The Humbling

Name: The Humbling
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: January 23, 2015
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 59

2015

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Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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5.4

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5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Ratings

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The Humbling

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Movie Details & Credits

Millennium Entertainment | Release Date: January 23, 2015 | R

Summary: Based on Philip Roth’s novel, The Humbling tells the story of a legendary stage actor who has an affair with a lesbian woman half his age at a secluded country house in Connecticut. Simon Axler (Al Pacino) has known nothing but the stage since he was thirteen. When he feels his craft slip away from him, he has a mental breakdown andBased on Philip Roth’s novel, The Humbling tells the story of a legendary stage actor who has an affair with a lesbian woman half his age at a secluded country house in Connecticut. Simon Axler (Al Pacino) has known nothing but the stage since he was thirteen. When he feels his craft slip away from him, he has a mental breakdown and retreats to the woods to live a quiet life until the daughter of his closest friend shows up at his house. The relationship takes unusual turns as people from their past surface and chaos ensues.… Expand

Director: Barry Levinson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer

Jan 16, 2015

Pacino still gets a blast out of acting. His performance in this film about a blocked performer is gloriously unblocked – a valentine to vanity. Read full review

John Bleasdale

Sep 5, 2014

The result is a beautifully entertaining film. It is witty and the scenes between Gerwig and Pacino fizz alternately with flirtation, humour and occasionally rage. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Jan 21, 2015

Pacino demonstrates considerable comic chops in The Humbling — which has some interesting similarities to “Birdman.’’ It loses some momentum in its third act, but provides plenty of juicy material for a terrific cast. Read full review

IndieWire Kaleem Aftab

Sep 5, 2014

The entertainment value of The Humbling comes largely from Pacino's performance. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jan 20, 2015

The Humbling should have been more brisk, should have been cut, and should have had more of the Pacino who finishes this thing off with a flourish. The soul searching and sense of a life misspent are interesting. But there’s an awful lot of hooey before we get to the “Hoo hah.” Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Jan 21, 2015

Even, however, if its thunder hadn’t been immediately stolen by "Birdman," which premiered three days before it at last August’s Venice International Film Festival, The Humbling would still look like a folly. Bad timing is the least of its problems. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Jan 21, 2015

With all the talent on tap — including screenwriter Buck Henry, who worked with Michal Zebede to adapt Philip Roth’s 2009 novel — you’d think we’d get something better than this outdated indulgence. Read full review

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User Reviews

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

The Humbling is not really a commercial movie, it will not reach my country and it is not a transcendental film either, but its value lies in seeing Al Pacino acting again and apparently enjoying it, which undoubtedly adds enormous dimensions to this work.
This film is a simple work but wellThe Humbling is not really a commercial movie, it will not reach my country and it is not a transcendental film either, but its value lies in seeing Al Pacino acting again and apparently enjoying it, which undoubtedly adds enormous dimensions to this work.
This film is a simple work but well done, if you have the opportunity to see it, do not hesitate to do it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

The3AcademySins

Mar 26, 2019

A strange yet unique film that seems to have trouble finding it's footing, even when spearheaded by Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig. On one hand it's a modern, almost surreal take on The Seagull, where Al Pacino takes the place of both Konstantin and Trigorin. On the other hand it's a weirdA strange yet unique film that seems to have trouble finding it's footing, even when spearheaded by Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig. On one hand it's a modern, almost surreal take on The Seagull, where Al Pacino takes the place of both Konstantin and Trigorin. On the other hand it's a weird exploration of aging and youth and the nastiness of relationships with an age gap. There are a few good scenes scattered throughout, but I had trouble focusing on this slow paced drama.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

markvantpark

Jan 25, 2015

This must be a Woody Allen movie.
This is the begin of the end for Al Pacino,
the last movie before he' s dying probably. A movie that shows what a life as that of Pacino's is alike, when no more work available, and getting old, and backpain problems. I left the movie playing in theThis must be a Woody Allen movie.
This is the begin of the end for Al Pacino,
the last movie before he' s dying probably.
A movie that shows what a life as that of Pacino's is alike, when no more work available, and getting old,
and backpain problems.
I left the movie playing in the background, while writing on my computer,
it is tranquille, boring, useless, and nobody was waiting for this useless movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

Jun 19, 2019

Levinson has something else in mind, but unlike Pacino, he doesn't have a guide like Gerwig.

The Humbling Levinson, truly and of course unknowingly, is digging his own grave. In the sense, that the major asset, the core theme, itself is obliged to corner itself out. The director, BarryLevinson has something else in mind, but unlike Pacino, he doesn't have a guide like Gerwig.

The Humbling

Levinson, truly and of course unknowingly, is digging his own grave. In the sense, that the major asset, the core theme, itself is obliged to corner itself out. The director, Barry Levinson is going in a new direction for sure. But this film about delusions fails to stage the theme productively. Primarily, there is no arc in the visions that he, Al Pacino does or doesn't have. There is no rhythm to tap on or to chase some loose end of the thread. Another issue is the hope that comes as a baggage while executing such a tricky plan. The audience is always at the brisk of their decisions waiting to run, leap or break into any bait given by the makers.

And that is some pressure to have while you are figuring out a way to peel off drama with these characters at this stage who are already numbed out, to be shook by any amount of intensity. Turn it to 11? Try more like 19. And now that I think about it, the film was never fiddling with some sensitive issue, I mean of course in terms of the genre. It was often derived from average films, so even if they'd nailed it on the mark, it was never going to out of the park.

Ergo, you start expecting to see some good performances. The film now relies upon it. Pacino at his age still oozes that sexiness that made him what he is. Broken and drunk, he overpowers Greta Gerwig with a more steady walk on the battlefield. Gerwig on the other hand, is left empty handed. There are scenarios where she is given props or avant-garde directions to flaunt her skills, but with a "supporting" tag, she is never in charge of The Humbling stage. P.S. finally someone who knocks like I do.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

kinoralph

Jan 23, 2015

It is a so minimalistic film that achieved what I thought impossible ......to make me feel bored with the performance of Al Pacino. I really don't know if the script is not good or Al Pacino just gave up of acting.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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