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AMOUR (2012)Movie Reviews
French language drama about an elderly couple whose deep love is tested by the wife's declining health. Cast:Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud, William Shimell, Ramon Agirre, Rita BlancoDirector:Michael HanekeRelease Date:June 27, 2012DVD Release:December 4, 2012From:Sony ClassicsRating:PG-13Length:2 hr 7 min
Amour (2012) opened in key cities to exceptional reviews. • Joe Morgenstern wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "...a perfect film about intertwined lives, proceeds at its own pace, and breathes so deeply that it takes your own breath away... a masterpiece." • And Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "...compassionate, rigorously unsentimental..." More Reviews Below...
Alynda Wheat, People: OUTSTANDING(cg) "For luckier souls, 'Amour' will steal your innocence and never give it back. So why celebrate such a work? Because it is as honest and beautifully acted as cinema gets."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 75 words, 12/20/12
Mary Corliss, Time: OUTSTANDING "...a two-character drama -- and, above all, a love story, Haneke-style.... thrilling, draining.... In the history of movies about love, 'Amour' lasts forever."(See all of Mary Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,351 words, 05/25/12
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Michael Haneke displays a surprising and consistent humanity here... But his aesthetic can feel too stripped-down, too one-note in its dignified monotony."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 536 words, 12/18/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...intensely clear-eyed and tender.... perhaps the most hauntingly honest movie about old age ever made.... The two actors are magnificent."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 981 words, 05/20/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...indisputably the year's best foreign-language film... Haneke achieves levels of intimacy previously unknown in his work.... Prepare for an emotional wipeout."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 157 words, 01/04/13
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...full of incomparably beautiful and sad moments.... a contemplative, minimalist tale at once intricately constructed and emotionally haunting."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 586 words, 01/18/13
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an unexpected kind of masterpiece by Haneke... a film like 'Amour' has a lesson for us that only the cinema can teach..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 783 words, 01/11/13
Kat Murphy, MSN Movies: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A relentless and shattering masterwork... Intelligence, integrity and a striking sense of character present and accounted for dominate."(See all of Kat Murphy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 787 words, 12/17/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...makes a profound statement about what constitutes true love. Romantic poets often equate sacrifice with some grand gesture; Haneke gets real with it."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 766 words, 12/24/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "A masterpiece about life, death and everything in between... This is a film that will make you weep not only because life ends but also because it blooms."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,147 words, 12/19/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...amazing, dignified... Haneke lets the extraordinary Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant lead us through tiny humiliations and grasps at pride."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 408 words, 12/19/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a perfect storm of a motion picture, with an icy, immaculate director unexpectedly taking on deeply emotional subject matter... devastating."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 989 words, 12/19/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Small, sure and stunningly acted... Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant were destined to make this harsh, beautiful picture together."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 01/11/13
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a great movie... The subject here is simply one person's death, and 'Amour' poses a question worth asking: How will you handle yours?"(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 287 words, 01/25/13
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "Haneke -- as is his anti-psychological wont -- depersonalizes Trintignant and Riva, but he doesn't sneer at them.... Something sacred passes between the actors..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 877 words, 12/18/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...an unexpected kind of masterpiece by Haneke... a film like 'Amour' has a lesson for us that only the cinema can teach..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 783 words, 01/11/13
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: GOOD "...unflinching.... A movie in which incident is as spare as it is in 'Amour' can certainly be great; a movie in which ideas and feelings are so sparse cannot."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,002 words, 12/19/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the simplest yet most passionate film of Haneke's incredible career. His actors reward him with outstanding performances of grace and wisdom..."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 606 words, 01/11/13
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a graphic portrayal of the unfunny end game we're all fated to play; the title is just a simple declaration of how best to play it.... 'Amour' is indeed a love story."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 770 words, 01/11/13
Karina Longworth, LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...challenges the audience to bear witness to something they've never seen on screen before: a realistically slow death, and all the unpleasantness it entails..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 585 words, 05/20/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...unapologetically manipulative.... Haneke has always been good at torturing his audience, but this time there's a soul working its way out from under the misery."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 353 words, 01/10/13
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...meticulous, superbly crafted... beautiful and horrifying, moving and confounding, profoundly moral and deeply troubling... utterly worthy of its all-encompassing title."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 485 words, 01/11/13
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...confronts the end with a steady gaze.... Each actor draws on a lifetime's worth of experience, performing with grace and rare, uncompromising realism."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 337 words, 01/18/13
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...remarkably rewarding... speaks to the heartbreak and frustration of decline and death, challenges we all face should we be so lucky to survive that long..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 662 words, 01/11/13
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...deceptively quiet, devastatingly profound... finds in its title the greatest mystery of human existence and the only saving grace before the lights go out."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 998 words, 01/18/13
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a perfectly made, tremendously involving film that, nonetheless, is very difficult to watch, particularly if you're past the midpoint in your life."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 511 words, 12/21/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a memorable cinematic experience that you will probably never regret.... When director Michael Haneke isn't boring the audience, he is torturing it."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 790 words, 01/11/13
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "There's no happy ending here, and the film's opening scenes tell us the tragic conclusion to this story -- but love is present, in every frame... its rewards are many."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 01/25/13
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...while what's on screen is unsparing and clinically presented, the underlying, almost invisible humanity and artistry of the film inspire rather than depress."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 529 words, 01/25/13
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the director and his actors venture into dark and ultimately surreal territory. Yet the story is so masterfully told that one can't help but be enthralled."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 296 words, 02/01/13
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "As usual, Michael Haneke doesn't care what viewers think, only that they feel something. With 'Amour,' it's the rare feeling of watching a masterpiece unfold."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 536 words, 02/14/13
Tom Long, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Masterfully made and thoroughly soul-shattering.... there's no denying its skill and impact. In many ways it's the best horror film I've ever seen."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 300 words, 02/01/13
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...despite its grueling nature, 'Amour' feels strangely optimistic.... Of her life, Anne says, 'It's beautiful.' So is this movie."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 656 words, 01/25/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (9 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: GOOD "...unflinching.... A movie in which incident is as spare as it is in 'Amour' can certainly be great; a movie in which ideas and feelings are so sparse cannot."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,002 words, 12/19/12
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Very romantic. Or maybe not.... aspires to a romantic ideal of a different sort -- the liberation of the individual from all social ties, including those of love."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 398 words, 01/17/13
Karina Longworth, LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "...challenges the audience to bear witness to something they've never seen on screen before: a realistically slow death, and all the unpleasantness it entails..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 585 words, 05/20/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...shattering... Haneke has a pitilessness that could not be more perfect for 'Amour,' which would collapse at any whiff of sentimentality."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 529 words, 12/18/12
Alyssa Pelish, Pop Matters: VERY GOOD(cg) "Now over 70 years old, Haneke is telling his stories more subtly, and they've gained in complexity what they've lost in shock value."(See all of Alyssa Pelish's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,003 words, 12/19/12
Alison Willmore, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "...unflinching austerity... the clinical distance Haneke manages so well also makes the film feel like a beautifully crafted but calculated exercise..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 847 words, 12/12/12
Calum Marsh, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...this isn't the work of a newly moral or humanistic filmmaker, but another ruse by the same unscrupulous showman whose funny games have been beguiling us for years."(See all of Calum Marsh's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 812 words, 10/02/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...unapologetically manipulative.... Haneke has always been good at torturing his audience, but this time there's a soul working its way out from under the misery."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 353 words, 01/10/13
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a beautiful film, and a terrible one: devastating to stick out, and yet one of the most remarkable romances ever made... It is its own unique, unclassifiable creature..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 01/30/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (7 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...a perfect film about intertwined lives, proceeds at its own pace, and breathes so deeply that it takes your own breath away... a masterpiece."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 12/21/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "A masterpiece about life, death and everything in between... This is a film that will make you weep not only because life ends but also because it blooms."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,147 words, 12/19/12
Anthony Lane, New Yorker: OUTSTANDING "It was a masterstroke to cast Emmanuelle Riva... There have been many invasions in Haneke's work, but nothing compares with the looming approach of mortality."(See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 475 words, 12/31/12
Ella Taylor, NPR: OUTSTANDING "...a searing glimpse into old age, when there's no escaping the knowledge that we are moving through time, that time will have its way with us..."(See all of Ella Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 680 words, 12/18/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a perfect storm of a motion picture, with an icy, immaculate director unexpectedly taking on deeply emotional subject matter... devastating."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 989 words, 12/19/12
Dana Stevens, Slate: OUTSTANDING "...a compassionate, rigorously unsentimental masterwork from a director who doesn't normally truck in emotions like the one named in the title."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,097 words, 12/21/12
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...an unforgettable love story set at the close of day, as tragic and beautiful in its way as 'Tristan und Isolde'... a portrait of the impossible beauty and fragility of life..."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,380 words, 12/21/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "...poignantly acted, uncommonly tender.... a doubly powerful statement about man's capacity for dignity and sensitivity when confronted with the inevitable cruelty of nature."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 833 words, 05/20/12
Deborah Young, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "Magnificent in its simplicity and its relentless honesty... a deliberately torturous watch.... executed with such clarity that there is never a false step..."(See all of Deborah Young's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 795 words, 05/20/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a perfect storm of a motion picture, with an icy, immaculate director unexpectedly taking on deeply emotional subject matter... devastating."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 989 words, 12/19/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...contests personal and cultural definitions of love, marriage, aging, illness, and dying.... one of Haneke's softest, gentlest, most touching and compelling films..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 691 words, 05/21/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "A masterpiece about life, death and everything in between... This is a film that will make you weep not only because life ends but also because it blooms."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,147 words, 12/19/12
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...a perfect film about intertwined lives, proceeds at its own pace, and breathes so deeply that it takes your own breath away... a masterpiece."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 12/21/12
10.8 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Amour (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 10.8 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Amour (2012) (48 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Amour (2012)'s reviews cover 91.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 31,883 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 664 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 138 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Amour (2012)'s reviews on average broke 138 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Amour (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Amour (2012) (48 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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