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BABIES (BÉBÉS) (2010)Movie Reviews
French language documentary about the first year in the lives of four babies around the world. Cast:Bayar, Hattie, Mari, PonijaoDirector:Thomas BalmesRelease Date:May 7, 2010DVD Release:September 28, 2010From:Focus FeaturesRating:PGLength:1 hr 19 min
SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
Babies (Bébés) (2010), Good Reviews (Doc) National
Babies (Bébés) (2010) played in national release to good reviews. • Christy Lemire wrote for the Associated Press, "Be warned, the cute factor is high. But if you're already a mom or dad you'll be moved nearly to tears by the beauty of the film's universality..." • And Bruce DeMara wrote in the Toronto Star, "Awwww! Goochie-goo! Who won't love French filmmaker Thomas Balmes' latest documentary." More Reviews Below...
Mary Pols, Time: GOOD "...charming... likely to produce a happy hypnosis on the parts of people who are already parents or wish to be someday. Others may go insane with boredom..."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 836 words, 05/06/10
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "Be warned, the cute factor is high. But if you're already a mom or dad you'll be moved nearly to tears by the beauty of the film's universality..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 657 words, 05/06/10
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "Crying, peeing, grinning, the babies in 'Babies' offer moments to cherish. Frankly, though, the film itself is kind of slack."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 412 words, 05/07/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...it will be hard to watch this extraordinary film and its adorable stars without a goofy smile.... The procession of youthful behavior is almost hypnotic."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 436 words, 05/07/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Did I like the movie? Aw, yeah, I did.... Did I feel I needed to see it? Not really. I appreciated the fact that there was no narrator to explain what I was seeing..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 672 words, 05/06/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...if you love babies you will find it very hard not to love 'Babies'.... it just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 927 words, 05/07/10
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: MODERATE(cg) "The kids are absolutely charming, and each scene is beautifully shot. But there is no narrative thread, and the minimal social observations are blindingly obvious."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 143 words, 05/07/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...irresistible and possibly infectious. Childhood and child-rearing through Balmès lens is overflowing with love and free of disappointments and pain -- oh, if it were only so."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 05/07/10
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "The cry of a baby is ruthlessly, evolutionarily designed to be one of the most irritating sounds on Earth.... why would you want to hear it on massive movie theater speakers?"(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 518 words, 05/07/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "So cute, but so what?... feels a tad dodgy (and repetitive) by the hour mark. Did I mention the kids are adorable? The kids are adorable."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 487 words, 05/07/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Did I like the movie? Aw, yeah, I did.... Did I feel I needed to see it? Not really. I appreciated the fact that there was no narrator to explain what I was seeing..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 672 words, 05/06/10
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "Did I say 'Awww' at 'Babies'? I did. Did I giggle at the adorable things babies do in 'Babies'? Oh my, yes.... Is 'Babies' a good movie? Of course not."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 05/05/10
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells the most high-stakes story of all, which is nothing less than the drama of bonding and -- almost simultaneously -- letting go."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 426 words, 05/07/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...has a cute factor that rockets through the roof and doesn't stop until it hits the moon.... the contrast in lifestyles is striking..."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 498 words, 05/07/10
Peter Hartlaub, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...spare and interesting.... Never has wrapping a blanket around an infant looked more like a work of art."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 05/07/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "With no narration, no subtitles and little language at all, this makes for a charming visual contrast in the ways of getting a child through that first year of life."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 445 words, 05/07/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's a familiar approach to nature documentaries. Follow a group of cubs through the first year of their life as they frolic in the wild, doing cute little-animal things."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 400 words, 05/07/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the babies are adorable. No surprise there. No big surprises anywhere, really.... will put a smile on your face, but it won't do a whole lot more."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 463 words, 05/07/10
Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...as funny, charming and un-self-conscious as its subjects... the understated score echoes the curiosity and explorations of the babies."(See all of Manuel Mendoza's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 385 words, 05/07/10
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a love letter to the miracle of wee ones.... In choosing these four families and eschewing narration, Balmès raises a slew of questions that go unanswered."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 05/07/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...for some mothers, this will feel like work. See these children fight, cry, freak out, stare off into space, be cleaned, urinate, drink breast milk, and get a haircut."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 487 words, 05/07/10
Stephen Whitty, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "There are long stretches when the photography isn't much more exciting than a nanny-snooping security cam.... But those kids are cute."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 423 words, 05/07/10
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Face it: This is very, very cute stuff. There will be cooing in theaters, and a desire to reach out and scoop those kids off the screen."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 402 words, 05/07/10
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a deeply ingenious film that takes the most bare-bones concept and derives exemplary moments of cinema and insights into the nature of humanity from it."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 382 words, 05/07/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a wind-up toy that will tickle anyone with a pulse. As a documentary, it's like a cache of home videos that will frustrate anyone with an inquiring mind."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 05/07/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "The movie runs 79 minutes, which is about how long it takes me to diaper an infant. This one is for all the moms out there, and just in time for Mother's Day."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 349 words, 05/06/10
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "...with no narration, an absence of gimmickry and an embracing love for its subject matter, 'Babies' is as sweet, joyful and filled with curiosity as a you-know-what."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 294 words, 05/07/10
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...not puerile or sentimental. There's no voiceover guiding us through the babies' daily lives, no dialogue, no plot. There aren't even subtitles, just vignettes..."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 336 words, 05/07/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Dan Kois, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "Did I say 'Awww' at 'Babies'? I did. Did I giggle at the adorable things babies do in 'Babies'? Oh my, yes.... Is 'Babies' a good movie? Of course not."(See all of Dan Kois's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 05/05/10
Scott Tobias, AV Club: MODERATE(cg) "...a documentary about babies doing stuff could be fairly seen as either brilliant in its simplicity... or completely inane for the same reason."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 05/06/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...subjects sustain their adorability throughout the film... Nevertheless, the film doesn't offer much you couldn't find by watching 79 minutes of YouTube clips."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 05/05/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...if you love babies you will find it very hard not to love 'Babies'.... it just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 927 words, 05/07/10
David Denby, New Yorker: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "The movie is pleasing -- who doesn't love gurgling babies? -- but as anodyne as a series of episodes from 'America's Funniest Home Videos.' "(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 570 words, 05/10/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...irresistible and possibly infectious. Childhood and child-rearing through Balmès lens is overflowing with love and free of disappointments and pain -- oh, if it were only so."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 05/07/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Lael Loewenstein, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "...refreshing in its methods, impressive in its scope and remarkable in its immediacy.... enthralling as a piece of entertainment and as an educational tool."(See all of Lael Loewenstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 655 words, 04/28/10
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...even these adorable quartet's antics grow less fascinating as the film proceeds; as with other people's kids in general, there's a saturation point."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 618 words, 04/28/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...irresistible and possibly infectious. Childhood and child-rearing through Balmès lens is overflowing with love and free of disappointments and pain -- oh, if it were only so."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 716 words, 05/07/10
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: VERY GOOD(cg) "...what's missing from making it more poignant is some discussion or suggestion as to what extent the babies chosen are also representative of the larger culture..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 05/03/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...if you love babies you will find it very hard not to love 'Babies'.... it just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 927 words, 05/07/10
14.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Babies (Bébés) (2010)'s reviews are separated by an average 14.6 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.
Babies (Bébés) (2010) (41 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Babies (Bébés) (2010)'s reviews cover 65.7% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 18,254 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 445 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 6.0 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Babies (Bébés) (2010)'s reviews on average broke 6.0 hours before 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 Babies (Bébés) (2010)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Babies (Bébés) (2010) (41 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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