Head in the Clouds

Name: Head in the Clouds
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Released: September 17, 2004
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 40
Cast: Charlize Theron, Penélope Cruz, Stuart Townsend

2004

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 18 Ratings

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HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: September 17, 2004

Starring: Charlize Theron, Penélope Cruz, Stuart Townsend

Summary: In a time torn apart by hatred and violence, two lifelong lovers are forced to choose between passion and personal convictions, their fate intertwined with the painful history of a world at war. (Sony Pictures Classics)

Director: John Duigan

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 132 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Chicago Reader - J.R. Jones

On paper the story may seem hopelessly contrived -- another nostalgia piece for art-house liberals -- but on-screen it's presented in purely emotional terms, which allows Duigan and his excellent leads to inhabit and ultimately transcend the period. Read full review

New York Daily News - Jami Bernard

Charlize Theron's Gilda in Head in the Clouds invites comparison to Rita Hayworth in 1946's "Gilda," which adds a touch of the ludicrous to this already strained material set in wartime France. Read full review

The Hollywood Reporter - Kirk Honeycutt

Unconvincing melodrama. Read full review

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold

An exceedingly dull retro-weepie. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - Peter Rainer

The film is a stodgy snooze, and Theron, who is about as expressive here as a porcelain doll, lacks all believability--she's followed her best performance (in Monster) with her worst. Read full review

Washington Post - Teresa Wiltz

The plot contrivances are telegraphed too loudly; the emotional manipulation too obvious. Read full review

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

This spark-free film has no place to go on their resumes except under the heading of "Cringing Embarrassment." Read full review

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User Reviews

StephenM.

Oct 8, 2007

Theron's character is a terrific anti-hero who pursues the pleasure principle throughout life with single-minded determination--arguably an uncondemnable thing. Unfortunately for her, that quest for pleasure has her traipsing around war-torn France with her "head in the clouds," Theron's character is a terrific anti-hero who pursues the pleasure principle throughout life with single-minded determination--arguably an uncondemnable thing. Unfortunately for her, that quest for pleasure has her traipsing around war-torn France with her "head in the clouds," largely oblivious to the life-threatening environment in which she resides while on her quest for erotic pleasure. All anti-heros must eventually depart the incompatible society in which they live and they must do so either by dying or otherwise escaping that society. In this case, France's post-war society is vengeful, misguided, judgmental, and unforgiving. Her death is a great tragedy. Quilt by association has always been difficult, if not impossible, for society justify and her case is no exception. Arguably, she does not deserve to suffer her fate. The story could have been written to avoid tragedy and have a happy ending if she had been wise enough to flee France for America, where free spirits can grow and flourish, but she didn't because her head was in the clouds and that flaw didn't serve her best interests. The film's critics never mention any of this and that leaves me wondering if they truly understood (let alone appreciate) her character and the story of a great, arguably blameless, anti-hero.… Expand

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EricS.

Aug 21, 2006

Profoundly moving and disturbing movie. Theron superb as femme fatale. Excellent acting all around. Drama intense.

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MehdyM.

Jul 6, 2006

an effective story, well designed scenes, and good performance. I think there must be some kind of marketing problem with this film, becuase it's not as famous as it deserves.

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BubbaJ.

Dec 31, 2006

Epic saga of love and war and the culminating in the occupation and liberation of Paris.

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