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critics consensus

In getting its message about the AIDS epidemic across, the film unfortunately sacrifices story and character. Read critic reviews

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3 Needles Photos

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Movie Info

In this triptych portrait of the global AIDS crisis, Jing Pin (Lucy Liu), an expectant mother living in the Chinese countryside, takes blood donations with tainted needles and sells what she's collected on the black market. Meanwhile, at a mission in Africa, three nuns struggle to secure medical care for farmworkers dying of AIDS. And in Montreal, Denys (Shawn Ashmore), an HIV-positive actor, steals his father's blood to fake test results and maintain his career in the porn industry.

Cast & Crew

Shawn Ashmore
Denys
Stockard Channing
Olive Cowie
Tanabadee Chokpikultong
Tong Sam
Olympia Dukakis
Hilde the Missionary Nun
Lucy Liu
Jin Ping
Sandra Oh
Mary the Nun
Ian Roberts
Hallyday
Chloë Sevigny
Clara the Novice
Thom Fitzgerald
Director
Thom Fitzgerald
Writer
Bryan Hofbauer
Producer
Thom Fitzgerald
Producer
Michael Gleissner
Executive Producer
Tom Harting
Cinematographer
Susan Shanks
Film Editor
Mark Bennett
Casting
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News & Interviews for 3 Needles

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Critic Reviews for 3 Needles

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (25)

  • Quote not available.

    August 22, 2007 | Rating: 1/4

    V.A. Musetto

    New York Post

  • The situations are contrived, the ironies are cheap, and the dialogue is overly blunt.

    December 2, 2006 | Rating: D+

    Noel Murray

    AV Club

  • If nothing else, [director Thom] Fitzgerald has demonstrated how huge a challenge the AIDS epidemic is on a worldwide scale, and how it will take a concerted, intelligent effort to solve it. It'll take a lot more than throwing money around.

    December 1, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    G. Allen Johnson

    San Francisco Chronicle

  • Only the African story feels complete, while the Chinese story is gloomily hopeless and the Montreal story is just a bad idea. 3 Needles is not about AIDS; it's about the exploitation of it.

    December 1, 2006 | Rating: 2/4

    Jack Mathews

    New York Daily News

  • Broad in scope and at times visually stunning, [director Thom] Fitzgerald's project is ambitious but lacks cohesion.

    December 1, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Teresa Budasi

    Chicago Sun-Times

  • It's hard to know what exactly the movie means with a lot of the choices it makes, even if, ultimately, it means well.

    December 1, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Wesley Morris

    Boston Globe
View All Critic Reviews (39)

Audience Reviews for 3 Needles

  • Mar 21, 2008
    It had a promising start.
    Ut S Super Reviewer
  • Dec 01, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]A few years previously, writer-director Thom Fitzgerald made a film, "The Event," about a man dying of AIDS in New York City. With his latest film, "3 Needles," he brings a global perspective to the edidemic in three segments:[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Fortitude of the Buddha" - In southern China, Jin(Lucy Liu), a very pregnant blood smuggler, sets up a blood donation unit in a village to pay locals $5 apiece for their blood. A poor farmer, Tong Sam(Tanabadee Chokpikultong), is too sick to give but he volunteers his 11-year old daughter, Qi(Yotaka Cheukaew), instead.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Passion of the Christ" - In Montreal, a porn star, Denys(Shawn Ashmore), is faking his HIV blood tests with his invalid father's(Aubert Pallascio) blood. Eventually his ruse is discovered.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Innocence of the Pagans" - In Africa, three nuns(Olympia Dukakis, Sandra Oh and Chloe Sevigny) arrive not to care for the large amount people suffering from AIDS, but to proselytize.(Thus, explaining why missionaries are some of my least favorite people.)[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"3 Needles" is an ambitious movie that is occasionally powerful and beautiful. Through an understated style with little dialogue, the movie tells three stories that do a good job of showing how AIDS can flourish through self-interest and exploitation but also a way of fighting it with activists united on a global scale. In the end, the people of the world need to communicate better with each other to improve the world we live in.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Oct 28, 2007
    Very intelligent. Three stories with one theme. Sad and amazing.
    April N Super Reviewer
  • May 05, 2007
    very amazing and powerful movie
    Kristina E Super Reviewer
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