71
Metascore
30 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumWilkinson once again astonishes with his ability to convey weakness and strength, hypocrisy and gallantry, cruelty and compassion in the same male animal.
- 88Rolling StonePeter TraversRolling StonePeter TraversWatson and Everett, both superb, bring ferocity and feeling to their roles. But the one you won't forget is Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) in a towering performance of grace and grit that deserves to put him on Oscar's shortlist. Good show.
- 88TV Guide MagazineKen FoxTV Guide MagazineKen FoxIf there's pleasure to be derived from the misfortunes of others, then Julian Fellowes' wickedly entertaining adaptation of Nigel Balchin's nearly forgotten 1951 novel is a barrel of fun.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterKirk HoneycuttThe Hollywood ReporterKirk HoneycuttThe story presents a moral morass involving betrayal, illicit sex, hypocrisy and a crime, yet the film feels tidy. Only one punch gets thrown, and you sense the perpetrator regrets his action immediately. It is all very British.
- 75PremiereGlenn KennyPremiereGlenn KennyIt touches deftly on class and race and sexual dissatisfaction and never lets up once it has put its characters under a microscope. Beautifully acted throughout, it showcases Watson's most complex performance in years.
- 75New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardA neat, twisty little domestic drama about smart people, foolish choices.
- 60Village VoiceLaura SinagraVillage VoiceLaura SinagraFellowes's larger goal seems to be making sympathetic characters of Anne and Bule, who for all their lovey-doveyness never emerge as much more than rich twits à la "The Great Gatsby."
- 60The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenThe movie is so busy constructing its labyrinthine plot that it often forgets to plumb the souls of its characters.
- 50New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickA soufflé that begins promisingly but never quite rises.