A Private War
Aviron Pictures | Release Date: November 2, 2018 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
75
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
25
Mixed:
7
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The Observer (UK)Mark KermodeFeb 21, 2019
There’s an inherent irony in any drama that places her centre stage. Yet at a time when news itself is under fire, with journalists demeaned and attacked by despots bent on obliterating the very concept of truth, perhaps Colvin’s story is more relevant than ever. Read full review
60
The GuardianPeter BradshawFeb 13, 2019
The film’s relative failure to engage with the more quotidian details of Colvin’s behind-the-scenes existence is a shame, because it is here that some real clues to her personality might have been found. Read full review
60
EmpireDan JolinFeb 11, 2019
A sometimes clunkily executed true-life story which at least has potency in its blend of subject matter and lead actor. Despite often being hard to watch, this is Rosamund Pike’s best work yet. Read full review
60
The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeSep 15, 2018
Honoring the journalist's sense of mission but never shying away from the hard living and psychological damage that went with it, A Private War relies on the believability of star Rosamund Pike, who commits to this take on the character even when Heineman risks pushing off-the-battlefield drama too far. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMatthew MonagleNov 7, 2018
There are even times when both the subject and aesthetics of A Private War seem to align accordingly; unfortunately, the film is incapable of sustaining this poignancy for any extended period of time. Read full review
50
Slant MagazineJake ColeNov 2, 2018
A Private War ultimately sides with the late journalist’s assertion that the whos and whys of war matter far less in journalism than finding the right human-interest angle to hook an audience. Read full review
42
The PlaylistVictor StiffSep 15, 2018
Aside from the striking scenes occurring on the battlefronts, everything else in this picture is subpar. “A Private War” works off a disjointed script and tells a dull story, populated with forgettable characters. Pike throws herself into Marie, and the intensity of her commitment is palpable, but the flashy performance feels soulless. Read full review
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