X

2017
R
Momentum Pictures
1 h 50 m

2017
R
Momentum Pictures
1 h 50 m

Summary In the California apple country, nine hundred migratory workers rise up "in dubious battle" against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan (Nat Wolff), the strike is founded on his tragic idealism, on the "courage never to submit or yield...

Directed By: James Franco

Written By: Matt Rager, John Steinbeck

2017
R
Momentum Pictures
1 h 50 m

2017
R
Momentum Pictures
1 h 50 m

In Dubious Battle

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 15 Critic Reviews

43

User Score Generally Favorable Based on 28 User Ratings

8.0

My Score

Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary In the California apple country, nine hundred migratory workers rise up "in dubious battle" against the landowners. The group takes on a life of its own—stronger than its individual members and more frightening. Led by the doomed Jim Nolan (Nat Wolff), the strike is founded on his tragic idealism, on the "courage never to submit or yield...

Directed By: James Franco

Written By: Matt Rager, John Steinbeck

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 15 Critic Reviews

13% Positive
2 Reviews

73% Mixed
11 Reviews

13% Negative
2 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

Metascore

Mixed or Average Based on 15 Critic Reviews

13% Positive
2 Reviews

73% Mixed
11 Reviews

13% Negative
2 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

Entertainment Weekly

Feb 16, 2017

For all its noble intentions, though, the movie struggles to transcend broad outlines: Its characters are strictly symbols, timeworn archetypes of good and evil as threadbare and familiar as the artfully faded calicos and denim on their backs.

By Leah Greenblatt FULL REVIEW

Feb 3, 2017

The movie gives us bits and pieces of drama, but in a larger way it doesn’t invite us in.

By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 28 User Ratings

75% Positive
21 Ratings

14% Mixed
4 Ratings

11% Negative
3 Ratings

User Reviews

User Score

Generally Favorable Based on 28 User Ratings

75% Positive
21 Ratings

14% Mixed
4 Ratings

11% Negative
3 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Los Angeles Times

Feb 16, 2017

The surfeit of familiar faces is a poor substitute for Steinbeck’s psychological astuteness, his rich understanding of the way human beings respond, individually and collectively, when they are backed into a corner.

By Justin Chang FULL REVIEW

Feb 3, 2017

It’s maybe Franco’s best-crafted film to date, and also maybe his dullest.

By Jessica Kiang FULL REVIEW

Feb 18, 2017

Franco clearly enjoys playing the idealistic rabble rouser, and who wouldn’t want to direct a movie so they could cast themselves as a charismatic radical? Unfortunately, watching someone else play make believe is only fun if you believe it yourself.

By Jude Dry FULL REVIEW

The New York Times

Feb 16, 2017

It is too flat-footed and sloppy to explore the obvious parallels between then and now, and the movie is peppered with gratuitous star cameos that distract rather than enlighten. At least it means well.

By Stephen Holden FULL REVIEW

Feb 15, 2017

This one even comes with a freebie: It’s got “dubious” right there in the title. But instead of being sloppily miscalculated (the “Franco touch”), this attempt at a Depression-era labor drama in the vein of John Sayles just bores its way through almost two hours of screen time, never rising above anonymity.

By Ignatiy Vishnevetsky FULL REVIEW

See All 15 Critic Reviews

Details

Production Company Thats Hollywood, Ambi Pictures, RabbitBandini Productions

Release Date Feb 17, 2017

Duration 1 h 50 m

Rating R

Genres

Website http://ambidistribution.com/titles?title=In%20Dubious%20Battle

View All Details

Awards

Venice Film Festival

• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations

Capri, Hollywood

• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

Related Movies

The Godfather

Universal Acclaim

Touch of Evil

Universal Acclaim

Pépé le Moko (re-release)

Universal Acclaim

Rashomon

Universal Acclaim

The Night of the Hunter

Universal Acclaim

Rififi (re-release)

Universal Acclaim

The Maltese Falcon

Universal Acclaim

12 Angry Men

Universal Acclaim

Mean Streets

Universal Acclaim

Pulp Fiction

Universal Acclaim

Collective

Universal Acclaim

Double Indemnity

Universal Acclaim

Taxi Driver

Universal Acclaim

The Irishman

Universal Acclaim

Carlos

Universal Acclaim

The French Connection

Universal Acclaim

Elevator to the Gallows

Universal Acclaim

Shoplifters

Universal Acclaim

The 39 Steps

Universal Acclaim

Uncut Gems

Universal Acclaim

Band of Outsiders

Universal Acclaim

Days of Being Wild (re-release)

Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.