Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will discontinue
publishing this website at the end of May (more...)
Search a Movie:
THE BROKEN TOWERMovie Reviews
Drama about American poet Hart Crane, who traveled the world for inspiration until his suicide at age 32. Cast:James Franco, Michael Shannon, Dave Franco, Stacey MillerDirector:James FrancoRelease Date:April 27, 2012DVD Release:March 27, 2012From:Rabbit BandiniLength:1 hr. 39 min.
The Broken Tower played in New York City to moderate reviews. • Farran Smith Nehme wrote in the New York Post, "Despite Franco's laudable desire to shake up a stodgy genre, his film could have done with more life, and less art." • And Todd McCarthy wrote in the Hollywood Reporter, "Crane's poetry is tough to gasp... minus any involving drama having been developed, it's true for the film as well." More Reviews Below...
The Broken Tower Positive Reviews (8 Reviews, reviews below)
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "...it's a pensive and heartfelt movie, assuming that you let yourself get caught up in its moody-minimalist, more-visual-than-verbal style."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 97 words, 04/27/12
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (4 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: FAIR "...despite earnest attempts, Mr. Franco can't bring the fervency of Crane's poetry to life in the extensive recitations.... feels less a movie than an outline for one."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 04/27/12
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: WEAK(cg) "It's not an insult to say the black-and-white film looks like a grad-school thesis project, since that's what it is (for Franco's MFA at NYU)."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 277 words, 04/27/12
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: WEAK "...commits the usual sins of the embalmed literary biopic. The rage of the delicate artist against bourgeois convention is telegraphed... it's sincere, amateurish, and misguided."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 188 words, 04/25/12
KEY CITIES (0 Reviews)
The Broken Tower has not been reviewed in Key Cities
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (2 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: WEAK "...commits the usual sins of the embalmed literary biopic. The rage of the delicate artist against bourgeois convention is telegraphed... it's sincere, amateurish, and misguided."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 188 words, 04/25/12
Stephen Holden, New York Times: FAIR "...despite earnest attempts, Mr. Franco can't bring the fervency of Crane's poetry to life in the extensive recitations.... feels less a movie than an outline for one."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 04/27/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: FAIR "...clearly besotted with Hart Crane's poetry, Franco never achieves full immersion in the man's life or work; the sense is of people playing a very cerebral game of dress-up."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 643 words, 06/21/11
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: WEAK "...mostly a tedious chore, much akin to listening to poetry you don't much like.... Crane's poetry is tough to gasp... minus any involving drama having been developed, it's true for the film as well."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 780 words, 06/21/11
Stephen Holden, New York Times: FAIR "...despite earnest attempts, Mr. Franco can't bring the fervency of Crane's poetry to life in the extensive recitations.... feels less a movie than an outline for one."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 04/27/12
12.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Broken Tower's reviews are separated by an average 12.6 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.
The Broken Tower (8 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Broken Tower's reviews cover 14.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 3,270 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 409 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 21 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Broken Tower's reviews on average broke 21 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 The Broken Tower's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Broken Tower (8 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
