60
Metascore
41 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeThe movie’s more interesting for being less obvious.
- 75TheWrapBen CrollTheWrapBen CrollBracketed by genre on both ends, the middle third of this 140-minute film becomes a gentle tale about a misfit finding in a platonic relationship a kind of second chance in life. In other words, it becomes a certain kind of Tom McCarthy film — and then gets back to the overarching story.
- 70Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangLos Angeles TimesJustin ChangMcCarthy pushes the thriller narrative in directions more extreme and harrowing than plausible, bringing Bill and Allison’s story to an unexpected point of reckoning.
- 67IndieWireDavid EhrlichIndieWireDavid EhrlichA strained but strangely affecting turducken of a movie.
- 60Screen DailyTim GriersonScreen DailyTim GriersonThere’s real feeling in this story — and a genuine desire to challenge audience expectations — which is laudable but only takes Stillwater so far.
- 60EmpireIan FreerEmpireIan FreerStillwater mashes up quest-for-justice, father-daughter dramatics, fortysomething romance and mid-life introspection for a refreshingly adult drama. It doesn’t coalesce completely, but Damon and Cottin keep it engaging.
- 60Total FilmNeil SmithTotal FilmNeil SmithDamon’s sturdy presence just about holds it together, while Breslin shows some impressive chops as the daughter who is too aware of his failings to see him as her saviour. By the end, though, the still waters McCarthy seeks to navigate don’t run deep so much as dry – a consequence, you suspect, of trying to cram too many genres into one star vehicle.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyUnfurling over a sluggish two hours plus, Stillwater is least convincing when McCarthy attempts to build suspense, with most of that work being done by Mychael Danna’s score. The late plot twists become almost risible, once Akim (Idir Azougli) enters the picture.
- 50The PlaylistCaroline TsaiThe PlaylistCaroline TsaiIt feels like a Frankenstein’s monster of at least two movies awkwardly combined—and perhaps a short, about French theater—riddled with plot holes, implausibilities, and ill-timed comedic beats.
- 20The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawThis is one to forget: a muddled, tonally misjudged, badly acted, uncertainly directed and frankly dubious drama, something that falls into the so-bad-it’s-bad bracket.