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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE GOLDEN BOWL
The Golden Bowl

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The Golden Bowl (2001)

53%
71%
66%
N/A
N/A
N/A
53 %
Reviews Counted: 85 Fresh: 45  Rotten:40 Average Rating: 5.3/10
 
Consensus: Coming from the Merchant-Ivory team, The Golden Bowl is visually stunning, but the filmmakers have difficulty in transporting the characterizations of the Henry James novel to the screen.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins

Synopsis: Set in the rarified world of affluent American expatriate England and Italy between 1903 and 1909, THE GOLDEN BOWL tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates are romantically... Set in the rarified world of affluent American expatriate England and Italy between 1903 and 1909, THE GOLDEN BOWL tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower and his sheltered daughter, both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates are romantically entangled with one another. ADAM VERVER (Nick Nolte), America's first billionaire, and his daughter MAGGIE (Kate Beckinsale) live a privileged life in Europe, surrounding themselves with beautiful objects and amassing one of the world's greatest art collections. Their intimate family circle expands when Maggie decides to marry PRINCE AMERIGO (Jeremy Northam), an impoverished (but authentically aristocratic) descendent of a long line of Italian princes, and invites her beautiful, but impecunious school friend CHARLOTTE STANT (Uma Thurman) to attend their wedding. Amerigo and Charlotte have a secret. They are lovers, forced to separate because they are too poor to marry each other. While Charlotte knows that their affair must end, she cannot control her passion for Amerigo. She hides her emotions as best she can, feigning happiness for the couple. She and the Prince have one last rendezvous when they shop together for a wedding present for Maggie. They find an unusual golden bowl, but reject it when they discover that it has a hidden flaw. As Amerigo settles into a domestic routine with Maggie, he discovers that his marriage has a flaw, too. His wife and her father are inseparable, just as they were before her marriage. Maggie invites Charlotte to be their houseguest and encourages her to spend time with Adam, too. In a sudden and seemingly happy twist of fate, Adam proposes to Charlotte and she accepts, despite the age difference between them. For the first time in her life, she is a wealthy woman. But her newfound security is a mixed blessing. As time passes, and Adam and Maggie retreat deeper and deeper into their private world. Charlotte and Amerigo realize that, like the magnificent works of art that surround them, they have become prized additions to the Verver collection. Convinced that fate has brought them together a second time, Charlotte and Amerigo surrender to their passions, secretly betraying their seemingly unsuspecting spouses. But the elusive golden bowl comes back to haunt them, changing Maggie's perception of her relationship with her husband and provoking her to do anything to accomplish her new and most important goal: to have a marriage without a flaw, at any expense. -- © 2001 Lions Gate [More]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Uma Thurman, Jeremy Northam, Kate Beckinsale, Nick Nolte, James Fox

Director: James Ivory
Screenwriter: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Producer: Ismail Merchant
Composer: Richard Robbins

DVD Info

Release:

Jun 11, 2001

[DVD Details]

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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02/09/06
Time Out
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/10/01
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
N/A

Like its eponymous artefact, The Golden Bowl is flawed -- yet it remains an object of great beauty and elegance.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/13/01
Ginette Vincendeau
Sight and Sound
Ratings Image
3/5

As compensation for possible bottom-numbing -in-seat towards the end, Ivory once again delivers a well-performed -- most notably by Nolte and Thurman -- and exquisite-looking tale of manners, love and betrayal.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jo Berry
Empire Magazine
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Ratings Image
2/5

The Golden Bowl is too often one-dimensional and obvious.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/01/00
Michael Thomson
BBC
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N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
04/27/07
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer
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3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
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Ratings Image
3/5

Despite a denouement which arrives half an hour too late, the complexities of James' work are superbly realised.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/08/03
Harry Guerin
RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
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3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
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D+

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Full Review | comment Comment
01/10/03
Nick Davis
Nick's Flick Picks
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3/5

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Full Review | comment Comment
12/08/02
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
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4/5

The Golden Bowl may not be the most exciting movie you’ll ever see, but those who pay attention should find themselves pleasantly rewarded.

Full Review | comment Comment
11/14/02
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com
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C

Decent screenplay, superb acting, fantastic set design and photography: so why doesn’t this movie feel great? Mainly it’s just that the metaphors deployed are fairly obvious and the slow, played-out peacocks’ dance of romantic discovery and recrimination

Full Review | comment Comment
10/21/02
Brent Simon
Entertainment Today
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/21/02
Jean Lowerison
San Diego Metropolitan
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
10/15/02
Margaret A. McGurk
Cincinnati Enquirer
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/17/02
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
08/09/02
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
N/R

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Full Review | comment Comment
01/22/02
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine
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C

The bowl practically screams, "Look at me! I'm a metaphor!"

Full Review | comment Comment
01/17/02
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com
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4.5/5

This roundelay of relationships makes up the heart of the film and allows each of the four principals to offer sterling performances.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/21/01
Ted Murphy
Baseline.Hollywood.com
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