Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

  • Starring: Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette
  • Summary: Surrounded by the injured and the dying, EMS paramedic Frank (Cage) is dwelling in an urban night-world, crumbling under the accumulated weight of too many years of saving and losing lives. The film follows Frank over the course of fifty-six hours in his life - two days and three nights on the job - as he reaches the very brink of spiritual collapse and redemption. (Paramount Pictures) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. 100
    To look at Bringing Out the Dead --to look, indeed, at almost any Scorsese film--is to be reminded that film can touch us urgently and deeply.
  2. Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    80
    Like its title -- blunt, thruthful, uncompromising. It is hard on an audience, even harrowing. But that's exactly what Martin Scorsese was put on earth to do.
  3. An intense, volatile film full of sorrow and wild, mordant humor.
  4. 60
    (Cage's) performance feels embalmed in the accumulated shtick of an actor trapped in excess.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Negative: 1 out of 11
  1. The people who I have suggested this film to and disliked it all had one thing in common: they were dissatisfied with a broken and hopeless environment, mental instability, and intense emotions to be the focus of movies. However, the ones that did like it agree with me that when one takes what is presented on the screen and looks beneath it, the film is now rife with inner conflicts and turmoil, so many different kinds that do not need to be expressed with extroverted antics. Cage's character was intense without having to do or say too much to pass that. Expand
  2. Barryw.
    10
    This movie is excellent.the acting is superb,and the story deep and full of humor,love,and spritual lessons.i loved the movie.
  3. JimmyP.
    10
    I thought that this might be maybe one of if not Scorsese's most overlooked film. I thought it had a powerful message, gripping direction, and standout performances, from Nicolas Cage, and Ving Rhames. Lookout for Scorsese's voice on the dispatch, and also Queen Latifah's. Expand

See all 11 User Reviews

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