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 / Frequency
Frequency

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

Frequency (2000)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
70 %
Tomatometer

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted: 122

Fresh: 85

Rotten:37

Average Rating: 6.5/10

Consensus: A tight blend of surprises and suspense keeps audiences spellbound.

Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: For John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), there is no question. He would undo the events of October 12, 1969, when the out-of-control Bruxton fire took the life of his father, a heroic firefighter. Ever... For John Sullivan (Jim Caviezel), there is no question. He would undo the events of October 12, 1969, when the out-of-control Bruxton fire took the life of his father, a heroic firefighter. Ever since he was a kid, John has dreamed of being able to stop the tragedy of that fateful day, which set into motion the anger and loneliness that have haunted his adult life as a cop in the 1990s. Now John may get exactly what he wished for . . . and much more than he bargained for. In the mind-bending thriller Frequency, director Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear) presents a fresh and original take on time travel with the gripping human story of a father and a son who reach out to one another across parallel universes to stop a terrible crime. Science fiction, mystery and a poignant story of family connection blend together in a tale about the entwining of past, present and future.

One day before the anniversary of his fatherīs death, in the midst of the spectacular sky storm known as the aurora borealis, John Sullivan discovers in the house he inherited his fatherīs old ham radio and begins to play with it. Through the electrical static, he finds himself talking to a man who claims to be a firefighter and who appears to be awaiting the World Series of 1969. Is John really talking to his own living father on the very same day, in the very same house, but exactly three decades ago?

At first neither can believe it, but soon John is carrying on an all-night conversation with his young father (Dennis Quaid), sharing for the first time his deep love and regret over his future death. Yet John realizes that now he might be able to change all that. By alerting Frank to the mistake that cost him his life the first time around, John saves his youthful father from dying in the Bruxton fire.

On October 12, 1999, John Sullivan discovers that he now has photographs on his walls of his father as a gray-haired man. By changing the past, the Sullivans have forged a new present. John is ecstatic with his new memories of his father - until he discovers other things have been altered. Subtle changes caused by his fatherīs survival have led to a string of unsolved serial homicides, including the grisly murder of Johnīs mother. Now, Frank and John must race against the clock - divided by three decades and connected only by a radio - to prevent a murder that will seal their destinies. And each time Frank changes something in his universe, John wakes up to a whole new reality.

Based on the new science of multiverses, Frequency is about a father and son who just need time to set things right [More]

Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel, Shawn Doyle, Elizabeth Mitchell

Starring: Dennis Quaid, James Caviezel, Shawn Doyle, Elizabeth Mitchell, Andre Braugher, Noah Emmerich

Director: Gregory Hoblit

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Screenwriter: Toby Emmerich
Producer: Gregory Hoblit, Toby Emmerich, Bill Carraro, Howard W. "Hawk" Koch
Composer: Michael Kamen

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

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

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Oct 31, 2000

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Frequency

  • 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
 
 

If you see the movie, ask yourself what would be the most upbeat ending possible; you'll see it all and more.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
02/13/08
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Quaid's buoyant earnestness complements the stunning, low-key performance by Caviezel, whose close-ups give new meaning to the idea that still waters run deep.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
06/06/07
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Like a kid who builds and details a lovely sand castle on the beach and then stomps all over it, the movie is completely destroyed in the last 15 minutes.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

This ambitious but frustrating timeshift thriller never quite manages to jam together two distinct stories.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Nick Funnell
Time Out

Good action, lots of suspense, Dennis Quaid, and an intriguing Time Travel concept. What more could you ask?

Full Review Source: Three Movie Buffs | comment Comment
09/30/05
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs

Why gripe about a few minor inconsistencies? Just relax and enjoy the show.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Louis B. Parks
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An intelligent science fiction thriller that also happens to be a solid father/son movie. It's entertainment aimed at the adult, not teen, audience and squarely hits the mark. Forgive the Hollywood ending.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Features plenty of soft-focus, picture-perfect, father-and-son baseball scenes, an enormous amount of plot, and not quite enough of anything else.

Full Review Source: Seattle Times | comment Comment
12/31/03
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times

Creates an ingenious twist for the time travel story.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
05/30/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Director Gregory Hoblit has managed to bypass the bulk of the schmaltz and inject real tension.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly

It's amazing what kind of cool stuff you can come up with if you first throw logic and physics out the window.

Full Review Source: Film Quips Online | comment Comment
02/08/03
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment Comment
01/29/03
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

It's difficult not to notice certain dramatic flaws in Frequency's speculative narrative logic.

Full Review Source: Sight and Sound | comment Comment
12/02/02
Tom Tunney
Sight and Sound
N/R

No review available.

comment Comment
11/06/02
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There also are too many collage sequences indicating time shifts. The first two or three are interesting; after that they become dizzying, and finally downright annoying.

Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
10/21/02
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan

The plot may be out-and-out absurd. But the action-packed script, Mr. Hoblit’s fast-paced direction and the array of engaging performances made Frequency easy to embrace.

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer

...better executed than conceived

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
08/29/02
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

a combination fantasy/tearjerker/thriller with several dizzying twists. It's the first screenplay of former film industry executive Noah Emmerich, and it all but overflows with imagination, suspense and big ideas.

Full Review Source: Kalamazoo Gazette | comment Comment
06/23/02
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette

A fairly wonderful movie about fathers and sons and the mystery of time.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
06/18/02
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >> >|
See More Topics...

Related Forums for Frequency

Click here to be the first to post a message on this forum.

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
79%
79%
Gran Torino
30%
30%
12 Rounds
23%
23%
Confessions of a Shopa…
—
The Code
39%
39%
Inkheart

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
22%
22%
Push
12%
12%
The Unborn

More New Releases…

RT On Current TV

What’s Hot On RT

Deconstructing Harry

Deconstructing Harry

Pt. 3: Cuaron's darker Prisoner of Azkaban

Best Mockumentaries

Best Mockumentaries

From Borat to Spinal Tap, this one goes to 11

Humpday Clip

Humpday Clip

An exclusive peek at the indie comedy!

Half-Blood Prince

Half-Blood Prince

How good is the 6th Harry Potter?

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: T.J. Hooker Film in Development
36
  • Warners Shortens Green Lantern Wishlist Source: Hollywood Reporter
114
  • Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 Source: MakingOf.com
38
  • Spider-Man 4 Gets Its Third Writer Source: Latino Review
60
  • Warners Wins Favorable Ruling in Superman Case Source: Variety
20
  • Remo Williams Rides Again Source: Risky Biz
10
  • Mortal Kombat 3 Filming in September? Source: Slashfilm
82
  • MacGruber Gets a Director Source: Variety
39
  • PG-13 Turns 25 Source: VideoETA
8
  • Weekly Ketchup: Universal Takes on Asteroids
92
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
68
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
67
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Transformers and Ice Age Tie for Top Spot
59
  • Deconstructing Harry, Day 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
53
  • Total Recall: Mock Docs That Rock
44
  • Critics Consensus: Bruno is Certified Fresh
43
  • Five Favorite Films with Kathryn Bigelow
39
  • Tomatometer Watch: How Good is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince?
27
  • RT on DVD: Knowing, Push, The Unborn Unleashed
26
  • Five Favourite Films with Jaime Winstone
19
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
0
  • RT Interview: Tony Scott on The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
10
  • Cannes 2009: RT Interview - Sally Hawkins on We Want Sex
2
  • RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
5
  • Hollywood Legend Debbie Reynolds Reflects On her Life in Showbiz
10
  • Exclusive: McG Talks Terminator Salvation
24
  • Georgia Groome - Fresh Talent on RT
5
  • RT Interview: Reading The Reader with Stephen Daldry
11
  • RT Interview: Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo
7
  • Carey Mulligan - Fresh Talent on RT
7
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Frequency at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Frequency at IGN

Fresh Links

Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno External Link

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The New Cult Canon
The New Cult Canon External Link

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles External Link

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

A Baywatch Comedy?
A Baywatch Comedy? External Link

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.

 
 
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.