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The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:60
Fresh:32
Rotten:28
Average Rating:5.6/10
Consensus: The Stoning of Soraya M. nearly transcends its deficiencies through the sheer strength of its subject material, but ultimately drowns out its message with an inappropriately heavy-handed approach.
Reviews for The Stoning of Soraya M.
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 C |
This movie is well acted, directed, edited and filmed, however, it is also depressing, uninspiring and sickening. Like a glacier, it moves slowly and inexorably towards its final conclusion. Full Review |
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 8/10 |
The story is simple and compelling and the title leaves no doubt where the story is going. This is a powerful film for those willing to see its extreme violence. Full Review |
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3/5 |
The film does have a certain crude power. But that's part of the problem with it: It's too crude. Full Review |
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1/5 |
A laughably manipulative melodrama. Full Review |
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1/5 |
It is possible to support the journalistic ideal that no stoning should be left unturned while also championing better storytelling. Full Review |
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Whatever its dramatic flaws, and they are many, this is a movie that, in essence, is more than a movie. Full Review |
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7/10 |
Many films have shown more explicit (and often gratuitous) violence, but the impact is greater in this film as it is intensely personal ... Full Review |
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2.5/4 |
Often feels more like propaganda than drama. Full Review |
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3.5/5 |
At its best, The Stoning of Soraya M is a snapshot of how evil can spread among the utterly normal, the well-intentioned and the (at least to them) righteous. Full Review |
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C |
It gets its point across with all the subtlety, sorry to say, of a rock upside the head. Full Review |
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2/4 |
Despite some wonderful performances, the plot plods inexorably and with sickening predictability towards the inevitable conclusion, but nothing can prepare us for the actual event, which Nowrasteh films in real time and in shocking detail. Full Review |
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2/4 |
Though The Stoning of Soraya M.' s heart is in the right place, its head is lost in storm clouds of anger. Full Review |
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3/4 |
The magnificent performance by Aghdashloo is worth the price of admission. Full Review |
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It's disappointing that such a serious issue and a passionate cry of outrage is cloaked in such a manipulative melodrama. Full Review |
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3/4 |
The spoiler is in the title of The Stoning of Soraya M., a powerful, relentlessly brutal drama about Iranian capital punishment. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Although The Stoning is efficiently made, it is ultimately a cheat. Full Review |
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2.5/4 |
This broadside against sharia law lacks the finesse of an import, but it's effectively melodramatic, particularly because of the strong performance of Iranian-born actress Shoreh Aghdashloo Full Review |
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2/4 |
At the end, when a photograph of the real Soraya flashes across the screen, your heart breaks for the poor woman, but your ears are relieved that the film has finally stopped shouting at you. Full Review |
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The gallant, educated, and sensitive outsider, will do right by Soraya, unlike the loathsome, fearful, and petty neighbors who killed her. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Perhaps the world needs to see these brutalities to open their eyes to the practice, and perhaps that makes The Stoning of Soraya M. noble and worth the price of admission. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for The Stoning of Soraya M.
November 29, 2009:
Satellite Awards Nominees Announced 
Signaling that the awards season is about to begin, the International Press Academy has announced the nominees for its 14th annual Satellite Awards. More...
June 25, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Transformers 2 Is Less Than Meets The Eye
This week at the movies, we've got robots in disguise (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, starring Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf) and a family in disrepair (My Sister's Keeper,... More...
June 23, 2009:
Shohreh Aghdashloo, Fearless Advocate
Shohreh Aghdashloo has been an outspoken critic of the Iranian government for years -- and her latest film, "The Stoning of Soraya M.," arrives at a time when violent unrest in... More...
April 19, 2009:
Trailer & Poster review
More...
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