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IN THE FAMILYMovie Reviews
Drama about a gay man whose custody of the child he has raised with his partner is challenged by the other man's family after his sudden death. Cast:Patrick Wang, Trevor St. John, Sebastian Brodziak, Brian Murray, Kelly McAndrew, Peter Hermann, Park Overall, Susan Kellermann, Elaine Bromka, Zoe WintersDirector:Patrick WangRelease Date:November 4, 2011DVD Release: TBD Length:2 hr. 49 min.
In the Family played in limited release to excellent reviews. • Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times, "What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing." • And Robert Abele wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "...marked by uncommon grace..." More Reviews Below...
In the Family Positive Reviews (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: OUTSTANDING(cg) "What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 792 words, 04/20/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
Paul Brunick, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most accomplished and undersold directorial debuts this year.... a searching, present-tense study of evolving cultural values in the heartland..."(See all of Paul Brunick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 803 words, 11/04/11
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...marked by uncommon grace... these days, a movie so invested in the highs and lows of caring for others can only be a remarkable, cherished thing."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 285 words, 05/04/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...writer-director-star Patrick Wang's remarkable first feature proceeds at its own calm but effective pace and leads to a very full emotional finale."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 321 words, 04/20/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "What a courageous first feature this is, a film that sidesteps shopworn stereotypes and tells a quiet, firm, deeply humanist story about doing the right thing."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 792 words, 04/20/12
Andrew Schenker, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "Writer/director/star Patrick Wang evinces a keen awareness of the ways in which family members interact, grieve, and open their hearts to one another."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 223 words, 11/02/11
Bruce DeMara, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the film was rejected by 30 festivals before getting its first audience... intelligent and unexpectedly satisfying.... sublime in its simplicity, honesty and impact."(See all of Bruce DeMara's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 382 words, 06/01/12
Guy Dixon, Toronto Globe & Mail: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Despite a number of plot twists, it is more about its silence and inert camerawork... requires a viewer to fill in the gaps with one's own perceptions of what's happening."(See all of Guy Dixon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 540 words, 06/01/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...if the film has a political agenda, it's not overt. It's just this weird slice of life, with some of it worth ignoring, but some of it to savor."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 584 words, 12/07/12
Stan Hall, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...careful, unhurried (often too unhurried at nearly three hours' length)... an honest, heartfelt plea for people to simply treat each other with decency and respect..."(See all of Stan Hall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 161 words, 06/22/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Andrew Schenker, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "Writer/director/star Patrick Wang evinces a keen awareness of the ways in which family members interact, grieve, and open their hearts to one another."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 223 words, 11/02/11
Rob Humanick, Slant: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...as intimate and affecting as it is sprawling and untamed.... delivers a fault-proof human rights debate without once being aggressively or even obviously argumentative."(See all of Rob Humanick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 564 words, 11/23/11
Paul Brunick, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most accomplished and undersold directorial debuts this year.... a searching, present-tense study of evolving cultural values in the heartland..."(See all of Paul Brunick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 803 words, 11/04/11
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...marked by uncommon grace... these days, a movie so invested in the highs and lows of caring for others can only be a remarkable, cherished thing."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 285 words, 05/04/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Richard Kuipers, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "A beautifully written and performed plea for understanding on hot-button moral and legal issues... perfectly pitched to engage the emotions and provoke discussion..."(See all of Richard Kuipers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 600 words, 10/23/11
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...profoundly moving.... The beautifully nuanced screenplay avoids all clichés and Southern stereotypes, rendering every character with a striking depth and humanity."(See all of Frank Scheck's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 471 words, 05/05/12
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...marked by uncommon grace... these days, a movie so invested in the highs and lows of caring for others can only be a remarkable, cherished thing."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 285 words, 05/04/12
Paul Brunick, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most accomplished and undersold directorial debuts this year.... a searching, present-tense study of evolving cultural values in the heartland..."(See all of Paul Brunick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 803 words, 11/04/11
20.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
In the Family's reviews are separated by an average 20.4 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.
In the Family (15 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:In the Family's reviews cover 16.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 6,311 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 421 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
In the Family Coverage, Volume & Length (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 116 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
In the Family's reviews on average broke 116 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 In the Family's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
In the Family (15 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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