Puzzle

Name: Puzzle
Genre: Drama
Released: July 27, 2018
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Abigail Friend, Austin Abrams, Barry Godin, Bubba Weiler, Collin Grubbs

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Ratings

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Puzzle: Did You Forget About Us?

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: July 27, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Abigail Friend, Austin Abrams, Barry Godin, Bubba Weiler, Collin Grubbs, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Danny L. Chapman, David Denman, Helen Coxe, Irrfan Khan, Kelly Macdonald, Liv Hewson, Lori Hammel, Mandela Bellamy, Myrna Cabello, Sebastian Chacon

Summary: Agnes (Kelly Macdonald), taken for granted as a suburban mother, discovers a passion for solving jigsaw puzzles, which unexpectedly draws her into a new world – where her life unfolds in ways she could never have imagined.

Director: Marc Turtletaub

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

The Playlist Jordan Ruimy

Turtletaub does have a hard time finding a way to conclude Agnes’ story, but he ends Puzzle on such a delightful note of simplicity, that this near-perfect movie nevertheless stuns. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Jul 26, 2018

Macdonald has never starred in a film until Puzzle, and her delicate but deeply felt performance, along with the work of top Indian actor and costar Irrfan Khan and the rest of the cast, make this gentle, thoughtful yet pointed film the undeniable success it is. Read full review

Empire Dan Jolin

Sep 10, 2018

It might look like a quirky take on the sports movie, but Puzzle is in fact an astutely crafted character drama, featuring a superb central performance from Kelly Macdonald. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Jul 30, 2018

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film. Yet the play of emotions on Macdonald’s face tells of worries and wounds much deeper than anything that can be accounted for in the script, and it will take more than a jigsaw, I reckon, even a thousand-piece whopper, to free this woman’s soul. Read full review

Vince Mancini

Aug 2, 2018

Puzzle is one of those rare movies whose acting is so good it elevates a mediocre story. Read full review

The Guardian Mike McCahill

Jul 26, 2018

There is modest craft and genuine heart here, not to mention an eye-catching centrepiece: an actor growing more certain of herself, and more capable than ever of holding an entire picture together – even one as unusual, and sometimes as unlikely, as this. Read full review

David Sims

Aug 1, 2018

Puzzle is often too prosaic for its own good. Read full review

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User Reviews

lmorin

Sep 10, 2018

This is an excellent movie. Two couples (early 70's with grandchildren) saw it and were in complete agreement. Not the run of the mill story of a person overcoming obstacles and riding off into the sunset. Gentle, thoughtful, ironic, multi-faceted with the focal actions supported by theThis is an excellent movie. Two couples (early 70's with grandchildren) saw it and were in complete agreement. Not the run of the mill story of a person overcoming obstacles and riding off into the sunset. Gentle, thoughtful, ironic, multi-faceted with the focal actions supported by the gently illuminated complexities of family life. Maybe the initial premise of the storyline is a bit weak, but it is very easy to suspend any disbelief on that front. None of us can understand why the professional reviewers give this movie such poor ratings.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Aug 10, 2018

Inline image

The movie opens with Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) vacuuming the floors, setting the table, making food trays, baking a cake, hanging a Happy Birthday sign and placing balloons around the house and leads into a party scene with her coming out with the cake with candles and everybodyInline image

The movie opens with Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) vacuuming the floors, setting the table, making food trays, baking a cake, hanging a Happy Birthday sign and placing balloons around the house and leads into a party scene with her coming out with the cake with candles and everybody singing "Happy Birthday"--to her! She is not only the birthday woman but the maid, caterer, hostess, wife, mother, housekeeper and, it turns out, fast at putting jigsaw puzzles together.

One of her birthday gifts is a jigsaw puzzle and when she eventually sits down to work she is surprised at how quick she can work it out and decides to buy another one and finds out about a store in New York City that majors in selling jigsaw puzzles. Agnes travels in from her Connecticut home starting a journey on discovering herself as a person.

Along the way we meet Robert (Irrfan Khan), a millionaire inventor who lives in a beautiful home, impersonally furnished, in Manhattan whose wife left him, and he is looking for a partner to enter puzzle competitions.

Agnes has a loving husband, Louie, (David Denman), a domineering man who loves his wife and kids but expects them to wait on him hand and foot. They have two sons Gabe (Austin Abrams) who wants to take a year off before going to college and Ziggy (Bubba Weiler) who is expected to work in his father's garage but who wants to be a cook.

"Puzzle" is a gem of a movie, an independant film, showing a character who grows right before our eyes starting off slowly in slow increments and watch her take small steps before taking large ones. Kelly Macdonald embodies that growth involving us with her own surprises at who she really is underneath the meek, church going, obedient wife and mother presented at the opening of the movie.

David Denman, as the father who looks at a son who wants to be a cook as 'unmanly', gives a performance equal to Macdonald's and is particularly moving in a family scene and another where he confronts the wife he thought he knew but is a puzzle to him now.

Khan, Abrams and, particularly Weiler (I just wish he would change that first name!) are strong supporting actors.

The screenplay by Oren Moverman and Polly Mann only falter near the ending while the director Marc Turtletaub has a very strong group of actors to work with, guides them and seems to stay out of their way when he should.

"Puzzle" is a 'must see' movie for many reasons but mainly to watch an actress take her character through life changes, make those changes believable to her and us and is surrounded by actors who react to the changes that happen to her as we would.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

GinaK

Aug 22, 2018

Puzzle is an excellent film about an ordinary woman who has an extraordinary talent for solving puzzles (yes, puzzle solving is a metaphor). This is not a film that aims for a big audience, although it deserves one. No superheroes or gunfights. It’s the story of a woman gaining the freedomPuzzle is an excellent film about an ordinary woman who has an extraordinary talent for solving puzzles (yes, puzzle solving is a metaphor). This is not a film that aims for a big audience, although it deserves one. No superheroes or gunfights. It’s the story of a woman gaining the freedom to be herself in her own quiet way, and the film turns out to be absolutely riveting as Agnes finds the courage to slowly assert herself and do what she really wants to do. No loud action scenes, just quiet courage. The whole cast is wonderful, but especially Kelly Macdonald who embodies the woman who not only saves herself but also gives the gift of strength and determination to her sons. In the end she starts on a solo journey to do one of the things she has always dreamed of doing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

movieducation

Nov 18, 2018

There is sense of incomplete with a glimpse of bigger picture in PUZZLE, the way it places pieces undictated, the more beautiful it becomes. Serene and amiable even when it confronts some frustrating issue that’s internalized. Good benchmark for movie based on games, no ? Okay.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Jan 1, 2022

This is quite a, what I'd call, subtle film. Its a good drama, somewhat thoughtful. I liked that it offers an insight into the main characters perspective. I can imagine doing puzzles regularly is a good way to immerse yourself in another 'world' metaphorically speaking, if you find what youThis is quite a, what I'd call, subtle film. Its a good drama, somewhat thoughtful. I liked that it offers an insight into the main characters perspective. I can imagine doing puzzles regularly is a good way to immerse yourself in another 'world' metaphorically speaking, if you find what you personally enjoy. I respect the main character, her determination to keep doing what she enjoys, regardless of her families opinions, once they learn about it - Good for her!.

Its a pleasant and enjoyable watch, one I'd recommend, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Aug 31, 2019

Life's pieces don't always fit together as well as we'd like, and "Puzzle" (available on DVD and streaming) shows us just that, albeit a little all too well. While all the elements of a realistic, superbly nuanced picture are present (especially when it comes to reflecting the story'sLife's pieces don't always fit together as well as we'd like, and "Puzzle" (available on DVD and streaming) shows us just that, albeit a little all too well. While all the elements of a realistic, superbly nuanced picture are present (especially when it comes to reflecting the story's central theme), the film could nevertheless use a little more glue to hold the pieces together more effectively. The fine performances of Kelly Macdonald, David Denman and Irrfan Khan truly make this offering worth watching, though don't be surprised if you sometimes find yourself even more frustrated than the characters themselves while watching this one.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mauro_Lanari

Jul 18, 2020

(Mauro Lanari)
Episode 6938 of "Desperate Housewife" and scripted by pseudo-intellectuals: her husband shatters a tray to her, and she learns to repair it by becoming national jigsaw puzzle champion. Will anything change in their lives? Yes, no, who cares.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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