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In America

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In America (2003)

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89 %
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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.

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $15,323,959

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 date; Australian critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sheridan's semi-personal immigration drama is simple and modest to a fault but it's sporadically touching and well acted, particularly by Samantha Morton, as the mother, and Hounsou, as the HIV Nigerian artist, for which they received Oscar nominations

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
08/25/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
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]

The result is a blend of kitchen-sink and magical realism: sentimental, but well acted and freshly observed.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
10/17/07
Meredith Brody
Meredith Brody
Chicago Reader

A sappy, self-congratulatory tale of triumph of penniless newcomers over every sort of adversity, and a close brush with death every time they set foot outside of their apartment.

Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics | comment Comment
04/22/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Princeton Town Topics

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

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

In America contains enough magic and sincerity to cover the proverbial multitude of cinematic sins.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Bob Westal
Bob Westal
Film Threat

A solid, if unspectacular family film.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Merle Bertrand
Merle Bertrand
Film Threat

Superbly evokes the depression, anxiety, joy, misery, and aggravation of family life.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
05/04/05
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

A genuinely touching movie about a family that doesn't condescend to audiences or wrap its lessons into neat, tidy packages.

Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
03/05/05
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic

Sheridan should also be applauded for keeping the film going at a nice pace, sprinkling it with many lighter moments, as well as one of the more suspenseful scenes from any movie last year.

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
02/05/05
JoBlo
JoBlo
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

...a scrapbook of family history that has gained poignancy through the showing and telling but remains recognizably a family story rather than a myth or epic.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
01/27/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Sheridan stares the scary questions in the face, admits that he cannot answer all of them, and yet offers glimmers of hope and a generous helping of uplifting humor.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

In America gets better after a muddled start.

Full Review Source: european-films.net | comment Comment
08/07/04
Boyd van Hoeij
Boyd van Hoeij
european-films.net

At its best, the movie has a supernal glow that you can practically warm your hands by.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
08/07/04
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine

The film's blend of heartbreak and hope is perhaps Sheridan’s greatest achievement, and it gives us a work that’s as lovable as it is challenging.

Full Review Source: Reno Gazette-Journal | comment Comment
05/14/04
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

In America es, hasta el momento, la película más personal del realizador más importante que ha dado el cine de Irlanda en los últimos 15 años.

Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | comment Comment
05/06/04
Enrique Buchichio
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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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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