A movie that both Oprah and Hallmark would be proud to stamp with their seal of approval.
Maze (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:22
Fresh:9
Rotten:13
Average Rating:4.9/10
Theatrical Release:Nov 9, 2001 Limited
Synopsis: Lyle Maze (Rob Morrow) is a talented New York painter and sculptor with Tourette's Syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Though he tries to control his spasms and sudden shouting fits, his... Lyle Maze (Rob Morrow) is a talented New York painter and sculptor with Tourette's Syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Though he tries to control his spasms and sudden shouting fits, his efforts are fruitless: his condition controls his life. Lyle's best friend, Mike (Craig Scheffer), is a self-absorbed doctor who leaves New York on a seven-month trip to Africa, exacerbating Lyle's feelings of inadequacy and abandonment. But Mike's departure is even harder on his pregnant girlfriend, Callie (Laura Linney), who turns to Lyle for security and reassurance. As the months pass, Lyle begins to fall in love with the nurturing Callie, and the more he feels for her, the harder he tries to behave "normally." Lyle's art blooms; he makes beautiful work. Eventually Callie agrees to pose naked for Lyle, taking their mutual trust to a new level. However, when Mike returns from his African mission, he walks right into the middle of the newly formed love triangle and forces his friends to face the complexities of their relationships to one another. A serious and sometimes upsetting film, MAZE marks a major achievement for Morrow as he channels his NORTHERN EXPOSURE fame into strong writing, directing, and acting roles. [More]
Starring: Rob Morrow, Craig Sheffer, Laura Linney, Bradley White
Starring: Rob Morrow, Craig Sheffer, Laura Linney, Bradley White, Gia Carides, Rose Gregorio, Robert Hogan
Director: Rob Morrow
Director: Rob Morrow
Screenwriter: Rob Morrow, Bradley White
Producer: Lemore Syvan, Debbon Ayer
Studio: Regent Releasing
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Reviews for Maze
There's a by-the-numbers inevitability to every scene, and it never clicks into place to be anything special.
What drains the movie is that Lyle is such a sweet, noble, suffering soul that he simply sponges our interest into banality.
Although segregating anyone with disruptive twitches makes little sense, it is equally absurd to suggest their actions are so normal as to go unnoticed.
Shows promise as a first feature ... but overall it feels a little too safe, a little too careful.
Linney's finely calibrated, low-key performance as Callie goes a long way towards making it more interesting than it might otherwise be.
An effective love triangle has to involve real conflict. This one doesn't.
While his performance doesn't exactly measure up to Robin Tunney's turn in Niagara, Niagara, Morrow's clever direction is enough to warrant a trip to the theatre.
In the end, you just feel good about these people, and that's a nice sensation these days.
Morrow paints a realistic, poignant and hopeful story that will leave you dry-eyed but quite touched.
The best kind of independent filmmaking to shame the somnolent mainstream.
Gets points for sensitivity and intelligence, but misses the mark as a work of art.
Morrow illuminates all the challenges facing the individual coping with Tourette syndrome while showing that Lyle is much more than the sum of his afflictions.
Morrow the actor tries too hard (Morrow will rob Oscar blind!), but he's a stylish director with a steady hand and a shaky eye.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
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