Swimming
Oceanside Pictures | Release Date: July 26, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
71
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
New Times (L.A.)Bill Gallo
The result is a lovely piece of writing brought to life by a terrific cast, a vivid sense of place and, not incidentally, some perfectly chosen pop tunes by such as Bree Sharp, Leona Naess, Smog and Tin Star. As for Lauren Ambrose, her big-screen debut is a revelation. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeLoren King
A rarity among modern movies: a coming-of-age tale without cliche or sentimentality. Bolstered by a luminous lead performance from Lauren Ambrose. Read full review
80
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Absolutely refuse to make predictable patterns in the sand. Instead, they set their characters loose. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Ambrose's Frankie, who is more intelligent and capable of reflection than those around her but is even more unworldly than she realizes, is tremendously appealing. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderReece Pendleton
It's presented in such a nicely understated manner, and Ambrose turns in such a good lead performance, that it rises several notches above most of today's teen movies. Read full review
80
Village VoiceLaura Sinagra
Director Robert J. Siegel allows the characters to inhabit their world without cleaving to a narrative arc. It's a luxurious hangout; spaces burgeon with goofy love and generous confusion. Read full review
80
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Siegel is almost too tasteful, nearly to the point where his coming-of-age story loses color and purpose. But he finds a mesmerizing presence in Ambrose, a terrific young actress who carries the film without a second of showiness. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Sprightly acting, understated emotions, and lovingly detailed ambience make this amiable comedy-drama an easygoing indie pleasure. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
Keenly observed and refreshingly natural. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Swimming is above all about a young woman's face, and by casting an actress whose face projects that woman's doubts and yearnings, it succeeds. The face belongs to Lauren Ambrose. Read full review
75
Baltimore SunChris Kaltenbach
Swimming is perceptive and, ultimately, embraceable. Like the adolescent it so lovingly depicts, this is a movie you want only the best for. Read full review
70
The New York TimesDave Kehr
Without exaggerating their lovability or condescending to their foolishness, Mr. Siegel makes vivid, likable people out of his three protagonists as they affect one another and are affected in turn. Read full review
70
Film ThreatMerle Bertrand
Yes, there is a very palpable lesbian erotic undercurrent pervading this film. However, the reason it's so palpable is because it's so subtly and deftly handled...AND it's only one thread of the film's storyline. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Its leisurely pace and reliance on Ambrose's pale-lashed gaze make it more of an interior monologue. That may not please viewers who crave action, but those with patience will be rewarded. Read full review
63
New York PostMegan Lehmann
There's nothing particularly startling or new in the script by Siegel and his co-writers Lisa Bazadona and Grace Woodard - except that it, refreshingly, draws its characters in real-life shades of gray. Read full review
60
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
On the surface, this coming-of-age tale feels slight and unremarkable, yet the director's final close-up of Frankie packs a punch -- a testament to the power of a gifted young actress happily lost inside her first big role. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleKimberley Jones
Ambrose owns this crawlspace between being fierce and being fragile. But she can't escape the fact that her role is underwritten; the script suffers from an excess of subtlety. Read full review
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