American Pastoral

American Pastoral does succeed at making me want to read the book. The plot’s moving parts seek to mine the psychological machinations of parents trying their best and an alienated child rejecting every advantage, so Roth surely fulfilled this promise.

2767d ago

American Pastoral doesn't quite nail its tone, but it's a compelling enough adaptation with a few truly inspired moments.

2767d ago

American Pastoral does succeed at making me want to read the book. The plot’s moving parts seek to mine the psychological machinations of parents trying their best and an alienated child rejecting every advantage, so Roth surely fulfilled this promise.

2767d ago

American Pastoral doesn't quite nail its tone, but it's a compelling enough adaptation with a few truly inspired moments.

2767d ago

American Pastoral doesn't quite nail its tone, but it's a compelling enough adaptation with a few truly inspired moments.

2767d ago

American Pastoral leaves a residue of dread and despair that is oddly in keeping with today’s moment of uncertainty amid an ugly presidential campaign.

2767d ago

American Pastoral leaves a residue of dread and despair that is oddly in keeping with today’s moment of uncertainty amid an ugly presidential campaign.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly in his feature directorial debut, an adaptation of the Philip Roth novel about a man whose daughter grows up to become a terrorist.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly in his feature directorial debut, an adaptation of the Philip Roth novel about a man whose daughter grows up to become a terrorist.

2767d ago

As hard as they work to add nuance, Connelly is trapped in mad-housewife hysteria, Fanning’s a brat, and McGregor never really rises above a strange, stunned blandness. It’s a noble effort, almost completely lost in translation; give it an American pass.

2767d ago

All of “Pastoral’s” problems could have been slightly forgiven if McGregor showed a hint of inspiration behind the camera.

2767d ago

All of “Pastoral’s” problems could have been slightly forgiven if McGregor showed a hint of inspiration behind the camera.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly in his feature directorial debut, an adaptation of the Philip Roth novel about a man whose daughter grows up to become a terrorist.

2767d ago

As hard as they work to add nuance, Connelly is trapped in mad-housewife hysteria, Fanning’s a brat, and McGregor never really rises above a strange, stunned blandness. It’s a noble effort, almost completely lost in translation; give it an American pass.

2767d ago

American Pastoral leaves a residue of dread and despair that is oddly in keeping with today’s moment of uncertainty amid an ugly presidential campaign.

2767d ago

All of “Pastoral’s” problems could have been slightly forgiven if McGregor showed a hint of inspiration behind the camera.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor stars alongside Dakota Fanning and Jennifer Connelly in his feature directorial debut, an adaptation of the Philip Roth novel about a man whose daughter grows up to become a terrorist.

2767d ago

As hard as they work to add nuance, Connelly is trapped in mad-housewife hysteria, Fanning’s a brat, and McGregor never really rises above a strange, stunned blandness. It’s a noble effort, almost completely lost in translation; give it an American pass.

2767d ago

All of “Pastoral’s” problems could have been slightly forgiven if McGregor showed a hint of inspiration behind the camera.

2767d ago

American Pastoral leaves a residue of dread and despair that is oddly in keeping with today’s moment of uncertainty amid an ugly presidential campaign.

2767d ago

As hard as they work to add nuance, Connelly is trapped in mad-housewife hysteria, Fanning’s a brat, and McGregor never really rises above a strange, stunned blandness. It’s a noble effort, almost completely lost in translation; give it an American pass.

2767d ago

The Scottish actor Ewan McGregor makes a respectable if unimaginative directing debut with “American Pastoral,” yet another adaptation of a Philip Roth novel that mistakes a book’s plot and characters for its artistry.

2767d ago

The Scottish actor Ewan McGregor makes a respectable if unimaginative directing debut with “American Pastoral,” yet another adaptation of a Philip Roth novel that mistakes a book’s plot and characters for its artistry.

2767d ago

The Scottish actor Ewan McGregor makes a respectable if unimaginative directing debut with “American Pastoral,” yet another adaptation of a Philip Roth novel that mistakes a book’s plot and characters for its artistry.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor flattens American Pastoral into ’60s cliché.

2767d ago

The Scottish actor Ewan McGregor makes a respectable if unimaginative directing debut with “American Pastoral,” yet another adaptation of a Philip Roth novel that mistakes a book’s plot and characters for its artistry.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor flattens American Pastoral into ’60s cliché.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor flattens American Pastoral into ’60s cliché.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor flattens American Pastoral into ’60s cliché.

2767d ago

“That’s how we know we’re alive: We’re wrong.” The filmmakers move this crucial passage to the end of the film, but lose its epiphanic purpose. In those eight words, Roth signaled tension and release; over the course of 108 minutes, this film conveys little of either.

2767d ago

In postwar New Jersey, Seymour ‘The Swede’ Levov (Ewan McGregor) seems to have it all: a glittering sporting high school record, a prosperous business, a beauty queen wife. But when his daughter gets involved in the violent politics of the 1960s, a seemingly perfect all-American family quickly crumbles.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor's directorial debut is as flat and strangled as Philip Roth's novel is furious and expansive.

2767d ago

The actor’s ambitious choice for his debut behind the camera isn’t an all-out dud, but it does suffer from lax pacing, airless direction – and disastrous central casting.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor's directorial debut is as flat and strangled as Philip Roth's novel is furious and expansive.

2767d ago

In postwar New Jersey, Seymour ‘The Swede’ Levov (Ewan McGregor) seems to have it all: a glittering sporting high school record, a prosperous business, a beauty queen wife. But when his daughter gets involved in the violent politics of the 1960s, a seemingly perfect all-American family quickly crumbles.

2767d ago

“That’s how we know we’re alive: We’re wrong.” The filmmakers move this crucial passage to the end of the film, but lose its epiphanic purpose. In those eight words, Roth signaled tension and release; over the course of 108 minutes, this film conveys little of either.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor's directorial debut is as flat and strangled as Philip Roth's novel is furious and expansive.

2767d ago

The actor’s ambitious choice for his debut behind the camera isn’t an all-out dud, but it does suffer from lax pacing, airless direction – and disastrous central casting.

2767d ago

“That’s how we know we’re alive: We’re wrong.” The filmmakers move this crucial passage to the end of the film, but lose its epiphanic purpose. In those eight words, Roth signaled tension and release; over the course of 108 minutes, this film conveys little of either.

2767d ago

In postwar New Jersey, Seymour ‘The Swede’ Levov (Ewan McGregor) seems to have it all: a glittering sporting high school record, a prosperous business, a beauty queen wife. But when his daughter gets involved in the violent politics of the 1960s, a seemingly perfect all-American family quickly crumbles.

2767d ago

The actor’s ambitious choice for his debut behind the camera isn’t an all-out dud, but it does suffer from lax pacing, airless direction – and disastrous central casting.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor's directorial debut is as flat and strangled as Philip Roth's novel is furious and expansive.

2767d ago

The actor’s ambitious choice for his debut behind the camera isn’t an all-out dud, but it does suffer from lax pacing, airless direction – and disastrous central casting.

2767d ago

“That’s how we know we’re alive: We’re wrong.” The filmmakers move this crucial passage to the end of the film, but lose its epiphanic purpose. In those eight words, Roth signaled tension and release; over the course of 108 minutes, this film conveys little of either.

2767d ago

In postwar New Jersey, Seymour ‘The Swede’ Levov (Ewan McGregor) seems to have it all: a glittering sporting high school record, a prosperous business, a beauty queen wife. But when his daughter gets involved in the violent politics of the 1960s, a seemingly perfect all-American family quickly crumbles.

2767d ago

“American Pastoral” is a staggering misfire on two discrete levels. As an adaptation of the 1997 novel by Philip Roth, it is lead-footed and inept.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor’s inert adaption smooths out the Philip Roth novel's eruptions of self-loathing and doubt.

2767d ago

“American Pastoral” is a staggering misfire on two discrete levels. As an adaptation of the 1997 novel by Philip Roth, it is lead-footed and inept.

2767d ago

“American Pastoral” is a staggering misfire on two discrete levels. As an adaptation of the 1997 novel by Philip Roth, it is lead-footed and inept.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor’s inert adaption smooths out the Philip Roth novel's eruptions of self-loathing and doubt.

2767d ago

“American Pastoral” is a staggering misfire on two discrete levels. As an adaptation of the 1997 novel by Philip Roth, it is lead-footed and inept.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor’s inert adaption smooths out the Philip Roth novel's eruptions of self-loathing and doubt.

2767d ago

Ewan McGregor’s inert adaption smooths out the Philip Roth novel's eruptions of self-loathing and doubt.

2767d ago

Actor's directorial debut tackles author's ambitious historical drama – and misses the mark by a mile.

2767d ago

Actor's directorial debut tackles author's ambitious historical drama – and misses the mark by a mile.

2767d ago

Actor's directorial debut tackles author's ambitious historical drama – and misses the mark by a mile.

2767d ago

Actor's directorial debut tackles author's ambitious historical drama – and misses the mark by a mile.

2767d ago