A sincere and careful but unexpectedly subdued film. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 6, 2020

Smart and devastatingly sad, Elegy is at heart a film about the many damned-to-fail ways we try to protect ourselves from the inevitable certainty of death.

| Jan 27, 2020

A finely crafted, intelligently written work, featuring some exceptional performances by Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 7, 2019

As far as it goes, it's enjoyable enough.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 13, 2018

The stillness of the performances combined with Coixet's direction, which takes it time, and that bloody piano tinkling and tinkling away make it all rather heavy going; makes you feel as if you've just swum uphill through treacle.

| Aug 23, 2018

Will not disappoint those who are able to enjoy [director Isabel Coixet's] unique rhythm. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 19, 2018

My main disappointment is that it takes a predictable, tragic turn in the third act, which drags out the pathos and gives the romance more credence than it deserves. But in art, as in love, two acts out of three ain't bad.

| Dec 16, 2017

Between the ugly digital photography, the repellent characters, and the free-floating misogyny, Elegy is an unpleasant film.

| Aug 21, 2017

A proven favorite, the Horny Old Devil Professor - Ben Kingsley in Isabel Coixet's intelligent but weepy drama.

| Aug 15, 2011

Your final affection for this literary treat of sorts is how well you accept the finale, which is touching, and intellectually potent, yet possibly one depressant too many.

| Jul 29, 2011

There are moments when the story sags, as it postures and revels in its own eloquence, but with strong performances and a moving final act, this is still a fine, thought-provoking film.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 23, 2009

No se ubica entre lo mejor de la directora Isabel Coixet, pero es de todos modos una interesante y sensible reflexin sobre la soledad, el amor, el sexo y la madurez. Gran trabajo de Ben Kingsley.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 13, 2009

A film which stays and stays.

| Apr 10, 2009

An intelligent tale of aging, beauty, love and loss.

| Apr 10, 2009

Coixet has blunted the impact of the novel's ending just as she has softened Roth's misanthropic depiction of Kepesh and, as a result, she's taken flak for being over-polite. I didn't care.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 10, 2009

Ben Kingsley is extraordinary, but Penelope Cruz is just astounding as Consuela. It is really a beautiful film.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 3, 2009

Beauty, obsession and longing are the central themes of this hypnotic but ultimately flawed drama in which Ben Kingsley's ageing college professor falls in lust with Penelope Cruz' stunning and vulnerable student.

| Apr 2, 2009

Penelope's gullible college coed swoons when the lecherous lecturer played by Ben Kingsley confesses that he's fallen in love with her breasts. You've come a long way backwards, baby. Penelope Cruz Boob Fetish Blues.

| Mar 14, 2009

runs out of ideas, and efforts to jog the proceedings can't get it back on track

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Feb 19, 2009

With his fierce, impeccable craft Kingsley shows us around David's tortured, preening, desperate psyche.

| Nov 10, 2008