Unshakably harrowing but deeply moving.
Keane (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:22
Fresh:22
Rotten:0
Average Rating:7.8/10
Consensus: The scrutinizing camera angles of Keane might at first feel too close for comfort, but this powerful portrait of a man distraught by the abduction of his child plumbs the depths of mental illness and the corners of fleabag hotels in an intimate and touching examination of the seedier side of life.
Runtime: 90 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:Sep 9, 2005 Limited
Synopsis: British actor Damian Lewis (BAND OF BROTHERS) gives a stunning lead performance in Lodge Kerrigan's powerful drama KEANE. He stars as William Keane, a man whose daughter was recently abducted at... British actor Damian Lewis (BAND OF BROTHERS) gives a stunning lead performance in Lodge Kerrigan's powerful drama KEANE. He stars as William Keane, a man whose daughter was recently abducted at the Port Authority in Manhattan, so he patrols the bus depot, recreating in his mind exactly how it happened to see if he can figure out who took her or where she might be. He talks to himself, shouts suddenly, and looks over his shoulder with fear and paranoia, an edgy, twitchy, wholly unnerving, and remarkable performance. When he befriends a down-on-her-luck woman (Amy Ryan) and her young daughter (Abigail Breslin), it is hard to know whether he is just being helpful or whether he has some kind of ulterior motive, as the young girl is about the same age as his missing daughter. Kerrigan makes no judgments about Keane; although it is clear he is suffering from some kind of mental illness, in some ways he represents an everyman. The talented writer-director lets the tale tell itself; there is no score, and he uses only natural sound and lighting. Some of the film was even written while on location in order to make it yet more realistic, which adds to both its horror and its glory. KEANE is like no other movie ever made on the subject of child abduction, a grittily authentic film that will stay with viewers for a very long time. [More]
Starring: Damian Lewis, Abigail Breslin, Amy Ryan, Tina Holmes
Starring: Damian Lewis, Abigail Breslin, Amy Ryan, Tina Holmes, Stephen Henderson
Director: Lodge Kerrigan
Director: Lodge Kerrigan
Screenwriter: Lodge Kerrigan
Producer: Andrew Fierberg
Studio: Magnolia Pictures
Get This Movie
Reviews for Keane
The film achieves a dramatic intensity that is both admirable and frustrating.
When it comes to an emotional payoff at the end, unlike most Hollywood films, it has earned it.
The next time you see someone railing in the streets -- fighting a battle you'll never understand -- you may remember Keane and pause to reflect.
As good as Lewis is -- and he's in every frame of this 93-minute movie -- it's Kerrigan's astounding gift for addressing the wounded that demands celebration.
A movie that puts you so far into someone else's head you may have forgotten your own name by the time it's over.
Lewis delivers a convincing, powerful and highly nuanced performance as a man who's fighting desperately to keep his illness in check and lead a normal life.
The movie isn't a crowd-pleaser, but it moves the soul, and that's enough.
The director is able to rivet us with this small story, simply because he observes it all with such a hard, unblinking gaze.
Keane is emotionally involving right from the beginning through its final frame.
Mr. Lewis, a highly talented British actor, displays a flawless American accent in what amounts to a hyper-Wellesian monopolization of screen time and screen space.
Keane is a movie you might see on a dare, and though I think it is brilliantly conceived, I wouldn't dare to dare you.
John Foster's hand-held camera rarely strays from Keane's face. He's loony, all right, but you have to feel sorry for him.
Kerrigan is as interesting a filmmaker as is haunting the margins of modern life, a place that needs some light. And certainly some sympathy.
Lodge Kerrigan is a director worth watching, and Keane is a small wonder in a season of big but deadly, brainless blockbusters.
That might be this phenomenal film's emergent achievement: Its raw hopelessness is its universality.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



