Baker’s film gets stuck in its own monotony, focusing on the dull routines of Janet and Lacy without uncovering anything particularly interesting or meaningful about them. The story feels aimless, as if the director doesn’t quite know how to shape it into something engaging on screen. Instead of using filmmaking to add depth or emotion, she simply recreates boredom without giving the audience a reason to care.

I appreciate artsy films but you have to do more than just set a camera up and show slow burn slice of life.

This is not a movie for everyone, but boy did it hit me hard. The storytelling is subdued, earthy, and almost whisper-like in its presentation, but paints a mother-daughter relationship so vividly. The camera work is extremely intimate at once, hugging the characters so closely you can smell them, then reprieves to often lengthy shots of natural spaces which our characters sometimes traverse at an ant’s pace. The slow-dance performed by the film’s editing and dialogue is the greatest asset to the overarching mood, leaving the audience to feel the ever-present quiet that fills the daughter’s life. This will not be a film for people who require closure, but is without a doubt one of my favorites in recent memory. Kudos to both Zoe Ziegler and Julianne Nicholson for such true to life performances. Will be returning for a rewatch soon.

I’m being generous with a three. What a pointless, slow, and boring movie. Sometimes people try to make movies so slow and “a day in the life of” and it’s so pointlessly slow and not needed. Not worth any type of nomination.

What a wonderful, soul-searching movie this is. It's the kind of movie that will frustrate audiences who are only used to plot-driven movies, but for those who are ready to evolve to more character-driven fare, this is the one for you. It's a story that lives & breathes in small moments as a mother & her daughter figure out life together in the sticks in western MA. Plot-driven movies are always about acquiring something out there. This story is about learning to acquire things on the inside. Like self-love, self-worth. Inner happiness. Though it's a drama, I found myself laughing some and smiling even more. Great writing isn't just about funny lines or clever zingers. It's also about listening to your characters. This movie does that so well. What a refreshing watch.

I wanted to like this movie, but it could have benefited from the advice Steve Martin's character Neal gave in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles:" "You know... you know when you're telling these little stories? Here's a good idea: have a point. It makes it so much more interesting for the listener!" Do not waste two hours of your life on this movie.

incredibly accurate to growing up in western MA! didn't really understand the plot but the accuracy of the area and the vibes are immaculate

This indie movie is slow-paced, simple, but really entertaining. It’s about a young girl and her mother and some of her mother’s romantic interests. It’s a coming of age film with almost a documentary-like feeling.

Janet Planet is a small and tender film, a film of memories and thoughts. It's beautifully acted and written and although slow I was totally engrossed through out. Set in the summer of 1991 in Massachusetts the film follows mother and daughter Janet and Lacy. Lacy is 11 and quite a peculiar kid. In the beginning she is at summer camp but rings her mother so she can come home. Janet is an acupuncturist and the film chronicles her various relationships. There is Wayne who is odd and eventually they break up. She then turns to Avi, who is head of a troop of actors. This gentle film unfolds at a slow pace. It is thoughtful and knowing. Not much happens but I found it a joy. Julianne Nicholson is wonderful as Janet and Zoe Ziegler is a revelation as Lacy. This is a small film, but one of many charms.

Janet Planet is a movie that illustrates the weight of our actions which our children witness and then carry. The camera angles often show only part of the daughter, leaning in to show an incomplete and ignored child. She has been allowed to parent her mother. She sees the endless cycle that she is in with her mom and is weighted down with depression. The film was painful to watch, but should be watched by single parents, especially.

A quiet movie that offers a lot of keen insight and subtlety drawn from the playwright's post-hippie rural childhood. Its central idea involves questions of nature vs. nurture. Unfortunately, for me, it seems more suited to be a play or short story because the pacing, staging, and acting in this film were lacking. Its quietness wants to invite reflection, but--just as the main character states when being recited to--I just zoned out.

I loved every minute of this lovely character study. Yes. The pace is slow and every moment is special. I lived through this time period and felt that I knew these people. The actress who plays the daughter has a great future in film, if she wants it. Very sweet, deep movie.

Nicholson rocks but the rest of the movie is aimless and could use a few cuts

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Kid actor was good

The cinematography of the film is the lone saviour. The visual aesthetics and brilliance is noticeable right from the get go. Some shots are beautifully captured and feel hypnotic. For instance, the camera remains static and focuses on the girl's face, who is inside bathroom, smelling different shampoo bottles, and trying them out on her hair. Another instance is where the camera is placed on the backseat of a car as the girl's mother starts her car and steers it to the left. The life's philosophy being discussed during the phase, where the character Avi comes in, stands out and does seem immersive. Overall, the storytelling is the biggest weakling as it falters to keep us engrossed with its abstract style of narration. It becomes extremely difficult to follow the story and one may start wondering what is it all about and what are these characters doing at different stages of the film. There's a dialogue in the film where the character says she felt spaced out in the middle. Well, that's like reading the mind of viewers but the difference being - spaced out in almost most parts of the film.

Love Annie Baker's plays so was interested in checking this out. It moves at a leisurely pace for sure but I was so invested in the characters that I loved it. Cinematography was amazing.

Realistic slice of life/coming of age film with solid acting and good dialogue. Not a plot-driven movie so the point is not what happens but rather trying to figure out what people are like, why they are the way they are and if they can ever change, as seen through the eyes of a young girl who is the one trying to do the figuring.

Another big swing and miss from the critics. It's a boring and pretentious pile of garbage that buries you in idiotic metaphors. Critics love that nonsense though so I'm not surprised they loved it.

Doing a movie forces Baker to reign in her excesses while still allowing her to indulge her many idiosyncrasies (many of the monologues here could only have been written by her). Also while the movie has nostalgic elements, there is an attention to detail and a lived in quality to those things that don't make them feel empty.

I watched this on HBO and it was a complete miss. I didn't get the plot of the film (if it even has one). It is dull and lifeless right from the start and continues throughout the film. There is no direction. No story concept to invest in.