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GOODBYE SOLOMovie Reviews
Drama about an optimistic and engaged Senegalese taxi driver living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who befriends a depressive passenger with a tragic plan. Cast:Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco GalindoDirector:Ramin BahraniRelease Date:March 27, 2009DVD Release:August 25, 2009From:Gigantic Pictures Rating:RLength:1 hr. 31 min.
Goodbye Solo played in key cities to sensational reviews. • David Denby wrote in the New Yorker, "...fascinating... Bahrani is moving in an ambitious new direction... The power of the fable derives from Bahrani's unwillingness to solve these mysteries beyond a few hints..." • And Reyhan Harmanci wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle, "Beautifully shot, painfully vital..." More Reviews Below...
Goodbye Solo Positive Reviews (29 Reviews, reviews below)
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...slowly weaves the two men's lives together by stitching in little pockets of mystery... a playful, elusive movie that isn't so much heartwarming as soul-cleansing."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 93 words, 04/03/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...grace is what defines Mr. Bahrani's filmmaking. I can't think of anything else to call the quality of exquisite attention, wry humor and wide-awake intelligence..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,017 words, 03/27/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Although this is an independent film in its heart and soul, it is a classical film in its style. It is as pure as something by John Ford."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,055 words, 03/26/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...it looks into the importance of families, both the ones we make and the ones we are born into. This film's unsettling conclusions will likely haunt you..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 04/10/09
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The role of William is a perfect fit for Red West, a well-weathered member of Elvis Presley's Memphis Mafia... He's an apt complement for Souleymane Sy Savane's ebullience..."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 313 words, 03/27/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...eloquent and very moving.... the acting's so true, and Bahrani's so observant, you find yourself caring about everyone onscreen."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 579 words, 03/27/09
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the most powerful emotions, particularly at the end, are communicated through a handful of emotionally connected images, without any words."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 872 words, 05/29/09
Scott Foundas, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "What's consistently remarkable about Bahrani's work is his steadfast refusal to peddle easy sentiments, or to mine for hope where there is none to be found."(See all of Scott Foundas's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 03/25/09
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...drives us to all the clichéd stops of the cross-cultural genre but resists the typical sentiment and light pleasures usually found there."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 204 words, 05/28/09
KEY CITIES (11 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...unfolds with such ease that it's hard to believe it wasn't entirely improvised.... visually simple and stunning... driven by deep feeling and sensitivity. Don't miss it."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 516 words, 05/08/09
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a beautiful, haunting film from director Ramin Bahrani, who also co-wrote the screenplay.... From beginning to end, Bahrani doesn't bow to cliche or movie convention."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 435 words, 05/29/09
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A quietly soulful study of two very different men - a resilient Senegalese cabbie and a crusty white Southerner with tattoos on his arms and regret in his eyes..."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 521 words, 05/08/09
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...ensconces us in the lives of people we see in the world but don't often regard. Bahrani doesn't ennoble his characters to such a degree that they lose their humanity."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 790 words, 04/17/09
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The actors are sublime. Savane speaks his dialogue with a lilt and cadence that suggests sweet music. West says little, but communicates volumes..."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 594 words, 05/01/09
John Hartl, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an enigmatic tale of a Senegalese taxi driver who picks up a cranky Southerner in North Carolina.... Still, the ending is something less than illuminating..."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 420 words, 05/08/09
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The acting is flawless, the world feels utterly real, and the finale accomplishes the miracle of finding in the everyday world something profound."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 189 words, 05/15/09
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...truly defies categorization, and that may pose a challenge to some moviegoers. But there are certain works of art to which the rules do not apply. This is one of them."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 313 words, 05/15/09
Robert W. Butler, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a memorable study in humanity rather than the sentimental bath it might have been.... a quietly compelling look at the extremes of the human condition."(See all of Robert W. Butler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 365 words, 07/03/09
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A one-way fare to immortaility. Two offbeat buddies on a mysterious mission make 'Goodbye Solo' one of the year's best independent films."(See all of Michael Sragow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 627 words, 06/12/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Scott Foundas, Village Voice/LA Weekly: OUTSTANDING "What's consistently remarkable about Bahrani's work is his steadfast refusal to peddle easy sentiments, or to mine for hope where there is none to be found."(See all of Scott Foundas's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 851 words, 03/25/09
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "The performances are exhilarating... so is the director's eye.... Although the fare's motives remain shadowy, the humanity of the driver -- and Bahrani -- shines through."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 158 words, 04/16/09
Radheyan Simonpillai, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...drives us to all the clichéd stops of the cross-cultural genre but resists the typical sentiment and light pleasures usually found there."(See all of Radheyan Simonpillai's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 204 words, 05/28/09
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...grace is what defines Mr. Bahrani's filmmaking. I can't think of anything else to call the quality of exquisite attention, wry humor and wide-awake intelligence..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,017 words, 03/27/09
David Denby, New Yorker: OUTSTANDING "...fascinating... Bahrani is moving in an ambitious new direction... The power of the fable derives from his unwillingness to solve these mysteries beyond a few hints..."(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 449 words, 04/06/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...it looks into the importance of families, both the ones we make and the ones we are born into. This film's unsettling conclusions will likely haunt you..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 04/10/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Ronnie Scheib, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "Utterly engrossing dual-character study, unfolding with a serene disregard for indie quirkiness, 'Goodbye Solo' radiates authenticity..."(See all of Ronnie Scheib's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 524 words, 09/02/08
Gautaman Bhaskaran, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...both funny and sad, placid and provocative and, above all, hopeful and despairing.... Despite its sense of doom at the prospect of death, 'Goodbye Solo' keeps you flying."(See all of Gautaman Bhaskaran's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 317 words, 09/12/08
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...it looks into the importance of families, both the ones we make and the ones we are born into. This film's unsettling conclusions will likely haunt you..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 04/10/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...grace is what defines Mr. Bahrani's filmmaking. I can't think of anything else to call the quality of exquisite attention, wry humor and wide-awake intelligence..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,017 words, 03/27/09
10.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Goodbye Solo's reviews are separated by an average 10.4 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.
Goodbye Solo (29 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Goodbye Solo's reviews cover 38.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 15,143 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 522 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Goodbye Solo Coverage, Volume & Length (29 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 11 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Goodbye Solo's reviews on average broke 11 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 Goodbye Solo's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Goodbye Solo (29 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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