Blue Jean
Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: June 9, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
87
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
18
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The TelegraphTim RobeyFeb 17, 2023
It's so rare in British cinema to see the "L" in "LGBTQ+" up there in such bold type, which makes Blue Jean not only a biting look at this historical moment but a riveting act of redress. Read full review
100
The Observer (UK)Wendy IdeFeb 12, 2023
A supremely accomplished debut feature from writer-director Georgia Oakley, Blue Jean captures a specific moment in British history with almost uncanny accuracy. Read full review
100
CineVueChristopher MachellFeb 10, 2023
[An] astonishing feature debut. Read full review
91
Original-CinChris KnightJun 23, 2023
It is slap-in-the-face powerful, taking place 35 years ago (I always wonder in period pieces where the characters are today; Jean would be in her mid-60s) but full of the kind of educational turmoil and “woke” fears that stoke today’s Western culture wars. The more things change... Read full review
91
IndieWireJude DryJun 9, 2023
Featuring a stirring breakout performance from the luminous Rosy McEwan, Blue Jean grounds the political with the personal — without losing sight of queer joy. Read full review
90
Film ThreatSumner ForbesJun 9, 2023
The framing, editing, and overall rhythm of the story brim with intelligence. When coupled with a star-making performance from McEwen, we have what should be a new LGBTQIA+ classic drama. Read full review
90
The New York TimesTeo BugbeeJun 8, 2023
The film’s most impressive quality is its nuanced understanding of how political circumstances create different spheres of life. Read full review
89
Austin ChronicleAlejandra MartinezJul 20, 2023
It’s a stunning debut worth seeking out, a reminder of what has passed and what is rearing its ugly head once again, and a statement about the necessity of queer joy and solidarity. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeOdie HendersonJun 22, 2023
It’s an empathetic yet forceful cautionary tale; we should pay heed to its message. Read full review
88
RogerEbert.comMonica CastilloJun 12, 2023
Oakley’s care and McEwen’s intense performance make Blue Jean one of this year’s most impressive movies. It deals with so much heartbreak without as many words; its pain is communicated through its somberly beautiful palette and performances. Read full review
88
Movie NationRoger MooreMay 4, 2023
Oakley’s ability to find a hopeful spin to put on this bleak time is a history lesson for us all. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleJun 15, 2023
Oakley’s interrogating approach of a moral moment and McEwen’s portrayal of see-through armor help us understand the viewpoint of someone who was never going to be a hero, but who could tragically internalize a rising hatred that might upend her life at any moment. Read full review
80
The IndependentClarisse LoughreyFeb 13, 2023
Oakley’s film ends on an ambiguous though hopeful note. Usually, this sort of conclusion risks coming across as a little mechanically inspirational. But Jean is a complicated sort of hero, full of indecision and regret. It’s something bracingly captured by McEwen, who plays her as someone in a perpetual state of fight-or-flight. Read full review
80
The Irish TimesTara BradyFeb 10, 2023
An elegantly structured film composed of clever, delicate movements, every aspect of Georgia Oakley’s debut feature – from Izabella Curry’s editing to Kirsty Halliday’s period costuming – is as restrained as Rosy McEwen’s excellent performance. Read full review
80
Time OutHanna FlintFeb 9, 2023
Ultimately, Blue Jean is a non-judgmental tale of self-acceptance, intergenerational solidarity and sapphic power. Read full review
80
EmpireJohn NugentFeb 6, 2023
It isn’t always subtle, but Blue Jean is a gorgeously presented, stirringly performed slice of British queer history that announces director Georgia Oakley and actor Rosy McEwen as major talents to watch. Read full review
75
The Associated PressLindsey BahrJun 7, 2023
Blue Jean is a perfect film to debut during Pride. It’s a reminder of the very recent past and the generational effects of institutionalized homophobia. Read full review
70
Rolling StoneDavid FearJun 12, 2023
Blue Jean manages to take an ancient anti-LGBTQ+ law and use it to foster a story of personal liberation. But it also knows that when your basic rights are threatened, no matter who you are or how you live or who you love, everything most assuredly is political. Read full review
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