As a picture that wishes to examine different characters in a specific environment (and during a brief period) rather than telling a precisely structured story, the pacing is a touch slow, though the character development is excellent.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Nov 8, 2024

In our modern political climate, I can't think of a better narrative to revisit.

| Sep 28, 2022

Girl, Interrupted is well-performed but hollow - and ultimately unsatisfying.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Oct 28, 2020

The film is entirely disposable. Watching a group of teenagers "tongue their meds" (which does not mean doing something rude with a junior doctor) and sobbing out of windows is boring.

| Nov 27, 2017

It's an interesting story, based on actual events.

| Original Score: A | Sep 12, 2017

Powerful look at mental illness; ages 16+.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2011

Meaty roles for an eager young female ensemble. On that level, and on several others, the movie triumphs.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 14, 2008

Does it matter that every time Jolie's offscreen the film wilts a little? Ryder should be perfect as the bright spark; her lines are sharp as a knife. There's a gap, however, between what we hear and what we see.

| Jun 24, 2006

We end up getting thin supporters as seen through the eyes of a main character that doesn't do anything.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 26, 2006

Sounding like the scribblings from a teenager's diary, the 28-year-old Ryder lapses into self-parody.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 6, 2005

The two leads play to their strengths.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 4, 2005

The screenplay, by helmer Mangold, is by the numbers.

| Original Score: C+ | Apr 9, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 20, 2003

The acting by Ryder, Jolie, and Goldberg is excellent enough to forgive the problems inherent in the script.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 8, 2003

Mangold knows how to bring the film into the lives of the characters and their personalities without distracting the audience from them.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 29, 2003

Jolie enlivens every scene she's in --- so much so that whenever she's not on screen, many viewers go into a state of suspended animation waiting for her to come back.

| Aug 2, 2002

Girl, Interrupted" is Hollywood's latest simple-minded treatment of mental illness.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 20, 2002

A muddled production that misses the jarring tone of the autobiographical book by Susanna Kaysen on which it is based. The film is entertaining, but not very powerful.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 18, 2002

A listless showcase of Hollywood clichs about crazy people, the '60s, and women, a reactionary, distaff Cuckoo's Nest.

| Apr 15, 2002

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 19, 2002