The Luzhin Defence
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: April 20, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
64
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
9
Negative:
0
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
I can't think of another movie that more fluently communicates the special agony and ecstasy of the game of chess. Read full review
90
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Moves with fluidity and ease through brisk opening conventions to a perfectly poised and balanced endgame. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Carefully made, involving and old-fashioned, the superior work it's inspired gives it an impact that lingers even when the endgame is over. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyTy Burr
Fine candy for mind and eye. Read full review
80
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
Where it succeeds best is not in describing how Luzhin got broken but how love fixed him, albeit temporarily. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyF. X. Feeney
A smart, romantic, heartbreaking pleasure. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Watson's character grows in importance until she eclipses the recessive Luzhin.
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
You'll find heartbreakingly star-crossed lovers, a heartless villain (Wilson) and a dazzling backdrop of aristocratic life before and after the Russian Revolution. Read full review
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
One of our best actors, Turturro surpasses his past fine work as Alexander Luzhin.
70
Film.comPeter Brunette
Gorris has beefed up the role of Natalia (Watson), with the end result that the film's emphasis is appropriately divided between the two characters in an emotionally satisfying way. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
The stage is set for a wonderful movie, and yet The Luzhin Defence, based on the Vladimir Nabokov novel The Defense, never courts greatness. Read full review
70
VarietyDerek Elley
A smoothly made period romancer that's elevated by strong playing from its whole cast, led by John Turturro and Emily Watson as the starstruck lovers. Read full review
70
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
John Turturro, who, given the most romantic role of his career, fully inhabits the ungainly Luzhin. Read full review
63
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Handsome and well-acted, yet it can't hold a pawn to Nabokov's harrowing and moving character study.
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The film is elegiac and sad, beautifully mounted, but not as compelling as it should be. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerDesmond Ryan
Falls short of being totally absorbing and compelling.
63
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
Turturro's Luzhin is a cinematic soulmate of Dustin Hoffman's Rain Man and Geoffrey Rush's David Helfgott. Read full review
60
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
An attractive, intelligent film that's intractably at odds with itself.
60
New Times (L.A.)Bill Gallo
In the end, it demonstrates all over again the virtual impossibility of doing Nabokov justice on film, because his work is so resolutely and brilliantly made of words. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
When the film sticks with the eccentric comedy of a highborn woman attracted to a preoccupied genius, it works splendidly. When it strays into melodrama, it is as ill-equipped as Luzhin. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
The film's dark heart is Valentinov's mephistophelean scheming: He sets about sabotaging his former protégé's game for no apparent reason except sheer malice. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Fails to score a checkmate. Read full review
42
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
Capable but not transporting, never unraveling the mystery of its hero's genius or, worse, making us care enough to look deeper. Read full review
40
Mr. ShowbizKevin Maynard
A punishing tragedy that could best be described as the anti-"Shine." Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
It's one of those period dramas about upper-crust Europeans in vacation resorts, which at first we think we've seen a million times before. Read full review
40
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
Might be for you. Or you might be bored anyway. Read full review
More From This Movie

64 Critic Reviews

tbd User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL