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The Crucible (1996)

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63

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 3

No consensus yet.

audience

64

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 29,714

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Movie Info

When Arthur Miller's play The Crucible was first staged in 1953, it was widely acclaimed as a metaphor for the recklessness of Joseph McCarthy and his spurious crusade against communism. In its 1996 screen adaptation (scripted by Miller), the tone has been adjusted somewhat and plays as a warning against the dangers of political and religious extremism of all kinds. After a group of young women is accused of witchcraft in the Puritan community of Salem, Mass. in 1692, Abigail Williams (Winona

PG-13, 2 hr. 3 min.

Drama

Arthur Miller

Jun 1, 2004

Cast

All Critics (40) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (10) | DVD (2)

Neither the establishing dramatic linchpin nor the final conversion of conscience is terribly convincing, leaving this pared-down rendition of the original work diminished in power and meaning as well.

August 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
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There's an awful, piercing truth in the performances of Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Joan Allen and Paul Scofield as members of a community destroyed by guilt, paranoia and betrayal.

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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This version illuminates the story's numerous strengths, resulting in a motion picture of surprising emotional and intellectual impact.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
ReelViews
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With a head on its shoulders and the rawest emotions in its craw, Arthur Miller's stage hit The Crucible has become a cinematic grabber for grown-ups -- without that castor oil taste.

January 1, 2000 Comment
USA Today
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The first scene in "The Crucible'' strikes the first wrong note.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
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Ryder, usually a soft, placid actress, unleashes a bold new anger here.

December 13, 1996 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | Comment
Entertainment Weekly
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The movie version reveals the play as what it always was: a melodrama about a married guy who shouldn't have dallied with a vengeful girl.

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comments (2)
eFilmCritic.com

It couldn't be more timely or relevant.

November 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Hytner holds the action together with solid, unflashy, well-paced direction, ensuring that this is no mere period piece but a compelling, pertinent account of human fear, frailty and cold ambition.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Perfectly captures the air of hysteria and paranoia.

September 11, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

The performances are downright electric and the entire thing is so amazing it's almost painful to watch.

July 14, 2004 Full Review Source: Needcoffee.com | Comment
Needcoffee.com

Arthur Miller's story of hysteria, persecution and social injustice, is classy and powerful with some marvelous acting.

July 1, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | Comment

Superb adaptation is as topical as ever, with its trenchant themes of hypocrisy, hate-mongering and political coups d'etat crawling all over each other like worms in a can.

June 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | Comment
Creative Loafing

Worth watching. Good message. Not such a good film.

July 16, 2003 Comment
Juicy Cerebellum

Compels us to recognize the shadow side of our lives, including the evil inside us.

August 29, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Crucible

The Witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts, and an examination of how mighty reason and immovable logic fare against different types of hysteria (they don't). Simply an excellent work, a script with balls, with moving performances by all concerned. Joan Allen though was particularly spellbinding.

July 30, 2011
moonrivers

Super Reviewer

The film of Arthur Miller's classic play. It stars many popular actors, and they all do a great job bringing their characters to life. I really liked this movie.

September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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