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BEESWAXMovie Reviews
Comedy drama about the personal and professional entanglements of twin sisters living in Austin, Texas. Cast:Tilly Hatcher, Maggie Hatcher, Alex Karpovsky, Anne Dodge, Katy O'ConnorDirector:Andrew BujalskiRelease Date:August 7, 2009DVD Release:April 6, 2010From:Cinema GuildLength:1 hr. 40 min.
Beeswax played in key cities to very good reviews. • Stan Hall wrote in the Portland Oregonian, "...the direction is so assured and the performances -- especially by twin sisters Tilly and Maggie Hatcher -- are so true to life, that the many little moments become absorbing, even endearing." • And A.O. Scott called the film in the New York Times, "...remarkably subtle, even elegant..." More Reviews Below...
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...remarkably subtle, even elegant... Mr. Bujalski is at heart both a perfectionist and a serious anatomist of manners and morals -- and an artist who knows his business."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 784 words, 08/07/09
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Bujalski has an unusual gift for spotlighting small moments and underplaying large ones.... his script is so subtle that everything feels improvised."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 130 words, 08/07/09
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the highlight is first-time actress Tilly Hatcher as Jeannie... Her expressive face is Bujalski's best asset as a natural sweetener..."(See all of Bill Stamets's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 02/05/10
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...one of the most mature mumblecore exercises yet, a sure sign that the movement will live on despite its misguided detractors."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 258 words, 08/07/09
Greg Quill, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...a dull story about dull thirtysomethings whose dull issues are conveyed in a prying, cinema verité style, implying drama and meaning in mundane details of their dull lives."(See all of Greg Quill's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 320 words, 04/08/11
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Andrew Bujalski has always been good at portraying intimacy and social discomfort -- making closeness feel exotic and awkwardness seem natural."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 548 words, 08/05/09
Kate Taylor, Toronto Globe & Mail: OUTSTANDING "Occasionally the experience is heart-stopping, often it's joyous.... Bujalski establishes a thoroughly convincing naturalism..."(See all of Kate Taylor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 592 words, 04/08/11
KEY CITIES (7 Reviews)
Walter Addiego, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a happy surprise: An understated and curiously intriguing slice-of-life comedy-drama about two Austin sisters (played by twins Tilly and Maggie Hatcher) in their 20s."(See all of Walter Addiego's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 277 words, 10/09/09
Cary Darling, Dallas Morning News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Although the film's lack of traditional structure might be infuriating for some viewers, it's also is what contributes to its appeal."(See all of Cary Darling's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 333 words, 02/12/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "Andrew Bujalski's sharpest, most observant piece of work yet... He's the real deal: a maturing artist obsessed with how and why - and if - his generation will mature."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 09/18/09
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "...depicts the awkward rhythms of real relationships among people who don't look remotely like Julia Roberts. It's fun to watch the film's lead actors learn on the job..."(See all of John Monaghan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 81 words, 09/18/09
Stan Hall, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the direction is so assured and the performances are so true to life, that the many little moments become absorbing, even endearing."(See all of Stan Hall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 172 words, 12/18/09
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It seems almost beside the point to mention that Tilly Hatcher uses a wheelchair because of a spinal condition. Almost."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 394 words, 10/16/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Andrew Bujalski has always been good at portraying intimacy and social discomfort -- making closeness feel exotic and awkwardness seem natural."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 548 words, 08/05/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...remarkably subtle, even elegant... Mr. Bujalski is at heart both a perfectionist and a serious anatomist of manners and morals -- and an artist who knows his business."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 784 words, 08/07/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Alissa Simon, Daily Variety: MODERATE "Although Bujalski's spin on the legal thriller lacks narrative tension, it ambles on pleasantly enough... Abrupt ending feels like a cop-out."(See all of Alissa Simon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 456 words, 02/23/09
Neil Young, Hollywood Reporter: WEAK "Talky analysis of modern-day relationships and insecurities can't quite shake its self-satisfied air... likely to mainly inspire exasperated 'so what?' reactions..."(See all of Neil Young's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 427 words, 02/24/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...remarkably subtle, even elegant... Mr. Bujalski is at heart both a perfectionist and a serious anatomist of manners and morals -- and an artist who knows his business."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 784 words, 08/07/09
15.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Beeswax's reviews are separated by an average 15.0 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.
Beeswax (21 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Beeswax's reviews cover 24.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 7,827 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 373 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 77 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Beeswax's reviews on average broke 77 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 Beeswax's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
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