Anesthesia

Name: Anesthesia
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: January 8, 2016
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Corey Stoll, Glenn Close, Gretchen Mol, Kristen Stewart, Sam Waterston

2016

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

See All

6.2

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.2	Your Score
6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Anesthesia

Now Playing: Anesthesia

Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: January 8, 2016 | Not Rated

Starring: Corey Stoll, Glenn Close, Gretchen Mol, Kristen Stewart, Sam Waterston, Tim Blake Nelson

Summary: A snowy New York City night, a beloved teacher, a shocking crime: this provocative drama pieces together the puzzle of a man’s life just before it changes forever. While on his way home one evening, Walter Zarrow (Sam Waterston), a popular Columbia University philosophy professor, is violently attacked on the street. Flash back one week, asA snowy New York City night, a beloved teacher, a shocking crime: this provocative drama pieces together the puzzle of a man’s life just before it changes forever. While on his way home one evening, Walter Zarrow (Sam Waterston), a popular Columbia University philosophy professor, is violently attacked on the street. Flash back one week, as actor-director Tim Blake Nelson traces the domino effect of events that led up to this seemingly senseless assault. Along the way, hidden connections between a seemingly disparate group of people—including a self-destructive student (Kristen Stewart), a hard-drinking suburban housewife (Gretchen Mol), and a desperate junkie (K. Todd Freeman)—emerge, forming a complex, engrossing mosaic of lost souls united by tragedy. [IFC Films]… Expand

Director: Tim Blake Nelson

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Stephen Holden

Jan 7, 2016

Lacking epic pretensions and modest in scale, running under 90 minutes, Anesthesia is really closer in spirit to Rodrigo García’s delicate 2005 gem, “Nine Lives.” And it doesn’t waste a word or an image. Read full review

John DeFore

Apr 30, 2015

The film is focused enough on relationships not to sound preachy. Read full review

David D'Arcy

Jan 5, 2016

Anesthesia comes from the heart, as few films do these days. Read full review

Joe Dziemianowicz

Jan 7, 2016

Anesthesia is sincere but numbing. Read full review

Molly Eichel

Jan 29, 2016

The irony of Anesthesia is that, while it uses interconnectivity as a storytelling mechanism, the characters do not really connect. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Jan 14, 2016

The all-star cast is uniformly good, but the script lacks any sort of nuance to temper the pandering lecture. Read full review

Clayton Dillard

Jan 5, 2016

Tim Blake Nelson's film immerses itself into as many pain-induced (and painful) subplots as it possibly can. Read full review

SEE ALL 19 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

annbd

Jun 10, 2018

Somehow not deep enough. The idea, directly affecting the problematic modern society, remains poorly developed and to some extent incomplete. Different areas are shown, some separate cases are put a little chaotic. These days, everything is corrupted by the inhumanity, that has developed inSomehow not deep enough. The idea, directly affecting the problematic modern society, remains poorly developed and to some extent incomplete. Different areas are shown, some separate cases are put a little chaotic. These days, everything is corrupted by the inhumanity, that has developed in this world. I understand, that's not easy to be consistently framed in two-hour film. Congratulations on the idea!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Sep 9, 2016

To learn what happened on that particular evening!

It is not great, but still a good film. Starred in an important role and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. I think he also wrote it decently that remind us similar classics. A multi-layered narrative, where everyone has connections or meetsTo learn what happened on that particular evening!

It is not great, but still a good film. Starred in an important role and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. I think he also wrote it decently that remind us similar classics. A multi-layered narrative, where everyone has connections or meets at one stage of the story. It sets in one fine evening followed by a mysterious tragedy. Then the story moves back in time for days to introduce all the characters and their intentions in the life. Different families dealing the different issues, but they all lead to that particular evening where it somewhere links them in and bring a fitting end with a twist.

So when the film nears the final segment, the curious among us rises. The common mistake we make while predicting the end is once again certain when the final push successfully takes us by a surprise. I am not saying it is a masterstroke, but comparing with the rest of the film, it was good. An independent drama film, except some sexual and drug references, it can be watched by the adults and matured teens, but the pace might trouble you in some parts with slowing a bit.

Actors were awesome. Since it is a multi-starrer, everyone had small screenspace, but excelled in that. The disappointment is Kristen Stewart, if you are going to expect more from her role. So the film lacks the star value. Having a good story, but not having the marketable stars made the film to sink deep bottom without a trace. Yep, as for now it needs more viewers, despite whatever result it produces. Other than that this film surely not bad as it was tagged. I will definitely recommend it.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smiyamot

Jun 23, 2016

One of those ensemble movies that show how diverse lives come to meet at a moment in time and how it changes them. Good thought but I don't think this movie delivers.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 3 REVIEWS