20th Century Women

A24 | Release Date: December 28, 2016

7.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 163 Ratings

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BHBarryDec 31, 2016

“20th Century Women” was written and directed by Mike Mills, It boasts a fine ensemble cast led by Annette Benning with Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning and Lucas Jede Zumann who each give gifted and meaningful performances.“20th Century Women” was written and directed by Mike Mills, It boasts a fine ensemble cast led by Annette Benning with Billy Crudup, Greta Gerwig, Elle Fanning and Lucas Jede Zumann who each give gifted and meaningful performances. Unfortunately, the star value and the once good idea behind the screenplay fail to save this film from being slow and discombobulated as it strives to reach its unattainable goal. This, once again, is the classic case of the writer and director being one in the same person with no 3rd party filter to help cut, edit and alter the film into something cohesive and easy to watch. Mr. Mills, like most who assume these dual roles, becomes married to his own material, is afraid to alter it and never really allows the audience to properly see, forgive the pun, the “big picture”. I give the film a 6.0 because yawning 3 times during the film and checking my watch 4 is testament enough to why it deserves such a low rating.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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Brent_MarchantJan 15, 2017

Despite a number of fine performances and a handful of well-written, memorable moments, the overall production meanders in search of the glue it needs to pull everything together. The result is either a finished product that's entirely tooDespite a number of fine performances and a handful of well-written, memorable moments, the overall production meanders in search of the glue it needs to pull everything together. The result is either a finished product that's entirely too "inside" to be meaningful to anyone beyond its creator or a gimmicky exercise in contrivance that's a little too intentionally quirky for its own good. The rudiments of a good film are here, but, unfortunately, they never coalesce into a satisfying whole.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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netflicJan 30, 2017

It is a time period movie, set in 1979 in Santa Barbara where a single mom in her mid 50th is raising her only teenage son.

There are good performances in this movie, particularly from Annette Bening playing the mom. The movie is rich withIt is a time period movie, set in 1979 in Santa Barbara where a single mom in her mid 50th is raising her only teenage son.

There are good performances in this movie, particularly from Annette Bening playing the mom.
The movie is rich with interesting situations and funny remarks.

Absence of a plot does not help making the movie stand out. The film is a collection of episodes that makes a whole object if you look at it from a distance, similar to a painting by an impressionist.

In short, the film is atmospheric but boring at times. Worth seeing although not remarkable or memorable.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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TVJerryJan 23, 2017

The previous film by writer/director Mike Mills was "Beginners," which I called "a numbingly navel-gazing, somewhat arty examination of life, love and happiness. Too heady to be enjoyable." I can use that same critique for this film. It starsThe previous film by writer/director Mike Mills was "Beginners," which I called "a numbingly navel-gazing, somewhat arty examination of life, love and happiness. Too heady to be enjoyable." I can use that same critique for this film. It stars Annette Bening as an atypical mother in her 50s, who's concerned about her relationship with her adolescent son (Lucas Jade Zumann). She enlists the help of 2 female boarders (Greta Gerwig & Elle Fanning) to help form his character. Bening, who looks delightfully unglamourous, is complex and compelling every moment she's on screen. It's her first major role in a while and she's wondrous. The rest of the cast is fine, but it's the uninteresting episodic narrative and lackluster direction that make the film more self-indulgent than entertaining.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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amaryllisvnAug 8, 2017

Cute, but predictably band-of-quirky-strangers bond together. Nice acting but too much ho-hum dancing together to show how joyful they are. At the end I wondered what the fuss was.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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