Nightwatching (18)

Film

Drama

Nightwatching.jpg

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>4/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>2/5
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Time Out says

Tue Mar 23 2010

This intriguing and revelatory blend of human drama and art-history detective work argues that Rembrandt peppered the canvas of his masterpiece ‘The Night Watch’ with a cleverly coded attack on the Amsterdam bigwigs whose egos he was commissioned to flatter. Deftly combining character study and cultural documentary, it marks Peter Greenaway’s return to the cinema after years of museum installations and multimedia work. He’s been guilty of patience-testing pretension in the past, but this is impressively focused and accessible, shaped around a truly expressive balls-out performance from Martin Freeman as Rembrandt. What’s surprising (in the context of Greenaway’s often chilly past oeuvre) is the film’s genuine compassion for the sufferings of wives, maids and vulnerable orphans, adding an emotive underpinning to its sharp observations on the purpose of art and the nature of representation. It’s not just Greenaway’s best film in years, but one of his best films, period.

Author: Trevor Johnston

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Release details

Rated:

18

UK release:

Fri Mar 26 2010

Duration:

134 mins

Cast and crew

Cast:

Martin Freeman, Toby Jones, Emily Browning, Jodhi May

Director:

Peter Greenaway

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 2/5 (5 ratings)

  • Was prepared for a visual feast, but only got much inaudible dialogue which was an obstacle to the story line.

    Tony Sat Jul 24 2010
    Rated as: 2/5
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  • I agree totally with tora. Whatever the director's reputation this film is tedious and lacking any dramatic engagement.

    marcel Mon May 17 2010
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • If this his "best", I'd damn well hate to see the worst. One word describes this film - ATROCIOUS.

    cal Thu May 13 2010
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • to get the best out of this film you need to bone up on the background politics. if you come to it without that background knowledge it takes a while to get into the swing..Loads of bad language irritate,

    microe Sat Apr 10 2010
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  • It is his best,most accessible film for over ten years and it is a scandal that a film by one of Britain`s best directors has taken three years to be shown when it has screened successfully everywhere from Paris to Tokyo

    roberto Fri Mar 26 2010
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • It's being shown at the ICA over the next week or so twice a day....

    s ford Fri Mar 26 2010
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  • Thanks very much for the info Dave. Keep up the good work! There is a version available on DVD from the Netherlands (which is region 2) so maybe I'll try that... I'm a big Greenaway fan but the quality seems to have dropped off a little lately... Anyone seen this and have a view on it??

    Fiercehairdo Thu Dec 3 2009
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  • Fiercehairdo - thanks for your comment. It seems that this film won't be getting a UK cinema release at all. I haven't heard of it being available on DVD here either, although I'm guessing it must be available internationally. Thanks Dave Calhoun Film Editor

    dave Calhoun Sun Aug 16 2009
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  • When is this film going to be released in the UK?? It says 2007 above but as of summer 2009 there has been no sign of it in any UK cinema? Anyone know what is happening?

    Fiercehairdo Sun Aug 16 2009
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  • This is a pompous & terrible film. I saw it in good faith and was disappointed.

    tora Mon Mar 3 2008
    Rated as: 1/5
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