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THE MERRY GENTLEMANMovie Reviews
Drama about a woman who leaves an abusive relationship to begin a new life in a new city and forms, unbeknownst to her, a relationship with a suicidal hit man. Cast:Michael Keaton, Kelly MacDonald, Tom Bastounes, Darlene Hunt, Guy Van SwearingenDirector:Michael KeatonRelease Date:May 1, 2009DVD Release:November 10, 2009From:Samuel GoldwynRating:RLength:1 hr. 50 min.
NOVEMBER 10, 2009
The Merry Gentleman, Good (Not Great) Reviews, Mixed Key Cities
The Merry Gentleman played in key cities to good not great reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Leah Rozen wrote in People, "...a promising directing debut with an elegantly spare romantic drama about a melancholic hit man who falls for an office receptionist." • And Jeff Shannon wrote in the Seattle Times, "...a subtle character study about a depressed hit man spared from suicide by a lonely receptionist." More Reviews Below...
The Merry Gentleman Positive Reviews (27 Reviews, reviews below)
Leah Rozen, People: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a promising directing debut with an elegantly spare romantic drama about a melancholic hit man who falls for an office receptionist."(See all of Leah Rozen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 30 words, 04/30/09
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: WEAK(cg) "...the camera lingers on overcomposed shots signifying 'urban decay,' 'human alienation,' 'existential blues,' etc.... Debbie Downer of a drama is a bitter slog."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 119 words, 05/01/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (7 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a nearly pitch-perfect character study... succeeds in being true to something the movies tend to forget: that other people's relationships are often mysterious."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 05/01/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...original, absorbing and curiously moving... Keaton once starred in 'Jack Frost' as a boy's father imprisoned in a snowman. Think about that."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 783 words, 04/30/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...undermined by a puttering rhythm and Pinter-worthy pauses in the second half and a resolution neither satisfyingly oblique nor conventionally pleasing."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 460 words, 05/01/09
Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Keaton's directorial debut is by no means the most embarrassing in the past few years... but the repetitive material hobbles the actor's energies."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 202 words, 04/29/09
KEY CITIES (11 Reviews)
Desson Thomson, Washington Post: POOR(cg) "With just a few tweaks, it could have made a wickedly funny parody of the over-earnest, lyrically hard-edged indie movie. But it's too late for do-overs."(See all of Desson Thomson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 289 words, 06/12/09
Peter Hartlaub, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...doesn't quite have enough romance, thriller or revenge-fantasy elements to qualify for any of those genres.... it's a celebration of uncomfortable silences."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 06/19/09
Robert W. Butler, Dallas Morning News: VERY GOOD(cg) "The film is never as good as its parts - some of which are very good indeed. But Keaton establishes a palpable mood without getting all artsy. It's a good start."(See all of Robert W. Butler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 413 words, 06/19/09
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "For a movie about a hit man that includes murder, suicide attempts and more, the overall feeling by the end of it is that not much has happened."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 477 words, 07/17/09
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The cinematography is striking, and Keaton -- looking lean and keen-eyed -- brings poignancy to his portrait of a lonely, love-starred man."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 301 words, 06/12/09
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...an overly muted and cautious piece of work. Watching it is like seeing a man ease out onto the limb of a tree, constantly testing its strength."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 05/08/09
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: FAIR(cg) "...minimalist also can play lifeless and flat. If you want us to ride on your dank, lonely winter highway, give us a few bumps and curves."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 411 words, 06/19/09
Mike Russell, Portland Oregonian: MODERATE(cg) "...the movie just doesn't build to much of anything. It's so locked into its sad monotone that it doesn't develop its inarticulate relationships..."(See all of Mike Russell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 228 words, 06/19/09
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "That this gloomy movie partly succeeds is a credit to the sharp dialogue, the fine cast and the directing debut of a reluctant star."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 400 words, 06/19/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice/LA Weekly: WEAK "Keaton's directorial debut is by no means the most embarrassing in the past few years... but the repetitive material hobbles the actor's energies."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 202 words, 04/29/09
Simon Augustine, Boston Phoenix: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...unusual and welcome territory... the sharpest tension arises out of the excruciating conversational silences two people must cross as they try to connect."(See all of Simon Augustine's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 136 words, 05/07/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a nearly pitch-perfect character study... succeeds in being true to something the movies tend to forget: that other people's relationships are often mysterious."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 05/01/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...a nearly pitch-perfect character study... succeeds in being true to something the movies tend to forget: that other people's relationships are often mysterious."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 05/01/09
26.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Merry Gentleman's reviews are separated by an average 26.2 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 Merry Gentleman (27 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Merry Gentleman's reviews cover 49.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 9,768 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 362 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 7 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Merry Gentleman's reviews on average broke 7 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 The Merry Gentleman's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Merry Gentleman (27 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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