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Affliction

Play trailer Poster for Affliction R 1999 1h 53m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.
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Affliction

Affliction

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Critics Consensus

Dark and bleak, the "kick-ass" performances, especially Nolte's "effective" portrayal of an abused soul, is the reason to see this film.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Apr 1, 2019
There are too many of these men in life, and not enough films that tell their sad tales. That gives Affliction a therapeutic worth. Go to Full Review Ed Gonzalez Slant Magazine Aug 17, 2001
2.5/4
Overwrought metaphors abound in Paul Schrader's ham-fisted Affliction. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
4/4
Nick Nolte is a big, shambling, confident male presence in the movies, and it is startling to see his cocksure presence change into fear in Paul Schrader's Affliction. Go to Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine Jun 24, 2024
10/10
Affliction hones in on masculinity and the demons that men inherit from one another. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Apr 22, 2024
3.5/4
Nolte is phenomenal in what’s a career performance, but he was absurdly beaten for the Best Actor Oscar by the buffoonish Roberto Benigni for that extended Hogan’s Heroes episode. Go to Full Review Deborah Hornblow Hartford Courant Jan 2, 2018
3.5/5
"Affliction'' stands as one of [Paul] Schrader's finest efforts, but the real star is [Russell] Banks, who tells a small story with universal implications and explores the devastating affliction of violence between men. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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razvan P @n1mr0d Sep 15, 2026 anti male propaganda :) tho obviously despair exists, cannot make everyone around just so angelic and absurd See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 Apr 4, 2026 Superbly acted and quite a tough watch because of the realism. This was a great portrayal of a man breaking down and the extent of self destructive elements. Nicely portrayed as to how his father afflicted him with the conditions for a perfect breakdown. Very well made film that we just don’t get these days. Watched on Amazon Prime. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 1, 2026 Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes. The 1999 winner of Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (James Coburn). See more Ronald R @Doctorron Feb 14, 2026 Very powerful! Especially in light of the horrible behaviors today See more Scott R @ScottR Nov 25, 2025 NYT 1000 films. I can see why this may have been appreciated, but I don’t think it praiseworthy. The acting was ridiculous and contrived. The plot was worse. Coburn was the best part, but he was someone we were to hate. Really this was a struggle to get through. Saw on YouTube. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 8, 2025 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Read all reviews
Affliction

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Schrader

Director

Nick Nolte

Wade Whitehouse

Sissy Spacek

Marge Fogg

James Coburn

Glen Whitehouse

Willem Dafoe

Rolfe Whitehouse

Mary Beth Hurt

Lillian

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Affliction

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Affliction

Affliction (1997) Affliction (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.
Director
Paul Schrader
Producer
Frank K. Isaac, Linda Reisman
Screenwriter
Russell Banks, Paul Schrader
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
JVC Entertainment, Largo Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.3M
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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