Its smallness of scale, and undemonstrative nature, could make it a welcome change of pace from Hollywood bombast, especially for fans of the life aquatic.
Comment
02/04/05
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Swimming Upstream (2005)
61
%
Tomatometer
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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
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Reviews for Swimming Upstream
Unwilling or unable to dig deeply enough into the characters' tormented psyches, Fingleton turned his own story into a feel-good fable.
02/04/05
Mulcahy is terrific with the family scenes, the squabbles and tensions, the interludes of desperately cherished happiness.
02/04/05
The grim material isn't helped by the hackneyed direction of Russell Mulcahy, a music-video veteran.
02/04/05
Top CriticSwimming Upstream will resonate mightily with those who have struggled through a painful childhood with a difficult parent.
02/04/05
Ends up merely treading water.
02/04/05
Top CriticSimple stories of triumph can be completely engrossing.
02/04/05
Their vivid, uncompromising performances redeem what could have been a clichéd coming-of-age story.
02/04/05
Top CriticMulcahy has the good sense not to make those important races big, climactic scenes. Their results are not what's important here.
02/04/05
While [the production notes] describe the story's Rocky-like outlines, they ignore the gripping, downbeat family drama at the movie's core.
02/03/05
Top CriticEvokes time and place without being showy about it and offers an altogether invigorating experience.
02/03/05
Top CriticAn inspiring story of triumph over adversity.
02/03/05
A passionately told tale.
02/03/05
Rush and Davis shine, and the drama is engrossingly told until it turns sadly sentimental in the last minutes.
02/03/05
Distinguished by some unusually fine performances, but the lack of a satisfactory third act diminishes overall result.
02/03/05
Saddled with a ham-fistedly literal title and copious aesthetic ineptitude.
02/02/05
Strong subject matter and excellent performances
12/16/04
This woe-is-me melorama doesn’t vie for universal cred--all it does is aim for Daddy.
08/14/04
Beautifully shot and immersed with a sense of tension and excitement.
07/11/03
Like Fingleton himself, Swimming Upstream is a hard-working, no-thrills drama – but it's still a winner.
03/09/03
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