Maybe Mr. Merchant should just re-watch a few of the films he's so superbly produced. One thing James Ivory has never been afraid to be is vicious.

| Mar 8, 2019

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 7, 2008

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 30, 2006

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 2, 2005

A real clunker. A well-made, thoughtful, well-acted clunker, but a clunker nonetheless.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Nov 4, 2002

An affectionate, sun-bathed memoir.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 15, 2002

| Original Score: C | Sep 18, 2002

What could have become just another cautionary fable is allowed to play out as a clever, charming tale %u2013 as pleasantly in its own way as its self-dramatizing characters.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 28, 2002

A lyrical metaphor for cultural and personal self-discovery and a picaresque view of a little-remembered world.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 23, 2002

Much of the humor is at the expense of these transplanted Indians, and would be considered exploitative had it not been made by people whom it's mocking.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 16, 2002

The faithful will enjoy this sometimes wry adaptation of V.S. Naipaul's novel, but newcomers may find themselves stifling a yawn or two during the first hour.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 15, 2002

Occasionally funny, sometimes inspiring, often boring.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 1, 2002

A warm-hearted gem of a film.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 20, 2002

A fairly dull adaptation of some highly regarded material.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jul 19, 2002

A bore that tends to hammer home every one of its points.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jun 13, 2002

Although some of its plotting feels forced ... The Mystic Masseur coasts along nicely on Merchant's sharply honed craftsmanship, which grants the stunning Trinidad locations an extra degree of lushness.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 10, 2002

The pacing is deadly, the narration helps little and Naipaul, a juicy writer, is negated.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | Jun 7, 2002

A bittersweet film, simple in form but rich with human events.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jun 7, 2002

The plot is paper-thin and the characters aren't interesting enough to watch them go about their daily activities for two whole hours.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Jun 7, 2002