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TAKE THIS WALTZMovie Reviews
Drama about a married woman who struggles to choose between her husband and a man she's just met. Cast:Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, Sarah Silverman, Graham AbbeyDirector:Sarah PolleyRelease Date:June 29, 2012DVD Release:October 23, 2012From:MagnoliaRating:RLength:1 hr 56 min
Take This Waltz played in key cities to very good reviews. • Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "...left me convinced that Polley (who both writes and directs) is a major talent... chock-full of individual moments of great power and beauty..." • And Michael O'Sullivan wrote in the Washington Post, "...an almost perfect portrait of someone hooked on a feeling, someone high on believing." More Reviews Below...
Take This Waltz Positive Reviews (40 Reviews, reviews below)
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Sarah Silverman is one of several cast members who lay themselves bare -- literally and metaphorically -- for this film. Polley asks a lot of her actors, and they deliver."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 666 words, 07/05/12
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "Should she stay with her hubby who cooks for her or run to the sexy guy who verbally seduces her in a bar? The resolution resonates..."(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 126 words, 07/12/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "Sarah Polley digs into the ambiguity of Margot's motivations... But by never standing back from Margot, the movie courts vagueness as well."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 85 words, 06/29/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "...the self-consciously arty vibe obfuscates what should have been a human tale of a troubled woman seeking to fill a void in her life.... feels forced and exasperating."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 390 words, 07/06/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "I have great admiration for Michelle Williams as an actress, but this story might have been better told with a less lovable star."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 753 words, 07/13/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...while the narrative suffers from instances of contrived plotting, there's never anything remotely artificial about the three all-too-human protagonists..."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 916 words, 06/25/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (12 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...honest, sure-footed, emotionally generous... The wounding power of love, its essential asymmetry and unfairness, permeates..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 881 words, 06/29/12
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "It's a shame Polley drowns the vitally mundane in so much indie quirk, because her committed leads work hard to create a touching familiarity together."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 306 words, 06/29/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "There is so much that is delicate and soft, so much that is hurtful and hard about love when filmmaker Sarah Polley gets her hands on it. She has done it yet again..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 07/06/12
Sara Stewart, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "Sarah Polley continues her focus on the awkward and difficult particularities of human relationships... The real beauty of her directing is its celebration of imperfection..."(See all of Sara Stewart's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 06/29/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "The actors are excellent.... Rogen falls very comfortably into the role.... Williams is the ringer, a welter of difficult, delicate feelings in search of a resting place."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 07/13/12
John Anderson, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "We don't know these people who inhabit Sarah Polley's 'Take This Waltz' and that's the best thing about it... Life is irrational, and so is Margot (Michelle Williams)..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 07/13/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "I have great admiration for Michelle Williams as an actress, but this story might have been better told with a less lovable star."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 753 words, 07/13/12
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...wobbles at times... But there are enough unexpected delights to keep us interested in the drawn-out, teasing, tantalizing courtship."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 213 words, 06/27/12
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: VERY GOOD(cg) "Rogen handles himself very well in a dramatic role, portraying cuckolded Lou as a baffled player in Margot's cri de coeur. And talented Williams is every director's dream."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 628 words, 06/29/12
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...an occasionally heart-fluttering but mostly exasperating affair. At best, it shows how intense sexual attraction can be a form of temporary insanity."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 813 words, 06/29/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "I'm not entirely sure Sarah Polley accomplishes what she's reaching for, but she's reaching for it, and that makes all the difference."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 389 words, 06/28/12
KEY CITIES (10 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...gorgeously photographed, mostly sure-footed... an almost perfect portrait of someone hooked on a feeling, someone high on believing."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 620 words, 07/06/12
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Williams lives and breathes her role, Kirby is charming and real, and you actually start to ache and empathize with Rogen..."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 452 words, 07/13/12
Kristin Tillotson, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Polley has mastered the art of the dreamy scene... But her pacing sometimes suffers, as she can't resist one more whirl of the carnival ride..."(See all of Kristin Tillotson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 459 words, 07/06/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...about a woman who is torn between fidelity and attraction, and simply cannot make up her mind.... messy, imperfect, confusing, heartbreaking -- in other words, real."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 605 words, 07/13/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a visual achievement and a narrative muddle... the first movie in which Michelle Williams's ethereal uncertainty is in danger of turning into schtick."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 591 words, 07/06/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "Margot is messy, and the story about her is unapologetic. But she's also interesting, complicated and ready to face the consequences of her own decisions."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 461 words, 06/29/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "Polley has given a role to Williams that showcases the actress' internal qualities, her ability to express inner conflict and passion."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 543 words, 07/06/12
John Hartl, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...often feels thin and self-conscious.... Seth Rogen carries the picture, largely by default. He seems a decent guy, a mensch even..."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 271 words, 07/13/12
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: GOOD(cg) "There's often real beauty and poetry... but 'Waltz' requires you to be on board with it from the start and doesn't often enough rouse itself to magnetize you if you're not."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 247 words, 07/20/12
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Polley has a gift for eliciting performances that get to the essence of the most telling moments... As memorable as it is insightful..."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 300 words, 07/13/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (9 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...wobbles at times... But there are enough unexpected delights to keep us interested in the drawn-out, teasing, tantalizing courtship."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 213 words, 06/27/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...with its languid pace and candy colors and heroine who can't help but make a lot of infuriatingly bad decisions.... a passionate and remarkable movie."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 819 words, 09/11/11
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the cast is nearly flawless, especially Williams, who inhabits the grey area between child-like exuberance and grown-up resignation better than anybody."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 154 words, 07/05/12
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: GOOD(cg) "...too packed with highly specific, often flagrantly odd details.... the fine focus makes for an unbalanced experience, where all the little pieces never fully add up..."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 729 words, 06/28/12
Alyssa Pelish, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "...swings through scenes of great sweetness and silliness... remaining equally attentive to small moments that turn on disappointment or irritation."(See all of Alyssa Pelish's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 922 words, 06/29/12
Alison Willmore, Movieline: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the weight of the film rests on Williams, and she finds a poignant and quiet agony in her character as she realizes she's the only one who can make this decision..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 835 words, 06/28/12
Ed Gonzalez, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...isn't unlike walking through an arts and crafts store... it's tempting to cut Polley some slack for whipping up a story whose every conceit is so obviously constructed."(See all of Ed Gonzalez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 885 words, 04/17/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "I'm not entirely sure Sarah Polley accomplishes what she's reaching for, but she's reaching for it, and that makes all the difference."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 389 words, 06/28/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (6 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...honest, sure-footed, emotionally generous... The wounding power of love, its essential asymmetry and unfairness, permeates..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 881 words, 06/29/12
Anthony Lane, New Yorker: MODERATE "Sarah Polley has a wonderful eye... yet the dialogue strains and grunts... Your best option, perhaps, is to zone out from the implausible kinks in the setup..."(See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 433 words, 07/02/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "There is so much that is delicate and soft, so much that is hurtful and hard about love when filmmaker Sarah Polley gets her hands on it. She has done it yet again..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 07/06/12
Dana Stevens, Slate: EXCELLENT "...left me convinced that Polley (who both writes and directs) is a major talent... chock-full of individual moments of great power and beauty, including visual beauty..."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 838 words, 06/29/12
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: EXCELLENT "Features the reliably terrific Michelle Williams in one of her best roles... It's definitely not a movie for everyone -- but if it's for you, you'll never forget it."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 957 words, 09/15/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Justin Chang, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "...wrings maximum tension, humor and emotional complexity from a young wife's crisis of conscience.... superb performances by Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen."(See all of Justin Chang's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 921 words, 09/12/11
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: FAIR "...emotionally fraudulent and far too infatuated with its own preciousness.... has a hard time deciding if it wants to be a happy-sad, flaky comedy or a dreamy mood piece."(See all of David Rooney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 854 words, 09/11/11
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "There is so much that is delicate and soft, so much that is hurtful and hard about love when filmmaker Sarah Polley gets her hands on it. She has done it yet again..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 846 words, 07/06/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...has good moments, but they don't add up to an illuminating portrait of a breakup, or to a particularly interesting chronicle of a new, sensual relationship."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 471 words, 01/06/13
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...honest, sure-footed, emotionally generous... The wounding power of love, its essential asymmetry and unfairness, permeates..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 881 words, 06/29/12
14.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Take This Waltz's reviews are separated by an average 14.1 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.
Take This Waltz (40 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Take This Waltz's reviews cover 60.3% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 22,531 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 563 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Take This Waltz Coverage, Volume & Length (40 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 9 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Take This Waltz's reviews on average broke 9 days 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 Take This Waltz's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Take This Waltz (40 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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