The Reader

Name: The Reader
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: December 10, 2008
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Bruno Ganz, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes

2008

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 198 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 198 Ratings

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The Reader

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: December 10, 2008 | R

Starring: Bruno Ganz, Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes

Summary: The Reader opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair. (The Weinstein Company)

Director: Stephen Daldry

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Premiere Jenni Miller

Winslet deserves an Oscar for her amazing performance. Read full review

Marc Savlov

There is a sense of ambiguity at the core of The Reader that makes it all the more brutal, all the more honest in its deflowering of love and what one imagines love ought to be instead of what it too often is. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Fiennes brings to the role a shimmering subtlety. Read full review

Empire Kim Newman

The epitome of middle-brow 'quality' drama -- admirable within its limitations, but Bernard Schlink's Oprah Winfrey Book Club-approved book wasn't exactly literature, as this isn't exactly cinema. Read full review

David Ansen

The Reader can feel stilted and abstract: the film's only flesh-and-blood characters spend half the movie separated. But its emotional impact sneaks up on you. The Reader asks tough questions, and, to its credit, provides no easy answers. Read full review

Rick Groen

So why, despite everyone's best efforts, does all this bigness seem so small and unfocused and simply not up to the task? Read full review

Matthew Sorrento

The shallowest "serious" film to be reeling this year. Read full review

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User Reviews

HillaryP.

Jan 10, 2009

To KL before ragging on this movie for the full frontal nudity of a teenager, maybe you should do some research, the "teenager" was born 7/90, making him 18 and of legal age of consent to film what ever he wants...so I urge you to judge the film on its actual content and not your uninformed To KL before ragging on this movie for the full frontal nudity of a teenager, maybe you should do some research, the "teenager" was born 7/90, making him 18 and of legal age of consent to film what ever he wants...so I urge you to judge the film on its actual content and not your uninformed opinion. This is fiction people!!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful

JudyW.

Jan 9, 2009

I loved the moral ambiguity. It is one of the most thought-provoking films I've seen in a long time and Kate Winslet is outstanding.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

KeeD.

Mar 24, 2009

I completely agree with Maciej C. in one respect: Kate Winslet deserved her Oscar, but it should not have been for this movie. So nice to find a kindred spirit! Winslet's performance in "Revolutionary Road" was SHOCKINGLY good - awesome in the truest sense of the word. As for The I completely agree with Maciej C. in one respect: Kate Winslet deserved her Oscar, but it should not have been for this movie. So nice to find a kindred spirit! Winslet's performance in "Revolutionary Road" was SHOCKINGLY good - awesome in the truest sense of the word. As for The Reader, I can understand the critics' opinions that parts of the 2nd half did not live up to the beginning. What I hate, though, is their seeming dislike of ambiguity. Hello! Ambiguity and a sense of the characters suffocating their emotions doesn't make for a bad, or even average, film. I found it heartbreaking in so many ways, and that's ok. Also, when critics are moralizing about their individual interpretations of The Holocaust, they are not reviewing a film. They're just trying to promote their opinions. This film doesn't FORCE you to have sympathy for a Nazi. It asks you, "DO YOU THINK you could have sympathy for a Nazi?" It draws no conclusions, just puts out plot points to make people think, and question their long-held opinions. I gave this film a 9 because it's not perfect. But in the world of current film-making, it is one of the best.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

JaneG.

Dec 28, 2008

An adult film that keeps your attention without throughout. Rating of 58 almost kept us away.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SakalIevgeniia

Feb 17, 2009

My first impression was that this is great and striking movie. It was like an attempt to look on things and events from inside. Firstly this film reminded me The Captain Reddle in the way of showing the life in its shocking diversity. It raises the quastions of law and moral, what should be My first impression was that this is great and striking movie. It was like an attempt to look on things and events from inside. Firstly this film reminded me The Captain Reddle in the way of showing the life in its shocking diversity. It raises the quastions of law and moral, what should be judged and what we could have a mercy on. So, frankly speaking, it seems a bit ideological, I mean an attempt to normalizing history. Is it possible to explain everything trough the feeling of obidience to law. Of course, moralizing is not the best way of accepting and interpretating because we should take into account different "personal reasons". Still as it was said in the film - every law is connected to current life. So from "today moral values" it seems like whitewashing of old crimes. PS. I am sorry for my grammar I am not a native speaker)))… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

roberti

Feb 28, 2009

When Ralph Fiennes starts looking wistful, and the flashbacks attack, the film lapses into sentimentality. Scenes of Winslet with young Kross, however, crackle with the power of sexual coming-of-age. Still, too many questions hover unanswered and we leave unsatisfied.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

fiora95

Jan 11, 2014

I would only say: bad, bad movie. The protagonist isn't able to act, and the screenplay was atrocious and very bad. The main theme was trivial and repetitive. There are many other better movies about this theme and I think The Reader isn't absolutely brilliant or good one. Bye!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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86	#86 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
17	#17 Most Shared Movie of 2008