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Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘Hilary and Jackie’?

Hilary and Jackie (1998)

tomatometer

89

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 44
Fresh: 39 | Rotten: 5

Brilliant performances, lush cinematography, and complex storytelling deserve audience's attention.

93

Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 1

Brilliant performances, lush cinematography, and complex storytelling deserve audience's attention.

audience

81

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 6,210

My Rating

Movie Info

Perhaps inspired by the success of biopics like Shine and Amadeus, this film based on a true story -- and a book (entitled A Genius in the Family) -- also focuses on the destructive forces of being a musical genius. Hilary and Jacqueline du Pré are gifted sisters who grow up in England in the 1950s and compete for musical accolades and love. Hilary (Rachel Griffiths) is a talented flutist, but it's her younger sister, Jackie (Breaking the Waves' Emily Watson), who is the musical "genius"

R, 2 hr. 4 min.

Drama

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Jul 20, 1999

October Films

Cast

All Critics (66) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (6) | DVD (8)

The story is told in such a chopped-up way that it often seems pointless and certainly devoid of much-needed editing.

January 1, 2000 Comment
Arizona Republic
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Profound and haunting!

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

No, it's not a movie about two first ladies married to adulterous husbands.

July 7, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | Comment

One of the best films of the year. An emotionally gripping tale about obsession, family and love.

August 23, 2002 Comment

Shows the high price that must be paid by families with a genius in their midst.

March 3, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Hilary and Jackie

Interesting biopic of two musical sisters. I don't follow the world of classical music, so I had never heard of Jackie du Pre. The movie does make you care for her and the waste of her life cut short by MS.

August 24, 2008
Redlats

Super Reviewer

Worthy and cleverly structured biopic of a troubled sole struck down by MS. Emily Watson is excellent as always.

October 10, 2007
gor41
Gordon A

Super Reviewer

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