Il Postino: The Postman
User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14

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  1. RuthC
    Jan 5, 2007
    9
    A beautiful film. The scenery alone is worth watching it for, if not the poetry, then the great performances.
  2. DamindraL.
    Nov 20, 2006
    7
    This movie has a very sentimental and poetic plot, which diffrentiates it from some hollywood movies. The reason people seem to more or less dislike this movie is because it does not have tragic and dramatic twists in its plot. Il Postino can be appreciated by an older audience rather than the younger. Overall, the movie wasn't terrible however it wasn't great either.
  3. DaneB
    Jun 14, 2005
    2
    How did this movie recieve any awards? One word Boring!!! So what if Pablo Neruda was a great poet, doesn´t mean any book written about him is good too. Plus the ending doesn´t even follow the actual events in the book nor what happend in real life.
  4. PaulP.
    Jan 26, 2005
    8
    Editing could be a little smoother, but the story had a point, that even with subtitles may it very enjoyable. An enjoyable movie from start to end.
  5. JakeJ.
    Sep 9, 2004
    2
    Absolutely the worst movie ever.
  6. PatC.
    Jan 7, 2004
    6
    Culturally spiffy but overrated. Resorts to formula ending as if it were making some profound discovery.
  7. TerryG.
    Dec 9, 2003
    10
    An excellent romantic movie.
  8. YoonMinC.
    Sep 24, 2003
    7
    Noiret's portrayal of Pablo Neruda is subtle and majestic but how this poet supposedly inspires a simpleminded postal worker toward wooing a woman about town is a hackneyed twist on Cyrano de Bergerac. The postman is earnest to the point of annoyance but it does serve as a reminder of the distance between the ordinary people and the lofty intellectuals who are supposed to speak in their name. The final images of Noiret are poignant with its acknowledgement of the unbridgeable distances between celebrated artists--whatever their politics--and the anonymous masses. Neruda the leftist poet is ultimately as removed from the people as any aristocrat. … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Desson Thomson
    80
    The screenplay (which is credited to a small crowd: director Michael Radford, Anna Pavignano, Furio Scarpelli, Giacomo Scarpelli and Troisi) is refreshingly witty and restrained.
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  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    80
    The film's warmth and sympathy are underlined by some intelligence.
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  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Elvis Mitchell
    90
    A rueful, warmly affecting film featuring a wonderful performance by Mr. Troisi, The Postman would be attention-getting even without the sadness that overshadows it. [14 June 1995, p. C15]
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