Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageNell (1994)
Director: Michael Apted
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Deep in the mountains of North Carolina, Dr Jerome Lovell (Neeson) discovers a grown wild child, Nell (Foster). She's had no contact with the outside world, having been raised entirely by her invalid mother, and can speak only in a strange onomatopoeic language. But can Nell continue to live her own life, as Lovell hopes, or is she too important for that, a unique subject for a scientific study, as psychologist Paula Olsen (Richardson) would have it? With a court hearing in the offing, the rival scientists camp out in the backwoods. This metaphor-movie is both touching and tasteful. It allows Foster to play scared and alone, traumatised and neurotic, and, most importantly, free and inspirational. She gets to 'commune with nature', speak in tongues, and bring Neeson and Richardson together. Nice photography; nonsensical courtroom speech at the close.Author: TCh
Cast & crew
Director: Michael Apted
Producer: Jodie Foster, Renée Missel
Cast: Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini, Nick Searcy, Robin Mullins, Jeremy Davies full cast
Duration: 113 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now