications expert falls for Democratic presidential candidate Jack Stanton and becomes his campaign leader, but while others start to support his candidacy, several ugly stories about him also begin to emerge.

 

Primary Colors is written by Elaine May (Ishtar (1987)), based on Joe Klein's same-titled 1996 anonymously published novel, and directed by German-born American master filmmaker Mike Nichols (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), whose 16th feature it was.

It is a fundamentally flawed film that is obviously built around the real-world Clinton family, (John Travolta's (Get Shorty (1995)) lead performance imitates several Bill Clinton characteristics), while at the same time upholding a fictional layer (altered names), which makes the film feel like an attempted character assassination, as it connects more sins to Bill and Hillary Clinton than the filmmakers feel comfortable attaching to anything other than caricatures of the two. But the film's errors don't end with that: We never learn where the story's black hero (Adrian Lester (Hymn (2021, TV movie))) comes from, which makes him so auspicious as the campaign leader. We don't get adequate insight into what persuades him to take the job. Another flaw is a wholly ridiculous scene in which Travolta's Stanton makes a speech in a hall full of fired workers, in which he tell them that their jobs are gone for good, which they salute him for! The emotional hysteria, which is central to the film's tactic, also gets an extra elevation several times during Primary Colors, and at times goes overboard.

Primary Colors is a capital M movie, and although it has scenes that work, most episodes of The West Wing (1999-06)) are for instance better political drama, (way better.) Kathy Bates (Misery (1990)) is the film's big ace; moving and good, it is fantastical to see her lunge forward like this into what is otherwise essentially a frustrating film.

 

Related posts:

Mike Nichols: Closer (2004) - Nichols and Marber's intelligent film of love and infidelity 
Angels in America (2003, TV-miniseries) or, Dying in the 80's, of AIDS, at L-E-N-G-T-H
Biloxi Blues (1988) or, '45 Army Camp Confidential    

Heartburn (1986) - Ephron's first-rate script attains greatness with Streep, Nicholson and Nichols 
Catch-22 (1970) - Nichols wages war on war with ensemble cast in absurdist satire  

The Graduate (1967) - Submerge yourself in Nichols' terrific classic

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 65 mil. $

Box office: 52 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.8 times its cost)

[Primary Colors was released 20 March (North America) and runs 143 minutes. Nichols paid 1 mil. $ for the book rights. 11 companies collaborated in the financing and making of the film. Travolta was paid 17 mil. $ for his performance in the film. Shooting took place from May - August 1997 in Louisiana, including New Orleans, New York and in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #2, behind holdover hit Titanic, to a 12 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends in the top 5 (#3-#5), grossing 39 mil. $ (75 % of the total gross). The film was nominated for 2 Oscars: Best Supporting Actress (Bates), lost to Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love, and Adapted Screenplay, lost to Gods and Monsters by Bill Condon. It was also nominated for 2 BAFTAs, 2 Golden Globes and a European Film award, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to 4 notches over this one. Nichols returned with What Planet Are You From? (2000). Travolta returned in Welcome to Hollywood (1998); Emma Thompson (Junior (1994)) in Judas Kiss (1998). Primary Colors is certified fresh at 80 % with a 7.20/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Primary Colors? 

Paris, Je t'Aime (2006) - Short film anthology playground set in Paris

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An intimate back alley moment makes up this sensually blue poster for 21 directors' Paris, Je t'Aime

The film presents 18 short films set in the City of Lights, Paris: Of romance in spite of cultural differences, random violence, the heart of the city, mimes who meet in prison, - and much more.

Paris, Je t'Aime is written by Nadine Eïd (Eki (2022, TV-series)), Paul Mayeda Berges (Bride & Prejudice (2004)), Gena Rowlands (The Skeleton Key (2005, actress)), Gabrielle Keng (Disorder (1986, costume assistant), Rain Li (Habit (2021, cinematographer)) and its 21 co-writer/directors, based on an idea by Tristan Carné (La Chanson de l'Année (2019-22)). The co-writer/directors are: Gus Van Sant (Elephant (2003)), Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run/Lola Rennt (1998)), Daniela Thomas (Vazante (2017)), Nobuhiro Suwa (H Story (2001)), Oliver Schmitz (Amokspiel (2018, TV movie)), Walter Salles (On the Road (2012)), Bruno Podalydès (Chocolat (2016)), Alexander Payne (Sideways (2009)), Vincenzo Natali (Westworld (2016-18)), Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You (2007)), Christopher Doyle (Warsaw Dark (2008)), Gérard Depardieu (The Bridge/Un Pont Entre Deux Rives (1999)), Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity (2013)), Wes Craven (Scream (1996)), Isabel Coixet (Elisa & Marcela/Elisa y Marcela (2019, VoD)), Ethan and Joel Coen (A Serious Man (2009)), Sylvain Chomet (The Illusionist/L'Illusionniste (2010)), Gurinder Chadha (Beecham House (2019, TV-series)), Frédéric Auburtin (Volpone (2003, TV movie)) and Olivier Assayas (Irma Vep (2022, miniseries)). The original French title (also used in English-speaking countries) translates to, 'Paris I love you'.

As a film this is something of a mishmash, and several of the segments lack clarity, - for instance Depardieu's otherwise sparklingly cast story, which actors Rowlads, Ben Gazzara (The Shore (2006)) and Depardieu himself nevertheless fail to bring to life.

But there are also fine moments: The mime story by Chomet is delightful, and the idea to base a story around mimes is spot-on for a Paris anthology. Tykwer's story (about a blind man) is technically astute; Payne's segment, starring the peerless Margot Martindale (August: Osage County (2013)), is the best in the film. Most curious is the completely unmotivated vampire story starring Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)) by Natali.

The executive producers have obviously given the directors a wide degree of creative freedom, which brings both good and bad things forth here. Lovers of the city of Paris and short films should find ample reasons to appreciate Paris, Je t'Aime.

 

Related post:

 

New York, I Love You (2008) - Some wonderful moments elevate uneven anthology 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 13 mil. $

Box office: 17.4 mil. $

= Big flop (returned 1.33 times its cost)

[Paris, Je t'Aime premiered 18 May (Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard section) and runs 120 minutes. Shooting took place in Paris from November 2005 - ?. Two stories were shot but cut out of the finished film. These were directed by Christoffer Boe and Raphaël Nadjari. The film opened #50 to a 39k $ first weekend in 2 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #13 and in 200 theaters (different weeks), grossing 4.8 mil. $ (27.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were France with 2.8 mil. $ (16.1 %) and Germany with 1.3 mil. $ (7.5 %). The film inspired similarly titled anthologies for New York (2008), Rio (2014) and Berlin (2019). Paris, Je t'Aime is certified fresh at 86 % with a 7.10/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Paris, Je t'Aime?

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) - The outback gets a festive make-over

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The three stars in gorgeous costumes have their backs turned to us on the open road under a sweltering sky on this poster for Stephan Elliott's The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Two drag queens and one more or less honorable, aging transsexual decide to head way inland in Australia to stage shows, and they buy an old bus they name Priscilla for the occasion, which is regrettably not always trustworthy...

 

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is written and directed by Stephan Elliott (Frauds (1993)).

The three leads: Hugo Weaving (We're All Going to Die (2017, short)), Guy Pearce (Without Remorse (2021)) and (especially fabulous) Terence Stamp (Bitter Harvest (2017)), - as the three eternally bitching 'disco age' cliche gays are all in high-spirited form and give lots of life to their characters. Bill Hunter (Australia (2008)) is also outstanding as the gentleman Bob, who decides to join the trio on their adventures. 

Whether the film is as funny and good as its similarly long-titled To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995) and also content-wise very similar American film that was made apparently coincidentally (incredible as it may seem) at the same time, is up to each audience member's individual taste. (Mine lead me in favor of the American saga.) In any case: Whoa, is Pearce in strapping form here!

Priscilla both shows a bright corner of an easier, less judgmental future while also brimming with the unbeatable spirit of the LGBT world. It gives a damn about realism in favor of concept and world-class glitzy costumes, wigs and makeup that is out of this world. It is a very gay-positive cult movie that wins on heart and good moments of which it has many.

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 2 mil. $

Box office: 29.7 mil. $

= Mega-hit (returned 14.85 times its cost)

[The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was released 30 January (Spain) and runs 103 minutes. Shooting took place from September - October 1993 in Australia. The film opened #14 to a 219k $ first weekend in 7 theaters in North America, where it grossed 11.2 mil. $ (37.7 % of the total gross). It earned 16.4 mil. $ (55.2 %) in Australia. The box office record is likely missing information, and the world gross is likely higher than reported here. The film won the Best Costumes Oscar. It also won 2/7 BAFTA awards, was nominated for 2 Golden Globes, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to a notch under this one. Elliott returned with Welcome to Woop Woop (1997). Weaving returned in Exile (1994); Pearce in Dating the Enemy (1996) and Stamp in Mindbender (1996, TV movie) and theatrically in Tiré à Part (1996). The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is certified fresh at 94 % with a 7.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert? 

The Piano Teacher/La Pianiste (2001) or, The Cursed Pervert

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A simple yet striking image of a loving embrace on a public bathroom floor makes up this titillating poster for Michael Haneke's The Piano Teacher

 

A middle-aged Parisian piano teacher gets courted by a juicy younger student of hers, which activates her perversions and her labored psyche.

The Piano Teacher is written and directed by great German-born Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke (The Seventh Continent/Der Siebente Kontinent (1989)), adapting Der Klaverspielerin (1983) by Elfriede Jelinek (Die Kinder der Toten (1995)). The original French title translates to 'the pianist'.

It is a tragic character study and a story of a romance that evades fulfillment. Haneke elevates a serious drama with powerful photography (by Christian Berger (Ludwig II (2012))) and contrasting, at times underpinning and at times beautiful music (piano sonatas by Franz Schubert) and astoundingly uninhibited, flawless acting by Isabelle Huppert (Mama Weed/La Daronne (2020)) as well as Benoît Magimel (Lola (2019)) and Annie Girardot (Ursule et Gelu (1974)) as the student and the teacher's mother, respectively.

The film is strong and typical for Haneke in its conclusion. The Piano Teacher may give increased understanding and sympathy for the strange and sometimes wounded perverts out there, while it shows us one exponent of these same perverts as psychically unbalanced, dysfunctional and miserable.

 

Related posts:

Michael Haneke: Happy End (2017) - A worthy full stop for Haneke's dark oeuvre 

2012 in films - according to Film Excess
Amour (2012) - Tender love, unseizing death in Haneke's pictures
2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

Funny Games (2007) - Haneke recreates his strong critique of movie violence consumption for the American audience 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

Top 10: Best drama-thrillers reviewed by Film Excess to date 

2005 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 
Hidden/Caché (2005) - Haneke's slick, cold surveillance drama-thriller   

2003 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II] 

Time of the Wolf/Le Temps du Loup (2003) - Apocalyptic meanderings by Haneke

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 6.2 mil. $

Box office: 9.6 mil. $

= Big flop (returned 1.54 times its cost)

[The Piano Teacher premiered 14 May (Cannes Film Festival, main competition) and runs 131 minutes. 13 companies and support bodies collaborated in the financing and making of the film. Shooting took place from August - October 2000 in Vienna, Austria. The film opened #54 to a 29k $ first weekend in 3 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #44 and in 19 theaters, grossing 1 mil. $ (10.4 % of the total gross). The film's biggest market was France with 3.3 mil. $ (34.4 %). North America was the 2nd biggest, and then came Germany with 881k $ (9.2 %). The film was nominated for a BAFTA, won 1/2 César award nominations and the Jury Grand Prize at Cannes, and two other awards there (it lost the Palme d'Or to The Son's Room), also winning 1/3 European Film award nominations. Roger Ebert gave the film a 3.5/4 star review, equal in rating to this one. Haneke returned with Time of the Wolf/Le Temps du Loup (2003). Huppert returned in 8 Women/8 Femmes (2002). The Piano Teacher is fresh at 73 % with a 7.0/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Piano Teacher?

Pootie Tang (2001) - C.K.'s off-beat sketch character mega-flop

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A painted caricature of the protagonist makes up this poster for Louic C.K.'s Pootie Tang

Hiphop star PT (Pootie Tang) is respected and loved by all, but his lyrics about abstinence from harmful products earn him an enemy in the shape of the country's worst company ...

Pootie Tang is written and directed by Louis C.K. (Tomorrow Night (1998)). It is based on a sketch from The Chris Rock Show, which C.K. wrote for from 1997-99.

It is a totally ludicrous movie that parodies gangsta rap hiphop and the black pimp style following the hit-and-miss principle. A lot misses the mark, and the plot is paper thin to the point of being almost transparent. But a part of the film is also rather funny. Not so much co-star/co-producer Chris Rock (Spiral (2019)), - and Jennifer Coolidge (American Reunion (2012)) deserves pity for the ungrateful role she covers here, but Lance Crouther (Class Act (1992)) as Pootie Tang and J.B. Smoove (Woke (2020-22)) are pretty funny.

Pootie Tang seems to be designed for watching over a blunt with a homie or three.

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: 7 mil. $

Box office: 3.3 mil. $

= Mega-flop (returned 0.47 times its cost)

[Pootie Tang was released 29 June (North America) and runs 81 minutes. Shooting took place in New Jersey and New York. C.K. has said that he was fired during the film's post production phase and has distanced himself from the film. It opened #12 to a 1.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it diminished from then, grossing 3.3 mil. $. The film was not released in other markets. Roger Ebert gave it a 0.5/4 star rating, translating to a notch under this one. C.K. returned with 14 short and TV credits prior to his theatrical return I Love You, Daddy (2017). Rock returned with a voice performance in Osmosis Jones (2001) and physically in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001); Crouther in 2 TV credits but never again in a feature, - he has instead kept busy as a comedy writer; and Wanda Sykes (The Good Fight (2021, TV-series)) in 4 TV credits prior to her theatrical return in Monster-in-Law (2005). Pootie Tang is rotten at 27 % with a 3.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Pootie Tang?

The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) - Harrelson shines in Forman's pornographer biopic

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Co-star Woody Harrelson has his mouth covered by the American flag on this evocative poster for Milos Forman's The People vs. Larry Flynt

Larry Flynt from Kentucky just wants to make an 'honest buck', and when he invents Hustler magazine, he really gets a chance to do just that, - despite the fact that the pornographic publication also lands him in hot waters with the establishment.

 

The People vs. Larry Flynt is written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski (1408 (2007, both)) and directed by Czech master filmmaker Milos Forman (Black Peter/Cerný Petr (1964)), whose 10th feature it was. It is based on the real-life Larry Flynt.

It is not among Forman's best films, but it is still a fascinating story with a tremendous Woody Harrelson (Venom (2018)) in the lead. Courtney Love's (Empire (2015, TV-series)) turn as his vampy, derelict wife is of more questionable quality, but perhaps this is also because her performance lies so closely to her real-life star persona.

The script makes more than one leap: Flynt gets 25 years prison-time at the beginning, but seems to be out in a jiffy? The lawyer (Edward Norton (The Italian Job (2003))) refuses to represent Flynt in the Supreme Court, - but then does just that in the next scene. 

Flynt was a spearhead for freedom of speech in the 20th century, - a wild and exciting man. Forman gets a good, - but not great, - film out of his life here.

 

Related posts:

Milos Forman: 2006 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]

Goya's Ghosts (2006) - Forman's under-appreciated last major picture

Heartburn (1986) - Ephron's first-rate script attains greatness with Streep, Nicholson and Nichols (actor)  

Top 10: The best biopic movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Top 10: The best big hit movies reviewed by Film Excess to date
Amadeus (1984) or, The Fool Genius and his Teacher

Hair (1979) - Reflect on 1960s youth counter-culture in Forman's infectious musical 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - Forman's 1970s gold-rimmed classic 

The Firemen's Ball/Hoří, Má Panenko (1967) - Forman and Co. slice up communism to hilarious effect in outright masterpiece 

 

 

Watch a 2-minute clip from the film here

 

Cost: 35-36 mil. $ (different accounts)

Box office: 43 mil. $

= Big flop (returned 1.21 times its cost)

[The People vs. Larry Flynt premiered 13 October (New York Film Festival) and runs 130 minutes. Shooting took place from February - April 1996 in Mississippi, Tennessee and in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #19 to a 523k $ first weekend in 16 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #7 and in 1,233 theaters, grossing 20.3 mil. $ (47.2 % of the total gross). It was nominated for 2 Oscars: It lost Best Actor (Harrelson) to Geoffrey Rush in Shine and Director to Anthony Minghella for The English Patient. It won 2/5 Golden Globe nominations, a European Film award and 2 National Board of Review awards, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 4/4 star review, translating to 2 notches over this one. Forman returned with Man on the Moon (1999). Harrelson returned in Spin City (1996, TV-series)) and theatrically in Welcome to Sarajevo (1997); Love in Hole: Celebrity Skin (1998, music video) and Hole: Malibu (1998, music video) prior to her theatrical return in 200 Cigarettes (1999); and Norton in American History X (1998). The People vs. Larry Flynt is certified fresh at 88 % with a 7.60/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of The People vs. Larry Flynt?