Swimming to Cambodia
Cinecom Pictures | Release Date: March 13, 1987 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
68
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
7
Mixed:
1
Negative:
1
Watch Now
Buy on

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
A mesmerizing odyssey through the mind of a uniquely talented performer, as well as through one of the gorier chapters of modern history. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Gray's haunted, obsessional riffs are absorbing theater. Because Demme had the good sense to lay back and not beat them over the head with his cameras, they're equally compelling on film. [27 Mar 1987]
80
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Mr. Gray's feature-length monologue brings people, places and things so vibrantly to life that they're very nearly visible on the screen. Read full review
80
Washington PostRita Kempley
It's not the monotonous, neurotic's ego trip you'd imagine, but a karate-chop crawl against a rising tide of complacency. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
This curious idea for a movie actually works. Read full review
70
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
Spalding Gray's free-associating recollection of his experiences in Thailand during the making of The Killing Fields had an exhilarating immediacy which is mostly absent in this compressed filmed performance of Swimming to Cambodia. Read full review
70
Washington PostDesson Howe
As lectures go, this may be the most fun one yet. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderPat Graham
Very much a matter of shared taste and attitude, but cultural outsiders had best beware. Read full review
30
TimeRichard Schickel
His is a dispassionate sensibility, and he is not a strong enough actor - nor has he a strong enough intelligence - to fight his way out of the false analogy he has drawn between moviemaking and tragic history in the making. Read full review
More From This Movie

68 Critic Reviews

tbd User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 71 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL