Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Name: Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Genre: Drama
Released: March 13, 2020
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 92
Cast: Amy Tribbey, Aurora Richards, Brett Puglisi, Carolina Espiro, Christian Clements

2020

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 1987 Ratings

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0.8

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0.8	Your Score
0.8	User Score Overwhelming dislike based on 1987 Ratings

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Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 13, 2020 | Not Rated

Starring: Amy Tribbey, Aurora Richards, Brett Puglisi, Carolina Espiro, Christian Clements, Daniel Buneta, David Buneta, Deepti Menon, Denise Pillott, Drew Seltzer, Eliazar Jimenez, Guy A. Fortt, Kim Rios Lin, Lester Greene, Rose Elizabeth Richards, Ryan Eggold, Sam Dugger, Sharon Van Etten, Sidney Flanigan, Talia Ryder, Théodore Pellerin

Movie Facts:

Received 7 nominations at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards to lead all films. More awards and nominations...

Summary: Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) and her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) embark across state lines to New York City on a fraught journey of friendship, bravery and compassion

Director: Eliza Hittman

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 101 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Mary Sollosi

Jan 29, 2020

There’s no need to heavily editorialize here; Hittman is an assured enough filmmaker to portray this drama honestly and non-manipulatively, trusting her audience to interpret the complicated heartbreak of Autumn’s predicament without having to explain it to them. Read full review

100

Ty Burr

Apr 1, 2020

The performance of Flanagan, a first-time actress, is both harrowing and possessed of an eloquence that has no need for words. You come away from this movie weeping for the Autumns of this world but awed by their endurance. Read full review

100

Mark Kermode

Sep 29, 2021

Perfectly pitched and sensitively played, this is truthful, powerful and profoundly moving fare from a film-maker at the very top of her game. Read full review

Peter Travers

Mar 10, 2020

The friendship at the heart of this film, as indelibly portrayed by two brilliant young actresses — Flanigan is a wonder to behold, while Ryder nails just the right notes of supportive and warmly sympathetic — is a thing of beauty. Hittman’s urgent film is an emotional wipeout. It’s hard to watch. It’s also impossible to forget. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Apr 3, 2020

The beating heart of Never Rarely Sometimes Always isn’t Autumn’s struggle with terminating her pregnancy; it’s the way the two girls discover companionship and the strength it offers. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Jan 25, 2020

With stunning performances from two completely genuine young leads, this is a movie people will talk about all year. Read full review

Alan Ng

Jan 3, 2021

In the end, my question is whether Never Rarely Sometimes Always is meant to be just a story or offer something political to say in the great abortion debate. I’m certain the film exists to highlight the stories of young women forced to travel across state lines for abortions. Either way, there’s not enough of either to make it a compelling movie in the end. Read full review

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User Reviews

AnilTO

Feb 8, 2021

As a male person, I think the movie can make you feel the empathy that most of people can never relate with. I wouldn't consider as feminist or misandrist movie. Yea the movie didn't show any good/nice men but it doesn't mean all men are bad/evil. Just try to understand the process ofAs a male person, I think the movie can make you feel the empathy that most of people can never relate with. I wouldn't consider as feminist or misandrist movie. Yea the movie didn't show any good/nice men but it doesn't mean all men are bad/evil. Just try to understand the process of person's struggle.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

deltanz

Jan 1, 2021

It is so sad to see that Metacritic doesn't do anything against sexist fake commenters that just logged on here to give this amazing film a bad grade.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

nmuldoon

Apr 3, 2020

Just some immediate reactions since it’s nearly 3AM, but this is an incredibly powerful and effective film. It’s made up of small moments that’s cumulative power is something pretty remarkable to behold. Eliza Hittman’s work reminds me in a lot of ways of Andrea Arnold’s films in the way itJust some immediate reactions since it’s nearly 3AM, but this is an incredibly powerful and effective film. It’s made up of small moments that’s cumulative power is something pretty remarkable to behold. Eliza Hittman’s work reminds me in a lot of ways of Andrea Arnold’s films in the way it creates incredible intimate humanist portraits of fairly insular characters. She also shares a lot in common with her fellow New York compatriots the Safdies Brothers in the way she captures unglamorous but a hyper-specific vision of New York unlike that we normally see in cinema. This attention to details has always been a hallmark of her works but there’s something specifically in this film that makes the world feel so real - little touches like hot sauce packets in a family junk drawer, the feel and atmosphere of being adrift in a city with nowhere to stay, the way a manager tends to speak at a dead-end retail job. Everything in the world of her film feels so lived in. The film tackles the topic of abortion and does so in the least melodramatic way possible, the film rather than announcing it’s thesis just simply takes you through the process and the maddening levels of bureaucracy put in place to keep women from being able to simply make a choice about their bodies. In the midst of all this though it also has a very human story and real friendship and that’s anchored by two incredible performances. Talia Ryder already feels like a star in this film and has such a softness and warmth that you can already see why Spielberg would be casting her in his work. The standout though obviously is Sidney Flanigan. The entire film rests on her shoulders and there’s very few frames she’s not at the direct center of. The character of Autumn requires such control and nuance given how quiet she is. Flanigan keeps this from ever feeling like a passive character though, so much is communicated in just the way she physically responds and so much of her strength comes in the way in which we see her just barely holding on but managing to. It’s an incredibly challenging role to take on and Sidney Flanigan not only rises to the challenge but provides Autumn such a distinct identity. I also don’t wanna go all Sean Baker here, but I love that Eliza Hittman always shoots on film and the cinematography here is absolutely gorgeous.

An early contender for Best Film of 2020… Expand

17 of 199 users found this helpful17182

DSEN

Jan 5, 2021

How this movie has a 0.7 rating from users is really disheartening. Got to catch a screening at Sundance last year and it was easily one of the most powerful films of the fest. I don’t if it’s a film I could ever watch again but it’s something everyone should experience. Eliza Hittman isHow this movie has a 0.7 rating from users is really disheartening. Got to catch a screening at Sundance last year and it was easily one of the most powerful films of the fest. I don’t if it’s a film I could ever watch again but it’s something everyone should experience. Eliza Hittman is really a director to watch for she’s been on my radar since she dropped beach rats a few years back. Please don’t let the horrendous user score sway you away.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Rewrite

Oct 1, 2020

This is a well-written, well-acted movie that seems realistic. An empathetic look into a life very different than mine...that's art.
Apparently a lot of people on both sides of the issue found this movie pro-abortion. That wasn't my take-away at all. While I'm fairly certain the director isThis is a well-written, well-acted movie that seems realistic. An empathetic look into a life very different than mine...that's art.
Apparently a lot of people on both sides of the issue found this movie pro-abortion. That wasn't my take-away at all. While I'm fairly certain the director is pro-abortion, the film didn't come across as a political statement. It was respectful.
I personally feel we're never going to get anywhere on this issue when people use terms like 'baby-killers', 'reproductive rights', etc. There are no simple answers, but hopefully this movie was a step in the right direction.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

henryzandt

Jul 24, 2020

There's obviously a lobby going on not to like this movie. But it's a good movie. Told modestly, acted naturally. About the luck that sometimes people can be helped when they're faced with a difficult choice.

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

Felix99

Mar 16, 2021

The movie is embarassing. Ridiculous acting, boring, slow pacing and full of cliches. The "critics" must have been paid to rate this thing 91...

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

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