Iris

Critics Consensus

A solidly constructed drama, Iris is greatly elevated by the strength of its four lead performances.

73%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 9,395

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Movie Info

Two of the most acclaimed actresses of our time, Judi Dench and Kate Winslet, bring to the screen one of the most extraordinary women of her generation, celebrated author, Iris Murdoch. From her days as a brilliant scholar at Oxford, where she thrilled the world around her with her libertine spirit, through her career as a philosopher and novelist, Iris was truly ahead of her time.

Rating:

R (Sexuality|Nudity|Some Language)
Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Richard Eyre
Producer:

Robert Fox, Scott Rudin
Release Date (Theaters):

Dec 14, 2001 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA):

$5.6M
Runtime:

1h 30m
Production Co:

Miramax Films
Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Judi Dench
Iris Murdoch

Jim Broadbent
John Bayley

Kate Winslet
Young Iris Murdoch

Hugh Bonneville
Young John Bayley

Penelope Wilton
Janet Stone

Juliet Aubrey
Young Janet Stone

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Critic Reviews for Iris

All Critics (110) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (87) | Rotten (23)

[The] performances, if nothing else, embody a standard of excellence that Iris Murdoch herself would surely have cheered.

February 28, 2002 | Rating: 3/5

Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
Top Critic
The impoverished story keeps Iris from achieving greatness, but no qualifiers are needed for the acting.

February 26, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Peter Howell
Toronto Star
Top Critic
For a movie whose subject is the decline and fall of a towering intellect, there's precious little to think about here.

February 23, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
Top Critic
There are not two, but four sterling performances here.

February 15, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5

Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic
Not just a fitting document of a life brilliantly lived but a vibrant, almost palpitating piece of cinema.

February 15, 2002 | Rating: 4.5/5 | Full Review…

Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
Top Critic
...intrigues and devastates.

February 15, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
Top Critic
Powerful performances and a sensitive script in Iris combine in such a powerful manner that the effect is almost unbearably moving

October 17, 2017 | Full Review…

Sophie Gorman
The Herald (Ireland)
Admittedly, it's hard not to be affected.

April 9, 2010 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
Quote not available.

December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Empire Magazine
Despite good acting from the two pairs, viewers expecting illuminating insights about the literary genius, eccentric philosophy and complex sexuality of Iris Murdoch will be disappointed by Richard Eyre's minor, rambling, TV-like film.

December 14, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
...Iris isn't necessarily an enjoyable piece of work, though it's certainly interesting...

November 25, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Quote not available.

January 9, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Film Threat

View All Critic Reviews (110)

Audience Reviews for Iris

Oct 29, 2011

Whilst the performances and cast we very good and well suited to each other, I feel like this is supposed to make Iris look like a great person who had a brilliant life but what I saw was completely to the contrary. They showcased Iris to be a selfish, horrible and uncaring woman who only has a sense of humanity when she becomes ill. Her poor husband John who she treated terribly should have left her the moment he met her. Really didn't enjoy this film at all.

Sophie B Super Reviewer
Apr 18, 2011

Though a bit underdeveloped, confusing and inconsistant in its times jumps, "Iris" is still a quite well-acted, well-written, emotional and ultimately, rather immersive biopic.

Cameron J Super Reviewer
Nov 03, 2010

While I watched this film, I enjoyed it. i enjoyed Dench's convincing portrayal of the Alzheimer's-afflicted Murdoch and Winslet as the vivacious younger Murdoch, and I was astounded by Jim Broadbent, who deserved the Oscar for Murdoch's stuttering, inferior-complex-afflicted, devoted husband. He is truly fantastic in this role. But as I thought about the film, I realized just how eminently forgettable it is. Not only is it thin on plot, the narrative structure - with multiple flashbacks and half-scenes - actually detracts from the dramatic impact of the story. Attention story-tellers of all ilks: this is how *not* to do fractured time. Just because Tarantino can make it work, doesn't mean everyone else can. Also, for a moment, the Dench/Broadbent storyline seems to echo <i>A Beautiful Mind</i>, and we are mercifully given a central, driving goal, but this is unfortunately abandoned, and more rousing violins play. Thank heavens for Broadbent, who almost makes it all worth it.

Jim H Super Reviewer
Jul 13, 2010

Each individual performance was influenced by the actual character, but personality leaked in undoubtedly. Judi Dench, so utterly amazingly, took on Alzheimer's without her usual grace, which not only surpirsed me, but made me respect her more. Winslet was her usual whimsical self, and Broadbent, the cooky man of the hour, put on the appearance of a man with little left in life. Beautiful, and scary, it would have been much better had they focused more on Iris' past, and less on her later years.

Spencer S Super Reviewer