Stage Beauty
Lions Gate Films | Release Date: October 8, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
64
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews
Positive:
25
Mixed:
13
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The New York TimesDana Stevens
As drama, Stage Beauty is both timorous and ungainly, words that might also describe Ms. Danes's performance. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineAngel Cohn
The film is an intriguing and hugely theatrical experience whose effectiveness is greatly enhanced by gorgeous period costumes and set design. Read full review
58
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
A celebration of the theater that tends to drag the moment it's out of drag. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
There's an enjoyably literate style here and some humorous moments. Read full review
50
PremiereStaff (Not Credited)
The result is more bawdy diversion than historical fable. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
As historical speculation, it's clever enough. As a film, it glows with flop-sweat. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Over-orchestrated and underdeveloped interpretation of Jeffrey Hatcher's play. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
The film rarely matches Crudup's performance, appearing confused itself about whether it's farce or drama. Read full review
50
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
The wigs, hats and gowns look realistic, gorgeous and utterly right. In a vapid confection like Stage Beauty, perhaps that's what really counts. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Both interesting and insufferable. Read full review
40
The New YorkerDavid Denby
Second-rate bawdiness--that is, bawdiness without the wit of Boccaccio or Shakespeare or even Tom Stoppard--is more infantile than funny, and I’m not sure that the American playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, who concocted this piece for the stage and then adapted it into a movie, is even second-rate. Read full review
40
Village VoiceJessica Winter
Most frustrating, Stage Beauty fumbles XX/XY politics at every turn. Read full review
40
Washington PostDesson Thomson
In the end, Stage Beauty is in over its mediocre head. Read full review
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