| 91 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Susan Sarandon has never been more outrageously appealing. Natalie Portman is simply exquisite.
|
| 88 |
San Francisco Examiner
A monumentally graceful union of two extremely dissimilar stars, one inspired cinematographer and an exceptionally patient, curious, independent-minded director.
|
| 88 |
Chicago Tribune
These are real characters, fully observed, gutsily written, beautifully acted by the two leads.
|
| 85 |
TNT RoughCut
Sarandon and Portman have sizzling electricity that makes every funny, touching or sad moment between them seem even more fascinating than the last.
|
| 83 |
Portland Oregonian
A smart study of the identity-shredding inherent in so much dissatisfaction and relocation.
|
| 80 |
The New York Times
Janet Maslin
Wang once again works splendidly with actresses, and boy, does he have a lot to work with this time.
|
| 80 |
Washington Post
So closely observed, so funny and so true to the junk that is everybody's real--as opposed to movie--life that it comes to feel like some kind of a miracle.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Sarandon and Portman work beautifully -- together, negotiating a range of emotional keys that blend comedy and drama in the same moment.
|
| 75 |
Miami Herald
Light on plot but heavy on observation: Wang concentrates on exploring the unseen ways in which mother and daughter rely on each other.
|
| 75 |
Boston Globe
Aims its big, bold mother-daughter conflicts straight at the heart by way of the tear ducts, and connects.
|
| 75 |
New York Daily News
An actress' dream.
|
| 75 |
Baltimore Sun
A quietly resonant movie about the painful alliance between single mothers and their daughters, and the complicated drama of separation.
|
| 75 |
New York Post
Well worth seeing for the incandescent Portman.
|
| 75 |
Chicago Sun-Times
The movie's interest is not in the plot, which is episodic and "colorful," but in the performances.
|
| 75 |
Christian Science Monitor
The story is a sort of "Stella Dallas Meets Slums of Beverly Hills," helped by heartfelt acting from its talented stars.
|
| 73 |
Mr. Showbiz
You could do a lot worse than spend two hours in the company of two such talented actresses.
|
| 70 |
Newsweek
Jeff Giles
Portman gives a superb, understated performance as a teen who gets whiplash from watching her mother's mood swings.
|
| 63 |
Philadelphia Inquirer
Corny and blubbery as it is, still packs an emotional wallop.
|
| 63 |
USA Today
It's terrific to see such well-matched actresses of opposing generations duke it out.
|
| 60 |
Film.com
This relationship might be strong enough to carry an observational novel, but the movie feels like it's missing something.
|
| 60 |
LA Weekly
Compared to the glib, pandering rosiness of most current chick-flicks, Anywhere but Here is a class act.
|
| 58 |
Entertainment Weekly
What's missing from this by-the-numbers drama is a sense of abandon.
|
| 50 |
Chicago Reader
Poor execution sometimes points up the difference between the telling of a story and the story itself--in this case, without diminishing the power of the latter.
|
| 50 |
Film.com
The ride in this road movie isn't always as smooth as it could be, but even the bumps have some charm.
|
| 50 |
TV Guide
Lacks the real emotional wallop these two fine actresses...seem ready to provide.
|
| 50 |
Austin Chronicle
Strives to depict its love-hate relationship in emotionally neutral terms, but the sympathies are ultimately lopsided.
|
| 50 |
Variety
With half a dozen roles to her credit, Portman is a natural performer who brings rough edges to any role she plays -- the movie is inconceivable without her.
|
| 50 |
Rolling Stone
Formula mother-brat stuff...It's only the deft teamwork of Portman and Sarandon that keeps the triteness at bay.
|
| 50 |
Salon.com
Despite its stellar leading ladies, Anywhere But Here is still a predictable generation-gap drama.
|
| 40 |
Dallas Observer
Slick, glossy, and artificial.
|
| 30 |
Los Angeles Times
While adapting accomplished fiction such as this is a lure Hollywood can never resist, some characters breathe better on the page, and that is the case here.
|
| 30 |
Time
What it doesn't have is a central figure you can give a hoot about.
|
| 20 |
Film.com
Sarandon prostitutes her blazing talent and sharp political sensibility to the service of a pile of misogynistic bullflop.
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