IFC Films | Release Date: May 17, 2013
7.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 225 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
181
Mixed:
35
Negative:
9
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3
csw12Jan 15, 2014
The movie is only 86 minutes long and yet after the combination of being bored to death and listening to one of the most irritating characters in movies this year, it felt like 186 minutes. The movie seemed to rely on the quirkiness of theThe movie is only 86 minutes long and yet after the combination of being bored to death and listening to one of the most irritating characters in movies this year, it felt like 186 minutes. The movie seemed to rely on the quirkiness of the main character, which faded very quickly. Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
emkadvJun 20, 2013
A big disappointment. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't. Frances is terribly self-absorbed and oblivious to the feelings of those around her. Up until the last five minutes, every chance she has to make a decision, she make a bad one. ThatA big disappointment. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't. Frances is terribly self-absorbed and oblivious to the feelings of those around her. Up until the last five minutes, every chance she has to make a decision, she make a bad one. That isn't realism to me; in real life we make a mixture of good decisions and bad ones. Only the ending, where she finally wakes up, saved the movie from being a complete disaster.

I saw this with our weekly movie group, and none of us gave it thumbs up.
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2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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3
ddbleMay 28, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you want to relive your 20's something screaming scenes that involve either yourself or watching your roomies, friends, lovers, ex-lovers, or maybe lovers about paying the rent...go ahead & enjoy...I did not. One of the very, very few movies that I have walk out on. Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful32
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3
StephBonnDec 29, 2013
Worst "critically acclaimed" film of the year.
I walked out, which I haven't done in a very long time. The last one was "Greenberg"...
ok, so maybe there's a pattern...
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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3
zedzdedFeb 27, 2017
Really overrated movie. I guess people who like Richard Linklaters' later movies will love this rambling, unfocused movie and its unfocused ditzy quirky eponymous protagonist. I just wanted to slap her myself. Please can I have my 86 minutes back.
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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0
dierregiAug 26, 2014
Frances is an "apprentice" dancer - which is hard to believe since she is very ungainly. Apart from "dancing" she never worked a real job in her life. Frances shares an apartment with BFF Sophie, in a sort of a "celibate" lesbian relationshipFrances is an "apprentice" dancer - which is hard to believe since she is very ungainly. Apart from "dancing" she never worked a real job in her life. Frances shares an apartment with BFF Sophie, in a sort of a "celibate" lesbian relationship (at least, from Frances' side).

Both girls have boyfriends, but Frances has no problem with dispassionately dumping hers, when he proposes she moves in with him. Unfortunately for Frances, Sophie actually moves in with her man, Patch. Frances, feeling hurt and betrayed (more strong lesbian vibes) cannot pay rent and moves in with another couple of slackers. Then she gets "temporarily" sacked from the dance company she works for and "sort of" runs out of money.

This does not stop her from flying to Paris for a weekend and from refusing a job as a "mere" accountant, which would not fulfil her artistic delusions. She meets with Sophie and Patch and comes to terms with them getting married. In the end, Frances accepts the "normal" job and moves into her own apartment, while maintaining her status as "undateable".

Shot in black & white, by director Baunbach, the movie tries and fails miserably to look like a mix of French nouvelle vague (specifically Jules & Jim) and early Woody Allen (specifically Manhattan).

Gerwig plays Frances as a lethargic young woman, lacking elegance and discipline, which presumably are needed for such a competitive and physical profession. Sophie is played by one of Sting's children and one of Streep's daughters plays another dancer, completing the cast of VIPs. Neither shines, but I guess being mediocre actresses will not hurt their careers.

Baumbach and Gerwig were (still are? Really don't care) a couple during the filming. Actress/director relationships usually produce mediocre movies, and this is just another one to add to the list.
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2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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3
sadmemerDec 13, 2017
it's boring, nothing happens, for a "comedy-drama" it's not funny and it's not dramatic, the cinematography is mediocre, greta gerwig's acting is ok, her love story with her best friend is **** because the actresses don't have chemistry atit's boring, nothing happens, for a "comedy-drama" it's not funny and it's not dramatic, the cinematography is mediocre, greta gerwig's acting is ok, her love story with her best friend is **** because the actresses don't have chemistry at all, everyone is a pretentious hipsters that doesn't actually do anything artistic (or at least it isn't shown), basically it's priviliged white people having to take really normal and basic life decisions ///BORINGGGG/// Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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