| 100 |
Los Angeles Times
Kevin Thomas
With this masterful, flawless film, Xiaoshuai emerges in the front ranks of China's now numerous, world-renowned filmmakers.
|
| 83 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
William Arnold
An absorbing slice of the New China and a fascinating duel between two magnificently stubborn antagonists.
|
| 80 |
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Scott Tobias
Even without its bleak and affecting story, Beijing Bicycle would work beautifully as a travelogue alone.
|
| 80 |
The New York Times
Dana Stevens
At once somber and mysterious, comical and sad. It shows just how lonely a crowded city can be.
|
| 75 |
Philadelphia Inquirer
Steven Rea
Wang's young actors are impressively natural, and his documentary-style camerawork captures the rhythms and cacophony of the big city, all its crazy-quilt comings and goings.
|
| 75 |
Christian Science Monitor
David Sterritt
At times, the film meanders from its course and loses dramatic focus. But it's vividly acted and creatively directed.
|
| 75 |
New York Daily News
Jack Mathews
The movie is filled with sweetly funny moments, but its exposure of class, income and cultural differences makes it an uneasy charmer right up to its violent denouement.
|
| 75 |
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Rick Groen
Beijing Bicycle is a good film that owes a huge debt to a better film. And that, of course, is Vittorio De Sica's "The Bicycle Thief."
|
| 70 |
New Times (L.A.)
Bill Gallo
Shot in the mean streets of a great and compelling city, here's a fascinating vision of societal upheaval that would likely awe De Sica himself.
|
| 63 |
Miami Herald
Marta Barber
Though beautiful at times, it doesn't reach the level of poetry of either de Sica's "Thief" or Lou's "River."
|
| 60 |
Washington Post
Desson Thomson
Beautifully filmed and very atmospheric in terms of evoking the sights and sounds of modern-day Beijing, this Chinese movie suffers a flat tire about halfway through.
|
| 60 |
LA Weekly
Ernest Hardy
Had Xiaoshuai trusted audience sympathies to stay with a slightly more forceful character, he'd likely have crafted the heart tugger that the film aims to be.
|
| 60 |
TV Guide
Ken Fox
Wang's film offers an interesting look at the rapidly changing face of Beijing.
|
| 60 |
Film Threat
Rich Cline
There's a natural authenticity to the film that makes it intensely watchable, even though it's repetitive and slightly underwritten.
|
| 50 |
Austin Chronicle
Marrit Ingman
The film is often quietly humorous.
|
| 50 |
Washington Post
Stephen Hunter
Too simple for its own good.
|
| 50 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Jesse Hamlin
Moderately engaging tale.
|
| 50 |
Boston Globe
Chris Fujiwara
Hard, gleaming images and an oblique storytelling style come to Wang the way the bike comes to Jian -- secondhand.
|
| 40 |
Village Voice
Michael Atkinson
Wang mistakes affectless storytelling and character conception for rigor, and as a result huge portions of Beijing Bicycle are dull and repetitive.
|
| 40 |
Variety
Derek Elley
Overplays its slim hand by a good two reels.
|
