The Death and Life of John F. Donovan

2018, Drama, 2h 3m

32 Reviews 250+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

The Death and Life of John F. Donovan finds writer-director Xavier Dolan flailing at profundity with a technically assured drama that never makes sense of its own ideas. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

A young actor reminisces about a dead American TV star and the correspondence they shared.

Cast & Crew

Christopher Catesby Harington
Christopher Catesby Harington
John F. Donovan
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Sam Turner
Jacob Tremblay
Jacob Tremblay
Rupert Turner
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon
Grace Donovan
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates
Barbara Haggermaker
Thandiwe Newton
Thandiwe Newton
Audrey Newhouse
Ben Schnetzer
Ben Schnetzer
Rupert Turner (Adult)
Amara Karan
Amara Karan
Mrs. Kureishi
Chris Zylka
Chris Zylka
Will Jefford Jr.
Jared Keeso
Jared Keeso
James Donovan
Emily Hampshire
Emily Hampshire
Amy Bosworth
Sarah Gadon
Sarah Gadon
Liz Jones
Michael Gambon
Michael Gambon
Narrator
Xavier Dolan
Xavier Dolan
Director
Xavier Dolan
Xavier Dolan
Screenwriter
Jacob Tierney
Jacob Tierney
Screenwriter
Xavier Dolan
Xavier Dolan
Producer
Nancy Grant
Nancy Grant
Producer
Joe Iacono
Joe Iacono
Producer
Lyse Lafontaine
Lyse Lafontaine
Producer
André Turpin
André Turpin
Cinematographer
Mathieu Denis
Mathieu Denis
Film Editing
Gabriel Yared
Gabriel Yared
Original Music
Anne Pritchard
Anne Pritchard
Production Design
Henrich Boraros
Henrich Boraros
Art Director
Jana Chovancova
Jana Chovancova
Set Decoration
Michele Clapton
Michele Clapton
Costume Design
Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Pierre-Yves Gayraud
Costume Design
Carmen Cuba
Carmen Cuba
Casting
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Critic Reviews for The Death and Life of John F. Donovan

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (26)
Full Review… Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times Full Review… Mike D'Angelo AV Club Full Review… Peter Debruge Variety Full Review… Adam Nayman Cinema Scope Full Review… Eric Kohn indieWire Full Review… Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Full Review… Ben Turner The Pink Lens Full Review… Jason Adams My New Plaid Pants Full Review… Luke Gorham In Review Online Full Review… Bill Newcott Movies For The Rest Of Us Full Review… Marc Ricov Film Inquiry Full Review… Tara McNamara Common Sense Media
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