Elegy
Elegy Image
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Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Ben Kingsley, Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz
  • Summary: Elegy charts the passionate relationship between a celebrated college professor and a young woman whose beauty both ravishes and destabilizes the professor. As their intimate connection transforms them--more than either could imagine--a charged sexual contest evolves into an indelible love story. With humanistic warmth, wry wit, and erotic intensity, Elegy explores the power of beauty to blind, reveal, and transform. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    100
    A richly textured and compelling film.
  2. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    80
    This is a good, serious and absorbing movie -- especially, perhaps, for a reviewer who is roughly Kepesh's age and, of course, eagerly evading the issues his story forces up.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Ray Bennett
    50
    Cruz's performance deserves to be seen widely, and it should place her again in line for prizes, but the story's pretensions and downbeat mood will not endear the film to audiences.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    38
    A windbaggy film of Phillip Roth's novella "The Dying Animal."

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 3 out of 21
  1. ElizabethK
    10
    What a sad and beautiful film set in pure simplicity. It's such an honest film. Excellent acting by both leads. Finally! A film not only worth seeing, but seeing again. It makes you think, cry, wonder, question who you are and your own life. Now I need to read the book!… Expand
  2. Maurice
    8
    Brilliant performances and enough memorable quotes and moments to stimulate conversation long after viewing. This is not a popcorn movie, it's a red wine movie, for those who care for the latter on occasion.… Expand
  3. MaxL
    7
    Performances are what made the movie watchable. Storywise, it's old and well-travelled already. Patricia Clarkson should be mentioned along Cruz and Kingsley as giving the movie life. Otherwise, it's a real downer as it goes on.… Expand
  4. DFields
    4
    For me, Ben Kingsley was not the best choice for this romantic lead. He seemed awkward, unsure of himself and even childish and immature at inappropriate times. Cruz was impressive, as was Clarkston, but I literally cringed at the love scenes. Furthermore, the catalyst scene where David no-shows to Consuela's event did not ring true and did not seem authentic to me. I never felt that he truly loved her, but rather was obsessed with the idea of her. Having her die at the end was heavy-handed and contrived.… Expand

See all 21 User Reviews

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