It's ok, but the Danish movie is just SO good. Same screenwriter but it's missing the beautiful subtlety of the close ups at hands and eyes that made the acting so special in the Danish one. It's missing Sigur Rós. Not everything should have a remake.
110 Reviews
Great Acting - Strange Writing - SPOILERS
MycroftHolmes23 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this film for the most part because of the actors. Their motivations and reactions to situations left me stumped.
Michelle's character reacts with such anger that Billy raised their child in a wonderful, caring, elite family was mystifying. The daughter's anger at learning the woman who gave her up and disappeared was still alive was also. Julianne's character at least had some logic to it. She was trying to find a good mother for her kids and partner for her husband, and also trying to heal them both.
The kicker was when Michelle's character realizes that neither her daughter nor the orphan she cared for really needed her, after she had thought of herself as some savior saint.
That said I can understand the hate given here by many. I think I felt most sorry for the groom!
Not as good as the Danish film, but Michelle Williams is great
Red-12510 September 2019
After the Wedding (2019) is a U.S. film written and directed by Bart Freundlich. This movie is a remake of a Danish movie that I reviewed in 2007. The Danish movie is better.
What surprised me about this film is that the protagonist is a woman, Isabel, portrayed by Michelle Williams. In the Danish film the protagonist was a man. The rich donor in the Danish film was a man, while in the U.S. film it was a woman, Theresa, played by Julianne Moore. Billy Crudup rounded out the cast as Oscar, Theresa's husband.
Abby Quinn plays Grace, the young daughter who is getting married. Yes--the main action does take place after the wedding.
Many reviewers--in publications and for IMDb--have found the movie inferior to the Danish film. I agree. The idea of having the main protagonist as a woman is interesting, but makes the plot more melodramatic than the original. On the other hand, the switch gives us a chance to see Michelle Williams at work, and I think she's wonderful.
Apparently, most people didn't accept the plot, because the IMDb rating for the film is a horrible 5.8. (The Danish version received a 7.9!) I think that this movie isn't as good as the Danish movie, but I think 5.8 is too low.
We saw After the Wedding at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It will work well enough on the small screen. If you think as highly as I do about Michelle Williams, find and see this film. If you're not a fan of hers, I still think the movie is worth seeing. Minority opinion.
What surprised me about this film is that the protagonist is a woman, Isabel, portrayed by Michelle Williams. In the Danish film the protagonist was a man. The rich donor in the Danish film was a man, while in the U.S. film it was a woman, Theresa, played by Julianne Moore. Billy Crudup rounded out the cast as Oscar, Theresa's husband.
Abby Quinn plays Grace, the young daughter who is getting married. Yes--the main action does take place after the wedding.
Many reviewers--in publications and for IMDb--have found the movie inferior to the Danish film. I agree. The idea of having the main protagonist as a woman is interesting, but makes the plot more melodramatic than the original. On the other hand, the switch gives us a chance to see Michelle Williams at work, and I think she's wonderful.
Apparently, most people didn't accept the plot, because the IMDb rating for the film is a horrible 5.8. (The Danish version received a 7.9!) I think that this movie isn't as good as the Danish movie, but I think 5.8 is too low.
We saw After the Wedding at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. It will work well enough on the small screen. If you think as highly as I do about Michelle Williams, find and see this film. If you're not a fan of hers, I still think the movie is worth seeing. Minority opinion.
I Liked It!
missreneb7 December 2019
I am not sure why folks are trashing this film. Its a fine movie. The acting is stellar. Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams are outstanding and the story is good. I thought the pacing was good with respect to character growth and allowing the story to unfold. I definitely want to see the Danish version now!
Terrible
Marwan-Bob27 September 2019
Michelle Williams is World Class
ThomasDrufke11 September 2019
I'm so glad I went into this movie without knowing much (and frankly unaware of the original Danish film) because the direction the movie goes was both surprising and heartfelt. If it wasn't for the somewhat melodramatic third act, this would probably be a movie that could be up for awards this winter. Michelle Williams once again proves why she's a world class actress, Julianne Moore is equally as good, Billy Crudup provides a mostly reserved but nonetheless impactful turn, and newcomer Abby Quinn shows she has a legit future in this business. It's carried by the acting but leaves something to be desired in the adapted screenplay. All in all, this one was worth it to me.
7.6/10
7.6/10
Can we just have more of Moore?
vinsond2129 August 2019
For me, there is one reason to see After the Wedding, and that reason is Julianne Moore. One of the best actors working today, Moore brings her complicated character to life with a varied performance ranging from feisty to vulnerable. She is, as always, breathtaking to watch. Without Moore in the movie, there is not much going for it. Based on the critically-acclaimed similarly-titled 2006 Danish film (which i have not viewed), this movie is just not compelling enough despite the hints of dark twists and turns. Perhaps it is the pace, which is as lively as someone in a meditative state. At least the movie is lovely to look at, so one can still enjoy the photography in place of action.
I agree with NO American remakes of great foreign flicks
safsurfer16 December 2019
Engaging emotional drama with phenomenal acting
SantaCruzReviews8 December 2019
Complex, rich story that slowly reveals itself over the course of the movie. It's about very human relationships. Complex characters. Top-notch acting by top notch actors. Emotional drama that is very layered & engaging. The musical score and the cinematography made this film even more delightful. It's mind blowing to me that other reviewer's said it was "boring ". Far from it.
Why the need for a plot rewrite?
R_Alex_Jenkins18 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed this film on first viewing and although I found it a little unsatisfying, I still thought it was pretty good with great acting, especially Michelle Williams and her seething and unstated demeanor, so what went wrong and why the need for a reappraisal and this review?
The original film from 2006 in Danish, of course...
What is absolutely baffling is the need to change certain aspects of the plot that only serve to thin the emotion and the impact of the story, which make no sense after having viewed the original. Perhaps it has something to do with telling the story from a more female orientated/dominant perspective 13 years later - I have no idea - other than the fact that the atmosphere was lost with nonsensical relationships, such as the mother and daughter, when compared to the original script.
I am not disappointed by this movie and I still think it's a reasonable watch, but I can only recommended that you go see the original to confirm what a good film this could have been. The original does feel a bit amateurish and less plush in places; however, this is massively compensated for by a much more logical story, better and more imaginative camera work with close ups of faces and weirdly stuffed/dead animals, plus the music is really listenable in a sporadic way too.
Do I need to go on about the unnecessary and illogical point of this remake, which causes a good movie to significantly lose its sparkle?
The original film from 2006 in Danish, of course...
What is absolutely baffling is the need to change certain aspects of the plot that only serve to thin the emotion and the impact of the story, which make no sense after having viewed the original. Perhaps it has something to do with telling the story from a more female orientated/dominant perspective 13 years later - I have no idea - other than the fact that the atmosphere was lost with nonsensical relationships, such as the mother and daughter, when compared to the original script.
I am not disappointed by this movie and I still think it's a reasonable watch, but I can only recommended that you go see the original to confirm what a good film this could have been. The original does feel a bit amateurish and less plush in places; however, this is massively compensated for by a much more logical story, better and more imaginative camera work with close ups of faces and weirdly stuffed/dead animals, plus the music is really listenable in a sporadic way too.
Do I need to go on about the unnecessary and illogical point of this remake, which causes a good movie to significantly lose its sparkle?
An empty remake of a great movie!
adriana231214 May 2020
There are the exact the same words but the meaning is different. There are not close ups from eyes or hands. There is no emotion there are just words.
So powerful was the original, so shallow is the remake. Even the little joke in the beginning, when Julianne Moore shows the view to Isabel. "At a clear day you can see New Jersey but who wants to see that" doesn't make sense here!
There is no undercurrent in this movie, no subtleties that makes the original so emotional! Don't make a remake of everything. Americans can't make remakes of European movies because they miss the same background in everything
Poignant portrayal of many intense emotions
taraohanley2 September 2019
I thought this movie was incredible; I'm pretty baffled by the negative reviews. If you watch the trailer and think it looks intriguing, then I'd definitely recommend you watch it. Personally, it tore me in two. It opened me up in a way that I can't remember ever experiencing from a movie. It brought up a lot of deep emotions and really touched me. I love love love my family - more than anything - and I love life, and this is the first movie I've seen that really conveys the depth of those emotions for me. It was poignant and complex and real and I loved it.
Intense
Jackbv12326 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The story is slow until about a quarter of the way through, then bam. Wow. Deal with that, then a little farther in, boom, another bombshell. The rest of the movie is cleaning up the bomb craters and the characters trying to move on.
The premise is stretching it a bit. I can't imagine a person in that situation thinking this would work. I thought about how difficult it would be for Isabel and I'm not sure most people could handle it. Talk about culture shock along with a host of other issues.
Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams both have intense roles. They do a good job with unusual situations. There were times I didn't like Isabel and more times I didn't like Theresa, but hard situations leave people doing harsh things. Still, there are no evil villains.Abby Quinn's character is also in an difficult situation and she does a good job also.
There is one question that came to me long after. Given Theresa's research, she more or less admits what she knew, how could she keep it from Grace? That's a little too calculating.
The premise is stretching it a bit. I can't imagine a person in that situation thinking this would work. I thought about how difficult it would be for Isabel and I'm not sure most people could handle it. Talk about culture shock along with a host of other issues.
Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams both have intense roles. They do a good job with unusual situations. There were times I didn't like Isabel and more times I didn't like Theresa, but hard situations leave people doing harsh things. Still, there are no evil villains.Abby Quinn's character is also in an difficult situation and she does a good job also.
There is one question that came to me long after. Given Theresa's research, she more or less admits what she knew, how could she keep it from Grace? That's a little too calculating.
Boring
josejrez30 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Isabel's character is emotionless I think it shows emptiness in the story....Imagine meeting your abandoned child in the day of her wedding. In the same day and in the same place you meet your ex and also you meet the person that took place in your daughter's life. I really believe no one could react as cold as isabel.
A totally UNNECESSARY and lousy remake in reverse
MovieIQTest14 November 2019
I gave "Efter brylluppet (2006)", the original film an 8 star rating, while gave just 1 star to the adapted "After The Wedding (2019) ", and seriously considered the 2019 film a totally unnecessary remake. There were too many unnecessary filler scene after scene in this lousy remake, and also considered the casting job so unfit and inappropriate. None of the four leading characters were good enough, even the future-son-in-law was a bad cast; the father figure didn't feel like a guy in the art business; his wife (reversed by the script to avoid the original), the successful business woman just played the part by talking over the phone non-stop or in her office to give instructions or orders to her assistant to give a false impression of how she was so busily successful; their daughter, gee, what an unlikable and bad actor; then, the charity organization woman, played by Michelle Williams, Jesus, the character was absolutely ridiculed by the lousy script and poor directing:
You were begging money for donation from a business woman in New York to support your money-pit charity in India, you were not in the position to be arrogant, rude, impatient. She didn't owe you nothing, how could you show up in her office like she owed you a lot of money? Your attitude was so arrogant and condescending, and even a bit of angry and impatient, like she's at fault not transferred money in time to your Indian bank, it forced me wasting my time to come over from India.
I don't know whether Ms. Williams had pointed out to the director that this unreasonable and inappropriate manners should not to be her attitude to play, or she didn't care, she just followed the stupid directing and script , and acted like money collector from India, demanding million dollars to be transferred ASAP. Nobody owed you anything, so where that bad attitude came from? You're asking charity donation from a business woman who used to wire money into your Indian bank account, but it didn't mean that she owed you. Your attitude should be very humble or somewhat humiliated, because you were forced to come afar begging people to help feeding the Indian kids.
Furthermore, the filler scene after scene, those totally unnecessary segments were forced into this stupid script like a stuffed turkey on a Thanksgiving dinner table inevitably exposed it to be a lousy film.
But the original "Efter brylluppet (2006)" was such a powerful and emotionally depressing film that even after so many years, it's impressed us so strongly, we still vividly remembered when it ended, we were deeply moved and disturbed. But not the 2019 bomber! It's an absolutely unnecessary appendix.
However, some of the Hollywood remakes adapted from several great European movies turned out to be great, either on par with their originals or, even better:
The Next Three Days (2010) vs. Pour elle/Everything for Her (2008) Sorcerer (1977) vs. Le salaire de la peur/The salary of fear (1953) The Upside (2017) vs. Intouchables/Untouchables (2011)
3 ingredients made these American remakes taste so good:
You were begging money for donation from a business woman in New York to support your money-pit charity in India, you were not in the position to be arrogant, rude, impatient. She didn't owe you nothing, how could you show up in her office like she owed you a lot of money? Your attitude was so arrogant and condescending, and even a bit of angry and impatient, like she's at fault not transferred money in time to your Indian bank, it forced me wasting my time to come over from India.
I don't know whether Ms. Williams had pointed out to the director that this unreasonable and inappropriate manners should not to be her attitude to play, or she didn't care, she just followed the stupid directing and script , and acted like money collector from India, demanding million dollars to be transferred ASAP. Nobody owed you anything, so where that bad attitude came from? You're asking charity donation from a business woman who used to wire money into your Indian bank account, but it didn't mean that she owed you. Your attitude should be very humble or somewhat humiliated, because you were forced to come afar begging people to help feeding the Indian kids.
Furthermore, the filler scene after scene, those totally unnecessary segments were forced into this stupid script like a stuffed turkey on a Thanksgiving dinner table inevitably exposed it to be a lousy film.
But the original "Efter brylluppet (2006)" was such a powerful and emotionally depressing film that even after so many years, it's impressed us so strongly, we still vividly remembered when it ended, we were deeply moved and disturbed. But not the 2019 bomber! It's an absolutely unnecessary appendix.
However, some of the Hollywood remakes adapted from several great European movies turned out to be great, either on par with their originals or, even better:
The Next Three Days (2010) vs. Pour elle/Everything for Her (2008) Sorcerer (1977) vs. Le salaire de la peur/The salary of fear (1953) The Upside (2017) vs. Intouchables/Untouchables (2011)
3 ingredients made these American remakes taste so good:
- Hired talented American screenplay writers who knew how to adapt an European flavor into American continental flavor that would certainly stimulate the American movie goers' taste buds.
- Acquired talented American directors to fully understand the adaptations.
- Great casting agencies, seeking out the most appropriate actors to replay and transform the original European roles into pure Americans.
... runner-up
bjarias3 May 2021
... lots of star-power... yet should you want to watch the better production... search-out the 2006 Danish-Swedish drama (same-title) directed by Susanne Bier & starring Mads Mikkelsen & Sidse Babett Knudsen
... film was a critical success & was nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
... film was a critical success & was nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
After the Wedding
JoBloTheMovieCritic21 December 2019
Annoying daughter
fmadariaga-3765614 August 2021
Story kind of flat
ilovefoodcoma13 September 2019
Two remarkable performances
nancyldraper3 December 2019
Michelle Williams has to be one, of a handful, of truly remarkable dramatic actresses. And, Julianne Moore matched her emotion by emotion in this piece. This was a good movie but the acting made it a great movie. The story was full blooded but it was as if the writers didn't know how to end it. For a story so rooted in personal journeys the pivotal character seems left to find her own way. Her sacrifice is unrequited (however another viewer may find a resolution I didn't). Based mostly on the dramatic performances, I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10. {Drama}
Turned it off once I realized it was a Danish copy.
morganmckinley7 September 2020
Williams & Crudup made me tune in but it felt like such an unintelligent and underhanded attack on NYC wealthy white people.
Plus they casted a daughter who looks like she's from NYC but definitely not the offspring of those parents.
Doesn't Hollywood have enough original screenwriters to do anything other than copy Danish, Spanish, German, Korean and other great movies and act like it's an original film?
Plus they casted a daughter who looks like she's from NYC but definitely not the offspring of those parents.
Doesn't Hollywood have enough original screenwriters to do anything other than copy Danish, Spanish, German, Korean and other great movies and act like it's an original film?
A quality and intriguing adult drama
euanmcgrath2 June 2019
One of those films best approached knowing as little as possible about the plot going in... But it's deft handling of character drama and intrigue-filled more melodramatic elements make for a very solid, surprising and well made film.
Slow burn
mattrstewart-1419829 May 2020
Good acting, but the plot is rubbish
nataliamaekivi11 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I was waiting patiently until the very end to have another plot twist - where we'd find out Theresa is not really dying, but planned to run off with her daughter's ex-husband, something along the lines. Because what woman, especially The Woman like Julianne Moore would genuinely want some other woman to replace at her home with her husband and kids without some severe guilt issues behind it? I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it. I haven't seen the Danish version, but the description says there there the main 2 characters were men. It seems funny for the director to even have considered that you can have it remade for 2 women and have the same unchanged plot for it.
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