The Catcher Was a Spy

  • 2018


MOVIE IS historical enjoyable intriguing interesting spectacular
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36 %
32 % Rotten
$ 0 Million
See Where to Watch The Catcher Was a Spy
Positive Reviews 30
Negative reviews 30
Average Rating 2.5/5
historical enjoyable intriguing interesting spectacular

  • All
  • Positive
  • Negative
3.0
Its a disappointingly mild period thriller thats light on thrills. EW
2.5
There arent too many actors youll watch for 98 minutes even when theyre purposefully giving you very little, and I dont think Rudd, who becomes a supe .. Rogerebert
0.5
But for a movie that wants to tell you this unbelievable story about a smart guy, The Catcher Was a Spy shows its hand with faux intellectualism. Rogerebert
1.5
Every bit of derring do is canceled by a buzzkill of derring dont. Indie Wire
2.0
Every bit of derring do is canceled by a buzzkill of derring dont. Indie Wire
1.5
We can take on faith that hes got a brilliant mind, albeit one hes seldom applied with focus. Variety
2.0
Its a less than passable espionage thriller watered down by a vague character study. Time Out
2.0
Its a less than passable espionage thriller watered down by a vague character study. Time Out
3.0
He shoots in a perfunctory fashion other than making sure the evening streets look wet, there isnt much visual splendor. The Guardian
2.5
As the film proceeds, the appeal of its nostalgia wears thin and you may notice that there isnt much beyond the window dressing.
2.5
Despite sterling performances, The Catcher Was a Spy ultimately loses its luster in the murk surrounding the man it calls a walking enigma.
2.0
The Catcher Was a Spy cant latch onto an intriguing angle, choosing instead to leave Berg as a cipher but calling him an enigma. Collider
1.5
As it stands, The Catcher Was a Spy proves that just because Berg was mysterious, that doesnt automatically make for an interesting movie. Collider
1.5
The movie is well crafted, but it doesnt have the fullness youd expect in a movie with so much believe it or not weirdness. Vulture
4.5
A very enjoyable middle of the road adventure, especially for moviegoers willing to see just about anything starring Rudd. The Hollywood Reporter
1.5
Berg and Heisenberg conduct most of their dialogue, when they finally meet, in chess moves. And the movie tantalizingly leaves open the question of wh .. The New York Times
1.5
There arent too many actors youll watch for 98 minutes even when theyre purposefully giving you very little, and I dont think Rudd, who becomes a supe .. Rogerebert
3.0
It isnt what Lewin seems to be going for, despite presence of Ant Mans Paul Rudd. IGN
3.5
The Catcher Was a Spy is an unapologetically minor filmit doesnt try to imitate bigger historical spy films like Bridge of Spies (2015). The Young Folks
3.0
Its a juicy part, although Lewins film packs an awful lot into ninety minutes. JoBlo
3.5
The true story of a baseball player who loves both games and secrets. Spirituality And Practice
3.0
Too restrained and genteel to fully satisfy as an exciting real life espionage tale, its also too speculative in its treatment of some major narrative .. One Guys Opinion
1.5
The Catcher Was a Spy is one of those curiously bad movies with a good cast where nothing makes much of an impression, unless youre seething about yet .. Village Voice
3.1
Here are some (not all) highlights of Bergs storied life, heres his Big Moment, heres what we think underscored his personality. Rogers Movie Nation
3.0
Lewin and Rodat show care for the true story origins of Spy, but their hesitation to awaken its potential turns the film into a museum piece. Blu Ray
2.5
The shift toward spy craft is far less fascinating than the man behind it. Mark Reviews Movies
2.5
Boring is the last word you should use for a sports hero turned spy story like this; its the only one that comes to mind after youve seen the film. Rolling Stone
1.5
When hes questioned by a commanding officer and asked point blank if hes gay, Berg cleverly smirks, Im good at keeping secrets. The Wrap
1.5
Catcher didnt really give the Sundance audience anything to hold on to. * The Wrap
3.0
A much more pallid experience than this eminently juicy subject deserves. Cs Monitor
4.5
He shoots in a perfunctory fashion other than making sure the evening streets look wet, there isnt much visual splendor. The Guardian
2.0
The Catcher Was a Spy only ever penetrates the surface of Bergs psyche, of heroism in the face of evil, of Americas pastime so that historical events .. Az Central
1.5
And theres an abundance of belly scratching going on in this film. Npr
1.5
So, dear reader, please dont start to watch The Catcher Was a Spy expecting an amusing experience. Reel Talk Reviews
4.5
With an engaging but slightly sluggish story, fine acting, and a committed crew, The Catcher Was a Spy mostly succeeds as both a tense espionage film .. Film Inquiry
4.0
This is a thriller with a lot more soul than most, and it deserves to be observed by a wide audience. Eye For Film
2.5
Unfortunately, the superficial script by Robert Rodat (Thor: The Dark World, Saving Private Ryan) and Australian director Ben Lewin (Please Stand By, .. Susang Ranger
3.8
The result is a juicy true story told blandly, but The Catcher Was a Spy is still a movie worth seeing. Observer
3.0
Donovans response to Bergs non answer to the question, Are you a fag is essentially dont ask dont tell. Flim Threet
1.5
The script, by Robert Rodat, skips around in time to elucidate the amped up drama, but it never gets close to Bergs own character. New Yorker
2.0
Before long, hes tasked with finding and interrogating Werner Heisenberg (Mark Strong), a German physicist believed to be building a fission bomb for .. The Film Stage
4.5
The film is sneakily innovative like that throughout, offering subtle alterations to established formula even if it doesnt scream transgressive. Uproxx
1.5
Its a mostly safe and gentle telling of an interesting story that remains engaging throughout its respectably modest 95 minute running time. Birth Movies Death
3.1
Not to say Lewins opus still doesnt bite down on far more than it can easily chew. Movie Freak
3.0
But if theres darkness in him, Rudd doesnt show it, only letting the veneer of Berg shine through. Detroit News
2.5
Lewin doesnt seem comfortable shooting the titillating elements of a standard wartime spy yarn, but also doesnt dare leave them completely out. Ner Dist
2.5
Aside from Howard Shores solid score, its a rare bright spot in a movie thats sorely lacking illumination. ( Film
2.0
But not only is Lewin unsuitable as a director, so is Paul Rudd badly miscast as Berg. Punch Drunk Critics
2.5
The film then skirts Bergs deep dark secret like an afterthought. Movie Web
3.0
He heads a spectacular ensemble cast that takes full advantage of the talents of Jeff Daniels, Sienna Miller, Tom Wilkinson, Giancarlo Giannini, Guy P .. Sandiego Reader
2.0
Stereotypical scenes like those taking place at night during fogs do little to enhance this old fashioned spy melodrama. Shockya
3.0
It never captured the imagination of what an espionage adventure should be. Dennis Schwartz Reviews
3.1
By and large his teammates either dont know or dont care, but theres clearly some bigotry hes had to deal with. Awards Circuit
3.0
Yet somehow, The Catcher Was A Spy is flavorless and unexciting, thanks to an execution as formulaic as a well worn copy of The Joy Of Cooking. Film Avclub
3.8
OSS chief Gen. William Wild Bill Donovan (Jeff Daniels) demands to know if hes a homosexual. Seattle Times
1.5
If this neutered biopic proves anything, its that an enigma doesnt photograph. Film Journal International ..
2.5
Paul Rudd plays Moe as an elusive, standoffish, and charming guy whos worth watching. Black Girl Nerds
1.5
Alas, as directed by Lewin and written by Robert Rodat, the biopic has the feel and the trappings of a thrown together made for TV item: overbearing m .. National Review
4.5
The Catcher Was A Spy isnt a spy film that will appeal to everyone, but its enjoyable for the right audiences. Cultured Vultures
2.5
Moe Berg was a Boston Red Sox, Princeton grad, fluent in seven languages, and a patriot who spied for the U.S. military as a hobby. He was many things .. Theepoch Times
1.5
The film doesnt drag from poor pacing, as one might expect, but it suffers from severe structural issues. Spectrum Culture
2.5
Lewin has crafted a biopic spy thriller, kind of, but the script has neither the character shadings to be a biopic nor the pacing and twist and turns .. Sf Chronicle
1.5
If there are brilliant movies about historical characters we know little about from nearly 200 years ago, surely Moe Berg deserves a little more. Entertainment Voice
3.0
The film feels like Rudds audition for meatier roles, but bless him, he just doesnt pull it off. Crooked Marquee
3.0
As for Bergs private life, Catcher tries to thread a difficult needle and doesnt quite pull it off. Splice Today
2.5
Such a remarkable and unusual story deserves to be told, but it needed to be told in a remarkable and unusual manner. This by the numbers biopic wont .. FanboyNation.com
3.0
While Rudd seems incapable of losing an audiences sympathies, he also captures Bergs secretive nature, the opaqueness behind the friendly smile. Host Madison
1.5
In Catcher, hes a nervous egghead who basically disappears from the narrative. CNET
2.0
The script by Robert Rodat just doesnt develop Berg beyond a shallow condensation of life achievement highlights. Film International
3.0
It is a strike out that failed to swing for the fences despite all the right elements. We Are Movie Geeks
1.5
It isnt what Lewin seems to be going for, despite presence of Ant Mans Paul Rudd. Ign
1.5
I cant say if screenwriter Robert Rodat was afraid any zing would feel wrong. Comicsverse
3.0
The Catcher Was a Spy has a strong line up, but theres no chemistry, making this one feel like a giant swing and miss. AXS.com
2.5
It never captured the imagination of what an espionage adventure should be. Sover
2.5
Rudd is no stranger to dramatic material, but he comes across as a bit too charming to be truly believable in this sort of role. Spoiler TV



See Where to Watch The Catcher Was a Spy