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THE DETAILS (2012)Movie Reviews
Comedy about a doctor who becomes obsessed with eradicating a family of raccoons that he blames for his failing marriage and personal problems. Cast:Elizabeth Banks, Kerry Washington, Tobey Maguire, Ray Liotta, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Sam Trammell, Gary Schwartz, Cathy Vu, Amanda Hardy, Sarah Best, Shanga Parker, David Kirwan, Marlette Buchanan, Martin AndrisDirector:Jacob Aaron EstesRelease Date:November 2, 2012DVD Release:April 30, 2013From:The Weinstein CompanyRating:RLength:1 hr 31 min
APRIL 30, 2013
The Details (2012), Good (Not Great) Reviews, Mixed Limited
The Details (2012) played in limited release to good not great reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Michael O'Sullivan wrote in the Washington Post, "...funny enough, in a dark (and actually surprisingly violent) way. But there's no real epiphany, other than the revelation that -- wait for it -- life goes on." More Reviews Below...
The Details (2012) Positive Reviews (18 Reviews, reviews below)
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: MODERATE(cg) "...doesn't do much that's new or particularly inspired... it has some surprising moments and nuggets of clarity.... a frustrating movie in its inconsistency..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 594 words, 11/01/12
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a provocatively acrid adult comedy... Tobey Maguire's characteristic placidity makes a fine mask for a man who is thoroughly awful."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 90 words, 11/02/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a surreal moral fable cloaked as a romantic comedy... Instead of turning soft and squishy, this examination of karma gets tougher as it goes along."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 620 words, 11/02/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...offbeat, original, pitch dark... a nutty and surprising ride.... It all adds up to create a dicey morality tale that's as improbable as it is strangely believable."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 11/02/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: POOR(cg) "...too campy to take seriously and too tragic to laugh at.... Maguire and Linney don't belong in the same movie, unless it's an incoherent one."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 226 words, 11/02/12
Roger Moore, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The players are better than the lurching, uneven script... The moral lessons -- unusual for a comedy this dark -- are muddy..."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 444 words, 11/02/12
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...never lays bare any truths we haven't known... [but] even if writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes isn't looking at anything new, he at least has the sharpest of eyes."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 10/31/12
KEY CITIES (5 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: WEAK(cg) "...funny enough, in a dark (and actually surprisingly violent) way. But there's no real epiphany, other than the revelation that -- wait for it -- life goes on."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 471 words, 11/02/12
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a smart and strange sort-of comedy... manages to be both compelling and unsatisfying... it doesn't work, but it doesn't work in such intriguing ways."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 532 words, 11/02/12
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...has a light tone, but it's anything but light in purpose. It's committed and passionate, one of the most perceptive and morally persuasive movies of 2012."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 429 words, 11/09/12
John Hartl, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the nuttier plot complications are funneled through Maguire, who is surely one of the few actors who could create sympathy for such a character."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 262 words, 11/09/12
Tom Long, Detroit News: WEAK(cg) "It's hard to make a fine actress like Laura Linney look off-key and shrill, but this film manages to do just that. It's hardly an accomplishment."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 302 words, 11/02/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...never lays bare any truths we haven't known... [but] even if writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes isn't looking at anything new, he at least has the sharpest of eyes."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 254 words, 10/31/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: MODERATE(cg) "...plays like a toothless suburban variation on Martin Scorsese's 'After Hours.' Maguire's sins and their consequences don't give the film any moral weight..."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 387 words, 11/01/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: POOR(cg) "...smug and self-satisfied... too committed to its central shithead for satirical intent, which would require a level of distanced criticism that Estes is incapable of..."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 771 words, 10/28/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: POOR(cg) "...a mealy, wan attempt at a black comedy... a fantastic cast is squandered. The wacky is forced and unfunny and the misery is nowhere near wretched enough."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 307 words, 11/01/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a surreal moral fable cloaked as a romantic comedy... Instead of turning soft and squishy, this examination of karma gets tougher as it goes along."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 620 words, 11/02/12
Joel Arnold, NPR: GOOD "Effectively immersive... slyly orchestrated... it has something to say about the destructiveness of lies and deception in a marriage -- just less than it thinks."(See all of Joel Arnold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 796 words, 11/01/12
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...offbeat, original, pitch dark... a nutty and surprising ride.... It all adds up to create a dicey morality tale that's as improbable as it is strangely believable."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 11/02/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Estes doesn't seem to be going for naturalism... He frames the story almost like a fairy tale, but the helmer is clearly conflicted about the possibility of happily-ever-afters."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 645 words, 01/25/11
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...offbeat, original, pitch dark... a nutty and surprising ride.... It all adds up to create a dicey morality tale that's as improbable as it is strangely believable."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 11/02/12
Stephen Holden, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a surreal moral fable cloaked as a romantic comedy... Instead of turning soft and squishy, this examination of karma gets tougher as it goes along."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 620 words, 11/02/12
23.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Details (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 23.2 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 Details (2012) (18 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Details (2012)'s reviews cover 29.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 7,596 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 422 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 10 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Details (2012)'s reviews on average broke 10 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 Details (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Details (2012) (18 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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