Falling
| Release Date: February 5, 2021 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
10
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
CineVueAdam LowesDec 10, 2020
What we are ultimately left with is a well-made, consummately-performed drama – Laura Linney shines in a small role as John’s equally exasperated younger sister – which unfortunately falls a little short of the intended emotional catharsis Mortensen is reaching for. Read full review
60
The Observer (UK)Wendy IdeDec 6, 2020
The directorial debut of Viggo Mortensen, which he also wrote and stars in, is an empathetic but gruelling account of a father-son relationship. Read full review
58
IndieWireDavid EhrlichSep 16, 2020
Mortensen’s first effort behind the camera never settles into the expected grooves of its genre or premise. On the contrary, the film vibrates at its own unrecognizable frequency as soon as it starts, and only allows for easy categorization during the clunkier moments when it bumps against clichés like a boat that would rather crash into lighthouses than use them for guidance. Read full review
58
The Film StageJordan RaupFeb 1, 2020
Mortensen is clearly attuned to the emotional toll of maintaining such a relationship—loving someone even if they don’t show any love back—but once this idea is firmly laid out early on, the repetitive narrative doesn’t expand to reveal more layers of complexity. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperFeb 8, 2021
The well-intentioned drama never makes the case why a decent man would stay close to his detestable father. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyLeah GreenblattFeb 4, 2021
Barring any greater lessons on motivation or forgiveness, the movie becomes little more than an endurance test; one far easier — at least for the viewer — to fall away from than to stay. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinFeb 4, 2021
Ultimately, this grueling, overlong picture — think a chamber piece but with multiple characters and locations — never zeroes in on what it wants us to think or feel about Willis or John. But if it’s sympathy, it doesn’t get there. Read full review
50
Original-CinKaren GordonFeb 3, 2021
It’s a heartfelt film that seems to be aimed at the strength of familiar love in spite of difficulties. The elements are all there, but the film’s repetitive structures render it frustratingly flat. Read full review
50
ConsequenceJoe LipsettSep 16, 2020
Despite great direction by Mortensen, who also delivers a strong performance alongside Henriksen and (briefly) Linney, Falling is a repetitive and exhausting exercise that never gets around to unpacking why the audience should care about its ailing patriarch character. It’s too long and too one note for too little pay-off. Read full review
42
The PlaylistRobert DanielsFeb 1, 2020
It ultimately crashes into a heap due to a host of rambling non-connective ideas and tonally grating dialogue. Read full review
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