This Must Be the Place
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 4 out of 22

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  1. MarcDoyle
    Nov 4, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers. I completely understand where Joe Morgenstern is coming from in his pan of this film - and when I truly think about it, it's not a film of immense substance, and it doesn't make sense in many ways. But there's something about the way that Penn plays the role that connects with me. The portrayal reminds me of a friend, and perhaps that colored my judgement a bit, but I really feel like I need to see this film again. His ultimate treatment of the Nazi war criminal seemed a bit out of left field to me, and I'm sure it was meant as food for thought. It's the most disturbing movie in an otherwise genial, benign flick.… Collapse
  2. imthenoob
    May 18, 2013
    3
    Honestly, Didn't care for it. I think Penn is a great actor but he was incredibly awkward in this. The story is rather confusing as well and doesn't really go any where. I stopped watching after a half hour, It just failed to suck me in and make me want to give up another hour and a half to finish it.
  3. DTDunn
    Apr 13, 2013
    4
    This film was created solely to test those who rate films. If you gave it more than a 5 (out of 10) then you are too dumb to rate movies. There is nothing going on here. It is a waste of talent and should never have been green-lighted.
  4. Terbo49
    Dec 29, 2012
    3
    Just a mess. This film feels like it was written by a class of stoned film students. Ideas are thrown together seemingly at random. The first part is set in Dublin, with Sean Penn playing Robert Smith. Penn delivers all his lines as though he is watching a really good TV show and is very, very tired. That is ok for the first 10 minutes. France's McDormand doesn't even have to try to steal every scene, and the film gets worse when Penn and we leave her in Ireland and go to America. There's a road journey to Texas, which has no point, a quest which has something to do wight the holocaust (rather insultingly) and wasted cameos by David Byrne and Harry Dean Stanton. None of the characters are there for any reason other than to contribute to banal, disjointed scenes which become quite boring. One example - Penn drives through a puddle and drenches a uniformed marching band. He gets out and says he is sorry, although they should know he did it on purpose. This is the kind of scene that must seem like fun when you are high and desperate to come up with something, but when you string dozens of these scenes together, it's alienating, pointless, and a waste of the talent available.… Expand
  5. dm_punks
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm glad I came along for the ride with Cheyenne. This is one of the best trips I've ever taken. I realize that maybe this film is not for everybody, but for me it hits a lot of the right spots, including most of all, how everyone misunderstands everybody else. As the movie ended, it felt, as Cheyenne said, that "something's not quite right here. I'm not sure what exactly. But something...."… Expand
  6. teresita
    Mar 19, 2013
    7
    Never in a million years would I have thought to see Sean Penn dressed as Robert Smith. Which catched my attention making me curious to see this film being a big fan of David Byrne and Robert Smith. This film is a perfect definition on an independent film since it's only for a specific audience who can appreciate misunderstood classic artist which Sean Penn does a perfect example of. The film had a great soundtrack and an unforgettable execution. This film isn't for everybody but I personally enjoyed it.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 29
  3. Negative: 4 out of 29
  1. New Orleans Times-Picayune
    Reviewed by: Mike Scott
    Jan 11, 2013
    40
    There's no "place" in this place, no clear destination -- and no real payoff in a film that stands a cinematic curiosity but little more.
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  2. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Joe Williams
    Nov 23, 2012
    63
    Penn has created a colorful tour guide, but in This Must Be the Place, there's no there there.
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  3. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    Nov 15, 2012
    25
    This Must Be the Place is as emotionally zonked-out as its protagonist, and just as difficult to warm up to.
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