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In America

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In America (2003)

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Reviews Counted:170

Fresh:151

Rotten:19

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: A rich and moving story about an immigrant family adjusting to life in New York.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence and language

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:31-10-2003

Synopsis: From master storyteller Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In The Name of the Father") comes a deeply personal and emotionally raw tale of a family finding its soul IN AMERICA. Through the wide-open... From master storyteller Jim Sheridan ("My Left Foot," "In The Name of the Father") comes a deeply personal and emotionally raw tale of a family finding its soul IN AMERICA. Through the wide-open eyes of two young heroines, Sheridan transforms a devastating human tragedy into a riveting, humor-tinged story about memory, secrets, love, loss, coming together and starting over. To begin all over again is a classic American dream. But it's remarkably hard to do, as Irish émigrés Johnny and Sarah (PADDY CONSIDINE and SAMANTHA MORTON) discover when they hit the streets of modern-day Manhattan, their two spunky young daughters in tow, and emerge into a realm as comical and adventure-filled as it is strange and terrifying. The family faces a dizzying new future –- but first they must face down a past that haunts every single one of them. With no cash to spare, Johnny and Sarah settle into a chaotic New York tenement populated by a colorful assortment of characters – and attempt to turn a Gothic horror-movie setting into a true home. From dragging an iffy-looking air conditioner across Manhattan to finding make-do jobs, nothing comes without a fight for the couple. And yet, while they see America as rife with challenges, dangers and weirdness, their daughters see it as a magical place where anything can happen, a place that might release them all from the anguish of what has come before. Then, on Halloween, Christy and Ariel (sisters SARAH and EMMA BOLGER) dare to knock on the door of "the screaming man," a mysterious neighbor named Mateo (DJIMON HOUNSOU), and everything changes. As the family heads for a crisis, Mateo becomes their unlikely ally in the territory where hope, faith and even magic hold sway. Based in part on Jim Sheridan's own autobiographical experiences coming to the United States, IN AMERICA is directed by Sheridan from a script by Sheridan and his two daughters, Naomi Sheridan and Kirsten Sheridan. The cast includes Academy Award® nominee for "Sweet and Lowdown" Samantha Morton ("Minority Report"), Paddy Considine ("24 Hour Party People"), Djimon Hounsou ("Amistad," "Gladiator") and sisters Sara Bolger ("A Love Divided") and Emma Bolger (in her feature film debut). The film is produced by Jim Sheridan and Arthur Lappin. -- © Fox Searchlight [More]

Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger

Starring: Paddy Considine, Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger

Director: Jim Sheridan

Director: Jim Sheridan
Screenwriter: Naomi Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan
Producer: Arthur Lappin, Jim Sheridan
Composer: Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

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Reviews for In America

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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It all makes for a curious and uneven mix of social realism and childlike whimsy.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/12/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The pairing of two brilliant, loose-cannon actors gets the film a long way.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

After 30 minutes, the plot takes over. And it's embarrassingly easy to see where truth ends and Sheridan's invention begins.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
11/01/03
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

Lovingly shot, with a remarkable debut from Sarah Bolger, who along with sister Emma, gives one of the greatest ever child performances.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Emma Cochrane
Emma Cochrane
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's flawed but still wonderful.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/28/03
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Brilliantly acted, well directed drama that’s both extremely moving and full of warmth and humour.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/22/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Jim Sheridan's sentimental heartwarmer of a story about an immigrant Irish family in modern New York is frankly manipulative and contrived.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

The movie lacks conviction from implausible beginning to sentimental end.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
10/17/07
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

For a story about normal, everyday life (and death), this is an extraordinary film, really.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/11/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

A slow story which offers little to reward viewers' patience and one with a serious credibility problem.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment 1 Comment
11/12/03
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

Funny, emotional and affecting.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
11/25/03
E! Online
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/02/03
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
12/19/03
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
01/27/04
Sunday Times (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Thanks to Jim Sheridan's graceful, scrupulously sincere direction and the dry intelligence of his cast, In America is likely to pierce the defenses of all but the most dogmatically cynical viewers.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
11/25/03
A.O. Scott
A.O. Scott
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As good as the Bolger sisters are, it's the hard-edged performances of Considine and Morton that truly bring urgency to the material.

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
01/15/04
Adam Nayman
Adam Nayman
eye WEEKLY

Redeemed by the joyousness of family life that Mr. Sheridan captures from his agile and resourceful foursome.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
12/10/03
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer

Laughter, tears, madness, magic, and E.T. ... moving ...

Full Review Source: Movie Gazette | comment Comment
11/19/03
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Movie Gazette

Even the woeful lot from Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" wouldn't be able to compete in a misery contest with this cursed clan

Full Review Source: Roanoke Times (Virginia) | comment Comment
02/02/04
Beth Jones
Beth Jones
Roanoke Times (Virginia)

A mostly enjoyable hunk of immigrant exuberance.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
11/26/03
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by comments; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for In America

July 24, 2006: Kid Stars Sign Up for "Spiderwick"
Young actors Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory") and Sarah Bolger ("In America") have signed to star in Paramount's big-screen rendition... More...

April 13, 2006: Rogue Shows Some Fuzz Love
Read on for a very formal press release from Rogue Pictures, the ultimate gist of which is this: Rogue, which is the "genre arm" of Universal Pictures, will distribute... More...

November 11, 2005: In Other News..."Get Rich" Suffers From PA Shooting
An abysmally low Tomatometer and offensive billboards aren't the only problems plaguing this week's Jim Sheridan-50 Cent release, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" -- one... More...

August 04, 2005: Trailer Bulletin: Get Rich or Die Tryin'
From Jim Sheridan, the director of "In America" and "My Left Foot," comes the big-screen tale of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's bitter life on the... More...

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