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At Eternity's Gate

Name: At Eternity's Gate
Genre: Biography, Drama
Released: November 16, 2018
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Alan Aubert, Amira Casar, Anne Consigny, Emmanuelle Seigner, Lolita Chammah

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 69 Ratings

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At Eternity's Gate

Movie Details & Credits

CBS Films | Release Date: November 16, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Aubert, Amira Casar, Anne Consigny, Emmanuelle Seigner, Lolita Chammah, Mads Mikkelsen, Mathieu Amalric, Niels Arestrup, Oscar Isaac, Patrick Chesnais, Rupert Friend, Stella Schnabel, Victor Pontecorvo, Vincent Perez, Willem Dafoe

Movie Facts:

Willem Dafoe won Best Actor at the 75th Venice Film Festival.

Summary: At Eternity’s Gate is a journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art. This is not a forensic biography, but rather scenes based on Vincent van Gogh’s (Willem Dafoe) letters, common agreement about events in his life thatAt Eternity’s Gate is a journey inside the world and mind of a person who, despite skepticism, ridicule and illness, created some of the world’s most beloved and stunning works of art. This is not a forensic biography, but rather scenes based on Vincent van Gogh’s (Willem Dafoe) letters, common agreement about events in his life that present as facts, hearsay, and moments that are just plain invented. [CBS Films]… Expand

Director: Julian Schnabel

Genre(s): Biography, Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lorry Kikta

Nov 15, 2018

It’s a beautiful visual and spiritual journey through the glorious highs and devastating lows of a brilliant artist who was ahead of his time. Read full review

Joe Blessing

Nov 15, 2018

Van Gogh (Willem Dafoe) is returned to his human dimensions, by a keen script and wonderful lead performance, while still being held up as an example of the artist’s ability to transcend time. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Sep 3, 2018

Schnabel, the director of “Before Night Falls” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” has stripped down his filmmaking in the most seductive way, all to achieve something audacious and elemental. He’s out to imagine what Vincent van Gogh was really like — to bask in van Gogh’s presence with an experiential, present-tense immediacy. Read full review

Walter Addiego

Nov 18, 2018

In At Eternity’s Gate, Dafoe often works in silence, but tells us everything we need to know with his face and eyes. Read full review

Jim Slotek

Dec 3, 2018

As an impressionistic portrait of the man, it works, mainly because of the intense vulnerability Dafoe brings to the role. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Nov 20, 2018

Dafoe’s Vincent is a tormented, almost childlike soul who is never comfortable in his own skin, and veers from being monumentally needy to frighteningly rash. It’s a mesmerizing performance in an inconsistent and uneven film. Read full review

Tim Robey

Mar 28, 2019

The point with van Gogh is that he produced mind-boggling art while stricken with doubt that he’d failed all his life. This film is his spiritual antithesis – so recklessly confident that it paints right over him. Read full review

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User Reviews

ThatFilmGuy20

Feb 2, 2019

Much like Van Gogh's painting style this film imitates that style and pays an amazing homage to him, the film feels clumsy and weird much like Van Gogh's work, what I'm trying to say is that in a way we are exposed to this through the eyes of the man himself, trying to see how he actuallyMuch like Van Gogh's painting style this film imitates that style and pays an amazing homage to him, the film feels clumsy and weird much like Van Gogh's work, what I'm trying to say is that in a way we are exposed to this through the eyes of the man himself, trying to see how he actually saw the world and the inspiration for his paintings, Van Gogh led what only can be called a painful and miserable life and through that pain he managed to craft an amazing array of artwork, he lived through his work and ironically he work is what kept him alive for the duration of his life, At Eternity's gate much like a Van Gogh painting is filled with nuance and subtleties that are there to be observed and admired, it's so immersive and a great insight to his life.

Willem Dafoe perfectly embodies Van Gogh, he fills the screen with his gripping presence, through his performance we form an idea of what Van Gogh's life was like, he conveys emotions and ideas with mere mannerisms and he explores his pain and suffering to the fullest, Dafoe blow me away with his delivery here, absolutely flawless.

At eternity's gate is a prime example of how to tell one's story, through his passion and suffering, fascinating work this is, I absolutely enjoyed every second of it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

BHBarry

Nov 18, 2018

"At Eternity's Gate" is the beautifully told story of the life of Vincent Van Gogh brilliantly portrayed by Willem Dafoe. Supported in the film by Rupert Friend and Oscar Isaacs, the film was written by Jean-Claude Carriere, Louise Kugelberg and Julian Schnabel, the latter of the three who"At Eternity's Gate" is the beautifully told story of the life of Vincent Van Gogh brilliantly portrayed by Willem Dafoe. Supported in the film by Rupert Friend and Oscar Isaacs, the film was written by Jean-Claude Carriere, Louise Kugelberg and Julian Schnabel, the latter of the three who was also the director. This biographical drama of the life of this great artist puts Mr. Dafoe's portrayal of him onto the short list of Oscar nominees for best actor. Admittedly those not interested in Mr. Van Gogh or the art movement he helped create will not be as interested in seeing the film as those of us who are. The film takes us through the artist's life from his own perspective and presents facts based on common folklore as it explores his struggles with imagination and reality and, ultimately, untimely death. I give the film a 7.5 for it presents to the viewer an interesting theatrical experience as well as a view of the artist not present in the two prior films made about him.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GinaK

Nov 28, 2018

Like many Americans, I grew up with too many museum shows lionizing Van Gogh’s work to the point where I came to ignore him because he was so “popular.” This film has changed my mind. I am now interested in finding out more about Van Gogh and going beyond the surface of his eccentric styleLike many Americans, I grew up with too many museum shows lionizing Van Gogh’s work to the point where I came to ignore him because he was so “popular.” This film has changed my mind. I am now interested in finding out more about Van Gogh and going beyond the surface of his eccentric style and strange life. And even though the actor Willem Dafoe is instantly recognizable, he manages to “become” Van Gogh very quickly and make the film interesting. It probably helps that the director Julian Schnabel is an artist himself. If you are at all interested in art or Van Gogh, this film is well worth your time, even if you have to sometimes ignore some of the self-consciously “arty” direction. The supporting cast is also excellent.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

amheretojudge

Jan 29, 2019

I Love Yellow. I Paint Blue.

At Eternity's Gate Schnabel's philosophical thinking on the life of an ingenious painter, paints an abstract art on the screen, if not bright enough to shine over all its viewers. Schnabel's work has always been for a selective audience, he breathes pure art inI Love Yellow. I Paint Blue.

At Eternity's Gate

Schnabel's philosophical thinking on the life of an ingenious painter, paints an abstract art on the screen, if not bright enough to shine over all its viewers. Schnabel's work has always been for a selective audience, he breathes pure art in every frame and there is never any doubt about that, his rigidness on uncompromising tales is a double edge sword. His film is never able to perpetually win over you. He takes his time and asks for your patience, but personally I adore his ways of asking that, his methods are productive for me, primarily because his films are immensely personal to each individual.

His, is a film that you cannot share with anyone, he wouldn't let you, and you wouldn't want to. Now, this is a feeling that one rarely encounters while watching a film, often filmmakers in order to present a generic idea or speak to a larger audience, gets lost in their self created vagueness of the nature. But Schnabel has his own rhythm, he doesn't aspire to be metaphorical, his tones hits the apt note on those high pitches that will engulf you for that hour.

The camera work in here is eerily similar to Malick's theme, and just like it, Schnabel puts you into those characters' shoes, that are both warm and comfortable. Nature, being the primary motivation of both the artist Van Gogh and Schnabel in here, plays a vital role, but unlike other usual description of it, the nature is explored on both the sides of it. And balancing the film on that dark and inspiring note of nature, this riveting tale is a delight to watch, mesmerized in its own overwhelming world that it whirls around, it asks you to reach for it and be completely moved by this ride.

Spread across three acts, the first act sketches the methods and routines of the painters along with his body language and mannerism to tiny aspects- this is the strongest act, since it barely contains any words- and has nothing but majestic performance that drives it. On the second one, it deals with his equation with his beloved friend and his yearning for the art that he puts into words. The final harrowing act that leaves you shook in your seat is a bit dark but has an incredible conversation between a priest played Mikkelsen and Dafoe, himself. Despite of tremendous work and detail on cinematography and camera work of Schnabel, this film belongs to Dafoe.

He is completely lost on the figure that he plays, so devoured and so blatantly committing, that notwithstanding on an ideal line, you are drawn towards him. Aforementioned, the entire first act is conjured by him, he and his beautiful nature surrounding him, the wind that his hair floats in, the hard rock he sleeps on and the soil he is covered in, it is a testament of Dafoe's brilliant career. At Eternity's Gate you might not remember the amazing camera angles or a compelling screenplay, what you will take there proudly is Dafoe and his eyes that whispers bright yellow color.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Feb 18, 2019

Here is one of the reasons why Willem Dafoe is just a massive actor.
A versatile actor that in my opinion has never gotten the appreciation he deserves.
But if there's something that I must emphasize about this film, it's precisely that: This film is better because of his work, not forHere is one of the reasons why Willem Dafoe is just a massive actor.
A versatile actor that in my opinion has never gotten the appreciation he deserves.
But if there's something that I must emphasize about this film, it's precisely that: This film is better because of his work, not for anything else, and it's not like I'm going to say that this is a poorly structured film, but it's the acting work of Dafoe that defines and elevates it.
It's simply a delight to see him here.

It's not the most algid film you can find but it is definitely a film that you should see.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

The3AcademySins

Dec 6, 2018

At Eternity's Gate is one of the most underwhelming movies I have seen in 2018. The pacing of the movie is glacially slow. Worse, the movie is completely unfocused. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be about Van Gogh's last 80 days of his life, his Bi Polar Disorder, or Willem Da FoeAt Eternity's Gate is one of the most underwhelming movies I have seen in 2018. The pacing of the movie is glacially slow. Worse, the movie is completely unfocused. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be about Van Gogh's last 80 days of his life, his Bi Polar Disorder, or Willem Da Foe running around in a field for almost two hours. The acting scenes were fine, particularly the scenes between Oscar Issac and Da Foe. The music is good, but unfortunately repetitive. The movie also does not earn it's ending, which is infuriating. This is something that I would MAYBE watch on Netflix or Hulu if I was a die hard Van Gogh fan, but other than that, I would skip this one. I honestly regret buying a ticket for this.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

YeetusMcGeetus

Dec 6, 2018

Apart from Willem Da Foe, this movie was one that I found unbearable. I fell asleep twice in the theater. I much preferred Loving Vincent, and I would recommend that movie instead if you really like Van Gogh.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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