Backwards (2012)
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Reviews Counted: 18
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 13
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.6/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 376
My Rating
Movie Info
Abigail Brooks (Thomas) has spent her lifetime trying to win an Olympic rowing medal, sacrificing friendship, love, and a "normal life" along the way. When she is named an alternate on the Olympic team she quits in haste. Defeated, Abi moves back home with her widowed, workaholic mother (Margaret Colin). Tension builds as Abi's mother urges her to "move on" from the rowing life that Abi's father, a coach, introduced her to. Unable to do so, but needing an immediate job, Abi seizes an open crew
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Cast
-
Sarah Megan Thomas
Abigail Brooks -
James Van Der Beek
Geoff -
Glenn Morshower
Coach Spriklin -
Margaret Colin
Dianne Brooks -
-
Alexandra Metz
Hannah -
Meredith Apfelbaum
Susan -
Alysia Reiner
Meghan -
Wynn Everett
Reba -
Ellis Walding
Preston -
Liz Holtan
Beth -
Marceline Hugot
Mrs. Atkinson -
Alexa Salame
Vanessa -
Reema Zaman
Ticket Agent -
Jeanette Daily
Kelsey -
Kiandra Wilshire
Coxswain -
Mauri Honickman
Jill -
Peter Pryor
Abi's Dad -
Margo Shoenberg
Young Abi -
Nicole Colina
Rude Waitress -
Brian Cheng
Loud Cashier -
April Yvette Thompson
Airport Worker -
Christopher Mann
Man -
Brea Bee
Giselle
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All Critics (19) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (13)
Passably pleasant but thoroughly predictable.
Top CriticA movie whose main virtue was its honesty ultimately lands in a place that feels canned and unsatisfying. But on the way there, Backwards isn't so bad.
The biggest problem ... is the characters who populate the film. For the most part, they're one-dimensional caricatures.
The neatness of the plotting becomes almost comical after a while. Construction is one thing; contrivance is another.
Although this modest indie may not make a huge splash, it just might inspire some hearty younger viewers - especially women - to grab a set of oars and find their bliss.
Hickernell soft-pedals the material into a blandly feel-good dramedy.
Backwards" is obvious at times, but what makes it stand out are the details that Thomas imbues in her character.
Corny and predictable, sure, but Backwards will appeal to a few junior oarswomen around Seattle.
Even James Van Der Beek, so natural as a high school athletic director that you can't help but wonder if he's actually spent time in that job, can't save this film from drowning.
Drama is bland but teaches girls about competitive rowing.
Likable in spurts but too safe by a long stroke, "Backwards" would be right at home as a cable movie airing on ABC Family.
It's an uncomplicated single-character study whose main purpose is as a housing for its lead performance.
Streamlines its busy set of plots into a 90-minute sprint, throughout which characters often confront and overcome their obstacles within the same scene.
Audience Reviews for Backwards
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Latest News on Backwards
September 20, 2012:
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