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Grandfather, The

EMAILPRINTMiramax Films

Grandfather, The reviews
57
7.5 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 15 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 2 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Jose Luis Garci
Benito Pérez Galdós (novel)
Horacio Valcarcel

Directed by: Jose Luis Garci

Release Date:
Theatrical: October 8, 1999
DVD: August 8, 2000

Running Time: 145 minutes, Color

Origin: Spain

Summary

RATING: PG for thematic elements and language

Starring Fernando Fernan Gomez, Rafael Alonso, and Cayetana Guillen Cuervo

Set at the turn of the century, The Grandfather tells the story of love, friendship, honor and betrayal within one powerful Spanish family spanning three generations. (Miramax Films)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

A wise and beautiful film.

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80

The New York Times Lawrence Van Gelder

Brims with understanding of the complexities of relationships, the frailties of humankind and the possibilities of joy.

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75

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

At once proudly conservative, passionately idealistic and beautifully assured.

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75

Boston Globe Jay Carr

A solid, humane, old-fashioned film in the best sense of the term.

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70

Film.com Tom Keogh

Few movies this year have been quite so rewarding with their 11th hour epiphanies.

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70

LA Weekly F. X. Feeney

The picture's deepest strength, however, is the fire Fernán-Gómez conjures from deep within himself, as if "honor" were an extinct volcano he could will into exploding, given enough anger and time.

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65

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

It's filled with far too much talk and it never justifies its length, but if you succumb to its old-fashioned Renoir style of storytelling, The Grandfather has its pleasures.

63

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Undercut by funereal pacing and an ending that seems more than a little contrived.

50

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Old-fashioned storytelling.

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50

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Essentially conversations, confrontations, and an extremely pat -- and very verbal -- reconciliation.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Stack

The film's constrained style keeps the drama from reaching a full boil.

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50

USA Today Staff [Not Credited]

The material has enough meat to enable charitable viewers to drift in and out, but the result is too arch to conjure up much affection.

40

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

Nobody ever shuts up in this schmaltzy, mannered drama.

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40

TV Guide Steve Simels

Veers inconsistently between sit-com jokeiness and nostril-flaring melodrama.

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30

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Not only is the dialogue endless...it's like driving behind a 15 mph geezer on a one-way street.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Edmund M. gave it a 10:
Saw it at the movie theatre without the distractions of home environment, that helps. If you're in a hurry - don't see it.

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