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critics consensus

A disappointing misfire for director Sidney Lumet, A Stranger Among Us tries to tell a murder mystery and a fish-out-of-water love story, doing a disservice to both. Read critic reviews

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A Stranger Among Us Photos

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Movie Info

A New York policewoman (Melanie Griffith) enters the Hasidic community to investigate a diamond-robbery murder.
  • Rating:
    PG-13
  • Genre:
    mystery and thriller
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Sidney Lumet
  • Producer:
    Steve Golin, Sigurjon Sighvatsson, Zvi Howard Rosenman
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $12.1M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Hollywood Pictures, Sandollar Productions, Propaganda Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Stereo

Cast & Crew

Melanie Griffith
Emily Eden
Eric Thal
Ariel
John Pankow
Levine
Tracy Pollan
Mara
Lee Richardson
Rebbe
Mia Sara
Leah
Jamey Sheridan
Nick
Jake Weber
Yaakov Klausman
Sidney Lumet
Director
Steve Golin
Producer
Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Producer
Zvi Howard Rosenman
Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for A Stranger Among Us

All Critics (41) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (32)

  • A Stranger Among Us isn't emotionally on a much higher level than a Harlequin romance, but Lumet keeps the actors in front of us, and we enjoy watching them.

    May 3, 2014 | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Los Angeles Times

  • [Lumet] may be the quintessential New York director, but A Stranger Among Us argues that he should stay out of Brooklyn.

    May 3, 2014 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Desmond Ryan

    Philadelphia Inquirer

  • Director Sidney Lumet is obviously fascinated by the Hasidic community, and he displays this fascination by presenting the Jewish characters and settings with affection and respect.

    May 3, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Jay Boyar

    Orlando Sentinel

  • Although it's enjoyable as a bittersweet, fish-out-of-water love story, Sidney Lumet's A Stranger Among Us is less effective when it transforms itself into an exotic whodunit.

    May 3, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    John Hartl

    Seattle Times

  • A Stranger Among Us is eerily devoid of precisely the kind of urban detail and atmosphere that has always given Lumet`s work its authority, even when his storytelling falters.

    May 3, 2014 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Dave Kehr

    Chicago Tribune

  • Griffith's artless embodiment of the script's deranged idea of tough-gal gumption isn't as amusing as it should be. She's a B-picture heroine stuck in an absurdly self-conscious prestige project.

    May 3, 2014

    Michael Sragow

    New Yorker
View All Critic Reviews (41)

Audience Reviews for A Stranger Among Us

  • Mar 07, 2008
    One critic said, "the filmmakers are less interested in solving the crime than in conveying the spiritual dynamism of the Hasidic community." That nails it. It's worth watching for that. The rest is pretty weak.
    Morris N Super Reviewer
  • Dec 26, 2007
    A personal favorite.
    Leo L Super Reviewer
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