The glimpses we get of this profoundly dysfunctional and violence ridden family are just that, as if viewed vaguely from a nosy neighbor's window.
Comment
03/26/07
Rate this Movie 
Swimming Upstream (2005)
61
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:38
Fresh:23
Rotten:15
Average Rating:5.7/10
Theatrical Release:Feb 4, 2005 Limited
Synopsis: SWIMMING UPSTREAM is an inspiring drama that tells the true story of Australian swimmer Tony Fingleton (Jess Spencer), who rose above his deeply troubled home life in order to become a national... [More]
Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis, Tim Draxyl, Jesse Spencer
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Get This Movie
Reviews for Swimming Upstream
Click to read the article
09/23/06
Click to read the article
04/01/06
...routine and banal...
10/22/05
Click to read the article
09/26/05
A moving drama that’s ultimately worth seeing for the performances of Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis, even if you feel that you haven’t quite heard the full story.
06/11/05
Click to read the article
06/10/05
It'll not be remembered for the ages, but it succeeds in avoiding biopic pitfalls that have succumbed some of the best, and that's good enough to make it worth a look.
05/30/05
Geoffery Rush steals the show like he always does.
02/27/05
Leave it to Mulcahy to screw everything up with an overwrought, MTV-ready visual style that obscures any dramatic heft.
02/27/05
...sticks closely to a formula that no longer holds many surprises, and leads to a message that isn't particularly novel or satisfying.
02/23/05
In addition to the pure drama of this story, it's the performances that make the film so compelling.
02/16/05
Basically, this is a fairly run-of-the-mill story of family dysfunction with a sports twist.
02/10/05
The story isn't unusual or compelling enough to make a lasting impression.
02/10/05
Top CriticPowerhouse Australian drama...a two-hour dip into the deep end of family life.
02/10/05
The audience develops a growing disconnect between the two stories of Tony the swimmer and Tony the son, lessening the impact of the overall film.
02/08/05
Ultimately gets too caught up in its own current.
02/07/05
Good as Rush and Davis are as combative working-class parents Harold and Dora, their story line overpowers the drippy dramatics of their teen athlete son. It unwittingly feels like two separate movies.
02/05/05
Top CriticAnchored by a rare emotional perspicacity and true, non-fussy performances...
02/04/05
Makes you sit up and take notice, if only for the fine performances of the terrific Judy Davis as his abused mother and Geoffrey Rush as his bitter, angry dad.
02/04/05
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade 
Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.
40 Worst Films of the 2000s
Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.
10 Questions For Zac Efron
The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.
Best Decade Ever!
Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds