Le Week-End

Name: Le Week-End
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: March 14, 2014
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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Le Week-End

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Movie Details & Credits

Music Box Films | Release Date: March 14, 2014 | R

Starring: Jeff Goldblum, Jim Broadbent, Lindsay Duncan

Summary: Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg (Lindsay Duncan), a long-married British couple, revisit Paris for the first time since their honeymoon in an attempt to rekindle their relationship. During a two-day escapade, diffident, wistful Nick and demanding, take-charge Meg careen from harmony to disharmony to resignation and back again as they takeNick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg (Lindsay Duncan), a long-married British couple, revisit Paris for the first time since their honeymoon in an attempt to rekindle their relationship. During a two-day escapade, diffident, wistful Nick and demanding, take-charge Meg careen from harmony to disharmony to resignation and back again as they take stock of half a lifetime of deep tenderness—and even deeper regret. A surprise invitation from Nick’s old friend Morgan (Jeff Goldblum), an amusingly boorish American academic with a fancy Parisian address, soon leads them to an unexpectedly hopeful vision of what their love and marriage might still become.… Expand

Director: Roger Michell

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Rex Reed

Mar 12, 2014

They are two intelligent, sophisticated people searching for the spicy condiment they need to keep their relationship fresh during a bittersweet weekend in Paris, and, like the film that frames them, they are smart, substantial and enchanting. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Susan Wloszczyna

Mar 14, 2014

When Michell is on his game, as he definitely is with Le Week-End, he unearths small, invaluable and even profound truths about the human condition that are often as inspiring as they are devastating. Read full review

David Rooney

Sep 25, 2013

The film is imbued with an engaging mix of warmth and prickliness by the lovely, lived-in performances of Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Mar 14, 2014

The monologue that Goldblum delivers there, grand with illusion and larded with mouthfuls of canapes, is entirely delicious -- roguish and absurd, but lending the film a zest that it was in danger of losing. [17 March 2014, p.79]

R. Kurt Osenlund

Sep 25, 2013

Both keenly calculated and flowing with offbeat, naturalistic detail, Hanif Kureishi's jewel of a script reflects his sensibilities as a playwright. Read full review

Bill Stamets

Mar 20, 2014

This late adulthood lark is a treat. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Mar 13, 2014

Le Week-End is a sour and misanthropic film masquerading as an honest and sensitive romance. A painful and unremittingly bleak look at a difficult marriage, it wants us to sit through a range of domestic horrors without offering much of anything as a reward. Read full review

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User Reviews

Avril

Sep 22, 2014

A charming, and affecting look into an elerly couples eventful weekend in Paris. Lindsay Duncan is absolutely phenominal, she demans screentime, and she delivers a performance that is believeable, smart and and heartfelt. dr Paris has never looked this wonderful, and the score makes it feelA charming, and affecting look into an elerly couples eventful weekend in Paris. Lindsay Duncan is absolutely phenominal, she demans screentime, and she delivers a performance that is believeable, smart and and heartfelt. dr Paris has never looked this wonderful, and the score makes it feel like you are walking beside them, laughing with them, arguing amongst them. Well worth it!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 20, 2021

This is a romantic drama film, with comedy elements and it contains themes including philosophy, marriage, jealousy and friendship. I found it quite amusing from the start - not uproariously hilarious or anything like that but moderately amusing, yes. I found myself feeling endeared to JimThis is a romantic drama film, with comedy elements and it contains themes including philosophy, marriage, jealousy and friendship. I found it quite amusing from the start - not uproariously hilarious or anything like that but moderately amusing, yes. I found myself feeling endeared to Jim Broadbents character, Nick - being prone to blunders and being very grumpy, somewhat similar to Victor Meldrew (although ok, maybe not quite THAT extreme!). Watching his frustration come out through finding out things haven't gone so well regarding his planned accommodation in Paris, with the French trying to help him out, I could imagine how irritated I may have been, had I been in his situation. Suffice to say, there is definitely a presence of dry wit in this film.

The film features some nice shots of Paris - the city centre, the Eiffel tower, aerial shots of the city etc. I reckon that most married couples who have gone through a stage when they feel that they may be drifting apart, or/and that they wind each other up moreso than enjoy each others company, will be able to relate to this film, to one extent or the other. I've never been married but I enjoyed it more than I'd, realistically, expected to.

Cast wise, other than Jim Broadbent as the slightly miserly, somewhat stubborn Nick, Lindsay Duncan plays Meg. She is not afraid to counter Nicks barbed comments and the two of them do somewhat 'bounce off each other', wit wise. There are some particularly amusing examples of her dialogue, such as when she asks Nick 'why do you have your constipated face on?!' clearly there's someone who knows him all TOO well lol!. Joking aside, you can see there is a chemistry between them on screen but they do also, of course, wind each other up something rotten as well!. I liked that it seemed we, as viewers, were being given a glimpse in to them attempting to relive their younger years in slightly later life - there's something quite uplifting and positive about it, which makes us hope that things can work out well for the two of them ultimately. Those two aside, other cast members include Jeff Goldblum as Morgan - an old, well to do friend of Nicks who they bump in to and who invites them to an event.

Content wise, the film contains ocassional quite mild sex references, an instance where blood is shown in relation to an accident but its not very frightening and some strong language is used. Characters are shown drinking and smoking but its not depicted in a particularly postive, or glamorous, way as such - its mostly a quite mundane film, as far as the tone is concerned. Surprisingly, it was given a 15 rating in the UK, which seems a little strong in my view and I can only presume is down to the few swear words.

The music played during this film is quite remiscent of the sort of tinned music you sometimes hear in hotel elevators and the like - light piano based tune, slightly jazzy ones, I suppose to go along with the whole romantic element of Paris. It isn't a particularly stylised film a la Woody Allen or that sort of thing but I found it surprisingly entertaining all the same - if anything then probably because it doesn't take itself too seriously and it isn't overly stylised (to a point of pretentiousness).

I'd recommend this film as I found it quite funny and entertaining, with a good cast, good cinematography, a good use of music and overall an enjoyable watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LeZee

Mar 25, 2014

A simplest movie, which tells the story of an old couple from Birmingham who decides to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in Paris. Like all the married couples these two as well not exceptional for facing all the ups and downs during their life together. So this story spells some ofA simplest movie, which tells the story of an old couple from Birmingham who decides to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in Paris. Like all the married couples these two as well not exceptional for facing all the ups and downs during their life together. So this story spells some of their tragic and happy moments of past and present.

Nicely written script, it was very plain and narrow. Everything in the movie was kept uncomplicated including portrayal of characters. Jeff Goldblum's cameo was added more flavour to the movie. His entry was at the right time to spice up the momentum.

The adventurous mischief of the two couples in the city of love was the movie's fun parts. Apart from that, uncompromising dialogue between them briefs their relationship difficulties. One more movie to add to the list where the old guys rule. It is based on a precious subject, kinda rare in today's cinema.

A delightful movie to watch. Began with a normal pace, then later geared up till the end. With a minimum cast the movie did not cost much, but there is no compromise in quality. Very much more enjoyable which deals with a sensitive issue of a long married couple. It is a good pick for the family audience to watch on weekends.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lyn

Jul 20, 2014

This is "Before Midnight" for the retirement-age set. Unlike the couple in that other film, Nick and Meg don't shriek incessantly at each other about all the things they've been pissed off about for 8 or 10 years. Rather (because they're older? More rational? English?) they pick at someThis is "Before Midnight" for the retirement-age set. Unlike the couple in that other film, Nick and Meg don't shriek incessantly at each other about all the things they've been pissed off about for 8 or 10 years. Rather (because they're older? More rational? English?) they pick at some well-worn weaknesses as they also mull over their marriage and their respective lots in life. And as they companionably gad about In Paris, which of course makes it more entertaining. This is the kind of role Jim Broadbent so often plays to perfection, and Lindsay Duncan also is great as an older woman trying to maintain her edge. Jeff Goldblum adds some fizz as a guy who seems like an older version of the funny/annoying dork he played in "The Big Chill." I like the way this film portrays late-in-life complexities ... bleak at times, funny at times: thought-provoking.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

foxgrove

Mar 14, 2014

A bitter sweet drama that is also funny. Jim Broadbent and (especially) Lindsay Duncan are utterly convincing as a jaded married couple returning to Paris to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Hanif Kureishi's screenplay is wonderfully observant in the way it explores the complexityA bitter sweet drama that is also funny. Jim Broadbent and (especially) Lindsay Duncan are utterly convincing as a jaded married couple returning to Paris to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. Hanif Kureishi's screenplay is wonderfully observant in the way it explores the complexity of emotions that long term marriages are prone to. I defy anyone who has been married as long as this couple not to recognise themselves in at least some aspects of the fine writing. The compromises, broken dreams, regrets, recriminations, disappointments, triumphs and failures all come under accurate scrutiny and the performers add the nuances that makes the whole thing ring with the sting of truth. This doesn't mean, however, that there aren't some bizarre and unlikely interludes. I really don't think your average 50 year old is going to attempt to do a runner from a restaurant, but these are forgivable and still enjoyable moments in an intelligent, if at times, rather sad tale.

As an aside, and almost by default, the film highlights how travel and weekend breaks (specifically here) can be fraught and stressful, in contradiction to the fun they are meant to be. The film ends on an up beat note, but like the emotional roller coaster ride that the couple themselves are on, this is just an UP moment in the rich and ever changing tapestry that is called life.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

danipp

May 17, 2015

What we have here is a story of an ordinary couple who has aged after spending many decades together so their journey in Paris after 30 years since their honeymoon is nothing like in the past. They fight, they laugh, they cry, they have problems with sex...just like any other couple of theirWhat we have here is a story of an ordinary couple who has aged after spending many decades together so their journey in Paris after 30 years since their honeymoon is nothing like in the past. They fight, they laugh, they cry, they have problems with sex...just like any other couple of their age in real life. Besides some weird sequences and an unconvincing character played dy Jeff Goldblum (he's great performing but his role is bizarre), Le Week-End is a good film to relax after a long week.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

swing

Mar 17, 2014

You know how they say a movie can grow on you ? Well, they are right. This movie grew so that I ended up despising it. So boring and pretentious it was, with nothing to say. It was hard to hear (low sound). It was hard to look out, even with gorgeous Paris in the background. I don’tYou know how they say a movie can grow on you ? Well, they are right. This movie grew so that I ended up despising it. So boring and pretentious it was, with nothing to say. It was hard to hear (low sound). It was hard to look out, even with gorgeous Paris in the background. I don’t care what the critics say, this movie was a zero for me.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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