The Party

Name: The Party
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: February 16, 2018
Duration: 71 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer, Kristin Scott Thomas

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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The Party

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Movie Details & Credits

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: February 16, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Cillian Murphy, Emily Mortimer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Timothy Spall

Summary: Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) is hosting an intimate gathering of friends in her London home to celebrate her political ascension, while her husband, Bill (Timothy Spall), seems preoccupied. Janet’s acerbic best friend, April (Patricia Clarkson), arrives and others follow, some with their own dramatic news to share, but an announcement byJanet (Kristin Scott Thomas) is hosting an intimate gathering of friends in her London home to celebrate her political ascension, while her husband, Bill (Timothy Spall), seems preoccupied. Janet’s acerbic best friend, April (Patricia Clarkson), arrives and others follow, some with their own dramatic news to share, but an announcement by Bill provokes a series of revelations that gradually unravel the sophisticated soiree, and a night that began with champagne may end with gunplay.… Expand

Director: Sally Potter

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 71 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Kate Taylor

Mar 1, 2018

With its claustrophobic unity of time and place, the disintegrating party feels highly theatrical and, of various classic screen adaptations from the stage, this wonderfully performed black-and-white film recalls in particular Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf." Yet also, Potter's comic dissection of the London intelligentsia's personal and political angst is completely of the moment. Read full review

Chris Nashawaty

Feb 16, 2018

It’s basically a Murderer’s Row of indie pros who play off one another like they’ve been performing this particular toxic soiree on a West End stage for years. Read full review

Justin Chang

Feb 15, 2018

With The Party, availing herself of a zinger-heavy script and an unimprovable cast, the director has made not only her most accessible picture to date, but also a shrewd demonstration of the less-is-more principle. Read full review

Oleg Ivanov

Feb 13, 2018

It captures the qualities of live theater that are rarely transmitted to film, of being immediate, alive, and spontaneous, as if the viewer is just a stone's throw away from the characters. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Feb 22, 2018

The plot is sparse. This is about acting, dialogue, and character interaction, not narrative. Read full review

Alan Zilberman

Feb 20, 2018

This is a film that encapsulates the anxiety of the present moment, complicated by friendships that lean, at times, toward outright hostility. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

Feb 15, 2018

The Party is a brittle, unfunny attempt at comedy that features some very fine actors and a lot of empty chatter. Read full review

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User Reviews

GinaK

Feb 27, 2018

The Party is a beautifully acted contemporary ensemble comedy/farce with a smart script that ends with a wonderful and very funny twist. The direction is very clever and keeps the comedy moving along at high speed even though most of the action takes place in two small rooms and onlyThe Party is a beautifully acted contemporary ensemble comedy/farce with a smart script that ends with a wonderful and very funny twist. The direction is very clever and keeps the comedy moving along at high speed even though most of the action takes place in two small rooms and only branches out occasionally to the backyard and the bathroom. I won’t tell you why since it will spoil the fun. Great work from everyone (the actors were obviously enjoying themselves) and from the director Sally Potter who kept things lively and hilarious.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Guardrail

Feb 26, 2018

This is a tight little drama, a raging black comedy for sure, but there's so much more to it. Rest assured you'll savor the skewering of certain members of the cast, and this alone makes it worth the price of admission. But as to the more subtle messages, you might have to see it twice justThis is a tight little drama, a raging black comedy for sure, but there's so much more to it. Rest assured you'll savor the skewering of certain members of the cast, and this alone makes it worth the price of admission. But as to the more subtle messages, you might have to see it twice just to convince yourself that someone had the guts enough to put it out there so fearlessly. If you saw Ginger & Rosa, you probably know what I'm talking about. Either way, throw yourself into the fire.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Rebecca31

Feb 16, 2018

A dinner party that goes horribly, horribly wrong. The Party is a gem. The script is sharp, fast paced with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Written and directed by Sally Potter, this desperately tragic story is wrapped in laughs that just keep on coming. With a running time of only 71A dinner party that goes horribly, horribly wrong. The Party is a gem. The script is sharp, fast paced with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Written and directed by Sally Potter, this desperately tragic story is wrapped in laughs that just keep on coming. With a running time of only 71 minutes it wastes absolutely no time reeling you in. You’re immediately brought into this story that unveils everything it has to only when it has to. Set in a single location, filled with a terrific cast. Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall and Cillian Murphy are superb. Patricia Clarkson had me in stitches. A wonderfully simple idea you can’t not enjoy The Party.

From the trailer I was sold but The Party certainly exceeded my expectations. Immensely entertaining and highly recommended, find a cinema showing it, sit back and enjoy.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Deanomite

Feb 2, 2020

It starts very slow, the music feels like a lullaby, even the ringtones are boring. Even Cillian Murphy doing drugs didn't liven it up, he honestly looks like he wandered off another movie, one i would have liked to see. Here, he just emphasizes that its a retirement home. I made it 20It starts very slow, the music feels like a lullaby, even the ringtones are boring. Even Cillian Murphy doing drugs didn't liven it up, he honestly looks like he wandered off another movie, one i would have liked to see. Here, he just emphasizes that its a retirement home. I made it 20 minutes, definitely not the audience for this movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Mar 12, 2018

This film is in black and white, so that already suggests a level of pretentiousness. Ironically, so was the film version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and this effort aspires to that sort of soiree. Sadly, it never comes close to Woolf's brilliant dialogue and biting interactions.This film is in black and white, so that already suggests a level of pretentiousness. Ironically, so was the film version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and this effort aspires to that sort of soiree. Sadly, it never comes close to Woolf's brilliant dialogue and biting interactions. There's a fine cast, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer and Cillian Murphy. They gather for a celebratory dinner, but anxiety hangs over every interaction. Unfortunately, so does the ponderous dialogue that destroys any hope of compelling drama. There are some interesting situations that are skillfully handled by the actors, but the whole thing is just leaden with affected, hollow interactions. The best thing I can say about this movie is that it's only 71 minutes, which still felt too long.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BHBarry

Feb 18, 2018

“The Party” was written and directed by Sally Potter and stars Kristin Scott-Thomas, Patricia Clarkson and Emily Mortimer along with some other fine actors. Unfortunately, the fame and talent of these thespians cannot save this wordy and unworthy film as it manages, in about 75 minutes, to“The Party” was written and directed by Sally Potter and stars Kristin Scott-Thomas, Patricia Clarkson and Emily Mortimer along with some other fine actors. Unfortunately, the fame and talent of these thespians cannot save this wordy and unworthy film as it manages, in about 75 minutes, to bore and annoy those foolish enough to have purchased tickets to see it. Ms. Potter has confused long winded orations and improbable circumstances with dark comedy…and it just doesn't work. To make matters worse, the film is in black and white which aids and abets the displeasure of having to watch it. I give the film a rating of 2 and suggest to members of the viewing public that they find any excuse at all to rsvp that they cannot attend “The Party”.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

axlrosen

Apr 25, 2018

A movie full of obnoxious people who fight for no reason. Everyone's personality is turned up to 11, to try to make things interesting I guess, but it just makes things seem so unrealistic. I guess if everyone's always pissed off and insulting each other for no reason, that's supposed to beA movie full of obnoxious people who fight for no reason. Everyone's personality is turned up to 11, to try to make things interesting I guess, but it just makes things seem so unrealistic. I guess if everyone's always pissed off and insulting each other for no reason, that's supposed to be dramatic or funny?… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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