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Pleasantville
New Line Cinema


8.6

based on 32 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 10 votes
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Internet Movie Database

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language

Starring Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, and Don Knotts

In Gary Ross' daring modern fairy tale Pleasantville, an entire fictional town is granted a chance to experience the comedies, and dangers of real life. In this fantastical adventure, two late 20th Century teenagers (Maguire, Witherspoon) accidentally bring living color to a mysterious suburb trapped in a black-and-white 50's utopia -- and set off a revolution. (New Line Cinema)

GENRE(S):	Fantasy
WRITTEN BY:	Gary Ross
DIRECTED BY:	Gary Ross
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 23, 1999 Video: March 23, 1999 Theatrical: October 23, 1998
RUNNING TIME:	125 minutes, BW / Color
ORIGIN:	USA

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...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

The kind of parable that encourages us to re-evaluate the good old days and take a fresh look at the new world we so easily dismiss as decadent.

Dallas Observer Bill Gallo

This uncommonly clever, surprisingly poignant fairy tale packs a social wallop that we're not quite prepared for.

Variety Joe Leydon

Ingeniously conceived and impressively executed, Pleasantville is a provocative, complex and surprisingly anti-nostalgic parable.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Magical, visually exciting, affecting even in its sincere hokeyness, and extremely provocative.

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Ingenious fantasy.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Not only is Pleasantville a satire, a fantasy, and a visual marvel, but it's the best kind of feel-good movie.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Giddily inventive.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Offers effortless charm, wit, and originality in spades.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

To concentrate on the minor faults of a fable as beautiful and unusual as Pleasantville would be missing the point.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

I can't get over the nagging feeling that Pleasantville's beguiling spell was cast by a real magician, only to be carelessly broken by the same clumsy charlatan.

TNT RoughCut Jennifer Nowitzky

What makes up for the, at times, slow-moving theatrics is the physical beauty of Pleasantville.

Film.com John Hartl

Charming and imaginative.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Ross's comedy isn't as inventive as "The Truman Show," which it resembles in some ways, but it explores interesting ideas with nimble humor.

San Francisco Examiner Walter Addiego

While amusing and sometimes touching, Pleasantville is far from challenging.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Delightful as it often is, the picture suffers fom the same structural and thematic tidiness, even smugness, that it nominally opposes.

Film.com Robert Horton

Terrific idea, brilliantly worked out on a technical level.

Newsweek Jack Kroll

A complex, entertaining film that may have more ideas than it can handle, but certainly has real ideas.

Time Richard Corliss

An epic-size, largely entertaining parable of repression and awakening.

LA Weekly Manohla Dargis

The results are charming if rarely thrilling, with outstanding performances from Joan Allen and William H. Macy.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Lacks the edge and depth of a truly inspired work.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

It's tough not to respond to the visual cleverness of Pleasantville.

Film.com Sean Means

Eventually falls into the same candy-coated trap it's trying to expose. But the fact that a movie can acknowledge the trap exists is a step in the right direction.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

May not be as successful as it is ambitious, but you could do worse than to spend a few hours there.

Chicago Tribune Marc Caro

More clever than coherent.

TV Guide Sandra Contreras

His (Ross) sophisticated handling -- and the efforts of his able cast, notably the stellar Joan Allen -- produces a surprisingly accomplished cumulative effect.

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Funny for about half an hour, Pleasantville thereafter becomes an increasingly lugubrious, ultimately exasperating mix of technological wonder and ideological idiocy.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

Technical elegance and fine performances mask the shallowness of a story as simpleminded as the '50s TV to which it condescends; certainly it's got none of the depth, poignance, and brilliance of "The Truman Show," the recent TV-is-stifling drama that immediately comes to mind.

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

When Ross gets serious and grasps for allegorical import, Pleasantville bogs down in mixed ambitions.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

The movie's simplistic storyline does not match its stunning visual accomplishments: Pleasantville's story is drawn from a palette that's strictly limited to black-and-white.

USA Today Mike Clark

Glum and preachy.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Ross' missive is earnest and well-intentioned, but it's difficult not to feel that his film both runs on too long and overreaches its dramatic resources in its attempt to deliver it.

Film.com Tom Keogh

Ross might have been better served by dismissing verisimilitude altogether and going for a real fable-fable to make what is essentially a very simple point about the dangers and rewards of accepting life's beautiful risks.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jack L. gave it a9:
This movie is great!!! I love it. It contains many themes and messages that allow you watch the film many times because most likely you will not understand everything at the first time. The concept is profound and poignant. This movie should have received a 80/100 by the critics at least.

Justin M. gave it a9:
This film contains so many themes relevent to human nature: culture clash, art and censorship, intolerance and acceptance, reactionism, the list goes on. The performances are extremely believeable and genuine in the face of such a fantastical story. The visual achievements alone make this film worth a watch. The cinematography is a great mix between modern techniques and 1950s TV and film noir style. This film is a rare thing: a visually breathtaking story with real substance.

From Holland ;) gave it a9:
I really enjoyed watching this movie.

Pat C. gave it a 7:
Interesting time-line conversion from old to new ethics. Might have been more interesting if it had started out in color and slowly given way to B&W.

Ben W. gave it a 10:
It's brilliant. It works so well not just as a fairy tale about 90's teenagers sucked into a 1950's sitcom, but also as a parable about the difficult changes that the people in that era had to endure as they entered the 60's. The special effects are gorgeous, and are actually especially powerful as well. After viewing the film in black & white for some time, I really had a appreciation for color. Segments that were in black & white and color are fantastic too. It's one of my favorite movies EVER.

Scott m gave it a 10:
I try to critique movies the best i can but i honestly have to say that this film was as close to perfect as a movie can get. Witherspoon and the town sex liberation isnt trying to be shallow it just shows that kids are making mistakes like normal teens. Great movie.

Michelle P. gave it a 5:
No offense to those of you who loved this movie, but I really hated it. I mean, Reese Witherspoon's character was a true bratt! She goes around convining people that sex is what makes the world happy place. She changes color because she reads a book. Called, "Lover". Oooh...good idea. Psyche.

Pleasantville New Line Cinema

Pleasantville
New Line Cinema