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THE PLAYROOMMovie Reviews
Drama about four siblings who witness confusing events as their parents entertain another couple during a boozy evening in 1970s suburbia. Cast:John Hawkes, Molly Parker, Cody Linley, Olivia Harris, Lydia Mackay, Jonathon McClendon, Alexandra Doke, Jonathan Brooks, Ian VetetoDirector:Julia DyerRelease Date:February 8, 2013DVD Release: TBD From:FreestyleLength:1 hr 23 min
The Playroom, Good (Not Great) Reviews, Mixed Limited
The Playroom played in limited release to good not great reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Colin Covert wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "...trim but powerful.... John Hawkes gives us a man whose wholesome demeanor conceals a badly damaged moral compass." • And Noel Murray wrote for the AV Club, "...makes no effort to explain or understand..." More Reviews Below...
The Playroom Positive Reviews (14 Reviews, reviews below)
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media: EXCELLENT(cg) "John Hawkes and Olivia Harris dig deep to show what it's like to be so powerless.... an intense look at how selfish behavior can destroy everyone nearby.... Age 16."(See all of S. Jhoanna Robledo's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 510 words, 02/07/13
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (5 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...taut, perfectly cast... evokes the boredom of American suburban life at an uneasy moment long before the Internet and smartphones filled the void... feels very real."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 02/08/13
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...the kids are anything but movie-cutesy... the movie often feels posed and inert. Even so, it strikes more than a few chords as it digs deeper than period cliché."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 272 words, 02/08/13
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "...as refreshing as a step into a puddle of slush... mistakes its own lugubriousness for seriousness of message... less happens than in the average 22-minute sitcom."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 214 words, 02/08/13
Chris Packham, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "...a funny, sad story... takes flight by portraying the characters, adult and juvenile, under direct lighting, and asking you if you care about them."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 265 words, 02/06/13
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...trim but powerful.... John Hawkes gives us a man whose wholesome demeanor conceals a badly damaged moral compass."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 207 words, 04/05/13
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "...made with care, but in the end its own concept is self-limiting.... a detailed, and depressing portrait of grim, forced independence."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 450 words, 02/08/13
Tom Long, Detroit News: FAIR(cg) "...features good acting but offers nothing new.... This movie is 'The Ice Storm' without any real storm, or any play, for that matter. The sparks just aren't there."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 278 words, 04/05/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Chris Packham, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "...a funny, sad story... takes flight by portraying the characters, adult and juvenile, under direct lighting, and asking you if you care about them."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 265 words, 02/06/13
Noel Murray, AV Club: FAIR(cg) "...makes no effort to explain or understand... The performances are good -- but what little story there is has no sense of real life..."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 371 words, 02/07/13
Tomas Hachard, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...engages us with its thoughts on childhood and growing up in general, by the end it's hard to get past how little we actually know about the Cantwells..."(See all of Tomas Hachard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 412 words, 02/04/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...taut, perfectly cast... evokes the boredom of American suburban life at an uneasy moment long before the Internet and smartphones filled the void... feels very real."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 02/08/13
Scott Tobias, NPR: POOR "...laughable.... Unfolds like a cheap, off-brand version of 'The Ice Storm'... Julia Dyer, working from a script by her late sister, Gretchen, lays it on thick from the start."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 612 words, 02/07/13
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...the kids are anything but movie-cutesy... the movie often feels posed and inert. Even so, it strikes more than a few chords as it digs deeper than period cliché."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 272 words, 02/08/13
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Ronnie Scheib, Variety: FAIR "The candlelit playroom fails to evoke any sense of wonder.... earthbound... the movie refuses to deviate an iota from its sad predictability."(See all of Ronnie Scheib's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 468 words, 02/07/13
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "A rare example of a grown-up story compellingly told from the perspective of children... a modest gem... marked by superb performances..."(See all of Frank Scheck's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 409 words, 04/27/12
Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...the kids are anything but movie-cutesy... the movie often feels posed and inert. Even so, it strikes more than a few chords as it digs deeper than period cliché."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 272 words, 02/08/13
Stephen Holden, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...taut, perfectly cast... evokes the boredom of American suburban life at an uneasy moment long before the Internet and smartphones filled the void... feels very real."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 02/08/13
25.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Playroom's reviews are separated by an average 25.1 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.
The Playroom (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Playroom's reviews cover 14.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 5,366 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 383 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Playroom Coverage, Volume & Length (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 7 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Playroom's reviews on average broke 7 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 Playroom's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Playroom (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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