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HIGHER GROUND (2011)Movie Reviews
Drama about a member of a tight-knit fundamentalist community who questions her entire belief system as her life begins to unravel. Cast:Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, John Hawkes, Dagmara DominczykDirector:Vera FarmigaRelease Date:August 26, 2011DVD Release:January 10, 2012From:Sony ClassicsRating:RLength:1 hr 49 min
JANUARY 10, 2012
Higher Ground (2011), Very Good Reviews Key Cities
Higher Ground (2011) played in key cities to very good reviews. • Owen Gleiberman wrote in Entertainment Weekly, "...a rich, sprawling, uplifting, disquieting, at once demystifying and mysterious drama... breaks crucial, sacred ground in American moviemaking." • And Michael O'Sullivan wrote in the Washington Post, "...the film ultimately feels like a bit of a cop-out." More Reviews Below...
Richard Corliss, Time: VERY GOOD " 'My heart has no desire to stay / Where doubts arise and fears dismay. / Though some may dwell where those abound, / My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.' "(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,212 words, 08/25/11
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Vera Farmiga has done something miraculous in her directing debut... She's managed to make a movie about religion that's neither preachy nor mocking..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 553 words, 08/25/11
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a rich, sprawling, uplifting, disquieting, at once demystifying and mysterious drama... breaks crucial, sacred ground in American moviemaking."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 430 words, 08/26/11
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Vera Farmiga expertly guides a large and gifted ensemble cast and proves as fearless a director as she is an actress.... funny, touching and vital."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 169 words, 09/02/11
Claudia Puig, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "...captures a woman's dramatic spiritual struggle.... Though it's occasionally slow-moving, 'Higher Ground' is a gracefully made quest for meaning and personal salvation."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 400 words, 08/26/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Sometimes it slips too easily into satire, but at least it is nuanced satire based on true believers who are basically nice and good people."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 807 words, 09/02/11
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "Focused with sympathetic intensity on the ordeal of a single soul, it illuminates, as though from within, a complex spiritual struggle."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 08/26/11
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "I can't remember the last time I saw organized religion handled in such an even-handed, thoughtful manner.... gratifyingly complex and deeply human..."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 244 words, 08/26/11
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "Farmiga steers 'Higher Ground' ably, from its rewarding performances to its unexpected bursts of comedy and eventual well-earned moments of bittersweet grace."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 302 words, 08/26/11
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a well-acted if slow-moving drama that will reward adventurous audiences with fine performances and a thoughtful approach."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 08/26/11
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...avoids preaching to any choir or settling for easy point-scoring.... In the best way it feels very '70s: It's about a relatable lost soul finding herself."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 632 words, 09/02/11
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "What a delicate balance this movie is, with enough religious fervor to discomfit the skeptics and enough skepticism to discomfit the religious."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 757 words, 09/03/11
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Sometimes it slips too easily into satire, but at least it is nuanced satire based on true believers who are basically nice and good people."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 807 words, 09/02/11
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "Farmiga's film admirably tries, on a minuscule budget, to evoke the spirit of American cinema from 35 years ago... It's a shame, then, that the film never really ignites."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 705 words, 08/24/11
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...sometimes short on drama, and characters are sometimes sketched too broadly... Farmiga's first film is good enough to make us look forward to her next one."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 09/23/11
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...refreshing precisely because it finds a middle ground... there are no saints and there are no demons, no absolute wisdom and no complete idiocy."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 621 words, 09/23/11
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "A powerful performance by first-time director Vera Farmiga ('Up In The Air') and a subtle approach to an intriguing subject... a winner."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 225 words, 09/22/11
KEY CITIES (13 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...refreshingly free of proselytizing. In its place, however, is a whiff of condescension.... the film ultimately feels like a bit of a cop-out."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 475 words, 09/16/11
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD(cg) "Farmiga challenges herself and the viewer. Some may shrink from that challenge, but thankfully, our gutsy director and star never does."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 09/09/11
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "...lacks the divine spark that would make Corinne's spiritual crisis universally meaningful. It's like a long, tedious walking pilgrimage of faith run backwards."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 518 words, 09/09/11
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "When actors take it upon themselves to direct, it's often less because they have things to say or stories to tell than people to explore.... a noble failure..."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 656 words, 09/09/11
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "How does someone get to a place where they doubt their deepest convictions? Where do they go from there? In this story, it's all bit by bit, step by step."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 489 words, 08/26/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...quietly moving... you sense a real affection for all the characters, particularly the women, and a genuine curiosity about religion as a guiding principal in one's life."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 09/09/11
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "Vera Farmiga paces this decades-spanning tale just right, imbuing each chapter with period detail and giving her excellent cast room to breathe."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 09/09/11
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...might easily have settled for mocking religion. Instead, it's a fascinating glimpse into a culture that forces some people to choose between fitting in and opting out."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 323 words, 09/16/11
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a quiet story... Parts of 'Higher Ground' are dull, honestly. But the movie always feels honest about its subject. The acting is sublimely natural..."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 334 words, 09/29/11
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "...isn't cineplex fare, and it ends with a showy bit better lost. But Farmiga shows rare confidence, evenness and understanding while dealing with sensitive subject matter."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 278 words, 09/16/11
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the film is careful to reflect the emotional and familial benefits of being part of a loving and supportive community, something many movies about religion miss entirely."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 464 words, 09/09/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "Farmiga's film admirably tries, on a minuscule budget, to evoke the spirit of American cinema from 35 years ago... It's a shame, then, that the film never really ignites."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 705 words, 08/24/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "Farmiga portrays her characters with nuance and dignity... She doesn't reduce these Born Agains to intolerant and hypocritical stereotypes..."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 183 words, 09/08/11
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a shapeless collection of tonally diverse moments strung together with little organizing principle beyond the protagonist's identity struggles."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 451 words, 08/25/11
Michelle Orange, Movieline: EXCELLENT(cg) "Co-writers Briggs and Tim Metcalfe are careful to avoid words like 'cult' and 'fundamentalist'; they work to avoid easy judgments..."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,005 words, 08/25/11
Bill Weber, Slant: POOR(cg) "Bereft of both spiritual and narrative spark... gets stuck in the valley of the shadow of snark.... Farmiga hasn't put much that's lifelike into 'Higher Ground'..."(See all of Bill Weber's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 468 words, 08/21/11
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "A powerful performance by first-time director Vera Farmiga ('Up In The Air') and a subtle approach to an intriguing subject... a winner."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 225 words, 09/22/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "Focused with sympathetic intensity on the ordeal of a single soul, it illuminates, as though from within, a complex spiritual struggle."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 08/26/11
Anthony Lane, New Yorker: OUTSTANDING "You could argue that the film is too wrenching a departure for an actress as earthy as Farmiga, but that, I suspect, is why she took the risk -- daring herself..."(See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,205 words, 08/22/11
Jeannette Catsoulis, NPR: OUTSTANDING "...something rarely seen in American movies: a sincerely humane examination of what it means to experience a crisis of faith.... tackles big questions with affecting humility."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 493 words, 08/25/11
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "Farmiga steers 'Higher Ground' ably, from its rewarding performances to its unexpected bursts of comedy and eventual well-earned moments of bittersweet grace."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 302 words, 08/26/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "A satirical yet sensitive portrait of life in an evangelical Christian community... a startlingly bold directing debut for actress Vera Farmiga.... deeply moving..."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 890 words, 01/24/11
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: EXCELLENT "A rare American film that explores the born-again experience without mockery or condescension.... at times funny, romantic, tender and heart-breaking..."(See all of Kirk Honeycutt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 779 words, 01/24/11
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "Farmiga steers 'Higher Ground' ably, from its rewarding performances to its unexpected bursts of comedy and eventual well-earned moments of bittersweet grace."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 302 words, 08/26/11
Patrick Z. McGavin, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Farmiga continues to astonish, both in front of and behind the camera... a beautifully textured, strikingly observed feature debut... contemplative, emotionally probing..."(See all of Patrick Z. McGavin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 862 words, 01/27/11
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "Focused with sympathetic intensity on the ordeal of a single soul, it illuminates, as though from within, a complex spiritual struggle."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 08/26/11
16.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Higher Ground (2011)'s reviews are separated by an average 16.1 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.
Higher Ground (2011) (40 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Higher Ground (2011)'s reviews cover 69.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 21,441 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 536 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 12.7 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Higher Ground (2011)'s reviews on average broke 12.7 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 Higher Ground (2011)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Higher Ground (2011) (40 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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