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12 Rounds Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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$9.99 Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
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13 Conversations About One Thing
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MPAA RATING: R for language and brief drug use
Starring Matthew McConaughey, John Turturro, Alan Arkin, Clea DuVall, and Amy Irving
Five contemporary stories weaved together into a single tale that examines the dramatic impact people have on one another. (Sony Pictures Classics)
| GENRE(S): | Drama |
| WRITTEN BY: |
Jill Sprecher
Karen Sprecher |
| DIRECTED BY: | Jill Sprecher |
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: November 19, 2002 Video: November 19, 2002 Theatrical: May 24, 2002 |
| RUNNING TIME: | 102 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: | USA |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The average user rating for this movie is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 31 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Randy S. gave it a10:
This is the reason films are made. This film gives definition to the word 'art'. I have watched this movie three times, and with each viewing, it gets better and better. Alan Arkin is stunning; the writing is masterful and the rest of the cast, including John Turturro (has he ever made a bad film?) is positively dead-on target with the ebbs, flows, ups and downs and mere coincidences of life, not to mention the use of power that in so many ways, good and bad, can and does affect lives even when we may not know it. This is brilliant filmmaking at its zenith.
Gary O. gave it a9:
Thought provoking, superbly acted. After seeing it, I wanted to watch it again.
Paul S. gave it a 10:
What a piece of great film making! I had never even heard about this film until this week when I happened to find it playing on my cable channel. I must get the DVD! (well, I hope there's a DVD)
Yoon Min C. gave it an 8:
New York movie directed by a female Woody Allen with shades of David Mamet, not to mention the odious P.T. Anderson. Its main characters are middle to uppermiddle class professionals except a young cleaning woman who, however, has a disposition closer to a philosophy or theology student than menial worker; but then, this is really an exercise where everyone's employed as a rag to polish the director's wisdom about life. And, what might that wisdom be? That sometimes we're sh.t out of luck and sometimes we're not. That some unknown always hides around the corner, either as a pot of gold or a blackcat crossing the street. Well, gee whiz, that's profound, isn't it? Of course, the director here knows the thinness of her ideas so she relies on two factors: (1) The ideas are kept fuzzy enough as to mean anything which can pass for provocative but struck me a copout. (2) The elements in the movie are understated, delineated almost as a mathematical formula accompanied to the geometric structure of modestly performed classical piano pieces(intellectual austerity). This is more a problem than a solution. Ultimately, the movie seems uncommitted and a mousy game, what with some flaky New Age imagery, and with motifs that add up neatly(blood spots, white cloth, making beds, etc)into good grammar but nothing like poetry. Amy Iving says people are said to need 18 inches of space for healthy living and remarks how ridiculous it is to put a number on such things. Sadly, the same could be said of this movie, that tries to solve life's meaning thru some formulation ala Godard. Even though the movie concludes that any such formula is useless, and there is no compass to direct us in our lives, the cutesy and annoying intellectual damage had been done and it's IRREVERSIBLE. Of the four major plotlines, the one with Alan Arkin really stands out; Arkin, bitter and cynical, somehow renders much of the mush in the movie immaterial; his character loses his grip on life but Arkin's control of his art is total. Matthew McConahey does well enough as ace lawyer forced to reevaluate his attitudes, but Turturro is as unpleasant and Irving is as annoying as ever. They never rise above stock characterization of people in that income level/profession. Still, the movie shines as indie with above average script, generally fine acting, and ideas stimulating enough for a conversation or two(though not 13)after the viewing.
Charles H. gave it a 10:
Finally a film to contemplate!
Yasmin A. gave it a 10:
This film blew me away! Its themes are profound. It's wonderfully written, acted and directed! I highly recommend it!
Cheryl gave it a 10:
I did connect with 13 Conversations. In my opinion, those who "just don't get it" are those who have never had one of those split-second-no-time-to-think-life-altering experiences for themselves -- yet. When they do, they'll get it.
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