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SAFE HOUSE (2012)Movie Reviews
Action thriller about a renegade CIA operative and a rookie agent on the run from mercenaries who want them dead. Cast:Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Liam Cunningham, Brendan GleesonDirector:Daniel EspinosaRelease Date:February 10, 2012DVD Release:June 5, 2012From:UniversalRating:RLength:1 hr 55 min
Safe House (2012) played to good not great reviews. • Bill Goodykoontz wrote in the Arizona Republic, "The minutes in which Washington and Reynolds play their mind games together are rewarding. Everything else feels as if there is something missing..." • And James Berardinelli wrote for Reel Views, "B-movie sensibilities with an A-list cast..." More Reviews Below...
Safe House (2012) Positive Reviews (48 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The 'Bourne'-lite plot may not be logical, but it lets Reynolds play nicely clueless, while the coolly capable Washington just plays.... this is a man loving his second act."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 127 words, 02/09/12
Richard Corliss, Time: GOOD "...plows through its familiar twists with efficient brio and a distinguished supporting cast (Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Rubén Blades, Robert Patrick)."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 805 words, 02/10/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "...a fizzless 'Bourne' episode crossed with 'Training Day'... action-movie porridge gussied up into a less-clever-than-it-seems mystery."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 488 words, 02/10/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: MODERATE(cg) "...asks us to believe that Ryan Reynolds can outclass Denzel Washington in the art of being a hard-ass. Not on this planet, baby."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 151 words, 02/10/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a familiar tale... But told as it is with energy and verve, 'Safe House' is a bracing action thriller made all the more watchable because of its two lead performances."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 02/10/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a pretty well-organized compilation of thriller tropes... the movie's action mayhem gains in novelty value for being set in a spot that hasn't been made overly familiar..."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 655 words, 02/09/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: MODERATE(cg) "B-movie sensibilities with an A-list cast... The action sequences are generic, character development is perfunctory, and the supposed plot twists are obvious."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 852 words, 02/08/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...tense, tough, visceral Mr. Washington is so good at suggesting deep reserves of cool, moody mystery and smoldering feeling that he keeps you nicely guessing."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 02/10/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "...devolves into unexciting action scenes that feel left over from the 'Bourne' flicks and are peopled with cloak-and-dagger stereotypes."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 480 words, 02/10/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...shows how much can be done with a business-as-usual CIA-thriller script when it's bolstered by effective acting and expert direction."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 02/10/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...may strike you as a brilliant movie, provided you've seen fewer than, say, 10 spy thrillers. I've seen more than 10 spy thrillers."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 839 words, 02/10/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Espinosa shoots virtually everything in tight but wobbly close-up, and the human and vehicular combat often brakes right at the edge of visual incoherence."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 499 words, 02/10/12
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...has just enough bone density to emit some satisfying cracks and pops whenever the action gets going.... What gravitas there is comes from Denzel Washington..."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 324 words, 02/10/12
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: GOOD "...isn't all crashed cars and dodged bullets... What separates it from the standard Cuisinart-cut action picture is that it's marinated in post-Iraq cynicism..."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 02/13/12
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the cast is first-rate... Washington dominates every scene he's in and the supporting veterans turn in fine work, even when they're mouthing thriller cliches."(See all of Richard Roeper's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 869 words, 02/10/12
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...scattered but not totally disagreeable... A movie in no small part about the insanely high collateral body count of moral relativism..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 702 words, 02/08/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "I was hoping for this chase thriller to be more than an homage to the 'Bourne' franchise and to Tony Scott films. Consider me suckered, and maybe you, too."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 02/10/12
John DeFore, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...spends less time on the promising interplay between Reynolds and Washington than on generic spycraft action its makers aren't quite up to."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 02/10/12
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Inevitably, 'Safe House' falls back on transparent genre conventions, but at least it does so with a knowing wink."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 563 words, 02/10/12
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Director Daniel Espinosa has a real gift for grimy-windshield faux realism and bone-rattling action sequences, which almost compensates for the boilerplate plot."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 02/10/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The minutes in which Washington and Reynolds play their mind games together are rewarding. Everything else feels as if there is something missing..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 574 words, 02/10/12
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...manages the brawls and shootouts just fine. But like a lot of movies, too many of the fights and too much of the flight look like they've been pulsed in a blender..."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 760 words, 02/10/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: POOR(cg) "Washington and Reynolds don't get to act together. They get to run together, duck together, ride in a car together and share a shaky frame together."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 596 words, 02/10/12
Soren Andersen, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Just think of it as 'Bourne to Run'... [but] what 'Safe House' has and the 'Bournes' don't is Denzel Washington, and that's a significant difference indeed."(See all of Soren Andersen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 401 words, 02/10/12
Mike Russell, Portland Oregonian: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Reynolds avoids his usual wisecracking routine and gives a grim, conflicted performance... Daniel Espinosa makes good use of the South African locations..."(See all of Mike Russell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 586 words, 02/10/12
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "While other stars of his generation stoop to self-parody, Washington stands tall. We cannot tell a lie: Yes, he makes us nervous, but in a good way."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 329 words, 02/10/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: GOOD(cg) "By the fadeout, viewers are equally pummeled by what is essentially a series of action set pieces punctuated by grim whispers of suspicion."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 438 words, 02/10/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a safe bet if you're in the market for a conspiracy-driven action drama. There are times you wish it wasn't quite so safe, but it does deliver the bang for your bucks."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 589 words, 02/10/12
Roger Moore, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a top-notch thriller from pretty thin material, spilling a lot of blood and roughing up a couple of good-looking movie stars for the cause."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 486 words, 02/10/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (10 Reviews)
Karina Longworth, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...scattered but not totally disagreeable... A movie in no small part about the insanely high collateral body count of moral relativism..."(See all of Karina Longworth's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 702 words, 02/08/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: WEAK(cg) "...less a thriller than an experiment in confusion, trying to rile up the audience by stranding them in scenes they don't understand, over and over..."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 735 words, 02/09/12
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...gets off to an overachieving start, but by the time it lurches to an overly pat conclusion, it has thoroughly squandered its considerable early promise."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 404 words, 02/09/12
Stephanie Zacharek, Movieline: WEAK(cg) "...a twisted claw of a movie, a picture so visually ugly that, to borrow a line from Moms Mabley, it hurt my feelings... the picture has no pulse.... it anesthetizes you..."(See all of Stephanie Zacharek's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 776 words, 02/09/12
Glenn Heath Jr., Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...dedicated to the classic tango between spoken threats and sudden bursts of violence.... achieves something rare for a Hollywood action film: depth of purpose."(See all of Glenn Heath Jr.'s reviews...)(Read the full review...) 725 words, 02/09/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: POOR(cg) "...all the 'intrigue' and obfuscation is just a way for newbie screenwriter David Guggenheim to hide the fact that he's got nothing to say that we haven't seen..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 681 words, 02/08/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (5 Reviews)
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "What we want to watch is Mr. Washington, and of him there is not nearly enough.... The psychological nuance, which seemed so promising, gets subsumed by action..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 670 words, 02/10/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...tense, tough, visceral Mr. Washington is so good at suggesting deep reserves of cool, moody mystery and smoldering feeling that he keeps you nicely guessing."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 02/10/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...shows how much can be done with a business-as-usual CIA-thriller script when it's bolstered by effective acting and expert direction."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 02/10/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...viciously energetic... makes up in sweaty atmosphere and brute force what it lacks in surprise.... mechanically effective... doesn't have an original bone in its body..."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 793 words, 02/08/12
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Terse and understated... designed to minimize talk and maximize action, not at all a bad thing in movies but over-worked to near-exhaustion here."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/08/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...shows how much can be done with a business-as-usual CIA-thriller script when it's bolstered by effective acting and expert direction."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 02/10/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's hard to understand, based on the plot, characterization, and dialogue, why David Guggenheim's spec script became an instant hot property..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 537 words, 02/08/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...tense, tough, visceral Mr. Washington is so good at suggesting deep reserves of cool, moody mystery and smoldering feeling that he keeps you nicely guessing."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 02/10/12
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "What we want to watch is Mr. Washington, and of him there is not nearly enough.... The psychological nuance, which seemed so promising, gets subsumed by action..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 670 words, 02/10/12
15.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Safe House (2012)'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.
Safe House (2012) (48 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Safe House (2012)'s reviews cover 94.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 26,620 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 555 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 17.7 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Safe House (2012)'s reviews on average broke 17.7 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 Safe House (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Safe House (2012) (48 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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