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Provoked's story is worth telling, but the hammy dialogue and heavy-handed direction doesn't give it the refined treatment it deserves.
All Critics (35) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (25)
The real-life heroes in this story deserve better than a formulaic, poorly shot melodrama. May 21, 2007
The real-life heroes in this story deserve better than a formulaic, poorly shot melodrama.
Richard Roeper
The script is melodramatic, and Rai's lead performance is thin stuff. May 18, 2007 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…
The script is melodramatic, and Rai's lead performance is thin stuff.
Walter V. Addiego
[Director] Mundhra can't control the expansiveness of the melodrama or focus on the terseness of realism. Every character in Provoked, from victims to tyrants, Indian to English, loud to quiet, ends up as a grossly exaggerated comic creation. May 18, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
[Director] Mundhra can't control the expansiveness of the melodrama or focus on the terseness of realism. Every character in Provoked, from victims to tyrants, Indian to English, loud to quiet, ends up as a grossly exaggerated comic creation.
Kamal Al-Solaylee
Provoked rarely ducks below its glossy surface. May 18, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Provoked rarely ducks below its glossy surface.
Ty Burr
The true-crime drama Provoked has everything to offer except a cinematic point of view and a knack for depicting human beings under duress. Those are major drawbacks. May 17, 2007 | Rating: 1.5/4
The true-crime drama Provoked has everything to offer except a cinematic point of view and a knack for depicting human beings under duress. Those are major drawbacks.
Michael Phillips
Unfortunately, Provoked possesses the tinny production values and schmaltzy music of a prime-time special, despite its ensemble of terrific actors. May 17, 2007 | Full Review…
Unfortunately, Provoked possesses the tinny production values and schmaltzy music of a prime-time special, despite its ensemble of terrific actors.
Ann Hornaday
Despite being based on a true story, the film's presentation is overly dramatic and the characters seem too stereotypical. Jan 23, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Despite being based on a true story, the film's presentation is overly dramatic and the characters seem too stereotypical.
Namrata Joshi
A melodrama dressed up just enough to hold interest, in the retelling of an undeniably important story. Jul 30, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/5
A melodrama dressed up just enough to hold interest, in the retelling of an undeniably important story.
Craig Phillips
What should have turned out as a terrific movie about the crime of spousal abuse has instead received the equivalent of a ham-handed molestation by director Mundhra. Jun 8, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
What should have turned out as a terrific movie about the crime of spousal abuse has instead received the equivalent of a ham-handed molestation by director Mundhra.
Marjorie Baumgarten
By offsetting Women in Cages-style throw-downs with Malcolm X-like uplift, it is simultaneously strange and familiar, inspiring and annoying. May 30, 2007
By offsetting Women in Cages-style throw-downs with Malcolm X-like uplift, it is simultaneously strange and familiar, inspiring and annoying.
Cynthia Fuchs
In the end, Provoked is not provocative enough. May 18, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
In the end, Provoked is not provocative enough.
Mary F. Pols
feels largely meaningless and inconsequential May 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
feels largely meaningless and inconsequential
David Levine
A well-picked but badly told story, director Jagmohan Mundhra caricatures practically everything on screen - taking away from the realism that could've made Provoked a great movie, and Aishwarya Rai, indifferent from her character, doesn't help the proceedings.
Super Reviewer
Average real-life based movie, nothing that makes it "A Must Watch".
This is a fantastic movie, and one I most likely won't forget soon. This movie is deeply touching and moving. Miranda Richardson gives a stellar performance, and so does Aishwarya Rai and Naveen Andrews.
The story educates one of the atrocities that can happen to a woman.
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