Sharply uneven and way overlong, John Sayles' 12th feature contains many of his thematic motifs but you feel cheated by the open-ended last reel.
Limbo (1999)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 38
Fresh: 27
Rotten:11
Average Rating: 7/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Set in Alaska, where the rugged lifestyle of fishermen and cannery workers is gradually giving way to tourism and museums, LIMBO features a colorful cast of characters--a fisherman who has lost his... Set in Alaska, where the rugged lifestyle of fishermen and cannery workers is gradually giving way to tourism and museums, LIMBO features a colorful cast of characters--a fisherman who has lost his boat, lesbians who own a profitable Alaskan lodge, bar patrons reflecting on the transformation of the state into one huge theme park. The narrative soon focuses on an itinerant lounge singer (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) who begins a romance with a local handyman (David Strathairn), much to the chagrin of her moody teenage daughter (Vanessa Martinez). Continuing the narrative experiments of director John Sayles's previous films (LONE STAR, MEN WITH GUNS), LIMBO eventually takes a surprising turn, leading to a risky and controversial conclusion that critics either applaud or loathe. LIMBO is a story about telling stories, whether it be in the form of bar rants, Mastrantonio's surprisingly good singing, or the vivid diary found in an abandoned house. This unique film also looks at how people cope with tragedy and learn to take risks again. [More]
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez, Casey Siemaszko
Starring: Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez, Casey Siemaszko, Kris Kristofferson
Director: John Sayles
Director: John Sayles
Screenwriter: John Sayles
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Reviews for Limbo
Like so much of his work, Limbo feels like two films – one agitprop, the other melodrama – but these two strains are unified in the film’s title and (as always) setting.
Proximate politics replaced by archetype and what Wordsworth would have called "the story of place."
Latest News for Limbo
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...
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