Przegląd amerykańskich recenzji „Zimnej wojny”

Producent filmu „Zimna wojna” przekazał mi zestaw recenzji z amerykańskiej prasy, które dzielą się swoimi wrażeniami po seansie polskiego kandydata do Oscara. 21 grudnia film wchodzi oficjalnie do kin w USA. Recenzje podzielone są na te pozytywne, mieszane i negatywne. „Zimna wojna” na pewno nie pozostawia obojętnym.

Oto fragmenty amerykańskich recenzji „Zimnej wojny”. Teksty te prezentuję w oryginale. Bardzo fajnie czyta się tyle pochwał na temat polskiego filmu.

ADG/ David Dunn – Positive

“I thought it was very beautiful. The scenery, loved everything…, how it was put together. I did not see that ending coming though”

AP / Lindsey Bahr – Positive

"I finally watched Cold War and am obsessed. Definitely a favorite of the year."

AP TV / Mike Cidoni Lennox – Positive

"My favorite film so far this year.”

THE ARGONAUT / Angela Matano – Positive

“Loved it - one of the best films of the year!”

BUILD / Ricky Calimeri – Positive

"Oh my god. This is the best cinematography I’ve seen this year. It’s so truly stunning. It’s almost 3D. The way he composes foreground and background. I don’t know if I’ve seen anything like it— it’s far better than IDA was in that regard. A beautiful film.”

CINEASTE / FILM QUARTLERY / Dudley Andrew – Positive

"What a stunning black-and-white film; it’s a tour de force of storytelling, two decades in 86 minutes and across a number of countries.  I was very glad to have had an early look at what is sure to be a film that’s surely one of the best of the year."

CINEMACY / Nelson Tracy – Positive

“Absolutely brilliant. A great follow-up to Ida and one of the year's finest entries to date.”

CRITERION COLLECTION / Anna Thorngate – Positive

“I thought it was spectacular.”

EPOCH TIMES / Joe Bendel – Positive

“That was terrific. I would love to approach it from an angle of writing about the music, especially the jazz. I’d like to get the credits for the music.”

FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL / Doris Tourmarkine – Positive

“The music was fabulous. I loved it. I’m curious about the logistics of the Paris sequences (where they filmed them, what cultural figures were meant to be at the party, etc.)”

FLAVORWIRE / Jason Bailey - Positive

“It’s very good. Two thumbs up.”

THE FORWARD / PJ Grisar – Positive

“What a lovely film.”

FREELANCE / Abbey Bender – Positive

"I loved it. What fantastic performances. It’s beautiful.”

FREELANCE / NEW YORK TIMES / Ann Kolson – Positive

“Fantastic. Performances, the look of it, etc. It’s an almost perfect film, and, I very rarely think that. I don’t really write anymore, but I’m telling everybody at the Times about it. It deserves as much attention as possible” 

FREELANCE / Craig Turner – Positive

“Poignant and moving. I’ll be recommending it to all”

FREELANCE / VANITY FAIR / Emma Stefansky – Positive

"I would be so interested in talking to Pawel. It’s really good.”

FREELANCE / Kerensa Cadenas – Positive

“Oh god. I loved it.”

FREELANCE / Maria Garcia – Positive

“You can really tell that Pawel is a master. One of the few true master’s left the world. You can tell that there’s just so much thought and planning put into every single shot, it’s remarkable. It’s almost difficult to speak about, it’s so powerful.”

FREELANCE / DAILY BEAST / Nick Schager - Positive

“I really, really liked Cold War, I thought it’s great. Daily Beast would love for me to do an interview driven feature on Pawel when he is in town."

FREELANCE / DAILY BEAST / CINEASTE / Richard Porton – Positive

"I liked it very much at Cannes. I was happy to revisit it.”

FREELANCE / OBSERVER / Stephen Garrett - Positive

“I loved the film. Saw it at Cannes and wanted to see it again."

GOLD DERBY/ John Benutty – Positive

“I loved it. It’s a deceptively complex story masked by a rather simple plot. The cinematography is expectedly gorgeous, but the use of music, sound and editing are all exceptional. And there’s not enough that can be said about Kulig is there? Stunning.”

ICG/ Jacques Haitkin – Positive

“I thought it was great”

INDIEWIRE / William Earl

“It was solid! Interesting how it played with time and music and the scenes it chose to omit. I feel like I could have spent even longer with the couple.”

KCRW “The Business” / Kaitlin Parker – Positive

"Watched this over the weekend--so beautiful! And the soundtrack. omg."

KOREA TIMES / Christina Ha – Positive

“Beautifully shot!”

LAFCA / Brent Simon - Positive

“I enjoyed it.”

MOVEABLE FEST / Stephen Saito – Positive

“It is among my very favorites of the year."

MUAHS/ Thomas Richard-Keyes – Positive

“Beautiful visually! The cinematography was great”

NEW YORK MAGAZINE / Emily Yoshida – Positive

"I loved it at Cannes and still love it. I had been dying to see it again.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES / Aisha Harris – Positive

"I really liked it. It’s very lovely. I’m going to be doing some Awards coverage so definitely glad I finally got a chance to see it.”

NEWSWEEK / Nina Burleigh – Positive

"It’s very atmospheric. I would be interested to know more about the back story. I need to talk to Mary Kay Schilling about this one. It’s very interesting.”

POP BREAK / Marisa Carpico

“Really enjoyed it. Beautiful cinematography and Kulig's performance is really fantastic.”

REFINERY 29 / Anne Cohen – Positive

“Oh my god, I love this movie so much!”

THE RINGER / Sean Fennessey – Positive

“Loved it.”

RT TV / Maya Pritzker - Positive

“It’s very, very Eastern European. I thought it was very good, although I’m not quite sure how it would play for a Russian crowd— they still have strong feelings about all of this, but it was easy for me to look past that part. I thought it was so interesting that it was credited to his parents, I’m very curious how closely their story is mirrored by the one onscreen.”

SAG-AFTRA / Tom Holmberg – Positive

“I thought the acting was very authentic! The time situational piece was authentic to the time period”

SAG-AFTRA / Thomas Iwatsubo – Positive

“Loved it!”

SAG-AFTRA / Veronica Jung – Positive

“Good movie. I enjoyed it”

TALKHOUSE / Nick Dawson – Positive

“I normally hate giving reactions, but in this case the film is so incredible that I have to say something. It’s a very impressive film, might be even better than IDA and easily one of the best foreign language films I’ve seen this year."

THRILLIST / Esther Zuckerman – Positive

"It’s so beautiful. She’s so good. Amazing performances from both the leads. But it’s a devastating film.”

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE / Katie Walsh – Positive

“LOVE the movie!!”

VULTURE / Lisa Liebman – Positive

“Since this was my second time seeing the film, I was more focused on the technical aspects and wasn’t as swept up in the emotions, but it’s still such a lovely film. It even felt shorter this time, it was over too quickly!"

THE WEEK / Jeva Lange - Positive

“I loved it. I love how elliptical it is. You get enough information without it overstaying its welcome. I’m going to try to write something but not sure if I can get placement. But glad I got to see it!”

WNYC / Melissa Eagan - Positive

“That was really well done. It’s such a rare kind of film. I’m so glad I could make it.”

HUFFINGTON POST / Aubrey Page – Mixed-Positive

"It’s great. I loved it. I’m still in a bit of a fog. That ending is devastating.”

CINEASTE / Louis Manashe - Mixed

"Not bad, not bad. Very dark.”

FREELANCE/ BROOKLYN MAG / LITTLE WHITE LIES / Forrest Cardeminias - Mixed

“I liked it but didn’t love it. I kind of wish it was longer! Will have to think about it. Hopefully can pitch something!”

FREELANCE / PITCHFORK / Katie Chow - Mixed

“I feel like I need to go read a history book now. It’s so dense with allusions and meaning, I will definitely need to rewatch it. The music is excellent, I’m not familiar with a lot of it but the way it was used was very unique.”

SOC/ William Duel – Mixed

“I appreciate the movie! Very dark though”

ASIFA/ Mark McNamara - Negative

“I didn’t care for the two main characters. They did not do enough or I did not did them interesting enough where I cared what happened to them. Very polished film but I don’t think the two main characters had enough to make me care for them”

All press reactions included below. Additions BOLDED

____________________________________________________________________________________

ADG/ David Dunn – Positive

“I thought it was very beautiful. The scenery, loved everything…, how it was put together. I did not see that ending coming though”

AFI BLOG / Ryan Lattanzio – Positive

“I was totally transported -- the cinematography, performances, music, everything. I hope to see more from Joanna Kulig and that she factors into the awards conversation.”

AP/ Jake Coyle – Positive Via Twitter

“…COLD WAR is Gorgeous. A B&W companion piece to IDA, just as spare “economical & heartbreaking.”

AP / Lindsey Bahr – Positive

"I finally watched Cold War and am obsessed. Definitely a favorite of the year."

AP TV / Mike Cidoni Lennox – Positive

"My favorite film so far this year.”

THE ATLANTIC / Emily Buder- Positive

“I loved it. The cinematography was amazing. This is such a wintery movie.”

THE ARGONAUT / Angela Matano – Positive

“Loved it - one of the best films of the year!”

AWARDS CIRCUIT / Joey Magidson – Positive via Twitter

"Cold War is a visually splendid and very moving love story. It’s simple, but simplicity is part of its power. Really great stuff."

BATTLESHIP PRETENSION / Scott Nye – Positive

“Oh, I loved it. One of my absolute favorite films of the year.”

BBC AMERICA / Rebecca Laurence - Positive

"I liked this film very much.  Beautiful to watch."

BBC CULTURE / ECONOMIST / Nicholas Barber - Positive

“Well, I loved it! Faint echoes of La La Land and Chico & Rita, but also wholly original, distinctive, surprising and beautiful. A spellbinding romantic saga in 84 minutes … a finger-clicking piece of music without a bum note. Really not sure if I’ll see much at Cannes that’s better”

 

BBC ETC./ Emma Jones – Positive

“I really loved it on reflection, despite a couple of midway muddles. I thought Zula was luminous. Found it touching, but above all just really interesting - fascinating to have the story set against the era, and particularly Paris in the 50s.”

BFCA / Joey Berlin – Positive

“Very beautiful.”

BREAK THROUGH RADIO / J. McVay - Positive

"What a gorgeous movie, both in terms of aesthetics and storytelling.”

BUILD / Ricky Calimeri – Positive

"Oh my god. This is the best cinematography I’ve seen this year. It’s so truly stunning. It’s almost 3D. The way he composes foreground and background. I don’t know if I’ve seen anything like it— it’s far better than IDA was in that regard. A beautiful film.”

CBS SUNDAY MORNING / Ramon Parkins - Positive

 “I loved, loved, loved it. He reminded me of a young Daniel Day-Lewis and she reminded me of Jeanne Moreau. It was beautifully shot.”  

CINEASTE / Cindy Lucia - Positive

“The film was so moving and beautifully filmed and acted."

CINEASTE / FILM QUARTLERY / Dudley Andrew – Positive

"What a stunning black-and-white film; it’s a tour de force of storytelling, two decades in 86 minutes and across a number of countries.  I was very glad to have had an early look at what is sure to be a film that’s surely one of the best of the year."

CINEASTE / Gary Crowdus - Positive

"Quite good. The ending is very poetic.”

CINEMACY / Nelson Tracy – Positive

“Absolutely brilliant. A great follow-up to Ida and one of the year's finest entries to date.”

CIUT 89.5 FM / Daniel Garber - Positive

“Amazing, loved! Enjoyed the soundtrack, especially the main song.”

CNN / Brian Seligson - Positive

"It was astounding. I had seen and liked IDA but this is even better. But I was especially taken with Joanna. That’s such an incredible performance, I’m still catching my breath.”

COLLIDER & THE PLAYLIST / Greg Ellwood – Positive Via Twitter

“Cold War has moments of true cinematic brilliance. Adored. Your first Foreign Language Film nominee. #oscars #cannes2018”

THE CRITERION COLLECTION / Anna Thorngate – Positive

“I thought it was spectacular.”

THE CRITERION COLLECTION / Hillary Weston – Positive

"I was completely knocked out by the film and loved it so much. Do you happen to know if Pawel will be back in town for the film's release in the winter?”

CUNYTV / Lisa Rosman – Positive

“I thought it a heavenly swoon, modern and classic at once."

DAILY MAIL (London) - Baz Bamigboye - Positive

"I loved it."

DAZED MAGAZINE / Patrik Sandberg – Positive

“Oh my god, I loved it. Wow. My heart.”

DEADLINE / Damon Wise - Positive

"Great film.  Pawel is an excellent story-teller."

DEMI GODDESS CHRONICLE / Christy Oldham – Positive

 “The cinematography was beautifully executed and the actors were amazing. The title could be called "Zulu" instead of  Cold War because the lead actress had a mesmerizing on-screen presence.”

DORKSHELF / Jason Gorber – Positive 

“Second time seeing it. It was the best movie at Cannes. Absolutely adore it.”

EAST BAY EXPRESS/ Kelly Vance – Positive

“I can’t believe how incredible that was. It now has a number one spit on my top 10 list”

EBERT.COM / Chaz Ebert - Positive

“I liked it very much."

ELLE MAGAZINE / Jennifer Weisel – Positive

“Loved it! Gorgeous”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY / Katie Hasty – Positive

“Loved it.”

EPOCH TIMES / Joe Bendel – Positive

“That was terrific. I would love to approach it from an angle of writing about the music, especially the jazz. I’d like to get the credits for the music.”

FANDOR / Sarah Fonseca – Positive

"What an intense way to start the day. I missed this at NYFF but am so glad to finally see it. It’s beautiful and moving. It’s great.”

FILMMAKER MAGAZINE / Peter Rinaldi - Positive

From Twitter: "I love this film so much I would drop everything and watch it right now if I could. Then I would watch it again right after that. Pawlikowski is an absolute master but my longing for repeat viewings is due to the brilliance of Joanna Kulig."

FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL / Doris Tourmarkine – Positive

“The music was fabulous. I loved it. I’m curious about the logistics of the Paris sequences (where they filmed them, what cultural figures were meant to be at the party, etc.)”

FILM COMMENT / Amy Taubin - Positive

“I more than liked it”

FILM COMMENT / Ela Bittencourt - Positive

"Wow. I was actually born in Poland, and watching this just took me back. It's kind of magical. I've never seen Polish folk songs used this way. The music is very unique and very special. It's interesting because he's evoking Polish films from the 1950s, down to the style and the actors he cast. He's technically a very skilled director. But what he does with it is nothing something I recall seeing in Polish films before. It's really unique and wonderful.” 

FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL / Tomris Laffly – Positive

"I loved it. This is one of my favorite movies I’ve seen this year. I expected to like but it was overwhelming. So powerful. This very old school Hollywood filmmaking, just beautiful and tragic. I was going to watch another movie but after this I think I just need to go home and think. The last shot is stunning. Such respect for Pawel.”

*Please note Tomris is assigned to interview Pawel for Film Journal

FILM SCHOOL REJECTS / Max Covill - Positive

“She’s an international star - extremely talented, will win awards. He was good too.”

FILM QUARTERLY / Megan Ratner – Positive

“I really liked it and would be very interested in speaking to Pawel."

FLAVORWIRE / Jason Bailey - Positive

“It’s very good. Two thumbs up.”

FLIXIT / Hubert Vigilla – Positive via Twitter

"Three word review: Melancholy love song."

THE FORWARD / PJ Grisar – Positive

“What a lovely film.”

FT/ Raphael Abraham - Positive

“I liked the film very much. Pulsing with life, beautifully shot and such an interesting companion piece to Ida, both formally and thematically.

My only reservation was the pacing towards the end - it seemed to wrap up somewhat hurriedly. But overall a very fine film - best of luck with it (not that I think you'll need it).”

FREELANCE / Abbey Bender – Positive

"I loved it. What fantastic performances. It’s beautiful.”

FREELANCE / NEW YORK TIMES / Ann Kolson – Positive

“Fantastic. Performances, the look of it, etc. It’s an almost perfect film, and, I very rarely think that. I don’t really write anymore, but I’m telling everybody at the Times about it. It deserves as much attention as possible” 

FREELANCE / Amirose Eisenbach – Positive

“Loved this beautiful film... Their chemistry and the cinematography were so magnetic. Every scene was dripping with style and passion.”

FREELANCE / ELLE / Ben Dickinson – Positive

“It’s a beautifully crafted film. Joanna gives an incredible performance. I hadn’t seen IDA, which I guess I need to see it now. Every shot is just  is just so stunningly composed, really remarkable.”

FREELANCE, INDIEWIRE, IMMERSED IN MOVIES / Bill Desowitz – Positive

“Exquisitely shot look at a dour love story that manages to get more hypnotic as the Cold War worsens.”

FREELANCE / Craig Turner – Positive

“Poignant and moving. I’ll be recommending it to all”

FREELANCE / DOCUMENTS ON ARTS AND CINEMA / CHINA FILM INSIDER / Daryl Chin – Positive

"It’s good! Pawel’s career has had such an interested trajectory. I actually met him when LAST RESORT came out, and then again when he was supporting MY SUMMER OF LOVE. I thought he was just going to be another British, film school trained, filmmaker. But with IDA and now this he seems to have gone back to those Polish roots and in the process uncovered a more personal filmmaking.”

FREELANCE / VANITY FAIR / Emma Stefansky – Positive

"I would be so interested in talking to Pawel. It’s really good.”

FREELANCE / FILMMAKER MAGAZINE / Genevieve Jacobson - Positive

"I LOVED THIS FILM SO MUCH. I was so taken by the music, the opening scene, the dance performances, the audience shots, Joanna’s character, their faces. So many things. I honestly hate most melodramas and I especially hate romances. I rarely find the chemistry believable between the love interests. The stories always feel tired, but as I experienced it, COLD WAR was strikingly, magically different. It goes down in the Genevieve watch history as one of like five romantic movies I’ve LOVED.

I want to write about it for FILMMAKER MAGAZINE. I’ll reach out to Vadim. I know they’re in town doing press right now, but I’m not sure I’ll get approval in time. Do you think I’d be able to speak with or get a statement of sorts from the cinematographer and/or someone from the music team/consultant/sound designer?"

FREELANCE / NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE / HARPER’S BAZAAR / Giles Harvey – Positive

“Incredible. I loved it.”

FREELANCE / Howard Feinstein – Positive

“One of my favorites this year.”

FREELANCE / Jamie Graham – Positive 

“Thought it was very good. Obviously looked stunning and I love the framing in this and Ida - getting IMAX impact from an Academy aspect ratio via placing people low in the frame, topped by huge skies etc. Really got a sense of the passing years despite the tidy run time and elliptical structure. One of the few Cannes films in competition that I'd actually have liked to have a longer running time! Both the leads are great. I especially liked the first chapters of the film, when it was more politicised and played like a cross between a post-war polish X-Factor and Milos Forman's early satires before he decamped to Hollywood. Also liked that it very much felt like a film made at the time and unearthed only now”

FREELANCE, AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, WRITERS BLOC PRESENTS / Jean Oppenheimer – Positive

“I liked the film a lot. It had the look and feel of Eastern European films of the early 1960s. The black-and-white was part of it but so was the mood and tone of the film. It had a feel for time and place and political circumstances. Terrific cinematography — more like a series of photographs than a film. Very atmospheric — an oppressive time and place I’m glad I didn’t live in.”

FREELANCE / Joe McGovern – Positive

“I really liked it. I think it’s fair to say at this point that Pawel is a master. There’s no other way to put it. My one gripe is that MY SUMMER OF LOVE is my favorite of his films, and COLD WAR was a little to similar to IDA— I hope in the future he will experiment a bit more with aesthetic and form, but I think that the 4:3 and black and white make sense for this movie and I think he works beautifully so I can’t really complain.”

FREELANCE / Kaleem Aftab – Positive 

“Film is great.  The opening hour was perfect and the stuff in Paris was pretty great too setting up the great ending. And both actors were fabulous. LOVED IT!”

FREELANCE / Kerensa Cadenas – Positive

“Oh god. I loved it.”

FREELANCE/THE PLAYLIST/ Kimberly Myers  - Positive

"I thought it was an absolutely gorgeous film and one of the few times I want more. The Playlist reviewed out of festivals already but I’m eager to see if we can do a feature for it.”

FREELANCE / Maria Garcia – Positive

“You can really tell that Pawel is a master. One of the few true master’s left the world. You can tell that there’s just so much thought and planning put into every single shot, it’s remarkable. It’s almost difficult to speak about, it’s so powerful.”

FREELANCE / SLASH FILM / Marshall Shaffer - Positive

From Twitter: "As someone who felt a bit iced out of Pawlikowski’s IDA, I’m surprised and delighted to report that COLD WAR was my jam in a very major way. I can’t wait to see what Joanna Kulig does next.”

FREELANCE / GQ / MIC / Max Cea - Positive

"I liked it a lot! She was really really good.”

FREELANCE, MARINA TIMES, GABNET/ROKU / Michael Snyder – Positive

“Wonderful, heart-breaking movie! Beautifully realized with tender, nuanced performances. Very positive review on GABNet/Roku upon theatrical release -- and probably something in the Marina Times before the end of the year.”

FREELANCE / DAILY BEAST / Nick Schager - Positive

“I really, really liked Cold War, I thought it’s great. Daily Beast would love for me to do an interview driven feature on Pawel when he is in town."

FREELANCE / DAILY BEAST / CINEASTE / Richard Porton – Positive

"I liked it very much at Cannes. I was happy to revisit it.”

FREELANCE, LA TIMES, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / Sheri Linden - Positive

“It's sublime. A fascinating and affecting narrative approach. And Joanna Kulig is the Polish Lea Seydoux (I mean that as the highest compliment).”

FREELANCE, LITTLE WHITE LIES, THE MODERATE VOICE / Spencer Moleda – Positive

“I LOVED IT! A masterpiece as delicately mounted as it is achingly tender. I even walked into the screening in a bad mood, and the film rinsed out all of my bitterness.”

FREELANCE, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / Stephen Farber- Positive

“It is very well done.  Especially liked the beautiful black-and-white cinematography.  And the lead actress is very charismatic.”

FREELANCE / OBSERVER / Stephen Garrett - Positive

“I loved the film. Saw it at Cannes and wanted to see it again."

FREELANCE / FILM JOURNAL / Tomris Laffly - Positive

“I loved it even more the second time. It’s one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. I still can’t get over how perfect Joanna and Tomasz are— when you see them up there on the big screen, it feels like they were born to be movie stars, not in the modern sense, but in the sense of actors like Lauran Bacall and Cary Grant or Humphrey Bogart, they have this timelessness to them that you don’t see in American cinema anymore."

From Twitter: "Thoughts after seeing Cold War again: This is one of the best of 2018, I need the soundtrack ASAP, Joanna Kulig & Tomasz Kot have classic movie star faces created for the giant screen, Impossible love = most romantic.”

FREELANCE/THE ECONOMIST / Yael Friedman – Positive

“Wow. I loved IDA but this might be better. He’s got such an interesting eye for composition. You can tell Pawel is a filmmaker who loves movies. This has a very classic sensibility to it and I’m not sure I’ve seen anything else like it this year.”

        

FREELANCE / Zorianna Kit – Positive

“Wow, it was beautiful and moving. I hope it gets an Oscar nomination because everything about it is stunning.”

GOLD DERBY/ John Benutty – Positive

“I loved it. It’s a deceptively complex story masked by a rather simple plot. The cinematography is expectedly gorgeous, but the use of music, sound and editing are all exceptional. And there’s not enough that can be said about Kulig is there? Stunning.”

GQ / Kevin Nyugen - Positive

“I liked the movie a lot. (Although I left the theater thinking, Oh my god why didn't they just STAY in France??) Really tremendous performances too.”

 

GUARDIAN/ Peter Bradshaw – Positive

“I love Cold War.”

HALLMARK “HOME AND FAMILY SHOW” / Susan Sullivan - Positive

“Beautifully shot, haunting and atmospheric. Incomprehensible power of the heart to follow complete self-destruction. One can only think how helpful mental health assistance would be in the case of obsessive love.”

HAMMER TO NAIL / Matt Delman - Positive

“Wow. I will say, and you can quote me on this: “a real work of art.” I loved it!”

THE HERALD / James Mottram – Positive 

“Took me a while to get into it, but its beautifully made - small but perfectly formed.”

 

HOLLYWOOD ELSEWHERE / Jeffrey Wells - Positive

"It’s Brilliant”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / David Rooney – Positive 

“Looooved it. That kind of melancholy romance is right in my sweet spot. The music is just great too and I found the male lead extremely sexy”

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER / Scott Feinberg – Positive 

“The Polish period drama COLD WAR, from IDA Oscar winner Pawel Pawlikowski, unspools in gorgeous black/white, runs just 85 minutes, and is deeply affecting. Almost surely this year’s Polish Oscar entry, and a real contender to win. And leading lady Joanna Kulig is a f—ing star!”

HUFFINGTON POST / Jonathan Kim – Positive

“I thought it was a great movie, beautifully shot and very Polish in its content and themes. It’s a great choice for best foreign film.”

ICG/ Jacques Haitkin – Positive

“I thought it was great”

IMDB / Dave Karger - Positive

"Wow. Just beautiful."

INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE / Kurt Brokaw – Positive

“This the second time I’ve seen it. I just love it. It’ll be a Critic’s Choice."

INDIEWIRE / Anne Thompson – Positive Via Twitter

“Ida” Oscar-winner Pawel Pawlikowski’s stunning black-and-white 50s romance “Cold War” — a likely Palme d’Or and Oscar contender as well — is about how fucked-up national politics prevent you from being your authentic self.”

INDIEWIRE / Chris O'Falt – Positive

"I loved it. It’s beautiful. Just great. I would be very interested in speaking to Pawel, and I don’t know if this is even possible, but would be desperate to read the screenplay. Are they pushing it for Best Original Screenplay? There are a few elements in it I really want to dig into. I had heard that this was about his parents, and am very interested in how personal it feels." “I’m just so in love with this movie. Every scene is so precisely constructed and shot, they almost feel like a series of short films. So much is crammed into each one, and each performance has so many layers to it, it’s really a truly remarkable film.”

INDIEWIRE / Eric Kohn – Positive Via Twitter

“COLD WAR doesn’t waste a frame. IDA had more mystery and wonder, but this is a natural continuation, visually and thematically, for a fimmmaker obsessed with exploring the post-WWII fracturing of European identity. A concise treat.”

 

INDIEWIRE / William Earl

“It was solid! Interesting how it played with time and music and the scenes it chose to omit. I feel like I could have spent even longer with the couple.”

INSIDE REEL / Tim Wassberg - Positive

"Was pretty good. The lead actress was VERY impressed by."

JEWISH WEEK / George Robinson – Positive

"I think I was a bit surprised by how different it is from Ida, but it's an impressive piece of work."

KCRW “The Business” / Kaitlin Parker – Positive

"Watched this over the weekend--so beautiful! And the soundtrack. omg."

KIDS FIRST/ Alejandra Garcia- Positive

"Interesting. Very different."

KILLERMOVIEREVIEWS/ Andrea Chase – Positive

“I loved it. I absolutely loved it.”

THE KOREA TIMES / Christina Ha – Positive

“Beautifully shot!”

THE KOREA TIMES / HJ Park – Positive

“What a lovely passionate and somber movie. Image and music are also superb. It is burning fire inside icy cold exterior. My wife wants to see it again. One of the best foreign movies so far.”

KSJS RADIO/ Tim Sika – Positive

“It blew me away. Amazing”

LA DAILY NEWS / Bob Strauss – Positive

“Gorgeous, fully controlled and equally realized. Plus, it's the best musical of the year!”

LAFCA / Brent Simon - Positive

“I enjoyed it.”

LAFCA / Myron Meisel – Positive

“A very fine film, with a most modern use of the 1.33 ratio in which the film and its characters feel spatially so uncomfortable. I appreciate that it's printed full frame so projectionists don't screw it up. (I made a feature in 1.33 once and had to drill most projectionists to get it shown correctly.)”

LOS ANGELES TIMES / Kenny Turan – Positive  

"I liked the film quite a bit.  It was such a beautifully crafted film to watch. And I am always very interested in films about the WWII era and after - and in particular that region of the continent.  Pawel has been one of my favorite filmmakers over the last decade or so" 

METRO/ Richard Von Busack – Positive

“What a sensational film. I am so moved right now. Incredible”

METROSOURCE / Jonathan Roche - Positive

“It’s very good.” 

MIAMI ART ZINE/ Ruben Rosario – Positive

"Fantastic. The ending was so sad but it was beautifully done."

MIAMI NEW TIMES/ Hans Morgernstern – Positive

"Amazing! I really loved it. It was fantastic! Now I know why they wanted us to watch it on the big screen."

MOVEABLE FEST / Stephen Saito – Positive

“It is among my very favorites of the year."

MOVIEMAKER / Amir Ganjavie - Positive

“Very nice film."

MOVIE CITY NEWS / David Poland - Positive

“Best film of the festival. In the year of a “Star is Born,” this is actually a star is born.”

MUAHS/ Thomas Richard-Keyes – Positive

“Beautiful visually! The cinematography was great”

NEWSWEEK / Nina Burleigh – Positive

"It’s very atmospheric. I would be interested to know more about the back story. I need to talk to Mary Kay Schilling about this one. It’s very interesting.”

NEW YORK POST / Farran Nehme - Positive

“It was gorgeous.”

NEW YORK MAGAZINE / Emily Yoshida – Positive

"I loved it at Cannes and still love it. I had been dying to see it again.”

NEW YORK MAGAZINE / Nate Jones – Positive

“I really liked it! Glad I was able to finally see it after hearing so much about it."

NEW YORK MAGAZINE | VULTURE / Scott Tobias - Positive

 “I liked it. Not as much as his last movie but yeah really dug it. She's really good. T kind of reminded me of this movie Platform, people wandering around the country singing. It's a throw back for sure. Very well made.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES / Aisha Harris – Positive

"I really liked it. It’s very lovely. I’m going to be doing some Awards coverage so definitely glad I finally got a chance to see it.”

NEW YORK TIMES / Ben Kenigsberg- Positive

"I actually saw it at Cannes, but am really glad I got to see it again. I was so tired at that festival, and I was very happy to get the chance to see it with fresh eyes.”

NEWSWEEK / Nina Burleigh – Positive

"It’s very atmospheric. I would be interested to know more about the back story. I need to talk to Mary Kay Schilling about this one. It’s very interesting.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES / Scott Heller – Positive

“It was good.”

THE NEW YORKER / Elaina Patton - Positive

"If I'm honest, I liked "Cold War" even more than "Ida.” Pawlikowski's aesthetic style continues to impress me, but I think the personal connection really enriched and energized this film in particular.”

NOW THIS / Ryan Murray – Positive

"I loved the film! Joanna Kuling was amazing and the cinematography was gorgeous!"

NYFF / Eugene Hernandez – Positive 

“Really good. The lead woman is exceptional”

 

NY MAGAZINE / Kyle Buchanan - Positive

Via Twitter: Lots of well-deserved praise for Cannes entry COLD WAR, too few people noting that the lead actress is the genetic missing link between J Law and Kate McKinnon

 

NY MAGAZINE / Emily Yoshida – Positive Via Twitter

“I need the soundtrack to Cold War *now.* What a beauty. My first real favorite of the festival. #Cannes2018”

 

OBSERVER / Stephen Garrett - Positive

“Great film. So well made.”

PAPER / David Hershkovitz – Positive

"It’s just great. She’s fantastic.”

PASTE / Kyle Turner – Positive

"That was really nice and lovely!"

POP BREAK / Marisa Carpico

“Really enjoyed it. Beautiful cinematography and Kulig's performance is really fantastic.”

REFINERY 29 / Anne Cohen – Positive

“Oh my god, I love this movie so much!”

REFINERY 29 / Morgan Baila, Anne Cohen – Positive

"Wow. That was so good. We loved it. It sucks because Refinery 29 is so weird about foreign language films, but Joanna’s performance is so stunning- we would love to revisit closer to release, maybe we can push our editors on a story about how she’s an actress that everybody should be talking about.”

THE RINGER / Sean Fennessey – Positive

“Loved it.”

ROGEREBERT / Chaz Ebert - Positive

“I liked it very much."

ROGER EBERT / Godfrey Cheshire - Positive

“That was so great. I’m glad I could make it. The December release is a great idea for this film.”

 

ROGER EBERT / Scout Tafoya - Positive

“Film was really really good, very glad I got to see it."

RT TV / Maya Pritzker - Positive

“It’s very, very Eastern European. I thought it was very good, although I’m not quite sure how it would play for a Russian crowd— they still have strong feelings about all of this, but it was easy for me to look past that part. I thought it was so interesting that it was credited to his parents, I’m very curious how closely their story is mirrored by the one onscreen.”

SAG-AFTRA / Tom Holmberg – Positive

“I thought the acting was very authentic! The time situational piece was authentic to the time period”

SAG-AFTRA / Thomas Iwatsubo – Positive

“Loved it!”

SAG-AFTRA / Veronica Jung – Positive

“Good movie. I enjoyed it”

SF EXAMINER/ Anita Katz – Positive

“A truly breathtaking film. I am so impressed”

SF FILM CRITICS CIRCLE PRESIDENT/ Randy Meyers – Positive

“Exceptional”

SING TAO CHINESE RADIO/ Yar Wei – Positive

“Very well done. Beautiful cinematography”

SPIRITUALITY AND PRACTICE / Micah Bucey – Positive

"This is my second time seeing it. I just had to see it again. It’s so so great.”

TALK CINEMA / Harlan Jacobson - Positive

"Very good film."

TALKHOUSE / Nick Dawson – Positive

“I normally hate giving reactions, but in this case the film is so incredible that I have to say something. It’s a very impressive film, might be even better than IDA and easily one of the best foreign language films I’ve seen this year."

THRILLIST / Esther Zuckerman – Positive

"It’s so beautiful. She’s so good. Amazing performances from both the leads. But it’s a devastating film.”

TIMES/ Kevin Maher – Positive 

“Loved it. So good. So gorgeous too. Every frame a keeper, or a poster in the making, but not as naff as that sounds. And is it wrong to say that part of my enjoyment was based on seeing how much of an a-hole Wiktor was? That’s probably a very harsh reading, but the scene where he asks, “Tie or no tie?” and she says “Tie!” and he then appears with no tie was just devastating to me. I thought, “That’s why you’re an a-hole and you don’t deserve her! And you’re going to end up topping yourself with painkillers on a bench in a field!” But seriously, just lovely. Easy 4 or 5 star first night review”

 

TIME OUT / Phil de Semlyen – Positive

“Bloody amazing. I absolutely adored it.” 

TIME OUT NEW YORK / Josh Rothkopf – Positive

“I loved it.”

TORONTO STAR / Peter Howell – Positive Via Twitter

“COLD WAR: We have our first serious Palme threat for #Cannes2018. Pawel Pawlikowski's border-hopping love story set in post-war Poland and Paris, suspense shrewdly maintained until the end, is masterfully executed in form, story and performance.”

THE TRACKING BOARD / Ed Douglas – Positive via Twitter

"Pawel Pawlowski's Cold War is a gorgeous follow-up to his Oscar-winning Ida and at a nice, concise 90 mins, too, leaving you wanting for more.”

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE / Katie Walsh – Positive

“LOVE the movie!!”

TROPICALFRONT / Josh Gardner - Positive

“The woman was great. Loved!”

USA TODAY / Andrea Mandell – Positive

“I adored it.”

USA TODAY/ Patrick Ryan – Positive

“She was phenomenal! Reminded me of seeing Jennifer Lawrence or Jessica Chastain for the first time…As you know, it can be very hard for us to cover foreign titles until later into Oscar season when more people are aware of them. But I’ll obviously be pushing for coverage, whether that’s a profile or a more general feature on the film. I loved it.”

VANITY FAIR / Michael Hogan – Positive 

“It was great. She really has it, and in a film like this you have to. Great performance.”

VARIETY / Gregg Goldstein – Positive

"It was great. Wonderful performances, cinematography and music.”

 

VARIETY / Leo Barraclough – Positive 

“I really enjoyed it. It was beautifully shot, I loved the music, the story was engaging and absorbing, and the recreation of the period was spot on, imho.”  

VARIETY / Stuart Oldham - Positive

"Really enjoyed the film, thanks. Joanna Kulig is a revelation."

VOGUE / Chloe Schama – Positive

“It was great."

VOGUE / Julia Felsenthal – Positive

“I really really enjoyed it.”

VULTURE / Lisa Liebman – Positive

“Since this was my second time seeing the film, I was more focused on the technical aspects and wasn’t as swept up in the emotions, but it’s still such a lovely film. It even felt shorter this time, it was over too quickly!"

W MAGAZINE / Lynn Hirschberg

“That was great. Just fabulous. She’s incredible, just such an impressive performance.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL / Barbara Chai - Positive

"I loved it. It's such a remarkably powerful ending. So affecting. Like the minute it ends you know you've seen something important. I was a huge fan of IDA and wasn't sure what to expect. I feel like is a radical departure, it's a similar aesthetic, with some truly stunning shots, but also very different. After the final scene you see the credit to his parents, and you realize what a personal film this must have been. And wow she's just phenomenal. I don't know where he found her, but when she started singing I was blown away. Really eager to see what we can make happen when both of them are in town, I would love to talk to her.”

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL / Joe Morgenstern – Positive 

“A masterpiece. This is IT for me for the festival. It’s fabulous. She’s fantastic and so is he.”

“in 88 minutes, Pawel Pawlikowski’s ‘Cold War’, a masterpiece screening @ Telluride Film Festival, takes up permanent residence in one’s heart”

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS / Joey Alison Hung - Positive

“I wondered why the love story wasn’t being developed initially but then I realized it was more about the effects of political oppression on a relationship. Very striking cinematography, especially to show the contrasts between Poland and Paris.”

THE WEEK / Jeva Lange - Positive

“I loved it. I love how elliptical it is. You get enough information without it overstaying its welcome. I’m going to try to write something but not sure if I can get placement. But glad I got to see it!”

THE WEEK / Noel Murray - Positive

“Oh, I absolutely loved it.”

WHY WATCH THAT / Christina Faison – Positive

“COLD WAR is a deeply emotional piece that lovers of cinema will want to enjoy over and over again. With a riveting performance by Joanna Kulig, moving from scene to scene felt like a beautiful luxury that many modern movies have not afforded. By its conclusion, one realizes that it's simply a good, old-fashioned love story wrapped in sultry jazz, thankfully knowing not to wear out its welcome.”

WNYC / Melissa Eagan -  - Positive

“That was really well done. It’s such a rare kind of film. I’m so glad I could make it.”

THE WRAP / Brian Welk – Positive

"Cold War" is one of the best movies of the year. Pawel Pawlikowski's beautifully lensed drama hits on so many facets of culture, politics, romance and character while maintaining the intoxicating thread of this love story. It moves through the 15 years of its story so briskly and elegantly, and as a result it feels equal parts dreamy and precise in its staging, humor and musicality. Whereas his last film "Ida" was equally impressive and economical in its storytelling, "Cold War" seems to take cues from world cinema abroad, be it Godard, Fellini, Bergman or others, and it is richer for it. The performances are powerful and ravishing and the musical numbers are remarkable.

YAHOO! MOVIES / Ethan Alter – Positive

“I loved it. It's awesome. I love the sweep of history Juxtaposed against this very specific story. And the last shot is an all timer. Just an amazing note to end on.”

From Twitter: “Cold War: Pawlikowski’s follow up to Ida has the historical sweep of a great novel, the intimacy of a musical like Once, black and white imagery that’s like a treasure trove of found photos from the ‘50s, all in a 90-minute runtime. Loved it. #TIFF18”

43 FILMS/ Dennis Harvey – Positive

“Great film, He is a genius”

92Y/ Gleb Osatinsk – Positive

“I loved it.”

AWARDS CIRCUIT / Clayton Davis – Mixed-Positive via Twitter

"Cold War" is appropriately titled.  A dour, distant storytelling component makes the film all the more compelling although its foundation isn't as strong as one would like.  Joanna Kulig is a fantastic find and in a just world, will find herself in the Best Actress hunt.”

FREELANCE / Mike D’Angelo- Mixed-Positive

“Cold War (Pawlikowski): 70. Loved use of the Soviet Bloc as a metaphor for the sort of relationship that thrives only when confronted with obstacles. Not sure the film totally follows through on it.”

FREELANCE / GQ / VICE / Kristen Yonsoo Kim – Mixed-Positive

“I was so-so on it. It was cute, but a little too composed for my taste.”

GAY CITY NEWS / Steve Erickson – Mixed-Positive

"It wanted to be an epic love story and I’m not sure it landed for me completely. It’s a little too nostalgic. But I did find it very stunningly shot and beautifully made.”

HUFFINGTON POST / Aubrey Page – Mixed-Positive

"It’s great. I loved it. I’m still in a bit of a fog. That ending is devastating.”

REEL FANATICS / Jared Gores – Mixed-Positive

From Twitter: “COLD WAR: Editing, cinematography, and general vibe of this are *extremely* my shit! But the love story often failed to engage me emotionally; only worked intellectually. Good but could have been great. #TIFF18”

ARTS MEME / Debra Levine – Mixed

Romantic. A nice way to pass a few hours, I wouldn't un-recommend it but I wouldn't overly recommend it. But kind of cliche ridden in a way. Not that believable. The Paris jazz spot. She cuts a record. Really? They had a pretty easy life for impoverished Cold War exiles. Too romanticized. Cliches at every turn. The man waiting while the woman stands him up. He surfaces as a cool guy playing jazz. They live in a fabulous attic apartment overlooking all of Paris. Eh. Not so much.

Quibbles: I thought her hair was wrong. She looked and acted contemporary. She didn't seem of the period. He looked like Don Draper. which is not necessarily a bad thing. I didn't care for the way the film abandoned the older female character. Just dropped her. Plus: Beautiful cinematography. Intriguing concept -- behind the Iron Curtain interesting subject. I really liked the scenes of the folk song/dance troupe.”

CINEASTE / Louis Manashe - Mixed

"Not bad, not bad. Very dark.”

CINEMATARY / Zach Dennis - Mixed 

“It was good!”

From Twitter:“Cold War: Mixed. Not sure I was completely enthralled with the tragedy by love story coupled with the tragedy by politics happening here. Pawilkowski again offers pristine images, but it also seemed like a lot for naught. #TIFF18”

FREELANCE/ BROOKLYN MAG / LITTLE WHITE LIES / Forrest Cardeminias - Mixed

“I liked it but didn’t love it. I kind of wish it was longer! Will have to think about it. Hopefully can pitch something!”

HOLLYWOOD PROGRESSIVE / Ed Rampell - Mixed

“I had a mixed reaction.”

FREELANCE / PITCHFORK / Katie Chow - Mixed

“I feel like I need to go read a history book now. It’s so dense with allusions and meaning, I will definitely need to rewatch it. The music is excellent, I’m not familiar with a lot of it but the way it was used was very unique.”

METRO/ Anna Smith - Mixed

“Thanks for the screening. I thought it was an interesting film, beautifully shot, strong performances and darkly funny in parts (loved some of the choral singing too). Ultimately though the allegory felt a bit strained and I didn’t feel invested in the central relationship. So it wasn’t my favorite work of his.”

MOVIEFONE / Sharon Knolle – Mixed

“I was a little underwhelmed, alas. We didn't get to know the characters well enough to understand the choices they were making. But gorgeously shot and I loved both leads.”

 

LWL / David Jenkins - Mixed

“I thought it was extremely impressive, every shot beautifully executed, and nicely played by the leads, esp her. And yet, there was something about it that didn't quite land with me. A rare case where I wish a film could've been 30/40 mins longer. Its general curtness sometimes muffled the central romance, didn't allow it room to breath or offer the chance to get a handle on the nature of their mutual obsession. It was tough to comprehend how/why they experienced these very abrupt changes of heart and were eventually driven to suicide. I didn't understand why she wanted to leave Paris which, dramatically speaking, felt key. But, general thoughts are positive and definitely a serious and consummate work of art that I'd want to grapple with again...”

 

TOTAL FILM / Jordan Farley - Mixed

“Liked it, didn't love. Exquisite cinematography (particularly the framing of characters at the bottom the screen, as though the world was on their shoulders). Fascinating structure, each time jump felt like a little gut punch. Incredible how quickly Pawlikowski was able to establish a sense of place each time. Though I found the first half in Poland much more interesting/original than the second in Paris. And could have done with a bit more time to get truly invested in their relationship, felt like it was over just as it was getting going.”

SCREEN DAILY / John Hazelton – Mixed-Negative

“Afraid I'm in the minority on this one. Very stylish but not much substance.”

SOC/ William Duel – Mixed

“I appreciate the movie! Very dark though”

NEWSBLAZE, THE ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE / Miv Evans – Negative

“It had a lot of potential with two charismatic leads, but it failed to tell a cohesive story.  It jumped from base to base and it was often confusing.”

ASIFA/ Mark McNamara - Negative

“I didn’t care for the two main characters. They did not do enough or I did not did them interesting enough where I cared what happened to them. Very polished film but I don’t think the two main characters had enough to make me care for them”