Head in the Clouds
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Metascore
40 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Charlize Theron, Penélope Cruz, Stuart Townsend
  • Summary: In a time torn apart by hatred and violence, two lifelong lovers are forced to choose between passion and personal convictions, their fate intertwined with the painful history of a world at war. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 27
  3. Negative: 7 out of 27
  1. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    80
    On paper the story may seem hopelessly contrived -- another nostalgia piece for art-house liberals -- but on-screen it's presented in purely emotional terms, which allows Duigan and his excellent leads to inhabit and ultimately transcend the period.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    50
    Townsend seemed to me ill-matched as a romantic hero: way too moony-eyed and mushy to cope with the likes of the towering Theron and torchy Cruz.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    50
    Unconvincing melodrama.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    38
    If you're up for a relentlessly overripe melodrama that takes place in movie-Europe as opposed to the real thing (the Parisian streetwalkers in berets are a good tip-off), by all means catch Head in the Clouds.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. StephenM.
    10
    Theron's character is a terrific anti-hero who pursues the pleasure principle throughout life with single-minded determination--arguably an uncondemnable thing. Unfortunately for her, that quest for pleasure has her traipsing around war-torn France with her "head in the clouds," largely oblivious to the life-threatening environment in which she resides while on her quest for erotic pleasure. All anti-heros must eventually depart the incompatible society in which they live and they must do so either by dying or otherwise escaping that society. In this case, France's post-war society is vengeful, misguided, judgmental, and unforgiving. Her death is a great tragedy. Quilt by association has always been difficult, if not impossible, for society justify and her case is no exception. Arguably, she does not deserve to suffer her fate. The story could have been written to avoid tragedy and have a happy ending if she had been wise enough to flee France for America, where free spirits can grow and flourish, but she didn't because her head was in the clouds and that flaw didn't serve her best interests. The film's critics never mention any of this and that leaves me wondering if they truly understood (let alone appreciate) her character and the story of a great, arguably blameless, anti-hero.… Expand
  2. EricS.
    10
    Profoundly moving and disturbing movie. Theron superb as femme fatale. Excellent acting all around. Drama intense.
  3. MehdyM.
    9
    an effective story, well designed scenes, and good performance. I think there must be some kind of marketing problem with this film, becuase it's not as famous as it deserves.… Expand
  4. BubbaJ.
    9
    Epic saga of love and war and the culminating in the occupation and liberation of Paris.

See all 11 User Reviews

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