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In America

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In America (2003)

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Reviews Counted:170

Fresh:151

Rotten:19

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: A rich and moving story about an immigrant family adjusting to life in New York.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence and language

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Nov 26, 2003 Limited

Box Office: $15,323,959

Synopsis: From master storyteller Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In The Name of the Father") comes a deeply personal and emotionally raw tale of a family finding its soul IN AMERICA. Through the wide-open... From master storyteller Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In The Name of the Father") comes a deeply personal and emotionally raw tale of a family finding its soul IN AMERICA. Through the wide-open eyes of two young heroines, Sheridan transforms a devastating human tragedy into a riveting, humor-tinged story about memory, secrets, love, loss, coming together and starting over. To begin all over again is a classic American dream. But it's remarkably hard to do, as Irish émigrés Johnny and Sarah (PADDY CONSIDINE and SAMANTHA MORTON) discover when they hit the streets of modern-day Manhattan, their two spunky young daughters in tow, and emerge into a realm as comical and adventure-filled as it is strange and terrifying. The family faces a dizzying new future –- but first they must face down a past that haunts every single one of them. With no cash to spare, Johnny and Sarah settle into a chaotic New York tenement populated by a colorful assortment of characters – and attempt to turn a Gothic horror-movie setting into a true home. From dragging an iffy-looking air conditioner across Manhattan to finding make-do jobs, nothing comes without a fight for the couple. And yet, while they see America as rife with challenges, dangers and weirdness, their daughters see it as a magical place where anything can happen, a place that might release them all from the anguish of what has come before. Then, on Halloween, Christy and Ariel (sisters SARAH and EMMA BOLGER) dare to knock on the door of "the screaming man," a mysterious neighbor named Mateo (DJIMON HOUNSOU), and everything changes. As the family heads for a crisis, Mateo becomes their unlikely ally in the territory where hope, faith and even magic hold sway. Based in part on Jim Sheridan's own autobiographical experiences coming to the United States, IN AMERICA is directed by Sheridan from a script by Sheridan and his two daughters, Naomi Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan. The cast includes Academy Award® nominee for "Sweet and Lowdown" Samantha Morton ("Minority Report"), Paddy Considine ("24 Hour Party People"), Djimon Hounsou ("Amistad," "Gladiator") and sisters Sara Bolger ("A Love Divided") and Emma Bolger (in her feature film debut). The film is produced by Jim Sheridan and Arthur Lappin. -- © Fox Searchlight [More]

Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger

Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger

Director: Jim Sheridan

Director: Jim Sheridan
Screenwriter: Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan
Producer: Arthur Lappin, Jim Sheridan
Composer: Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Release:

Aug 31, 2004

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Reviews for In America

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato
B-

Emanuel Levy

Sheridan's semi-personal immigration drama is simple and modest to a fault but it's sporadically touching and well acted, particularly by Samantha Morton, as the mother, and Hounsou, as the HIV Nigerian artist, for which they received Oscar nominations

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 25 2009 05:02 PM

EmanuelLevy.Com

N/R

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 29 2009 03:16 AM

Cinema Crazed

N/R

Urban Cinefile Critics

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 08:55 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
5/5

Mark Halverson

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2008 03:17 AM

Sacramento News & Review

N/R

Philip French

The movie lacks conviction from implausible beginning to sentimental end.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 17 2007 01:43 PM

Observer [UK]

tomato

Meredith Brody

The result is a blend of kitchen-sink and magical realism: sentimental, but well acted and freshly observed.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 17 2007 01:38 PM

Chicago Reader

tomato
3.5/4

Kam Williams

A sappy, self-congratulatory tale of triumph of penniless newcomers over every sort of adversity, and a close brush with death every time they set foot outside of their apartment.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 22 2007 08:46 PM

Princeton Town Topics

tomato
4/5

Emma Cochrane

Lovingly shot, with a remarkable debut from Sarah Bolger, who along with sister Emma, gives one of the greatest ever child performances.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 30 2006 08:48 AM

Empire Magazine

tomato

The pairing of two brilliant, loose-cannon actors gets the film a long way.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 24 2006 03:28 AM

Time Out

tomato
3.5/5

Bob Westal

In America contains enough magic and sincerity to cover the proverbial multitude of cinematic sins.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:40 PM

Film Threat

tomato
3/5

Merle Bertrand

A solid, if unspectacular family film.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 06 2005 07:40 PM

Film Threat

tomato
B+

Nick Schager

Superbly evokes the depression, anxiety, joy, misery, and aggravation of family life.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 04 2005 11:09 AM

Lessons of Darkness

tomato
3.5/5

Ethan Alter

A genuinely touching movie about a family that doesn't condescend to audiences or wrap its lessons into neat, tidy packages.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 05 2005 10:26 PM

NYC Film Critic

tomato
8/10

JoBlo

Sheridan should also be applauded for keeping the film going at a nice pace, sprinkling it with many lighter moments, as well as one of the more suspenseful scenes from any movie last year.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 05 2005 10:28 PM

JoBlo's Movie Emporium

tomato
A-

Philip Martin

...a scrapbook of family history that has gained poignancy through the showing and telling but remains recognizably a family story rather than a myth or epic.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 27 2005 12:19 PM

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

tomato
A

Jeffrey Overstreet

Sheridan stares the scary questions in the face, admits that he cannot answer all of them, and yet offers glimmers of hope and a generous helping of uplifting humor.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 15 2005 10:27 PM

Looking Closer

tomato

Boyd van Hoeij

In America gets better after a muddled start.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2004 09:08 AM

european-films.net

tomato

Peter Rainer

At its best, the movie has a supernal glow that you can practically warm your hands by.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 07 2004 09:08 AM

New York Magazine

tomato
3.5/4

Forrest Hartman

The film's blend of heartbreak and hope is perhaps Sheridan’s greatest achievement, and it gives us a work that’s as lovable as it is challenging.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 14 2004 04:09 PM

Reno Gazette-Journal

tomato

Enrique Buchichio

In America es, hasta el momento, la película más personal del realizador más importante que ha dado el cine de Irlanda en los últimos 15 años.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 06 2004 08:35 PM

Uruguay Total

 
 
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Latest News for In America

July 24, 2006: Kid Stars Sign Up for "Spiderwick"
Young actors Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") and Sarah Bolger ("In America") have signed to star in Paramount's big-screen rendition... More...

April 13, 2006: Rogue Shows Some Fuzz Love
Read on for a very formal press release from Rogue Pictures, the ultimate gist of which is this: Rogue, which is the "genre arm" of Universal Pictures, will distribute... More...

November 11, 2005: In Other News..."Get Rich" Suffers From PA Shooting
An abysmally low Tomatometer and offensive billboards aren't the only problems plaguing this week's Jim Sheridan-50 Cent release, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" -- one... More...

August 04, 2005: Trailer Bulletin: Get Rich or Die Tryin'
From Jim Sheridan, the director of "In America" and "My Left Foot," comes the big-screen tale of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's bitter life on the... More...

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