59
Metascore
7 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75Boston GlobeTy BurrBoston GlobeTy BurrPart detective story, part coming of political age saga, and all teenage identity crisis, Captive is the first film written and directed by Gaston Biraben , who has worked steadily as a Hollywood sound editor since the early '90s. That professionalism shows in the polished filmmaking as well as an occasional tendency toward shallower melodrama than the situation deserves.
- 70VarietyDeborah YoungVarietyDeborah YoungGripping drama.
- 70L.A. WeeklyErnest HardyL.A. WeeklyErnest HardyIntelligent, moving film.
- 63New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoThe initial suspense of Cautiva gives way to sentimental clichés, but Lombardo's performance (including a daring nude scene) keeps us watching.
- 60Village VoiceVillage VoiceThis intriguing debut by Argentinean writer-director Gaston Biraben sets up a lot of tough choices before finally taking the easy way out.
- 50The New York TimesA.O. ScottThe New York TimesA.O. ScottThe middle section of the film has some of the superficiality of a made-for-Lifetime drama of female distress and resilience, a bit too eager to make its points and solve its dramatic problems at the cost of the messiness that would bring the story fully to life.
- If Biraben had devoted more energy to the human contours of his story, its metaphorical implications would have sorted themselves out. Instead, he herds his characters toward a foregone conclusion, reducing both their scope and his story's power.