A Quiet Passion

Music Box Films | Release Date: April 14, 2017

6.2	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

urbanmagicApr 30, 2017

Here is an example of why not to trust critics. This movie is awful. The wonderful Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle must suffer through some of the most stilted and pretentious writing and directing I have seen in years. It would beHere is an example of why not to trust critics. This movie is awful. The wonderful Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle must suffer through some of the most stilted and pretentious writing and directing I have seen in years. It would be fascinating to actually see an informed and intelligent rendering of the life and work of this amazing poet, but you certainly will not find it here. Much of the most vibrant and complex parts of the poet's life are completely left out of the story, and it renders her a self absorbed and miserable prig, which she most certainly was not. It also portrays 19th century life in the most simple minded way. The characters don't so much speak to one another as take turns pontificating in a way no actual human being ever has. If you are tempted to see this terrible movie, I urge you instead, to head to the closest independent book store and buy a volume of Emily Dickinson's poems and letters. They are wonderful and full of a kind of beauty and emotional intelligence that is completely missing in A QUIET PASSION.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

All this user's reviews

everettMay 16, 2017

I was astonished that a script like this, where the dialogue is mostly an exchange of platitudes, would get made. The characters are mostly caricatures. Other than one young woman who's so unbearably smug she deserves a category of her own,I was astonished that a script like this, where the dialogue is mostly an exchange of platitudes, would get made. The characters are mostly caricatures. Other than one young woman who's so unbearably smug she deserves a category of her own, we have the stilted, on the one hand, and the pretentious, on the other, including Emily herself. Having a voiceover of her reading her poetry only added to the preciousness of this film; and the absence of a score adds to an airless, claustrophobic atmosphere that might have been deliberate, in order to demonstrate the repression of the times, but in the end deprived all of them - with one possible exception, the Jennifer Ehle sister - of their humanity. I can't understand the high critical rating. Instead of bringing poetry to life, it suffocates it, which is a real loss, considering the power of the work of this poet who managed to achieve a status as a writer rarely given to women of her time - or ours. Cynthia Nixon tries; if anyone could pull this off, it would be her. But not as written and directed. I can't imagine such a talented cast signing on to something like this. The movie is worse than a missed opportunity to introduce people to poetry; it's one that confirms why so many people hate it.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

All this user's reviews

TVJerryMay 24, 2017

Let me start by stating that I'm not a poetry fan (unless it's a naughty limerick), but even if I were a fierce devotee, this dreary biopic would have faded my fervor forever. It follows poet Emily Dickinson (Cynthia Nixon) from her earlyLet me start by stating that I'm not a poetry fan (unless it's a naughty limerick), but even if I were a fierce devotee, this dreary biopic would have faded my fervor forever. It follows poet Emily Dickinson (Cynthia Nixon) from her early years to her final reclusive, pain-racked days. This film is over 2 hours, but without the interminable pauses between EVERY line, it would run less than an hour. The pacing is dreadful, the stilted language borders on pretentious and the endless misery isn't mitigated by the occasional readings of her poems. There are some attractive costumes and the stark gentility of the period is interesting, but the incredible tedium that pervades the pacing drains any hope of redemption. The best thing about the movie is the clever way they morphed the family members from their teen versions to the adult actors.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

All this user's reviews

LynNov 28, 2017

Evidently poor Emily Dickinson came from a family of neurotic, sickly, pedantic sad sacks. It is amazing that she managed to write any poetry at all, let alone her huge collection of wry, clever, sometimes depressed but always clear-eyedEvidently poor Emily Dickinson came from a family of neurotic, sickly, pedantic sad sacks. It is amazing that she managed to write any poetry at all, let alone her huge collection of wry, clever, sometimes depressed but always clear-eyed verse. I don't doubt that life in her smothering family, during this time period, was rather grim. See also: the Brontes. But this tedious film really does not explore where all that wonderful poetry came from, probably because there are limits on what's known about Dickinson for sure. Worst of all, there isn't much of her poetry here! And a scene in which she spouts her "I'm nobody/Who are you?" verse to an infant nephew is just cringeworthy. Cynthia Nixon waxes hysterical, but who wouldn't? On the upside, it's always delightful to see Jennifer Ehle, in anything (playing E's sister).… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews