American Rhapsody, An

Chicago Tribune Loren King

The heartfelt truthfulness of Gardos' tale, and the performances of all leads, particularly Johansson, make the film a powerful account of the universal search for identity and the meaning of "home."

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Nastassja Kinski, in one of her most affecting performances, does much to convey the turmoil going in her soul.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Although there's a certain connect-the-dots quality to the storytelling, there's no denying the care and craftsmanship that Gardos has brought to her debut film.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Made with care and respect, American Rhapsody manages to skirt the edge of excessive sentiment without falling victim to it.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Has an unerring eye for the banal intricacies of 1950s pre-planned suburban neighborhoods, à la Levittown.

The New York Times Dave Kehr

Ms. Gardos is not a particularly flavorful filmmaker, but she is an honest one.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Its emotional sweep is ultimately undercut by murky characterizations and generic plotting.

New Times (L.A.) Gregory Weinkauf

Distinguishes itself by its subtlety and good taste. Even if we catch a hint of gypsy music on the soundtrack -- or glimpse a disturbing American neighbor lady -- Gardos steadfastly guards us from caricature. She wants to keep it real.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

The result is a heartfelt film brimming with ideas and passion but hampered by a literal approach that douses the emotional heat.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Gardos -- treats it competently, though without much freshness or imagination.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

They don't get more frustrating than American Rhapsody, a near-great film for about an hour that changes into a self-indulgent mess.

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

Two-thirds of the way through, it falls apart into TV-movie-of-the-week land, even with the rhapsodic Nastassja Kinski in the lead.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Heartfelt but often plodding and awkward, the movie feels like a somewhat subpar Sunday night TV movie.

Variety Eddie Cockrell

Calculated yet undeniably skillful melodrama.

TV Guide Frank Lovece

The glammed-up Kinski looks the same age throughout and only has three expressions: angry, wistful, and someone's-killed-my-dog.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

It's a case of the heart being in the right place, but the script getting in the way.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

Rhapsody fails to completely hook you, perhaps because the events happen so quickly you barely have time to sort out the characters.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

It's in the teenage section where the film goes seriously wrong and veers from an absorbing family story.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

For a movie with such a vibrant real-life base, An American Rhapsody is surprisingly low-impact.

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

While Gardos knows what to ask -- and though Kinski and Johansson both easily command attention -- the filmmaker lacks the storytelling sophistication to answer with anything but prettily rendered cliches.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

The movie is a little crude for the subtlety of the emotions it plays with.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Gardos, an experienced film editor, has little narrative sense, and decent performances (except from Kinski, who just worries and huffs around) are left out to dry.