Besieged Reviews

How can a director of such sophistication, in a film of such stylistic grace, tell such a shallow and evasive story?

Full Review | Original Score: 1/4

The film is a moderately involving, oddly lighthearted look at the connection between love, obsession, and sacrifice that is somewhat marred by instances of overwrought acting and bad dialogue.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Deserves acclaim only for its pleasant piano music.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5

These aren't people; they're puppets, regardless of what Newton and Thewlis' mannered performances say.

Full Review

An aesthetic treat for art film lovers. Everyone else should stay away.

| Original Score: 2.5/4

Largely slow and uninteresting.

Full Review | Original Score: 64/100

It is fraught by unresolvable race, class and national identity issues.

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Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

Given Bertolucci's impish leanings, the self-referential sequences may merely be gags. If so, they're among a half-dozen others that backfire.

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Despite a vividly expressive performance by Newton, the lack of urgency equates to a lack of intimacy.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Bertolucci and co-writer Clare Peploe seem intent on deconstructing the story's interesting elements at every turn, substituting woolliness for clarity, atmospherics for real emotion and an often condescending, armchair-liberal naivete for real political

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Maddening on many fronts and strangely wordless, Bernardo Bertolucci's purported love story breaks no new ground.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

I look forward to seeing it again, much as I would return to a favorite piece of music.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4

It sort of grows on you, and seems more emotionally satisfying the more you think about it.

Full Review | Original Score: B+

Bernardo Bertolucci's lavish visual ballet of awkward body language that features little dialogue and intense emotion.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

(Bertolucci) creates an awkward but intense intimacy, a film raw and delicate.

Full Review | Original Score: 9/10

a master filmmaker at the peak of his powers...celluloid poetry

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A compelling drama about sacrificial love.

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A thinking audience's romance.

| Original Score: A-

One of the most accessible films to come from Bertolucci and shows the filmmakers deep understanding of his craft.

Full Review | Original Score: B+

I can't say that I was affected by it much at all.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Full Review