The Third Miracle
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: December 29, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
55
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Critic Reviews
Positive:
14
Mixed:
7
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
An earthy, sexy mystery. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
Has the gritty, intimate feel of an Eastern European film--and packs the power of a genuine revelation. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
So profoundly does The Third Miracle live up to its title that Agnieszka Holland's exceptional meditation upon a priest's crisis of faith might win the endorsement of archdiocese and agnostic alike. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Harris and Heche make an interesting team--- and the picture reaps the benefit of their creative performances Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
It's a handsome film with a palpable core of piety, but it isn't as successful in depicting secular events as spiritual ones. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Here is a rarity, a film about religion that is neither pious nor sensational, simply curious. No satanic possessions, no angelic choirs, no evil spirits, no lovers joined beyond the grave. Just a man doing his job. Read full review
75
San Francisco ExaminerWesley Morris
Harris, Heche make unholy twosome. Read full review
70
The New York TimesStephen Holden
This intelligent, well-acted movie is not helped by the fact that its story in some ways parallels that of "Stigmata," the trashy supernatural spookfest that flared briefly at the box office earlier this year. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
Harris and Heche are simply electric together, and "Hill Street Blues'" Charles Haid is wonderfully brash as the venal bishop. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
The problem with The Third Miracle is that it is thematically ambiguous and never lays out its position on whether it thinks saints are or are not real. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Suggests that finding one good priest is a feasibility, but it takes a miracle to meet one as hubba-hubba as Ed Harris. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
A foreign film feel despite its strong American cast. Read full review
63
New York PostLou Lumenick
A flawed drama offering a rare look at the Catholic Church's canonization process. Read full review
63
Miami HeraldPhoebe Flowers
It's not particularly plausible or well-developed, but it does allow the two seasoned actors to share a sexually tense, vodka-fueled scene at Helen's grave. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Without offering any hard and fast solutions to the essential mystery, this is a thought provoking drama about the nature of belief and devotion that never feels exclusionary. Read full review
50
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
This spiritual thriller is too wooden to be taken as seriously as was clearly intended. Read full review
50
Film.comPeter Brunette
The first half of The Third Miracle is very good...but the second half of the film, alas, turns into deep TV-mode. Read full review
50
Village VoiceJ. Hoberman
The first half has a nifty B-movie feel--it's a canny little movie with a big, big theme. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeJay Carr
Takes on provocative and stimulating subject matter, but can't bring it into satisfying dramatic focus, stranding three strong actors who are superior to their material. Read full review
44
Mr. ShowbizMichael Atkinson
Few other 1999 films are as filthy with tantalizing elements as Agnieszka Holland's The Third Miracle, and of those that come close, none other is as pointless, confused, or unsatisfying. Read full review
40
Film.comErnest Hardy
A very competent film, but it barely pulls you in. Read full review
38
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
It tries to be more existential than gumshoe but falls way short. Read full review
20
Washington PostDesson Thomson
I'd give this movie about half a miracle. Read full review
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