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Powered by a compelling central performance by Linda Cardellini, Return offers a painfully compelling look at the emotional struggles faced by war veterans.
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (7)
The writer-director is Liza Johnson, an artist, making her first picture and doing it with considerable grace. Jun 19, 2013 | Full Review…
The writer-director is Liza Johnson, an artist, making her first picture and doing it with considerable grace.
Stanley Kauffmann
Cardellini holds the restless centre of Liza Johnson's patient, precise drama, which brims with quiet disaffection. Apr 5, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Cardellini holds the restless centre of Liza Johnson's patient, precise drama, which brims with quiet disaffection.
Phil Hoad
As hounourable as its intentions are, the feeling of been there, done that pervades. Apr 5, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…
As hounourable as its intentions are, the feeling of been there, done that pervades.
Clare Conway
This quiet, naturalistic film has a classical arc and a lingering sting. Feb 13, 2012 | Full Review…
This quiet, naturalistic film has a classical arc and a lingering sting.
David Edelstein
Finally someone has written a really good role for Linda Cardellini -- a big, prickly, demanding role that puts her onscreen in literally every scene -- and it's a thrill to watch her operating at full throttle. Feb 10, 2012 | Full Review…
Finally someone has written a really good role for Linda Cardellini -- a big, prickly, demanding role that puts her onscreen in literally every scene -- and it's a thrill to watch her operating at full throttle.
Dana Stevens
Sincerity and restraint can be good things in independent movies, but not when you run the risk of putting the audience to sleep... Feb 10, 2012 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Sincerity and restraint can be good things in independent movies, but not when you run the risk of putting the audience to sleep...
Lou Lumenick
Whilst admittedly showcasing a powerhouse performance by Cardellini, Return sadly fails to convey its heart-rending story Jan 4, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Whilst admittedly showcasing a powerhouse performance by Cardellini, Return sadly fails to convey its heart-rending story
Patrick Gamble
As a first feature, this is a great start. Sep 18, 2017 | Full Review…
As a first feature, this is a great start.
Neely Swanson
Return is a commendable, genuine, and simple drama that effectively highlights the intrinsic trauma soldiers face when trying to come to terms with the reality of life back home. Nov 25, 2013 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Return is a commendable, genuine, and simple drama that effectively highlights the intrinsic trauma soldiers face when trying to come to terms with the reality of life back home.
Richard Haridy
Skipping the usual flashbacks-and-cold-sweats cliches, Return has an understated power, even if the story traverses pretty well-trodden ground. Apr 29, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Skipping the usual flashbacks-and-cold-sweats cliches, Return has an understated power, even if the story traverses pretty well-trodden ground.
Angie Errigo
This is a quiet, honourable, carefully paced little independent movie, like a Sundance Institute coda to The Deer Hunter. Apr 7, 2012 | Full Review…
This is a quiet, honourable, carefully paced little independent movie, like a Sundance Institute coda to The Deer Hunter.
Philip French
A debut of sober distinction, carried by the seriously good Linda Cardellini as a US Army supply worker whose readjustment to Rust Belt domesticity is touch and go. Apr 5, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
A debut of sober distinction, carried by the seriously good Linda Cardellini as a US Army supply worker whose readjustment to Rust Belt domesticity is touch and go.
Tim Robey
"Return" starts with Kelli(Linda Cardellini) coming home to Ohio after serving overseas in the army for a year. In the meantime, her husband Mike(Michael Shannon), a plumber, has been caring for their daughters who have grown a little in her absence. Otherwise, not much has changed, as her job is the same in a warehouse and she still hangs out with the same friends. And then everything falls apart for Kelli... In trying to dramatize the travails of servicepeople returning home, this movie takes the path of utmost subtlety, eschewing any kind of political statement. But then some times you can have too much nuance, as the movie is coy about what is probably causing Kelli's depression until almost the end.(Since Vietnam, returning servicepeople have had a problem adjusting since they are instantly returned to their civilian lives but that's probably not the case here since Kelli is fine at first.) I do buy that she did not undergo anything specifically traumatic overseas, either. What I don't quite get is what has to happen for Kelli to ask for help or why those around her aren't more understanding. And Linda Cardellini's performance does nothing to help since it varies little, except for the scene where Kelli wants to rip the head off of the person sitting across from her. That allows John Slattery and a surprisingly mellow Michael Shannon to steal the movie out from under her.
Super Reviewer
Understated, impressive performance from Linda Cardellini. Review soon.
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