X
  • 1997
  • R
  • Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • 2 h 12 m
  • 1997
  • R
  • Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • 2 h 12 m

Summary Oscar (Fiennes) is a priest who gambles discreetly and donates his winnings to help the poor. Lucinda (Blanchett) is an Australian businesswoman who boldly defies society’s rules. When they meet over an innocent game of cards, their lives are changed forever. (Fox Searchlight)

Directed By: Gillian Armstrong

Written By: Laura Jones, Peter Carey

  • 1997
  • R
  • Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • 2 h 12 m
  • 1997
  • R
  • Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • 2 h 12 m

Oscar and Lucinda

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 22 Critic Reviews
65
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.2
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary Oscar (Fiennes) is a priest who gambles discreetly and donates his winnings to help the poor. Lucinda (Blanchett) is an Australian businesswoman who boldly defies society’s rules. When they meet over an innocent game of cards, their lives are changed forever. (Fox Searchlight)

Directed By: Gillian Armstrong

Written By: Laura Jones, Peter Carey

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 22 Critic Reviews
65
55% Positive
12 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 22 Critic Reviews
65
55% Positive
12 Reviews
45% Mixed
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
It exchanges the narrative fluidity of the page for visual composition of such strong beauty that the slowness of the storytelling becomes its own eccentric strength.
By Lisa Schwarzbaum FULL REVIEW
90
As directed exquisitely by Gillian Armstrong in a headstrong spirit that recalls her debut feature, "My Brilliant Career," this elliptical tale makes up in visual beauty whatever it lacks in universal meaning.
By Janet Maslin FULL REVIEW
75
In a sometimes misguided narrative, their scenes together are right on track -- they add lightness, even a shimmering hint of humour, to a symbol-laden drama. Theirs is a unique romance that has a sparrow's frail beauty -- it beats with a trembling, fluttering heart.
By Rick Groen FULL REVIEW
70
Whatever the reason, Oscar and Lucinda winds up feeling like a collection of bits in search of vision and an emotional surge.
By Charles Taylor FULL REVIEW
50
Armstrong is usually a strong and original director of actors (her 1979 "My Brilliant Career" launched the inimitable Judy Davis). But here, her taste seems to have deserted her. [31Dec1997 Pg.30]
By Dave Kehr FULL REVIEW
50
While Blanchett glows with intelligence, passion and a quirky kind of beauty, the movie she is in fails her in a number of essential ways.
By Barbara Shulgasser FULL REVIEW
40
No matter how hard the filmmakers work their narrator (Geoffrey Rush, as Oscar's great-grandson), he can't make the damn thing explicable, much less bring it to life.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.2
67% Positive
8 Ratings
25% Mixed
3 Ratings
8% Negative
1 Rating

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 12 User Ratings
7.2
67% Positive
8 Ratings
25% Mixed
3 Ratings
8% Negative
1 Rating

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Dalton Films, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Meridian Films, New South Wales Film & Television Office
Release Date Dec 31, 1997
Duration 2 h 12 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline A dream. A lie. A wager. Love.
View All Details

Awards

Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Australian Film Institute
• 5 Wins & 7 Nominations
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations

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