Message in a Bottle

Name: Message in a Bottle
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: February 12, 1999
Duration: 131 min
Rating: 39
Cast: Kevin Costner, Paul Newman, Robin Wright

1999

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	Your Score
6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Ratings

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Message In A Bottle

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: February 12, 1999 | PG-13

Starring: Kevin Costner, Paul Newman, Robin Wright

Summary: Walking along a deserted stretch of coastline, Theresa Osborne discovers a moving, passionate message in a bottle. The letter's poetry and heartache reach Theresa, and her search for the author leads her to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to a sailboat builder named Garret Blake. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Luis Mandoki

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 131 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector

It may not be “The Bridges of Madison County,” but the latest Kevin Costner romance is nearly as good as they get. Read full review

James Berardinelli

It's not a great film, but it succeeds in being both tender and cathartic. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

Strikes me as a pure, unadulterated crock. [12 February 1999, Friday, p.A]

Roger Ebert

The climactic events are shameless, contrived, and wildly out of tune with the rest of the story. To saddle Costner, Penn and Newman with such goofy melodrama is like hiring Fred Astaire and strapping a tractor on his back. Read full review

David Edelstein

Plays like an inflated Harlequin romance. Read full review

Stephen Thompson

The depressing results will likely make viewers feel jerked around when it's all over. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Dreary, lachrymose and incredibly poky tear-jerker that makes its audience wait and wait and wait until nearly the last second for its jerking. Read full review

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User Reviews

JessicaK.

Nov 9, 2008

I thought the movie was a lovely romance. It is actually about a lie, but if you think about it almost everyone starts their relationships off as a lie. Do to pepole being so guarded in their ways. I thought it was romantic and although the ending was sad it was still a great movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

LULU

May 28, 2011

This film describes one of the most sensibles love stories ever to be told. It combines the struggle between the past and the present of a man that wants to punish himself for the misfortune he had with his lost wife. With no hope, helped by his father, agrees to take a chance with aThis film describes one of the most sensibles love stories ever to be told. It combines the struggle between the past and the present of a man that wants to punish himself for the misfortune he had with his lost wife. With no hope, helped by his father, agrees to take a chance with a possible new love, Teresa, a very smart and sensible journalist. The dialog between the characters is breathtaking, the pauses are so intense, it feels so real, as if this is not a film, but indeed the scene of life, where emotions are mixed and the result is always unpredictable. Message in a bottle is about acceptance, about opening your heart after a terrible loss, about forgiveness and appreciation of love and destiny.
I have seen Message in a bottle every year and it seems every time even better then the last.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

bjc

Sep 13, 2006

The book was better, but the movie was still wonderful. A tender romance story, with a very sad ending. The characters are endearing, and mesh well. I hope more movies are made like this.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Diameter

Apr 27, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Message is a decent film. The movie is well shot, the acting is polished and the story is cleverly diverse. However the whole movie is soured by the atrocious, bittersweet, accidental demise of Kevin Costner in the epilogue.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Veranda44

May 9, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEROJ

Sep 29, 2014

A strange but nice love movie with dramatic shapes and decent storyline... now i'll gve it a 5/10 because i think it could've been it better. 5/10 also means that there's a 50% chance that you'll like it (depends on what movie are you looking for) No spoilers included

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

papermanda

Dec 15, 2015

At the end you will say, "give me a break". There is no need to end a story this way, if the rest of it didn't blow you away emotionally - and it didn't.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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