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Movies / On DVD / Citizen Ruth
Citizen Ruth

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Citizen Ruth (1996)

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83 %
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Reviews Counted:24

Fresh:20

Rotten:4

Average Rating:6.9/10

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: A satirical look at the abortion issue, that takes jabs at both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice proponents. Ruth Stoops, a low-class, unintelligent, unfit mother of four discovers while in jail that... A satirical look at the abortion issue, that takes jabs at both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice proponents. Ruth Stoops, a low-class, unintelligent, unfit mother of four discovers while in jail that she's pregnant again. The judge charges her with endangering the fetus, but tells her in confidence that he'll reduce the charges if she has an abortion. When word of this gets out, it changes Ruth's life dramatically, as she becomes caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between Pro-Lifers and fervent Pro-Choicers, each of whom want to use Ruth to get their messages and propaganda across. The proceedings escalate to bizarre proportions -- and in the process Ruth is virtually forgotten about. That is, until Ruth makes a decision about her pregnancy... [More]

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place

Starring: Laura Dern, Swoosie Kurtz, Kurtwood Smith, Mary Kay Place, Kelly Preston, M.C. Gainey, Kenneth Mars, David Graf, Tippi Hedren, Burt Reynolds, Alicia Witt, James Devney, Caveh Zahedi, Dean Ferrandini

Director: Alexander Payne

Director: Alexander Payne

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Citizen Ruth

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

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Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/27/09
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
03/31/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek

Uncharacteristically of Payne, the film lacks a sharp point of view, unfloding as a series of gigs (some quite funny), trying to be too fair--for a satire--to both sides of the abortion issue.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
06/01/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
01/06/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Wicked comedy about abortion conflict. Dern is terrific.

comment Comment
04/01/05
Brandon Judell
Brandon Judell
PopcornQ

No review available.

comment Comment
03/08/05
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Payne didn't hit his stride until Election, but this is a good film.

comment Comment
06/07/04
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

No review available.

comment Comment
06/04/04
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
12/18/03
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
11/07/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/01/03
Austin Chronicle

Payne's biting social satire about the abortion issue is shrewd and raucously entertaining. A smart and subversive comedy

comment Comment
06/04/03
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
TheWorldJournal.com

Worst of all is Dern, who is so gratingly offensive that by the end of the movie you really just want her to shut up more than anything else.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
04/04/03
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
02/17/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

An auspicious debut for director Payne that did more than hint at teh great things to come.

comment Comment
01/16/03
Luke Y. Thompson
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | comment Comment
01/10/03
Nick Davis
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
11/06/02
Jeff Strickler
Jeff Strickler
Minneapolis Star Tribune
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cincinnati Enquirer | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
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Latest News for Citizen Ruth

August 23, 2006: More Comedians Invited to "Chuck & Larry's" Wedding
If your movie already has Adam Sandler marrying Kevin James, and a side order of Jessica Biel for desert, what more do you need to make a comedy? Oh yeah: Steve Buscemi and Dan... More...

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