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The Golden Bowl (2000)

tomatometer

53

Average Rating: 5.4/10
Reviews Counted: 85
Fresh: 45 | Rotten: 40

Coming from the Merchant-Ivory team, The Golden Bowl is visually stunning, but the filmmakers have difficulty in transporting the characterizations of the Henry James novel to the screen.

56

Average Rating: 5.7/10
Critic Reviews: 27
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 12

Coming from the Merchant-Ivory team, The Golden Bowl is visually stunning, but the filmmakers have difficulty in transporting the characterizations of the Henry James novel to the screen.

audience

38

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 3,001

My Rating

Movie Info

The distinguished director/producer/writer team of James Ivory, Ismail Merchant, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala returns to the works of 19th century novelist Henry James in this adaptation of his tale of love and treachery. Wealthy American art collector Adam Verver (Nick Nolte) is traveling Europe with his daughter Maggie (Kate Beckinsale) following the death of his wife. In their travels, Adam and Maggie encounter Mrs. Assingham (Anjelica Huston), an American socialite who enjoys playing matchmaker,

R, 2 hr. 14 min.

Drama, Romance, Art House & International

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Nov 6, 2001

$2.2M

Lions Gate Films

Cast

All Critics (97) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (40) | DVD (8)

It suffers mightily from its deliberate pacing, pale characterizations, obvious plot and some woeful miscasting.

June 11, 2001 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An elegant soap.

June 8, 2001 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
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coiled, nuanced, resonant tale.

May 25, 2001 Full Review Source: Detroit News | Comment
Detroit News
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In this movie, all displays of passion feel like gaudy pantomime.

May 18, 2001 Full Review Source: Toronto Star | Comment
Toronto Star
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Makes the viewer wish that Ivory had cast a more accomplished actress -- Kate Winslet, perhaps, or Cate Blanchett -- who could give dimension to the character and indicate subtext in a way that Thurman can't.

May 18, 2001 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | Comment
San Francisco Chronicle
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The Golden Bowl is a feast for those who love nuanced conversation, unspoken emotion and guarded looks.

May 18, 2001 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | Comment
Houston Chronicle
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Despite a denouement which arrives half an hour too late, the complexities of James' work are superbly realised.

May 8, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland) | Comment

The Golden Bowl may not be the most exciting movie you'll ever see, but those who pay attention should find themselves pleasantly rewarded.

November 14, 2002 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

Decent screenplay, superb acting, fantastic set design and photography: so why doesn't this movie feel great? Mainly it's just that the metaphors deployed are fairly obvious and the slow, played-out peacocks' dance of romantic discovery and recrimination

October 21, 2002 Full Review Source: Entertainment Today | Comment
Entertainment Today

The bowl practically screams, "Look at me! I'm a metaphor!"

January 17, 2002 Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | Comment
AboutFilm.com

This roundelay of relationships makes up the heart of the film and allows each of the four principals to offer sterling performances.

December 21, 2001 Full Review Source: Baseline.Hollywood.com | Comment
Baseline.Hollywood.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Golden Bowl

A disappointing movie to say the least, with such an all-star cast. Nick Nolte was at his good point here, but still could only do the best he could for the scripted role he played. Uma Thurman a beautiful women even in this movie, Anjelica Houston, I could go on and on, as you see a star studded cast, and a wash out

December 28, 2009
bbcfloridabound
Bruce Bruce

Super Reviewer

I didn't like this movie the first time, I've watched it couple more times and it has grown on me.

June 21, 2006
FanGirl
FanGirl Browncoat

Super Reviewer

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