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Bright Future
Metascore
64 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
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  1. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Aaron Hillis
    88
    An enchantingly cryptic, ethereally photographed slice of somber surrealism that should definitely appeal to fans of David Lynch and Luis Buñuel.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    The most spellbinding aspect of Bright Future is that the surrealism sustains its own squiddish logic, concluding with one of the most breathtaking film finales of the year.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    80
    Casts its spell by drawing out the horror of everyday existence bit by bit, and then tossing in some otherworldly weirdness that makes the hair on the back of your neck try to run for cover.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    75
    The movie has a curious and cumulative power.
  5. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    70
    More high - but strangely touching - weirdness from acclaimed Japanese auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
  6. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    70
    Kurosawa strolls through his narrative with relaxed confidence, suggesting apocalyptic significances without assuring us that he has anything particular on his mind.
  7. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Bill White
    67
    A slow, sometimes difficult film, Bright Future offers little immediate payoff to the patient viewer.
  8. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Robert Dominguez
    63
    Bright is pretty to look at, but it's a slow-moving, meandering work that isn't as complex or mysterious as it appears.
  9. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    50
    But save for the mesmerizing final tracking shot, Bright Future just mopes around aimlessly, hoping that its vague themes will eventually congeal into something profound.
  10. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Richard M. Porton
    50
    An alternately comic and macabre portrait of a deranged friendship.
  11. Variety
    Reviewed by: David Rooney
    40
    Occupies wavelengths too remote to be tuned in by audiences other than diehard Asian esoterica enthusiasts.
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User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. BobN
    8
    I am not a "diehard Asian esoteric enthusiast." I simply enjoy challenging art. Not the nihilistic "let's destroy morality because we can" challenge, but the asking and portraying of hard questions that demand an answer-or at least should be honestly asked. I enjoy Kiyoshi's films because, though they are elliptical and dreamlike, they always seem rooted in reality. Or, more accurately, the questions asked by his films are very true to life, and he has the utmost respect for those caught in such existential dilemmas. The scenes some critics find sentimental or too dishonest in their presentation, such as the one in which the older man forgives the younger generation, and when he angrily demands the youngster have respect for his reality, are effective and moving. These philosophical outburst are honest, and are expressed in loving understanding. I can't think of another director alive today who does that. Bright Future is not his best, but it seems to creep up on you. The more you think about it, and the more the imagery is recalled, the better the film becomes. Good stuff dealing with realistic hard issues.… Full Review »
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