August (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:25
Fresh:9
Rotten:16
Average Rating:4.8/10
Consensus: Josh Hartnett puts in a well-intentioned performance but overall, August only superficially explores its dotcom-burst setting.
Theatrical Release:Jul 11, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: Josh Hartnett (30 Days of Night) stars in this drama from XX/XY director Austin Chick. Tom Sterling (Hartnett) finds that all aspects of his life are failing at once: he can't keep a romance with... [More]
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Naomie Harris, Adam Scott, Robin Tunney
Director: Austin Chick
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Reviews for August
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Click to read the article Full Review |
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This one has nothing extraordinary about it to compensate for seven years' staleness. Full Review |
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 3/4 |
A movie that makes a good initial public offering. Full Review |
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4/10 |
If you want to see ignorant self destruction, see Troy Duffy in "Overnight" and forget this film---the worst mistake Josh Hartnett has made in his career. Full Review |
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3.5/4 |
While this modest indie offers high-tension plotting, it's real substance is the contrast between Hartnett's charismatic, hard-charging business persona and his intimacy-challenged real-life relationships. Full Review |
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A- |
Anyone who thinks that Josh Hartnett isn't a true movie star should see his riveting, high-wire performance in August, a shrewdly dramatized look back at the bursting of the dot-com bubble. Full Review |
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3/4 |
Smartly scripted, convincingly atmospheric morality fable in which Hartnett, usually insubstantial as a good guy, plays a convincingly flawed character galloping toward the precipice. Full Review |
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...the picture ... provides Josh Hartnett with one of his most interesting roles, and it elicits one of his sharpest performances. Full Review |
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3/4 |
This stylish, well acted drama chronicles one once-successful dot-com's efforts to stay afloat in the wake of the Internet boom's bust. Full Review |
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0.5/4 |
Only an amusing cameo by David Bowie enlivens things, but he's onscreen for just about two minutes at the end. Full Review |
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3/5 |
There's not much to it, but Austin Chick's hyper-focused indie does serve as a nicely assured showcase for lead Josh Hartnett. Full Review |
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2.5/5 |
Has a dark desperation that’s morbidly compelling. But the movie’s amoral momentum is fatally slowed by an acronym-heavy script and flimsy characterizations that offer fine actors...little to play.
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2/5 |
all gloss and pizzazz but mostly pizz and no azz. Full Review |
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C- |
August is a brooding, boring indie drama about the death of the culture-wide hallucination that was the dot-com bubble, and the moment when countless dot-com millionaires on paper became real-life paupers. Full Review |
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2.5/5 |
Merely serves to watch a company's ashes fall without really considering what started the fire. Full Review |
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August seems to be missing something essential -- a prologue? Or maybe it's not what's missing that's the problem, but what's here. Full Review |
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2/6 |
August tries to bluff its way into success as a deeply felt parable of greed, loyalty and family ties, but ends up being just as fatuous as those burst-bubble paper-tiger corporations it eviscerates. Full Review |
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C |
Rodman's potentially intriguing idea about the 2001 crash of the dot-com biz just months before 9/11 is poorly executed by helmer Chick (XX/XY), who doesn't take full advantage of his star cast, headed by Josh Hartnett, Naomie Harris and David Bowie. Full Review |
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A procession of anger mismanagement protagonist episodes of rude behavior with assorted unbelievably receptive babes, and a glutton-for-punishment old flame (Naomie Harris) whom he manages to re-con into bed, before she wises up all over again. Full Review |
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1.5/4 |
Hartnett does windbag cockiness well, yet the overriding conception of his character and the Dot Com phenom in general is so straightforward and unrevealing that his effort goes for naught. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for August
August 16, 2008:
A procession of anger mismanagement protagonist episodes of rude behavior with assorted unbelievably receptive babes, and a glutton-for-punishment old flame (Naomie Harris) whom he manages to re-con into bed, before she wises up all over again. 
More...
July 07, 2008:
A procession of anger mismanagement protagonist episodes of rude behavior with assorted unbelievably receptive babes, and a glutton-for-punishment old flame (Naomie Harris) whom he manages to re-con into bed, before she wises up all over again.
More...
May 25, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review
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