Badland (2007 film)

Last updated
Badland
Directed byFrancesco Lucente
Screenplay byFrancesco Lucente
Produced byOlimpia Lucente
Jorg G. Neumann
StarringJamie Draven
Grace Fulton
Vinessa Shaw
Chandra West
Joe Morton
CinematographyCarlo Varini
Edited byFrancesco Lucente
Music byLudek Drizhal
Distributed byCopex Distribution
Release date
  • November 30, 2007 (2007-11-30)(limited)
Running time
165 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Germany
LanguageEnglish

Badland is a 2007 German-American drama film written and directed by Francesco Lucente and starring Jamie Draven, Grace Fulton, Vinessa Shaw, Chandra West and Joe Morton.

Contents

Plot summary

Cast

Release

The film had a limited theatrical release on November 30, 2007. [1]

Reception

The film has a 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 19 reviews. [2]

Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle awarded the film one star out of five. [3] Rob Humanick of Slant Magazine awarded the film one and a half stars out of four and wrote, "Until the mess in the Middle East has found its way to a resolution, we can continue to expect films like Badland as part of the collateral damage in the War on Terror." [4] Robert Koehler of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "The raw material would seem to be in place for a strong, moving contemporary tragedy, but scene after endless scene fails to come to life." [5] The Associated Press also gave the film a negative review: "When the picture gets around to its calculated socko ending, the viewer has long been pummeled into a state of numbness." [6]

Eric Monder of Film Journal International gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Badland takes a step in the right direction by attempting to understand the aftermath of war." [7] Matt Zoller Seitz of The New York Times also gave the film a positive review, calling it "mawkish yet weirdly mesmerizing." [8] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times also gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Expertly constructed and beautifully photographed, Badland easily sustains its 160-minute running time, and the portrayals of Draven, a British actor, and 9-year-old Fulton can stand alongside the year’s best." [9]

Related Research Articles

Slant Magazine is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alonso Duralde</span> American film critic, author, and podcaster

Alonso Duralde is an American film critic, author, and podcaster. He has been a writer and editor for The Film Verdict, The Wrap, The Advocate and MSNBC.com.

<i>Marci X</i> 2003 American film

Marci X is a 2003 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Benjamin, written by Paul Rudnick, and starring Lisa Kudrow as Jewish-American Princess Marci Feld, who has to take control of a hip-hop record label, as well as the controversial rapper Dr. S, played by Damon Wayans. The film was released on August 22, 2003, by Paramount Pictures. Marci X received negative reviews and was a box office flop, grossing $1.7 million worldwide against a $20 million budget.

<i>Mister Lonely</i> 2007 film by Harmony Korine

Mister Lonely is a 2007 comedy film directed by Harmony Korine and co-written with his brother Avi Korine. It features an ensemble cast of international actors, including Diego Luna, Samantha Morton, Denis Lavant, Werner Herzog, James Fox, Anita Pallenberg and Leos Carax. The film follows a Michael Jackson look-alike joining a commune filled with other impersonators as they build a stage to attract people to see them perform. Mister Lonely garnered mixed reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing $393,813 against an $8.2 million budget.

<i>The Last Sin Eater</i> (film) 2007 American film

The Last Sin Eater is an American film released on February 9, 2007, directed by Michael Landon Jr. and distributed by Fox Faith. It is based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Francine Rivers. It was produced by Believe Pictures.

<i>Hannah Takes the Stairs</i> 2007 American film

Hannah Takes the Stairs is a 2007 American independent mumblecore film by Joe Swanberg. It has been described "as the defining movie of the low-budget, dialogue-driven 'mumblecore' movement."

<i>Orange Winter</i> 2007 American film

Orange Winter is a 2007 feature documentary by an independent Ukrainian-American filmmaker Andrei Zagdansky. The documentary deals with the fraudulent presidential election in Ukraine in November 2004 and ensuing days of mass protest, known as the Orange Revolution.

<i>Treeless Mountain</i> 2008 South Korean film

Treeless Mountain is a 2008 South Korean drama film written and directed by So Yong Kim. It stars Hee Yeon Kim, Song Hee Kim, Soo Ah Lee, Mi Hyang Kim, and Boon Tak Park. The film premiered on September 5, 2008, at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and was given a limited release in the United States on April 22, 2009.

<i>Search Party</i> (TV series) 2016 American dark comedy series

Search Party is an American dark comedy television series created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter. Primarily set in New York City, the series follows a group of friends who become involved in the search for a missing young woman and the events that result from their involvement.

<i>Abacus: Small Enough to Jail</i> 2016 film by Steve James

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail is a 2016 American documentary film directed by Steve James. The film centers on the Abacus Federal Savings Bank, a family-owned community bank situated in Manhattan's Chinatown in New York City which, because it was deemed "small enough to jail" rather than "too big to fail", became the only financial institution to actually face criminal charges following the subprime mortgage crisis.

<i>Galveston</i> (film) 2018 American film

Galveston is a 2018 American thriller film directed by Mélanie Laurent in her English-language directorial debut. It is written by Nic Pizzolatto and based on his 2010 novel of the same name. It follows a dying hitman, who escapes a set up and heads to the titular town to plan his revenge, taking a young girl who was kidnapped by his boss.

<i>Love, Gilda</i> 2018 documentary directed by Lisa DApolito

Love, Gilda is a 2018 American-Canadian documentary film directed and co-produced by Lisa D'Apolito. The film is about the life and career of American comedian Gilda Radner. Love, Gilda premiered on April 18, 2018 at the Tribeca Film Festival and was limited released in the United States on September 21, 2018. The movie received widespread acclaim from critics.

<i>Gabriel</i> (2014 film) 2014 American film

Gabriel is a 2014 Independent psychological thriller drama film written and directed by Lou Howe and starring Rory Culkin. It is Howe's directorial debut.

<i>From Other Worlds</i> (film) 2004 American film

From Other Worlds is a 2004 American science fiction comedy film written and directed by Barry Strugatz and starring Cara Buono, Isaach de Bankolé, David Lansbury, Robert Peters, Melissa Leo and Joel de la Fuente.

<i>Good Night Oppy</i> 2022 American documentary film

Good Night Oppy is a 2022 American documentary film directed by Ryan White and narrated by Angela Bassett. It had its world premiere at the 2022 Telluride Film Festival on September 3, 2022. It was released in a limited release on November 4, 2022, by Amazon Studios, prior to streaming on Prime Video on November 23, 2022.

The Last Thing Mary Saw is a 2021 American folk horror written and directed by Edoardo Vitaletti. Set in 1843, the film follows the youngest daughter of a strict religious family who is under investigation after the mysterious death of her family's ominous matriarch.

<i>Beauty Remains</i> (film) 2005 Chinese film

Beauty Remains is a 2005 Chinese-language drama film directed by Ann Hu, starring Zhou Xun, Vivian Wu and Wang Zhiwen. The film had its North American premiere at the Cleveland International Film Festival on March 17, 2006.

<i>One Ranger</i> 2023 American action thriller film

One Ranger is a 2023 American action thriller film written and directed by Jesse V. Johnson and starring Thomas Jane and John Malkovich.

Actor Martinez is a 2016 American mockumentary film written and directed by Mike Ott and Nathan Silver and starring Arthur Martinez.

<i>Albert Brooks: Defending My Life</i> 2023 documentary film

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life is a 2023 American documentary film directed by Rob Reiner. It is a tribute to the American actor, comedian, film director, and screenwriter Albert Brooks. In addition to directing the film, Reiner also interviews Brooks, revealing the two have been best friends since meeting at Beverly Hills High School. Much of the documentary is a conversation between Brooks and Reiner, who have been friends for nearly 60 years. The film follows the life of Brooks from his early childhood in a showbiz family through his years in the industry.

References

  1. Linden, Sheri (November 30, 2007). "Stepping into the shoes of soldiers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  2. "Badland". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  3. Baumgarten, Marjorie (February 29, 2008). "Badland". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  4. Humanick, Rob (November 30, 2007). "Review: Badland". Slant Magazine. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  5. Koehler, Robert (November 29, 2007). "Badland". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  6. Associated Press (November 29, 2007). "Badland". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  7. Monder, Eric (December 3, 2007). "Badland". Film Journal International. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  8. Seitz, Matt Zoller (November 30, 2007). "A War Hero's Terror, Tragedy and Rescue". The New York Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  9. Thomas, Kevin (November 30, 2007). "'Badland' traces veteran's postwar battle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2022.