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
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 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 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