critics consensus

Hearts and Bones is more powerful in concept than execution, although strong work from a deftly assembled cast adds much-needed heft. Read critic reviews

Show all services

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Hearts and Bones Videos

View All Videos (2)

Hearts and Bones Photos

View All Photos (6)

Movie Info

The past comes back to haunt a traumatized war photojournalist and a Sudanese refugee in Sydney.

Genre:

drama
Original Language:

English (Australia)
Director:

Ben Lawrence
Producer:

Matt Reeder
Writer:

Beatrix Christian, Ben Lawrence
Release Date (Theaters):

Nov 20, 2020 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Nov 20, 2020
Runtime:

1h 51m
Production Co:

Night Kitchen Productions, Spectrum Films

Cast & Crew

Hugo Weaving
Dan Fisher

Andrew Luri
Sebastian Ahmed

Hayley McElhinney
Josie Avril

Bolude Watson
Anishka Ahmed

Alan Dukes
Graham Fisher

Toni Scanlan
Ada Williams

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Hearts and Bones

All Critics (27) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (5)

...few will remain unmoved.

November 5, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

David Michael Brown
Time Out
Starring Hugo Weaving and directed by Ben Lawrence, the sombre and empathetic drama is a complex story about memory, trauma and family.

May 18, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
It is a human-oriented drama that builds a thoughtful and contemplative space, empathising with characters grappling with difficult circumstances outside the common experience. It is also the kind of drama you sometimes want to grab and shake to life.

May 7, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Luke Buckmaster
Guardian
Hearts and Bones is a thoughtful and engaging story, driven by exceptional performances.

May 6, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
The untangling of each man's past lets the film explore ideas about trust and blinkered assumptions, and Lawrence proves himself a very able director of actors.

August 16, 2019 | Full Review…

Harry Windsor
Hollywood Reporter
The intuitive selection of the four leads, and their complex, perceptive playing of the material, is a credit to Lawrence's deft direction of both veteran and non-professional talent.

June 21, 2019 | Full Review…

Eddie Cockrell
Variety
A rich and immersive drama about two men dealing with the baggage of their pasts as they try to keep their friendship and marriages together.

November 29, 2020 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice
A strong, sturdy feature directing debut by Ben Lawrence (son of filmmaker Ray), the emotionally astute drama 'Hearts and Bones' is both bold in its vision of the world and quietly respectful of its characters' needs.

November 25, 2020 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Isn't particularly graceful in the way it unfolds...but some very fine acting, a few poignant scenes and a general earnestness carry it off.

November 17, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Roger Moore
Movie Nation
The acting is superb. Weaving in particular gives the movie its edge and depth.

August 6, 2020 | Full Review…

Joanne Laurier
World Socialist Web Site
Tense and upsetting drama has violence and adult themes.

July 10, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Kat Halstead
Common Sense Media
A frivolous and superficial tale. [Full Review in Spanish]

June 11, 2020 | Full Review…

Elsa Fernández-Santos
El Pais (Spain)