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Genius
P13 (MALAYSIA)
2016
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interesting
intelligent
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48 %
53 %
Rotten
$ 7 Million
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Genius
Positive Reviews
52
Negative reviews
29
Average Rating
2.9
/5
emotional
interesting
intelligent
historic
All
Positive
Negative
3.2
Quiet, reserved types dont elicit the same reaction: Its exciting to depict the life of Ernest Hemingway, less so homebody Don DeLillo.
Av Club
2.5
The movie dutifully shot in shades of old timey sepia does get better as its staginess falls away, but far too much drama stays on the page.
EW
3.8
It could be that I see so many dumb movies these days that Im inclined to cut a lot of slack for one of conspicuous intelligence, but I greatly enjoye ..
Rogerebert
1.5
They dont look, move or speak like believable people, and the airless sepia look of the film doesnt help.
Variety
3.0
As long as youre interested in the subject matter, youll be fine.
We Got This Covered
2.0
The platonic romance between Max and Tom shaped the books, but Genius doesnt really explain the talents of either, it just relies on you to accept the ..
The Guardian
3.8
It makes a convincing argument for viewing Thomas Wolfes work as a product of the excess and exuberance of the 1920s.
3.8
The arrival of Fitzgerald (Guy Pearce) and Hemingway (Dominic West) resembles a dutiful tableau vivant pageant of Great Authors Through History.
4.5
Guy Pearce isnt a bad Fitzgerald, either, although hes a controlled actor and doesnt convey what a sniveling wreck the man was at the end of his talen ..
Vulture
1.5
But its evocation of New York during one of the citys defining historic chapters is handsomely textured.
The Hollywood Reporter
3.0
Genius doesnt definitively come down on either side, but its worth considering how the film deals with long passages from Wolfes work.
1.5
But the focus is Max (Colin Firth) and Tom (Jude Law), a weary study in temperamental contrast.
The New York Times
2.8
When hes not watching movies and writing and editing film criticism, hes trying to absorb as much music, art and literature as possible.
Paste Magazine
2.0
Firths acting is stripped back, simple, and resolutely sensible: even if the film overdoes his characters unerring eye for purple prose, hes canny at ..
Telegraph
4.5
For its part, Genius, despite an appreciably swift 104 minute running time, doesnt exactly crackle with electricity.
3.8
Only Perkins seems to know that, of all his many writers, Fitzgerald is the best hes got.
San Francisco Chronicle
3.0
Hes low key and as such hes a bit of a dull, sullen lead to follow around.
JoBlo
3.1
Well written, gorgeously shot, and expertly edited, the film is also an exasperating exercise in good intentions gone wrong.
Philly
4.0
Genius is a rousing biodrama based on A. Scott Bergs Max Perkins: Editor of Genius.
Spirituality And Practice
4.5
If you can get past the spectacle of British and Australian actors portraying some of the most important figures of 20th century American literature, ..
Village Voice
3.1
But actor turned director Michael Grandages debut feature bubbles to life thanks to casting.
Rogers Movie Nation
1.5
Good editors strive to make themselves invisible, which is what makes this affectionate biopic of Maxwell Perkins who guided Hemingway, Fitzgerald, an ..
Chicago Reader
3.8
Tom doesnt want to lose a single word, and as he argues in favor of retaining his metaphors and diversions, Max politely but firmly offers criticism.
Mark Reviews Movies
2.0
This institution doesnt reflect its president and it doesnt reflect this room.
Independent
2.5
Having all the right ingredients doesnt mean you cant royally screw up the recipe, however, and the missteps start coming fast and furious even before ..
Rolling Stone
2.5
For all its tony trappings, the presentation of genius in Genius is purest Hollywood.
Cs Monitor
0.0
Even Perkins former protege Hemingway (Dominic West) loudly mocks the bard of Ashevilles logorrhea in this lumbering, dramatically inert film.
New York Post
1.5
The film doesnt go quite as far into explaining Wolfe, who Law paints as yet another massively gifted yet irresponsible roustabout, only successful th ..
Deseret News (Salt Lake Ci ..
3.0
That doesnt necessarily matter they are actors and, as Ive argued before, Mr. Spock wasnt really a Vulcan (spoiler alert).
Az Central
4.5
Is Genius a great film I wont go that far, but it is intelligent and entertaining. And moving. Ill take that.
Mountain X
3.5
Is it too much Well, sure. Genius is more Thomas Wolfe than Max Perkins, you might say.
Npr
1.5
Perkins gifts are clearly on display, but the movie asks us to take Wolfes brilliance on trust. Thats a fatal weakness.
Npr
2.5
What the film emphasizes more than anything is De Palmas gift for visuals.
Toronto Star
4.5
Genius scores for near monochromatic visualization of Depression era New York and New Canaan, the daring red of a womans hat standing out in a drizzly ..
Reel Talk Reviews
1.5
John Logans script is a jigsaw puzzle of clichs, and Michael Grandages direction is antiseptic, but a few moments ... conjure the editors forceful dev ..
New Yorker
3.5
Theres no lengthy debate as to what defines genius nor conversation as to what that even means; there doesnt have to be.
The Film Stage
2.5
While Firth does a fine and honorable job interpreting Perkins, its a tight performance with very, very few offhanded moments.
Chicago Tribune
3.1
Its especially fun catching Wolfes relatably over the top reaction to learning that hes finally going to be published.
Boston Globe
3.5
Genius nudges its nose, or maybe just the brim of its fedora, ahead of a lot of prestige biopics.
Blogs Indie Wire
2.0
Grandage has assembled a starry but peculiarly un American cast with many wavering accents.
Standard
1.0
...a drab, dark, slow movie with absolutely no chemistry between or among any of the players...the color so washed out that it might as well have been ..
Tony Medley
3.2
Genius deals with the creative ego, its trappings and the need everyone has for an editor.
Detroit News
2.5
Genius is indeed about famously intelligent people, but its ambitions dont go much farther than that.
Consequence Of Sound
3.1
Like a lot of dull people, Jude Law confused being interesting with being loud.
Nj
3.0
The two lead roles remain crucially flawed too, not romanticised or eulogised over, in what is by no means a sycophantic biopic (which we do see happe ..
Hey U Guys
2.0
Laws performance is so big snake like movements, a broad Southern drawl youd think he was doing a solo stage show. Theres no room for anyone else.
Now Toronto
2.5
Enter Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law), an exuberant Southerner whos apparently immune to writers block.
Stl Today
2.5
Perkins joylessness weighs down a film already heavy with a sepia toned palette and filled with dust motes and rain, its Depression era look turning i ..
Cleve Land
1.5
Genius looks like a half baked bread, lacking a solid emotional hook.
1.5
Or theres Nicole Kidman as Wolfes neglected mistress delivering the line, Ive been . . .
Christianity Today
2.5
One of storytellings most overworked clichs the great artist as insufferable human being gets a full workout in Genius, a labored true life drama that ..
Sltrib
3.5
This is that rare bromance movie in which the lads are less connected via women and drugs than by their intense, cerebral pursuits.
Scmp
4.4
Laws Southern accent isnt as strong as Firths flat New York delivery.)
Chicago Sun Times
2.5
The dialogue doesnt feel stuffy, and the running time is, fortunately, under 2 hours, so at least Genius doesnt overstay its welcome.
Nyc Movie Guru
1.5
Is it ironic or merely inevitable that a film about the challenges of editing great writers should emerge still needing more passes in the screenplay ..
Straight
2.0
Its only outside the workplace, on the streets of New York ca. 1929 or paying a visit to a small blues bar for an impromptu rendition of Flow Gently S ..
Sandiego Reader
2.0
Forget your computer drawn beasties this is old fashioned man in rubber suit stuff.
Straits Times
2.0
Thrilling when it gets into the nitty gritty of literary editing, and thumb twiddling when it does anything else
Metro New York
3.0
Even with its terrific cast this sturdy biopic is far from that which its name suggests.
One Room With A View
2.8
And Laws attention grabbing and slightly inconsistent North Carolina dialect doesnt help.)
Or Lando Weekly
3.5
Even at its most animated, Genius is slow and sparkless; it drags from beginning to end.
reason
4.5
For a film about finessing texts, there isnt much finesse in Genius.
Lainey Gossip
2.5
If you squint, you can see the thoughtful prestige drama that screenwriter John Logan and director Michael Grandage were trying to make, but its lost ..
Seattle Times
0.5
A misfire from distinguished stage director Michael Grandage about the artistic and emotional interplay between Thomas Wolfe and fabled Scribners edit ..
Film Journal International ..
2.5
Theres probably a great story about Wolfes genius in relation to his apparent madness, but Genius has edited it all out.
1.5
The film struggles mightily to dramatize the work of reading, writing, and editing, with loud scratches of red pencil on paper.
New Republic
1.9
There is plenty of genius on display, but the film, sadly, never comes close to being the equal of its subjects.
National Post
3.0
Any film that takes literature this seriously deserves some credit.
The National
4.5
and repeatedly crossing out words (as cinematically thrilling as you might expect).
New States Man
3.8
The quiet dignity and integrity of Firths performance is a tribute to all whose art is a life of service.
Movie Mom
3.0
Its not bad, Genius, but it could have been great, and thats the disappointment.
Toronto Sun
3.5
Frankly, it is just refreshing to see a film that believes Wolfes prose is worthy of feature treatment.
Theepoch Times
3.5
A film that, despite suffering for the performances of their cast, turns out to be an excellent story and an homage to literal art.
2.0
Genius represents a failed opportunity to get at the heart of the creative process.
Honey Cutts Hollywood
4.5
The film is a captivating example of superb acting and writing, not to be missed by serious cinephiles.
Kaplan Vs Kaplan
1.9
If youre going to get romantic about a writer, this is not the way to do it.
Heral
3.2
Peel back the cheese and half done parts for Perkins family, and the central parable on loneliness, friendship and business would survive most editors ..
Willamette Week
1.5
Maybe thats because most of the cast is British, save for Laura Linney, who tries, as Louise Perkins.
Kdhx
3.0
But thats not something easily conveyed to outsiders, who tend to view aesthetic calamities as small potatoes in a world where people, you know, starv ..
Aarp
4.5
Their story is rich with themes about creative work and concerns about legacy, and how they can interfere with friendships and marriages and being a d ..
L.A. Biz
4.0
In cinematic terms, you cant get much more genius like than that.
Bbc
4.5
Documenting the inner life of creative artists and their world is challenging at best... Genius manages to capture the grandiose dreams of both infamo ..
Leonard Mal
2.5
The biographical Genius is uneven, and that imbalanced focus the same thing that novelist Thomas Wolfe needed help with all those years ago is its wea ..
Chesapeake Family
4.5
A valuable film because of its story and its attractive cultural background, than by its (irregular) artistic results, which owes its most exciting mo ..
El antepenúltimo mohicano ..
3.0
Using his trademark ability to blend dour disdain with puppy eyed sympathy, Colin Firth forms an evenly weighted narrative footing as Perkins, while J ..
Ex Press
3.5
Genius remains tightly focused on the relationship between Wolfe and Perkins. When their bromance begins to unravel, it feels like a love affair drawi ..
Japan Times
4.5
If the idea of a book editing montage with lots of close ups of red pencils drawing through lines of typeface doesnt bore you, then you will enjoy thi ..
Lagniappe Mobile
3.0
Despite the emotional contrast, the film is enlightening and clear in what it tells and shows.
4.5
Grandages debut, based on the novel Max Perkins: Editor of genius, is a very interesting film supported by the performances of a great cast.
Excelsior
2.5
You can see the complexity that underlies Genius, even if it doesnt show up amid the ranting that is Laws Thomas Wolfe.
Sandiego Union Tribune
4.5
Genius may have its failings but it glows with a shared wonder of the world and of the written word.
Signature Reads
3.8
Genius, courtesy of some natural modesty and taste, is about a legendary American friendship and it is treated with respect.
Buffalo
1.5
A film about literature that is neither literary nor cinematic and it gives the impression that wants to get away from the solemn to reach the popular ..
El Pais (Spain)
2.0
The problem of the film is that the promised magnetism of the story its hardly found in the screen.
El Mundo (Spain)
1.5
If youre looking for a spectacular visual experience, this isnt it.
Sdgln
See Where to Watch
Genius