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Black Balloon, The

EMAILPRINTNeoClassics Films Ltd

Black Balloon, The reviews
68
9.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 1 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Elissa Down
Jimmy Jack

Directed by: Elissa Down

Release Date:
Theatrical: December 5, 2008

Running Time: 97 minutes, Color

Origin: Australia

Summary

RATING: Not Rated

Starring Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, and Gemma Ward

When Thomas and his family move to a new home and he has to start at a new school, all he wants is to fit in. When his pregnant mother has to take things easy, his father Simon puts him in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie. Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie, faces his biggest challenge yet. Charlie's unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes his pent-up frustrations about his brother to pour out - in a story that is funny, confronting, and ultimately heart-warming. (NeoClassics Films Ltd)

What The Critics Said

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...

80

Los Angeles Times Sheri Linden

For the most part, this unblinking family drama packs a visceral punch. Thomas' journey toward acceptance is blessedly free of noble lessons and filled with real people.

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78

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

Funny and fierce and deeply moving.

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75

San Francisco Chronicle Walter Addiego

It's compassionate but unblinking.

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75

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties faced by this family, but this small gem has a very satisfying ending.

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75

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Luke Ford's performance as Charlie is a convincing tour de force. You may recall him as Brendan Fraser's heroic son in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." Rhys Wakefield, in his first feature role, is a good casting decision, suggesting inner turmoil without overacting.

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75

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

At its sharpest Elissa Down's feature directorial debut is guided by intense, rough-edged emotional swings that feel authentically alive, even when the script settles for tidiness.

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70

The Hollywood Reporter Megan Lehmann

Much has been made of supermodel Gemma Ward's doll-like features, but there's nothing plastic about her debut performance in the charming Australian indie The Black Balloon.

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70

Variety Russell Edwards

Collette acts as an anchor for the ensemble, but the young leads credibly hold their own onscreen.

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70

Village Voice Scott Foundas

Within its resolutely mainstream parameters, The Black Balloon courses with a firsthand feel for languorous Aussie summers, the shifting scales of love and hate in sibling relationships, and the earned wit that helps families cope with difficult situations.

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70

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Ms. Collette’s Maggie is the film's prime mover. This wonderful Australian actress, who hasn't a shred of vanity, virtually disappears into the complicated characters she plays, and Maggie is one of the strongest.

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67

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Toni Collette gives it the old "Little Miss Sunshine" try in The Black Balloon as an edge-of-kooky, very pregnant mama presiding over a chaotic household.

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30

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Cringe-inducing when it's not cliched, this brassy, vulgar 2008 comedy from Australia mines mental disabilities for laughs.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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