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THE SUN (SOLNTSE)Movie Reviews
Japanese language drama about the last reigning days of Japan's Emperor Hirohito. Cast:Issey Ogata, Robert M. Dawson, Kaori Momoi, Shiro Sano, Shinmei TsujiDirector:Alexander SokurovRelease Date:November 18, 2009DVD Release:June 1, 2010From:Lorber HT DigitalLength:1 hr 50 min
The Sun (Solntse) played in limited release to excellent reviews. • Michael Phillips wrote in the Chicago Tribune, "...a superb, quietly provocative historical meditation on the last hours of Emperor Hirohito's life as a human deity, on the brink of his formal surrender at the end of World War II." • And Walter Addiego wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle, "...demands and rewards patience." More Reviews Below...
The Sun (Solntse) Positive Reviews (13 Reviews, reviews below)
The Sun (Solntse) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (7 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...beautiful and eccentric... The sense of imperial decay is exquisitely conveyed by the eerie and sui generis beauty of Mr. Sokurov's images..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 999 words, 11/18/09
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...director Alexander Sokurov's stark, deliberately paced look at Japanese Emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II is a unique and strangely mesmerizing film..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 244 words, 11/27/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "As usual with Sokurov, who does his own cinematography, the look is sublime. In an interesting touch, much of 'The Sun' seems to have been shot through gauze."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 212 words, 11/18/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a superb, quietly provocative historical meditation on the last hours of Hirohito's life as a human deity, on the brink of his formal surrender at the end of World War II."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 780 words, 01/08/10
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "Sokurov contrives a shock ending that, as measured as everything else in this engrossing, supremely assured movie, acknowledges one last blood sacrifice..."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 11/18/09
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...demands and rewards patience.... a remarkable characterization, and Issey Ogata is outstanding.... a happy surprise. It's an opportunity you shouldn't miss."(See all of Walter Addiego's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 421 words, 03/26/10
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Issey Ogata is a physical marvel. Who knew there were so many ways to play introverted and eccentric.... Ambiguity defines Hirohito's legacy."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 686 words, 03/31/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a court portrait of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Hirohito that respects the essential strangeness of his life.... simple judgments about him are unworkable."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 524 words, 02/26/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (3 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "Sokurov contrives a shock ending that, as measured as everything else in this engrossing, supremely assured movie, acknowledges one last blood sacrifice..."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 11/18/09
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "Emperor Hirohito (Issei Ogata) emerges into the light only to indulge in his hobby of marine biology in an above-ground lab, where he inspects a tiny crab."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 160 words, 03/25/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...beautiful and eccentric... The sense of imperial decay is exquisitely conveyed by the eerie and sui generis beauty of Mr. Sokurov's images..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 999 words, 11/18/09
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...director Alexander Sokurov's stark, deliberately paced look at Japanese Emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II is a unique and strangely mesmerizing film..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 244 words, 11/27/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Leslie Felperin, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...even packs in a few stylized special effects and has some outright funny moments, a pleasant surprise from a helmer hardly known for laffs."(See all of Leslie Felperin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 806 words, 02/18/05
Richard James Havis, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...once again highlights Alexander Sokurov's mastery of the medium.... employs refined performances, a controlled script, excellent sound and fluid camerawork..."(See all of Richard James Havis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 597 words, 02/25/05
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...director Alexander Sokurov's stark, deliberately paced look at Japanese Emperor Hirohito at the end of World War II is a unique and strangely mesmerizing film..."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 244 words, 11/27/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...beautiful and eccentric... The sense of imperial decay is exquisitely conveyed by the eerie and sui generis beauty of Mr. Sokurov's images..."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 999 words, 11/18/09
13.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Sun (Solntse)'s reviews are separated by an average 13.4 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 Sun (Solntse) (13 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Sun (Solntse)'s reviews cover 13.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 6,444 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 496 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Sun (Solntse) Coverage, Volume & Length (13 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 9 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Sun (Solntse)'s reviews on average broke 9 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 Sun (Solntse)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Sun (Solntse) (13 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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