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Spring Forward
IFC Films

Spring Forward reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 79 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.3 out of 10
based on 15 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 9 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R for language and some drug content.

Starring Liev Schreiber, Ned Beatty, Peri Gilpin, Campbell Scott, Ian Hart, and Hallee Hirsh

Upon release from prison, a young man (Schreiber) begins working for a small town's park departmant. He forms a friendship with a co-worker, an older man (Beatty).


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Tom Gilroy  
DIRECTED BY: Tom Gilroy  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: September 17, 2002 
Video: September 17, 2002 
Theatrical: December 1, 2000 
RUNNING TIME: 110 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: USA 

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...

90
Washington Post Desson Thomson
You realize this is a story about the life beyond this movie, about the great changes in life we never give ourselves time to consider. And for a moviegoing experience, that's a lot of bang for your buck.
Read Full Review
90
Village Voice Michael Atkinson
The sense of continuing life is quietly remarkable.
Read Full Review
90
Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas
Spring Forward is so fully realized and so moving that you wish you could get away with merely saying: "Go see it for yourself."
Read Full Review
88
Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington
Not too many actors last year bettered or equaled Beatty and Schreiber here, separately or (better yet) together. It's a pleasure and a privilege to watch them work.
83
Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum
Great, restrained performances of Beatty and Schreiber, delicately framed by the filmmaker's taste for visual compositions.
Read Full Review
80
The New York Times Dana Stevens
Two very fine actors, Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber, engaged in an intense contest to see who can give the more understated performance.
Read Full Review
80
Dallas Observer Andy Klein
Gilroy has brilliantly played to his strengths in Spring Forward. With a story that has no room for big, obviously "cinematic" effects, he concentrates on simple staging, unobtrusive (though often beautifully evocative) visuals, and sheer performance. It's a decision that pays off.
Read Full Review
80
LA Weekly Chuck Wilson
A resonance that is moving beyond all measure.
Read Full Review
80
Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard
It's a pleasure to watch these unhurried, character-driven vignettes when such great actors are anchoring them.
75
San Francisco Chronicle Bob Graham
It's the kind of unpretentious movie that falls between the cracks, and for a certain kind of audience, the thoughtful kind, it would be a shame to miss.
Read Full Review
75
Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
The movie's seven scenes were filmed in real time (as opposed to condensed editing-room time) over the course of a year, giving the drama an extra touch of realism and humanity.
Read Full Review
75
New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman
There's no question that the film's primary intent is to showcase its stars, but thanks to their perfectly attuned performances, it feels more real than self-conscious.
75
Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan
A little gem that's everything a fine independent film used to be.
63
New York Post Jonathan Foreman
Despite the high quality of the acting, Spring Forward is for the most part sleepy, long-winded stuff.
60
TV Guide Ken Fox
Tom Gilroy's debut feature is a little obvious, but it's an excellent showcase for the criminally underused Ned Beatty.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Janine N. gave it a 9:
What a wonderful surprise. Why haven't we seen more of these actors??

Jeb S. gave it a 10:
Touching, moving, deliberant.

Lisa S. gave it a 9:
The script, the acting, the simplicity, the depth... all combine to make the view from this window into life something to return to. We should all be so fortunate to cultivate even one friendship such as this movie represents. I'm left feeling thankful.

Ray C. gave it a 10:
Superb script, great story of friendship and love.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
About life.

Chuck S. gave it a 10:
This film reminds us of what movies can do. It brilliant in its quietness. One of my favorites.

Discuss this movie in our forums

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