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Reception (2005)

tomatometer

88

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 1

No consensus yet.

audience

40

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 224

My Rating

Movie Info

Anger, desire, and jealousy fuel a bitter family reunion in this independent drama. Martin (Wayne Lamont Sims) is an artist stuck deep in a creative rut who lives in a small but comfortable home in upstate New York with Jeannette (Pamela Holden Stewart), a French émigré who has a sizable nest egg. Martin and Jeannette have an alternately warm and deeply dysfunctional relationship, and it might seem like a marriage to some if it were not for the fact Martin is gay. One day, Jeannette gets an

Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.

Drama, Comedy

,

John G Young

Nov 5, 2005

Strand Releasing

Cast

All Critics (26) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (7) | DVD (1)

Handsome and perceptive, The Reception serves as a reminder that it is possible to make a polished, worldly and witty adult entertainment on a modest budget.

October 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Never maudlin.

August 20, 2005 Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | Comment
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

With its direct and nuanced treatment of the complexities of racial prejudice, sexual orientation and addiction, The Reception is a quietly ambitious and memorable film.

July 15, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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Well-acted but otherwise lackluster drama.

July 15, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Daily News | Comment
New York Daily News
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Terrifically acted and beautifully shot on digital video...The Reception is in many ways quite an indie accomplishment.

July 15, 2005 Comment
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A fresh and uncompromising account of emotional self- immolation and romantic flux. And it has a happy ending to boot.

July 12, 2005 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Digitally filmed on a shoestring budget, "The Reception" is an ugly-looking movie occupied by artificial characters going through the motions of familial unrest and gay attraction.

April 16, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
ColeSmithey.com

Casting, acting, pacing and storytelling are all expertly done and the film technically is an eye-pleaser.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

...a rewarding and engaging 75-minute chamber piece.

December 15, 2005 Comment

The Reception welcomes us with a punch in the gut.

November 14, 2005 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

...in feeling like we've been cheated out of fuller characters, "The Reception" doesn't make its intended impact.

October 25, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

We're cold on this Reception.

October 7, 2005 Full Review Source: E! Online | Comment
E! Online

It's fine stuff, beautifully played, but there's no denying that viewers will have to be patient with this 80-minute chamber piece.

September 29, 2005 Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | Comment
L.A. Weekly

Isn't much more than a high-toned soap opera, but it's a relatively sophisticated and occasionally affecting one.

August 22, 2005 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | Comment
One Guy's Opinion

The dialog and the performances are smarter than your typical soap opera, but this earns a lukewarm reception from me.

August 19, 2005 Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | Comment

there's no mistaking the script's irksome thinness

August 8, 2005 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | Comment
Filmcritic.com

[P]uts the greatest emphasis and care into the one aspect that no budget in the megamillions could have fixed: the script....

July 20, 2005 Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | Comment
Flick Filosopher

The film presents its lofty goals as transparently as its publicity materials, its clunky dialogue and diminished production value adding to its inordinate lack of sophistication.

July 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | Comment
Boxoffice Magazine

[The] subtle, complex performances could put far more experienced and better-known actors to shame.

July 15, 2005 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Reception

In "The Reception", Jeanette(Pamela Stewart) and Martin(Wayne Lamont Sims) live on 300 acres in upstate New York but it's not really what you think. Jeanette is a wealthy French emigre while Martin is an artist who paints in the farmhouse and carries out odd tasks on the land. Martin also takes care of Jeanette who is

July 17, 2005
Harlequin68
Walter M.

Super Reviewer

Lots of twists and turns that make it interesting. The actors all do a nice job. The flaw in this movie is the story upon which it is based is simply not a good storyline.

May 26, 2007
ecurb3811
Bruce Peters

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