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Songcatcher
Trimark Pictures


8.7

based on 27 reviews
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based on 28 votes
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MPAA RATING: PG-13 for sexual content and an intense scene of childbirth

Starring Janet McTeer, Mike Harding, Aidan Quinn, Pat Carroll, Jane Adams, and Emmy Rossum

Janet McTeer stars as turn-of-the century musicologist Dr Lily Penleric, and unlikely heroine whose earthy, unstoppable drive leads her to musical, personal and romantic discoveries -- as she uncovers remarkable songs, dances and beats of the heart in the Appalachian mountains. (Lions Gate Films)

GENRE(S):	Romance
WRITTEN BY:	Maggie Greenwald
DIRECTED BY:	Maggie Greenwald
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 23, 2001 Video: October 23, 2001 Theatrical: June 15, 2001
RUNNING TIME:	113 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Cast, 2000 Sundance Film Festival

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...

TV Guide Frank Lovece

In a film mercifully free of the usual warm and fuzzy movie sentimentality, director Maggie Greenwald and her fine cast shatter most hillbilly stereotypes.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

It's a highly professional project complete with exquisite production details and superb actors, yet its subject matter is so far out of the mainstream, it feels almost radical.

New York Magazine Peter Rainer

This is not just a musicologist's dream; it's our dream, too.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

The haunting beauty of the music, and the people who produce it – that's the chapter and verse of this story.

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

Has enough virtues to make it successful, including an unusual story and some fine acting, especially by the powerful Janet McTeer.

New Times (L.A.) Jean Oppenheimer

Combines strong feminist sensibilities with surprisingly old-fashioned melodrama.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

McTeer and the transporting music hold you in thrall.

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

Greenwald is fine at creating the texture of early mountain life but loses her footing by embracing several plot points at once.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Perhaps too laden with messages for its own good, but it has many moments of musical beauty, and it's interesting to watch Janet McTeer.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

It may not get top billing, but glorious music is the star of Songcatcher, an intriguing and often lovely film.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Whenever the movie threatens to become just another visit to hillbilly-land, the music starts up and the film's gentle, irresistible wonder takes hold. Songcatcher is a film very much worth catching.

Chicago Tribune Loren King

Any film about the folk tradition is required to have a stellar soundtrack, and Songcatcher does not disappoint.

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

Greenwald's film is filled with an infectious love for the region's songs. It could hardly be otherwise, given the level of musical talent she recruited for Songcatcher.

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

Essential viewing for anyone who cares about American popular music and its roots.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

Somewhat sanitized but gorgeous Americana, with another impressive turn by McTeer.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

The music is truly the thing in Songcatcher and it's awesome, haunting stuff.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Best seen as a performance movie, featuring music (by Iris DeMent and Taj Mahal, among others) too wonderful to be overpowered by director Maggie Greenwald's plodding direction and leaden screenplay.

Variety Dennis Harvey

Unfolds at a leisurely but enjoyable pace, its dramatic contrivances never pushed too hard.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Songcatcher is a sweet, lyrical ode to rural America in the early 1900's.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

There are mountain tunes as powerful as moonshine to be enjoyed in Songcatcher -- but there's also a mighty mushy heap of corn pone to be swallowed.

USA Today Mike Clark

With a half-dozen characters sorting out life's woes, the pacing is a couple of beats faster than languorous — just enough to sustain one's interest.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

For the most part, it's when the women do the singing -- that Songcatcher really comes alive.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

For a film expressly about an underappreciated culture, there are some boulder-size cliches rolling down these hills.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

The commonest sort of cultural pasteurization.

Salon.com Charles Taylor

Songcatcher is like an "All Things Considered" report on "a vibrant and lasting folk tradition" that goes on for two hours. It's so relentlessly, goddamn worthy that you long for some cheapness and dirt, some energetic pop trash to liven it up.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

A good subject has been ill-served by Ms. Greenwald's cliched script and clumsy direction.

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

It's all infuriatingly simplistic, and the performances help matters little. Quinn and McTeer are wholly uncompelling.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.7 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Kathy O. gave it a10:
Simpy very well written.

Kenneth from GA gave it a7:
Wonderful music, reminded me of my childhood, when my family sang. Its sad that a good movie was ruined because of Hollywood thinking that they have to put a lesbian thing in just to appeal to a vocal minority.

Mary J. gave it a10:
I just sat down and watched this awesome movie on HBO! I was stunned, it was the all best movie I have ever watch. This movie amplifies our cultures back then when women an men loved each other and different cultures in soul music; it was stunning! This movie has so much historical background. It has humor and quirkiness to it and warm story-telling. What a wonderful movie! I am putting the settings now so I can go an watch it again when it does come back on!

Robert W. gave it a10:
This is a truly awesome film the likes of which I have not seen before. The film portrays such a deep seated belief that this is how it happened wherever the folk song collectors worked whether it be in the appalachian mountains or in deepest english rural communities. A must keep film for all enthusiats of traditional song. Robert Berry, Wiltshire Folk Arts, England.

Elizabeth K. gave it a10:
This was an awesome movie that showed how pure the music was that the mountain occupants were singing. I thought that the lesbian scences were unnessacary and had no meaning to the story plot. Overall i thought it was a wonderful movie and many other people should join in the joy of the movie

Jono gave it an8:
Engrossing and entertaining if not quite delivering a knock out punch. Thoroughly enjoyable performances. Quinn is particular is, as always, a strong screen presence.

Movie Buff gave it a9:
A good movie for those who appreciate great music.

Songcatcher Trimark Pictures

Songcatcher
Trimark Pictures