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BACKWARDS (2012)Movie Reviews
Drama about a young woman who takes a coaching position at her alma mater after abandoning her dream of making the Olympic rowing team. Cast:Sarah Megan Thomas, Glenn Morshower, Margaret Colin, Wynn Everett, James Van Der BeekDirector:Ben HickernellRelease Date:September 21, 2012DVD Release:December 11, 2012From:Dada FilmsRating:PGLength:1 hr. 29 min.
Backwards (2012) played in limited release to weak reviews. • Joe Leydon wrote in Daily Variety, "Passably pleasant but thoroughly predictable... a self-constructed star vehicle for scripter, producer and lead player Sarah Megan Thomas." • And Stephanie Merry wrote in the Washington Post, "The biggest problem is the characters... they're one-dimensional caricatures..." More Reviews Below...
Backwards (2012) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...cliché-ridden vanity project is more suited to the ABC Family channel... absent any real dramatic conflict, it's all as soggy as a waterlogged bilge."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 192 words, 09/21/12
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "...a painfully clichéd inspirational sports drama... James Van Der Beek adds a professional sheen to what otherwise feels like a vanity affair."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 49 words, 09/21/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It's simple stuff, but it works.... Hickernell nicely captures rowing's grace and beauty -- and pain and power -- against a lovely array of iconic Philadelphia backdrops."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 09/21/12
Sara Stewart, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...a blandly feel-good dramedy.... Alexandra Metz and Meredith Apfelbaum give 'Backwards' their all, but can't row their way clear of its clichés."(See all of Sara Stewart's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 130 words, 09/21/12
Michael Nordine, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Subplots are introduced only to be resolved within minutes... Those who can't do, teach; those who settle apparently end up pretty happy."(See all of Michael Nordine's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 236 words, 09/26/12
KEY CITIES (4 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: WEAK(cg) "The biggest problem is the characters... For the most part, they're one-dimensional caricatures... does a much better job portraying athletics than people."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 671 words, 09/28/12
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: MODERATE(cg) "...pleasant, but not especially dramatic... 'Backwards' - its title referring to the wisdom that life is lived forward but understood backward - has no forward propulsion."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 333 words, 09/21/12
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: WEAK(cg) "The neatness of the plotting becomes almost comical after a while. Construction is one thing; contrivance is another.... Far worse is the absence of flavor or texture."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 415 words, 09/28/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "A movie whose main virtue was its honesty ultimately lands in a place that feels canned and unsatisfying. But on the way there, 'Backwards' isn't so bad."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 160 words, 09/28/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Michael Nordine, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Subplots are introduced only to be resolved within minutes... Those who can't do, teach; those who settle apparently end up pretty happy."(See all of Michael Nordine's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 236 words, 09/26/12
Jake Mulligan, Boston Phoenix: WEAK(cg) "Thomas, as if this were a master class in lazy writing, ignores the human drama; instead she strings together well-worn subplots about cold-hearted moms..."(See all of Jake Mulligan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 156 words, 09/27/12
Sam Adams, AV Club: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an uncomplicated single-character study.... Director Ben Hickernell ('Lebanon, Pa.') is a thoughtful presence behind the camera... full of keenly observed details..."(See all of Sam Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 397 words, 09/20/12
Tomas Hachard, Slant: POOR(cg) "The film flirts with the rudderless feeling that might befall someone who did nothing but train intensively for four years... But it never goes beyond a superficial first glimpse..."(See all of Tomas Hachard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 416 words, 09/16/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...cliché-ridden vanity project is more suited to the ABC Family channel... absent any real dramatic conflict, it's all as soggy as a waterlogged bilge."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 192 words, 09/21/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It's simple stuff, but it works.... Hickernell nicely captures rowing's grace and beauty -- and pain and power -- against a lovely array of iconic Philadelphia backdrops."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 09/21/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: FAIR "Passably pleasant but thoroughly predictable... a self-constructed star vehicle for scripter, producer and lead player Sarah Megan Thomas."(See all of Joe Leydon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 331 words, 09/19/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "It's simple stuff, but it works.... Hickernell nicely captures rowing's grace and beauty -- and pain and power -- against a lovely array of iconic Philadelphia backdrops."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 227 words, 09/21/12
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: POOR "...cliché-ridden vanity project is more suited to the ABC Family channel... absent any real dramatic conflict, it's all as soggy as a waterlogged bilge."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 192 words, 09/21/12
17.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Backwards (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 17.7 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.
Backwards (2012) (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Backwards (2012)'s reviews cover 14.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 3,949 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 282 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 32.4 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Backwards (2012)'s reviews on average broke 32.4 hours 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 Backwards (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Backwards (2012) (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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