Elizabethtown is a movie for the analytical/sentimental crowd. You can't watch it just once and get it all. There are several subtle metaphorical points that pop out during the second and third viewing. The critics gave it such a low rating and even labled it a fiasco. I find this ironic because the main character states in the movie that "success, not greatness, is the only god the entire world serves." In essence, Crowe turned a beginning business fiasco into ultimate greatness in the movie by way of the main charater realizing what truly matters in life. On a deeper level, the movie is much more than just a love story. It really is a genious work of Crowe's.… Expand

He's cameron - what he creates is genius American life and love stories where integiry is learned or on display, and where the guy who would never get that girl, uliimately gets that girl. for all the right reasons. His stories give hope to those just living, looiking for love, tyring to do their thing in this world wth gace and vision and bravness. He does all that and more and always has.

Could it be that Cameron Crowe is to 2005 what M. Night Shyamalan was to 2004? Both writer-directors have made audiences, critics and exhibitors very happy over the last several years by continuing to revisit their pet themes (Night with suspense tales that seem to travel in one direction but end up--or begin--somewhere different entirely; Cam with upbeat, deeply felt romances that give his extensive record collection a huge workout)...but, with Shyamalan's The Village and Crowe's Elizabethtown, seem to heve suddenly and without a completely clear explanation caused hordes of viewers and reviewers to load their pockets with geological specimens en route to a public stoning as they not only slam both filmmakers' most recent projects but pull an "I-never-knew-ye" (aka a "reevaluation") on them, suddenly claiming that their previous work really wasn't all that good either. I truly don't get it; in both cases, the only 'crime' either committed was hitting a triple rather than their usual home run. Does Elizabethtown knock it out of the park the way Say Anything, Almost Famous and Jerry Maguire (the most eminently quotable movie of the past decade) did? No, it doesn't. Does it have definite structural problems? Yes, it does. Should Crowe have cut ANOTHER 18 or 20 minutes out of the finished work? Certainly. Is he at times trying a bit too hard to achieve emotional effects that previously came completely naturally and effortlessly to him? Sure. Is it lumpy and unwieldy in places, with sequences that either don't work at all or maybe would've if trimmed a little? No question. But there's also no question that the stuff in Elizabethtown that DOES work--eccentric, winsome flight attendant Kirsten Dunst's introduction to depressed passenger Orlando Bloom, Susan Sarandon's performance-art eulogy to her late husband and Bloom's dad, corporate weasel Alec Baldwin's exquisitely, hilariously pain-inducing dressing down of Bloom after the humiliating public failure of the latter's athletic shoe design--is beautiful. Here, as in much of his previous work, Crowe proves himself to be the most unabashedly romantic of American directors currently working; I can only admire and envy how wonderful his marriage to musician Nancy Wilson (who scored this) must be to inspire such depth of feeling in his films. And I love how Elizabethtown provides the antidote to two bad movies currently inhabiting other theaters: Dunst's astonishingly lovable stewardess counteracts the completely hateful, callous airplane crew in Flightplan, while Crowe's total generosity of spirit toward small-town America provides a much-needed flip side to the bile-choked attitude that informed every frame of Junebug that didn't feature Amy Adams; Crowe knows as well as anybody that Chuck & Cindy's elaborate wedding, which provides much of the romantic backdrop for the two principals, IS unforgettably tacky, but he also reveals genuine affection for it. I do have mixed feelings about a major element of Crowe's casting; Bloom isn't all that much livelier in a contemporary setting than he was in such period pieces as Troy and Kingdom of Heaven, but maybe a more-or-less blank slate is what Crowe wanted, and anyway, Dunst is lively, charming and endearing enough to cover both actors. Ultimately, Elizabethtown's dealbreaker for many may be the final 20 minutes, in which Bloom and his father's remains take an admittedly improbable road trip that will either strike individual viewers as interminable and unbearable...or intoxicating and irresistable. (Guess which camp I fall into?) Comparisons to Cimino's Heaven's Gate, Coppola's One From the Heart and Levinson's Toys--big, expensive, self-indulgent "dream projects" made by people at the height of their careers (but not for long) have already started; I'd prefer to link Elizabethtown with a late-career work by Crowe's filmmaking idol Billy Wilder: Kiss Me Stupid, a sex comedy that was almost universally despised in 1964 but now is appreciated as the perceptive, wise and rather sweet-natured film that it always was, and considered Dean Martin's and (along with Hitchcock's Vertigo) Kim Novak's best picture. (And it's the possessor of a not-too-shabby 63 "greenlight" in Metacritic!) If you absolutely hated Elizabethtown, my advice is to do what apparently at least a few viewers did with Kiss Me Stupid: come back in another 20 years!… Expand

What a pathetic piece of trash. Anyone who has actually lost a parent will be horrified by this film. When it is not being inappropriate, it's being absolutely predictable. Its attempt at depth reveal it to be all the more hopelessly shallow.

The only good part was the end with the map, the rest of the movie was boring and pointless.

The only thing I thought when I saw this movie was "Thank god I don't have to see it again." I should sue the movie company.

A horrible and brainless movie, and as the USA Today put it, with a disjointed story. The plot didn't make sense and tap dacing at funeral makes even less sense. The only good thing was the movies soundtrack

It started out slow, but this ended up being quite entertaining to watch, and did everything this type of movie is supposed to do; that is, make girls able to believe, for one more Friday night, that true love is out there and it's worth looking for.

Perfect^^

Other than the great music, this movie is horrible. The main problem is the acting. Then, topping that off with a dragging screen play made the 2 hours and 10 minutes of the movie feel like so much more.

Kirsten Dunst is a really good actress and she basically saved this movie from total blandness. It was too long and the story was kind of off in all directions. There were some funny and cute parts, but mostly it was pretty boring. I give it a 6 anyway, because it was tolerable.

I don't get the bad reviews, I really don't. I just saw this movie last night and thought it was brilliantly written -- a definite "thinking person's movie." I'm baffled.

RaeAnn you don't get the bad reviews and gave it a perfect ten like in Gone With The Wind? How about it sucked with a Capital S. It was tedious and boring. Do you get this? If you can give it a ten, I will balance it off with a zero. Avoid.

This is the worst movie I have ever seen, and I've seen some bad ones. I can't believe that stars like Susan Sarandon, Kirsten Dunst, and Orlando Blume allowed themselves to be associated with it.

I was expecting a lot more from writerdirector of the beautiful Almost Famous, but Elizabethtown for me was just as pleasing and intelligent as it should be. It's Crowes more flawed film, but one with an emotinal core that works.

This movie made me sad for Cameron Crowe. It is badly written and badly directed (and very badly put together). Kirsten Dunst is at her worst. It is nothing more than a collection of stock scenes and unbelievable one-liners. Susan Sarrandon (who I usually Love) should not be trusted ever again after her participation in the worst eulogy ever fictionalized. Still, I give it a 2 because the beginning was promising, the music is good (even though I think it was supposed to say everything that Crowe decided he didn't want to write down), and it's not as bad as Battlefield Earth - the worst movie ever made.… Expand

Terrible unplausible movie, trying to do too much which turns about to be mindless drivle. As if any firm would lose a Billion dollars for making a bad shoe. Two hours of boredom.

This film touched me. I wish to have a road-trip with my dad...before he passes. The Chuck & Cindy wedding was great. Also a wish.

Elizabethtown is flawed, but I really like this movie. There are some scenes that are actually somewhat cringe worthy and Orlando Bloom, while not horrible, is not the ideal actor for this role. However, all that aside, I really think this is quite an underrated movie. To me, this is one of the truest feel-good movies there is. I feel motivated and happier after watching this movie. There is heart in it. And while heart alone does not make a good movie, there is something to be said about pure, lighthearted movie that makes you feel good. Again, the movie is flawed in a few ways, especially structurally. The whole road trip part at the end, while I like it, does feel tacked on and awkward, as it feels like the movie already ended. Also, the fiasco about the shoe is unbelievable. Still, if you're going through a rough time, or if anything similar to what the main character is going through in the movie, give the movie a shot, it might even make you smile.… Expand

Elizabethtown is one of the all great movies with one of the best sound tracks around. It’s a movie about life, we will all experience parts of Elizabethtown in our lives. Orlando Bloom & Kirsten Dunst were great. Elizabethtown comes highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this movie, I laughed all the way through. It had an incredible cast (Orlando & Kirsten especially did a great job) and was one of the most adorable and funny movies I have ever seen. Two thumbs up.

This is WAY too long. A really boring, bad movie.

The critics have really lost their minds on this one. A wonderful, life affirming little gem from Cameron - not quite as good as "Almost Famous" maybe but nearly. Honest and truthful, with tremendous heart. Go see it defy the critical mindset that declared this to be a "failure" ever since it premiered at a Canada film festival. "Love life."

Not good.

Loved it! Great thing to watch on a Saturday night. I don't know why some people don't like this movie.... Maybe their attention span is too short.

I think Crowe tried too hard this time which is a shame because he is one of the best directors my generation has ever seen. Bloom was only blank stares and Dunst's character almost was a stalker. Just rent this one.

A journey for the heart and soul. A wonderful slice of Americana - a must see for music lovers, as is always true with a Cameron Crowe film.

This is not a great movie by any means, but it was enjoyable. it was nice to see Bloom in a real role, not a bigger than life hero character. Kirstin Dunst was a bit too ditzy but the relationship balanced out the two characters. The message I got from the move was that family is more than just those you see everyday; family is a bond that transcends time and distance. The characters were real people, not stereotypes or bumkins. The movie made me feel good and that is all I hoped for.… Expand

Not Crowe's best. However, even if it is his worst, his worst is better than most current Hollywood films.

This would have been a real hit, were i a schizophrenic 13 year old. when crowe wasn't busy addingg more storyline to the muddled convergence of plots he was filling in the cracks with the most tired cliches. orlando bloom makes a much better elf, at least they hardly talk. i have seen cyborgs display more emotion.

Ashton Kutcher was famously fired from this film for needing acting lessons (the story has been since cleaned up). At any rate I think this was the major problem with the film-that's right! Look at most of the poor reviews, they all say "poor chemistry". Chemistry is a by-product of rehearsal and actors' talent, having to switch lead actors probably made this movie suffer.

A bland, boring mess that was poorly written and too insider-ish. didn't help that dunst was insanely annoying and bloom was wooden.

A truly awful piece of regugitated crap. How does this movie suck? Well the dialouge sucks. Here are some examples, "Just say you love me and get it over with!" or "I really, really, like you!" Blegh, and that's only Ms. Dunst that said it. Speaking of her, she is having her most retarded, pathetic performance ever, same with Orlando Bloom. Awful, awful, awful s..t.

Does everyone think they could do a better job directing a movie that is about death and life? Rusty's video was genius! Chuck and Cindy were really funny. Great movie about real things. Awesome! Laughed and cried!!!!

I feel like I need to make a parallel between Elizabethtown and Mark B's review to protect the public from the increasing pandemic of long boring stuff. Both the movie and the review are good examples of what you (the viewing/reading public) should avoid. It would be far better to be kicked directly in your baby-making/copulative zone than to watch Elizabethtown or read Mark B's review.

I loved this movie...but more than that I love Mark B.'s review from the advance scout team. If your like me, you can't get enough of his many, many interesting words. I don't care how long he writes those interesting reviews, I just think they get better and more interesting line after line. I'm sure there are some of you out there who are thinking to yourself "hey, Mark B, why can't you be more like Chad S and not write so much." BUT, I say to those naysayers "Shutta ya mouth." To tell you the truth, I think he is a producer/director in disguise because he always has wise and interesting ideas to add to movies. I know everyone on metacritic would agree with this statement, Mark B. would have directed this film ten times better than Cameron Crowe. Mark B you need to move to Hollywood to consult all the directors on how to make excellent movies because everything you do is excellent-check that-incredibly excellent!!! Mark B, I would like to personally thank you for you long, interesting reviews, but, the grasshopper has one humble request of his master-could you possibly make your reviews longer?… Expand

The soundtrack to Elizabehtown is excellent, coming from a masterful director and even producer Cameron Crowe. Theres Tom Petty, a track from Nancy Wilson, and My Morning Jacket, all lending that taste of Americana. The movies theme Same in Any Language is very heartwarming. But the soundtrack does not jive with the actual film (for the very first time in a Crowe film. Music and film critics sang high praises for Crowes 2000 endeavor Almost Famous). The film is good at the beginning but goes tiresome in the middle and goes annoying in the end (the tap dance performed by badly miscast Susan Sarandon is supposed to elicit poignancy and hope after a loss. It didn’t do anything for me and for the audience who watched it! Plain silly!!) Orlando Bloom stars as the films lead Drew, who should in a very good half of the film feel numbed and destroyed after losing a job and his father. He doesn’t do anything here. Very mediocre acting! I think that stems from his inability to explore his range as an actor from a simple movie.… Expand

It was ok, but it dragged alot. The scenes are too long. It seems like you sat on the couch forever. I rated it a three, because the story itself was ok. But it was stupid to put it into a movie. By far my LEAST favorite movie.

This movie was bad on so many levels that I don't even know where to begin. It gets a one because of the promising first 20 minutes of the movie that were filled with Bloom's character calm handling of a disasterous situation. The rest of the movie gets worse and worse, up until the point at which sarandon's character gives her "performance", then it becomes unwatchable. Definitely in my list of "worst all time" movies, the characters don't work, relationships drag on, and it fails at ripping off Garden State (boy comes home for parent's funeral...hipster soundtrack...cute woman pops up). Bad, just...bad.… Expand

This movie had wonderful actors and actresses in it but the story was really boring and dragged out a lot.

It's beautiful, it's funny, it's entertaining, and above all simply charming!

"Elizabethtown" is overlong and, for the most part, pretty much of a bore. Too many minor characters who go nowhere and sub-plots that aren't developed are among its faults, as is the unsatisfactory editing. Two overly extended scenes, Susan Sarandon's eulogy and Orlando Bloom's road trip, certainly do not help.

i have loved cameron crowe's movies. but not this one. this was a tedious movie of disjointed scenes and corny - at best - (if not silly), over sappy scenes which just didnt work.

This movie was very beautiful, and very thought provoking. Like the best of these films, the soundtrack was exquisite, cinematography right on target, and a little off kilter. The subject matter brought questions of life, and what it's worth. Is true love really worth an otherwise banal existence? The answer is a resounding yes.

the movie was about a person so tied up in his misfounture that he stop living. then a girl comes along shows him there is still life after failure. best to celebrate life and remembrance.

Unbelievably awful. Watched it with my wife and daughter and they thought it was dire.

I totally agree with Laura Sinagra's "Village Voice" review about this film. It really feels like a collection of ideas, moments, lines, character-quirks, shots, names, etc. that Crowe collected in his journal and then tried to create a plot to include it all. Because it is Crowe, the romantic stuff works the best and all of it is really well-written and genuinely romantic. The cross-country trip at the end isn't exactly Cusack blaring the boombox or Tom Cruise saying "You Complete me", but it works nonetheless. If anything, this film proves that it's pretty effortless for Crowe to write this kind of stuff while so many Hollywood hacks try to make a romantic comedy. Only Richard Curtis IMO is as good with character and plot. Unfortunately, that's the problem - there's too much of it. Crowe tries to stuff in so much in the film, it eventually becomes reductive to its own purpose. There are obviously great ideas here, but we forget about them so quickly because he just keeps throwing stuff at us. The movie never takes the time to breathe and relax. It is constantly fussy, fast, plot-heavy, etc. The film is over 2 hours and moves very quickly, which is not necessarily a good thing. Note: The performances are very strong, particularly from Orlando Bloom, turning in his best performance by far. Also great are the always reliable Judy Greer and a hilariously deadpan turn by Alec Baldwin. Overall the performances, strong writing (for the most part), and of course, the music, make this a film that you won't feel terrible spending $10 on.… Expand

Thought it was a terrible film. Random without being clever and some cringeworthy and pretentious dialogue in the romantic scenes. Bloom can't lead or narrate. The tap-dancing moment was horrible. Just saw this film for a charity movie night and those around me universally condemned it. At least some of my ticket price went to a good cause.

If you gave this movie anything below an eight, then there is something seriously wrong with you. I am only thirteen but I found this movie to be incredibly entertaining and very enjoyable. I felt like clapping at the end, and the scene with the flaming bird was absolutely hillarious! P.S. Great soundtrack.

The major reviewers have this movie wrong! The cadence of the scenes are more how the mind really works and how memories flow. See it with someone you love, it brings up many different emotions. I didn't want it to end. So be it if it simply becomes a cult movie -- it is actually sublime and shows how two people connect and become committed to each other.

I thought it was one of the best movies I have ever seen. I LOVED IT!

Yes, the film has flaws, but it also has real heart, an excellent performance by Ms. Dunst, three terrific scenes, and good number of genuine laughs. The flaws keep it from rising into the pantheon of the Best of Crowe, but the pluses outweigh the minuses by a good measure. I loved it.

This film is so incredibly bad and it depresses me to say that. Up until Elizabethtown, Crowe was one of the few directors, along with the late Stanley Kubrick, who I felt never made a film I did not love. This film is such a complete mess. Orlando Bloom gives one of the most emotionally dead performances I have seen on film. Dunst keeps turning her characters southern accent on and off. Surandon makes a fool of herself. There's barely an ounce of intelligence in this film.… Expand

I was very disappointed by this movie. I thought it didn't work at all. Orlando Bloom had no energy in the film, the relationship with the Kirsten Dunst character lacked any real spark and the road trip bit at the end was out of place. The movie was very disjointed and didn't flow together at all. It was also way too long and some of the scenes just went on and on.

This move was such a complete waste of time. The entire time I was watching the movie, I kept asking myself, "What was Crowe thinking?" There were so many unanswered questions plus Bloom's American accent and narration was horrible. Dunst needed to also figue out if she was going to be southern or not. Please save your time and your money. So disappointing.

This movie was great. I don't understand how you could deem it a failure. Sure it has it's slow bits and you could beat up the acting at times but it has something most films these days don't have and thats originality. It lets you laugh and cry and it's interesting and it doesn't have that dumb humor that everyone feels obligated to add to romantic comedys. Overall it was a good movie with slight flaws that's worth your time.… Expand

Bad imitation of a notalgic film. flat acting, undiscliplined script

This movie should have been billed as a lesson in life instead of a love story. There are several points when you think it ends and yet it goes on. Bloom and Dunst play it as well as anyone could. It was entertaining, but not great.

Not Cameron Crowe's best work, its a run down version of Jerry Maguire. Not original at all, I felt there wasn't any chemistry between Orlando and Kristen. Yuck!! I was dissapointed in this film, I was just waiting for it to end.

While Crowe is an adequate storyteller, Kurst and Bloom are not talented movie stars. They have zero charisma and presence alone or together. These are two people the Hollywood system is desperately foisting upon the public, force-feeding to audiences. Effective publicisists and agents can make one famous, but that fame is not always deserved.

It's a mess... a beautiful mess. There's so many storylines and interesting characters that it's better suited to a TV series. Crowe has written a love letter to his father, to Kentucky, to road trips, to resiliency... to too much. But I really enjoyed it.

A total fiasco! Save your money! I had to experience the torture of premiering this at the film festival.

This movie was a flat-out train wreck. There was never any reason to care about Orlando Bloom's character. To make matters worse, they never actually explained what it was that made his shoe a 'failure.' The scene with Susan Sarandon on stage was completely self-indulgent, unnecessary, and actually forced the film to move backwards. The 'scrapbook' that kirsten dunst 'threw' together in the 10 spare minutes she had apart from stalking orlando bloom was comical at best. The film was simply unbelievable, and even if you were to suspend your disbelief, there's still no reason to care. On the otherhand, as usual for Crowe, the soundtrack was great. But it seems like the whole film was just an excuse to put some of his favorite driving tunes into a movie. Even the sheer number of songs played shows an inability of Crowe to self-edit. Disaster of a movie for Crowe.… Expand

Not half bad - actually surprising touching.

Excruciatingly boring and inept. It is difficult to believe that a studio could release anything this bad with leads this good. Just unbelievably bad!!

With "Elizabethtown", Mr. Crowe has apparently made a film for his cultists, those Stillwater enthusiasts who can quote entire scenes from "Almost Famous". This guy loves rock and roll so much, southern rock crashes a funeral. What ensues is incredibly surreal (and arguably, idiotic), but Judy Greer saves the scene, and against all odds, transforms this creative miscalculation into something oddly moving. Greer's priceless reaction shots also help make us forget that her mother's stand-up act would've been greeted with stony silence in real-life. Sure, "Elizabethtown" has some unforgettable imperfections, starting with the whole Chuck & Cindy: The Wedding subplot, and that wacko videotape which helps placate a group of screaming kids. But then Crowe counterbalances those missteps with some of the pathos involved with cremation, and a very sweet tribute from Claire (Kirsten Dunst) to Drew's father when you stop to consider from which album "Pride (in the Name of Love) comes from. Like how "Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back" was a love-letter from Kevin Smith to his devout fans, "Elizabethtown" is for the people who call his 2000 masterpiece, "Unitled".… Expand

Compared to the typical swill of today's films, this one rates a 10 in my book. This film dares to find hope and love in a world of shallow cynics. I am disturbed that Borat gets critical acclaim while this rhoughtful and sensitive exploration of the human condition gets panned. The herd didn't get it, did you? Congratulations to Cameron Crowe and everyone else who made this film.

I typically like Cameron Crowe but this movie is all over the place and never really works anywhere it tries to go. The actors barely believe it, which makes it hard for the audience to and after it's all over one is left with a pile of sentimental mush from one too many "lessons learned". Cliched storyline and a stalker-esque heroine (Dunst) who is lonely and persistent to console (Bloom), most apparently to resolve her own issues. Dunst is too slimy to be charming and Bloom never gets beyond a blank stare to convey the depth of emotion the character would likely be feeling. - Elizabethtown is a big yucky mess.… Expand

Ultimately, "Elizabethtown" is a good little movie trapped inside a bigger, much contrived mess of a film. Too much is going on during scenes that don't necessarily advance the plot, while there are basically three different movies masquerading and trying their best to be one cohesive film. It's enjoyable to the extent that not only does it want to be liked, it tries its hardest to be good despite its rather obvious shortcomings. While their chemistry is not electric, Bloom and Dunst have scenes that are pretty well done, and could've led to a more organized, sweet, offbeat little romantic comedy. Instead, Crowe's ego...and ambition...get in the way.… Expand