The movie's few flaws do a lot of damage to an otherwise skillfully crafted film
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
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Reviews Counted:107
Fresh:49
Rotten:58
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: Heavy on the symbolism and overly contrived.
Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for language, sexual content and some drug material
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release:31-03-2006
Synopsis: Writer-director Rebecca Miller's third film (following ANGELA and PERSONAL VELOCITY) is a powerful, poignant drama about a father and daughter living on their own on the outskirts of nowhere, just... Writer-director Rebecca Miller's third film (following ANGELA and PERSONAL VELOCITY) is a powerful, poignant drama about a father and daughter living on their own on the outskirts of nowhere, just as developers are starting to move in. Daniel Day-Lewis (Miller's husband) stars as Jack Slavin, a 1960s holdover who is a man of the earth, working the land and defending his territory while eschewing such modernities as television. Jack is devoted to his daughter, Rose (Camilla Belle), a 16-year-old girl who is equally as devoted to him. But Jack is sick, so he asks his girlfriend, Kathleen (Catherine Keener), along with her two sons, Rodney (Ryan McDonald) and Thaddius (Paul Dano), to come from the mainland and move in with them, thinking they can be Rose's family once he dies. But Rose begins to act out in dangerous ways, threatening to severely damage the already fragile relationships that are developing. Day-Lewis gives a shattering, emotional performance as Jack, and he is matched well with Belle, who seems wise beyond her years. Filmed on location on Prince Edward Island, THE BALLAD OF JACK AND ROSE is a harrowing, intimate film set in a beautiful, lush land. This film screened at the 2005 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. [More]
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Camilla Belle, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Camilla Belle, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano, Jena Malone, Beau Bridges, Jason Lee, Susanna Thompson, Ryan McDonald
Director: Rebecca Miller
Director: Rebecca Miller
Screenwriter: Rebecca Miller
Producer: Lemore Syvan, Jonathan Sehring, Caroline Kaplan
Composer: Michael Rohatyn
Studio: IFC Films
Reviews for The Ballad of Jack and Rose
Think of it as an somewhat self-conscious, sensitive, offbeat tone poem.
Jack and Rose's ballad is a sour song punctuated by ugly behavior from characters who are supposed to be sympathetic.
A tune that humorlessly circles back in on itself, sounding seductive in parts but leaving dissatisfaction in its wake.
The schematic design behind her plot and characters is so rigidly predetermined that nothing feels lifelike despite the naturalistic acting and filmmaking.
The Ballad of Jack & Rose gets caught up in incidental distractions that lead the drama astray.
The premise here has terrific potential, and I felt affection for all the characters.
It's somehow out of sync with its own rhythms and moods, thus its impact is much slighter than might be expected from an idea approached with intelligence and insight by Rebecca Miller and conveyed by as talented a clutch of actors.
The slight characters combine with trite and pretentious symbolism to the point where the film is almost a parody of itself.
Suffers from narrative shapelessness. It's hard to tell what message Miller is trying to convey.
Day-Lewis IS Jack, but no matter how large a font you could use on that capitalized two-letter word, it still wouldn’t do his performance justice.
Day-Lewis is a great actor, but his choices show a solemn earnestness that may be hurting his career (and talent?).
Latest News for The Ballad of Jack and Rose
February 07, 2008:
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Adds Four Famous Faces
Rebecca Miller's follow-up to The Ballad of Jack and Rose is rapidly becoming something of an all-star production. More...
December 13, 2005:
Awards Season Gets Rolling with Crix Picks
If you're a fan of the late-year awards season, be sure to add Movie City News to your hit list, because they deliver some consistently excellent coverage. Mid-December is when... More...
June 03, 2005:
Camilla Belle Signs Up for "Stranger" Duty
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