The Pool
Vitagraph Films | Release Date: September 3, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
77
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
At the heart of this picturesque fable is a truism so shopworn it can barely stand repeating: It's better to give than to receive. Read full review
100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Stephen Cole
A miraculous, American-made Hindi film that is every bit as tranquil as the blue-green reservoir that serves as its abiding metaphor. Read full review
91
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Smith transfers an Iowa-based short story by Randy Russell to India's western Goa region -- and works in Hindi, primarily with novice actors. The result is a story both authentically specific and profoundly global. Read full review
90
The New York TimesStephen Holden
In the manner of a Satyajit Ray film, The Pool avoids melodrama, the better to capture the texture of Venkatesh's vagabond life. Read full review
90
The Hollywood ReporterSheri Linden
Uplifting without a drop of sap, the tale of a boy's obsession with a glittering swimming pool and how it changes four lives offers numerous pleasures and one of the most satisfying and resonant conclusions to be seen in recent cinema. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeMichael Hardy
Like Anderson, many directors claim to value local color, but few have gone as far, or achieved such impressive results, as has Chris Smith in The Pool. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
It's a funny, sweet-natured humanist character piece. Read full review
80
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
A lovely, warm, unforced film that gives you time to get to know its characters and isn't propelled by any artificial narrative conventions, Read full review
80
Total FilmSimon Kinnear
Smith casts non-pro Venkatesh Chavan alongside Bollywood star Nana Patekar to achieve credible chemistry, enhanced by his choice of quiet observation rather than Slumdog -style pizzazz and the delicate emotional kick and finespun simplicity of a short story. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
A charming and enjoyable movie. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
It's a bit schematic and sweet-natured, perhaps to a fault, yet the faces linger. Smith and his mixture of actors and non-actors remind us that an act of generosity is all it takes to change a life. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleWalter Addiego
Except for Patekar, the main actors are nonprofessionals, which works nicely here. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianStan Hall
In the end it may amount to little more than an exotic fable, but it is a particularly conscious, wise fable. Read full review
70
VarietyRobert Koehler
Smith's utterly natural filmmaking there is impressive. Read full review
70
Village VoiceNick Pinkerton
This heightened consciousness of objects and obligations ballasts the drama-light, class-conscious fable with tactile life. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
In its leisurely, exceedingly subtle way, The Pool charts Venkatesh's gradual awakening to the larger world. Read full review
70
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
The result is a vivid portrait, not just of one unforgettable young man but also of a country in transition. Read full review
60
Film ThreatZack Haddad
This simple film can be quite a great diversion from our every day grind. The camera style, characters, and visual look are all quite impressive, while maintaining an easy accessibility for the audience's eyes. It is only too bad that the film feels so sluggish. Read full review
58
Seattle Post-IntelligencerBill White
Pleasant viewing, but the unbalanced script and amateur performances keep it from being much more than a walk in the park. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
Smith ("American Movie") sees the poetry in everyday people, and lets his rambling story find its own rhythm. Read full review
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