RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Everything is Illuminated
Everything is Illuminated

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Everything is Illuminated (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
66 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:116

Fresh:77

Rotten:39

Average Rating:6.5/10

Consensus: Although it excises much from its famously dense source material, Everything is Illuminated is a quirky, ambitious debut film from Liev Schreiber.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for disturbing images/violence, sexual content and language

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Sep 16, 2005 Limited

Box Office: $1,644,300

Synopsis: Acclaimed actor Liev Schrieber (DAYTRIPPERS, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) makes his directorial debut in this adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's bestselling novel about a young Jewish-American... Acclaimed actor Liev Schrieber (DAYTRIPPERS, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) makes his directorial debut in this adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's bestselling novel about a young Jewish-American writer of the same name. Mixing equal parts black comedy and poignant drama, the film follows Jonathan (Elijah Wood) as he travels to the Ukraine to solve a family secret. There he meets his barely legitimate tour guides: Alex (Eugene Hutz, member of the folk-punk band Gogol Bordello), a cosmopolitan playboy obsessed with Michael Jackson and other American icons; Alex's grandfather (Boris Leskin), a man worn down by life who seems to be losing his grip on reality; and Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr, the "seeing-eye bitch" dog who comes along for the ride. As Jonathan closes in on his goal--to find the story behind the woman who saved his grandfather during the Holocaust--it becomes clear that Alex's grandfather has a dark secret of his own that needs to be, as the film suggests, illuminated. EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED lives up to the quirkiness of its source material, and is similar to films like BEING JOHN MALKOVICH or LOST IN TRANSLATION. Filmed on location in Prague, the film features breathtaking landscapes, including a memorable scene in a field of sunflowers. Also notable is the film's soundtrack, which features songs by Gogol Bordello, as well as an outstanding ethnic score by Paul Cantelon. Quirky, funny, sweet, and sad, Schreiber's excellent adaptation provides both closure and hope for survivors of the Holocaust. [More]

Starring: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin, Laryssa Lauret

Starring: Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, Boris Leskin, Laryssa Lauret, Liev Schreiber

Director: Liev Schreiber

Director: Liev Schreiber
Producer: Marc Turtletaub
Studio: Warner Independent

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 18

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Mar 21, 2006

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Everything is Illuminated
  • Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, "Everything is Illuminated" tells the story of a young man's quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion. What starts out as a journey to piece together one family's story under absurd circumstances turns into a meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations -- the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, and the meaning of friendship.
  • Source: Warner Home Video
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Everything is Illuminated

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     

    The lamentable influence of Dave Eggers' oh-so-precious post modern literary devices from "A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius" (2000) are glued all over a bullet proof piece of magical realism...

    Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
    04/15/09
    Cole Smithey
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com

    What begins in quirks and idiosyncrasy moves into a dark place where profound sadness and profound closure co-exist side by side.

    Full Review Source: BrandonFibbs.com | comment Comment
    02/28/08
    Brandon Fibbs
    Brandon Fibbs
    BrandonFibbs.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
    08/16/07
    Dave Calhoun
    Dave Calhoun
    Time Out New York

    while the film, concerned as it is with the brotherhood of man, is undoubtedly humanist in its philosophy, there are enough shades of grey to cast long shadows over its apparently sunny outlook.

    Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
    07/04/07
    Anton Bitel
    Anton Bitel
    Eye for Film
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    02/03/07
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
    01/20/07
    Philip French
    Philip French
    Observer [UK]

    It is a film that doesn't want us to forget. Or perhaps it is a film that wants a new generation to remember a past which profoundly shapes its present.

    Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
    09/22/06
    Ron Reed
    Ron Reed
    Christianity Today
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
    07/01/06
    Sydney Morning Herald

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    05/12/06
    Jim Lane
    Jim Lane
    Sacramento News & Review

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
    04/01/06
    Empire Magazine

    ...for all its importance as a message picture and for all the subtlety of its filmmaking, the movie never quite feels like it has as much to say as it thinks it does.

    Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
    03/20/06
    John J. Puccio
    John J. Puccio
    DVDTown.com

    First-time director Liev Schreiber proves himself up to the task of conveying comedy and drama with equal aplomb.

    Full Review Source: Buzzine Magazine | comment Comment
    03/19/06
    Staci Layne Wilson
    Staci Layne Wilson
    Buzzine Magazine

    It's risky material for a first-time director... But Schreiber's involving screenplay and his remarkably assured handling of the material somehow brings it all together into an effective, charmingly offbeat whole.

    Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
    02/17/06
    James Sanford
    James Sanford
    Kalamazoo Gazette
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    02/09/06
    Time Out

    Una Vida Iluminada ya es suficiente carta de presentación como para esperar más del Liev Schreiber director que del actor.

    Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | comment Comment
    12/28/05
    Enrique Buchichio
    Enrique Buchichio
    Uruguay Total

    ...a thoroughly enjoyable, not entirely predictable sentimental comedy/drama...

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
    12/15/05
    Andy Klein
    Andy Klein
    Los Angeles CityBeat

    It's also a generous performance, because Wood literally takes a backseat to Hutz's movie-stealing turn as the language-mangling Alex, whose English is 'not so premium'.

    Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Matthew Turner
    Matthew Turner
    ViewLondon
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Peter Bradshaw
    Peter Bradshaw
    Guardian [UK]
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    David Edwards
    David Edwards
    Daily Mirror [UK]

    Poignant, pensive and profound.

    Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Joe Utichi
    Joe Utichi
    FilmFocus
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
    all

    Latest News for Everything is Illuminated

    May 11, 2006: Roland Emmerich's "10,000 B.C." Begins!
    Big-budget spectacle-maker Roland Emmerich just began production on his "10,000 B.C." for Warner Bros. The large-scale old-school period piece will shoot mainly in... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…
    19% 19% Transformers: Revenge …
    55% 55% Orphan
    43% 43% The Proposal
    26% 26% Land of the Lost

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    98% 98% Up
    88% 88% Ballast
    67% 67% The Merry Gentleman

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    60+ New Moon pics

    60+ New Moon pics

    You want Twilight images? We got 'em!

    Transylmania

    Transylmania

    Red band trailer for the vampire comedy!

    2012

    2012

    Major havoc in these new clips!

    Salt trailer

    Salt trailer

    Angelina Jolie! Espionage! Check it out!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Can Avatar Make Money? Source: New York Times
    70
    • Robert Pattinson Says Breaking Dawn Could Roll in Fall 2010 Source: Collider.com
    18
    • Joe Johnston Talks The Wolfman Source: Ain't It Cool News
    6
    • Jason Schwartzman Talks Scott Pilgrim Source: Collider.com
    0
    • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
    99
    • J.J. Abrams Producing Micronauts Movie? Source: Wall Street Journal
    11
    • Peter Murphy Filming Twilight Saga: Eclipse Cameo Source: MTV
    18
    • David Goyer Promises "Existential" Ghost Rider Sequel Source: MTV
    164
    • Emmerich Plans 2012: The TV Series Source: Entertainment Weekly
    21
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    42
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Total Recall: George Clooney's Best Movies
    92
    • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints
    43
    • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies
    36
    • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
    33
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks
    32
    • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more!
    25
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    14
    • RT on DVD: Up, the Ultimate Watchmen Cut, and More
    10
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    14
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    15
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    8
    • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
    28
    • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
    28
    • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
    14
    • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
    40
    • Michael Moore: The RT Interview
    139
    • Andrea Arnold talks Fish Tank - RT Interview
    4
    • Neill Blomkamp talks District 9 - RT Interview
    51
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Everything is Illuminated at Rotten Tomatoes
    • Everything is Illuminated at IGN
    • Everything is Illuminated at AskMen

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Worst Movie Biopics
    Worst Movie Biopics External Link

    Moviefone brings us 9 failed attempts at biographical films.

    Top Cameron Crowe Moments
    Top Cameron Crowe Moments External Link

    TIME reminisces on the 10 most iconic moments from the films of Cameron Crowe.

    November Films
    November Films External Link

    BuzzSugar wants to know which movies coming out this month you're most looking forward to.

    The New Cult Canon
    The New Cult Canon External Link

    The AV Club takes a look back at Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.