The Unbelievable Truth
Miramax Films | Release Date: July 20, 1990 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
10
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Hartley's debut deserves heralding; he combines a rigorous social conscience with the exuberance of fresh comic thinking. Read full review
88
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
The Unbelievable Truth captivates with its committedly off-center vision of suburban angst. Read full review
80
EmpireIan Nathan
It’s drifty, dreamy quality that, contrary to the film’s indie-cool ingredients, makes it eminently watchable and modern. Read full review
80
Washington PostJoe Brown
The unbelievable truth about The Unbelievable Truth is that this offbeat, accomplished darkish comedy is the feature film debut of its writer-director-editor-producer Hal Hartley, and lead actors Adrienne Shelly and Robert Burke. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
What makes the film fun is the deadpan, tongue-in-cheek humor that undermines the seemingly sincere dramatic scenes. Read full review
70
Washington PostRita Kempley
A jumble of subplots and suppositions, The Unbelievable Truth ultimately comes together as suburban farce in a door-banging conclusion to all the wild speculation. Read full review
70
The New York TimesCaryn James
Mr. Hartley and his director of photography, Michael Spiller, have made a film that is visually and verbally much richer than its low budget. Read full review
70
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
The Unbelievable Truth is a promising, reasonably engaging first feature of the art school film variety. Very consciously designed and stylized in all departments, pic has a minor-key feel to it. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
As an antic romantic comedy it's fresh and actually gets somewhere. [17 Aug 1990]
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
The Unbelievable Truth is just that - epistemology served up with pop panache and a comic twist. [27 Jul 1990]
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