Cotton Mary Reviews
Cotton Mary, Ismail Merchant's second film as a director, puts some interestingly layered material into play, but he can't quite bring it together.
| Original Score: 2/4
Engrossing from the first frame and written with admirable skill and insight by Alexandra Viets, Cotton Mary is a milestone for Merchant Ivory and a pleasure for the company's admirers.
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| Original Score: 4.5/5
Nothing is expressed directly; only the curtains move, blowing in the subcontinent wind.
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| Original Score: C
Cotton Mary is uncommonly well-acted and beautifully shot on location in southern India, but it's not exactly riveting.
| Original Score: 2.5/4
A heavy-handed melodrama whose title character is a symbol with a capital S.
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| Original Score: D+
Cotton Mary is terminally marred by good taste; and melodrama is like the Star-Kist commercial: people don't want tuna with good taste; they want tuna that tastes good.
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| Original Score: 1.5/5
A fascinating exploration of racial and social prejudice.
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| Original Score: 3.5/5
Cotton Mary proves a history lesson can be fun.
The film wants to make larger points, but succeeds only in being a story of derangement.
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| Original Score: 2/4
Philadelphia Inquirer
Top CriticJaffrey's majestic presence eclipses the shortcomings of Cotton Mary.
Merchant's filmmaking is at times wooden and conventional, but Cotton Mary is brought to life by the weirdness of its subject matter and the risks Madhur Jaffrey takes in her brilliant performance.
