Broken 2012

Stephen Holden, New York Times: At a certain point, Mr. Norris forsakes realism for theatricalized fantasy, and "Broken" ultimately loses its stylistic cohesion, if not its humanity. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Awkward music cues and choppy camera work add baggage to a film so overwrought that its excesses seem more unintentionally silly than bleakly disturbing. Read more

Nick Schager, AV Club: Doggedly manipulative and yet consistently affecting, Broken piles on the miserablism to almost unbearable effect. Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: The comic and tragic elements are nicely balanced, and the three families' stories neatly and economically knit together. Read more

David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: The film is rich in poignant moments and negotiates its frequent shifts from violence to gentleness to sorrow with sensitivity. Read more

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: Solidly done if somewhat unremarkable, there is nothing particularly wrong with "Broken," nothing that needs fixing exactly, and yet it never fully comes together. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: Although there are some light moments and traces of dark humor, Broken's overall aura is one of dread. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: [It] drives its plot via an interesting and unusual character: the female victim who's actually a wholesale liar. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Norris has adapted Daniel Clay's young adult novel with a sensitivity that will appeal to teens and adults alike. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: "Broken'' embraces the sort of unappealing British miserabilism perfected by "Ratcatcher" director Lynne Ramsay. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: Norris works hard to inject some joy and wonder into what could easily be a much more dark and miserable experience. Read more

Sam Adams, Time Out: Director Rufus Norris deftly mixes gritty realism and lyrical impressionism, though its five-car pileup of a climax ultimately makes the film feel less a Greek tragedy than a miniseries in miniature. Read more

Charles Gant, Variety: Norris' film does find a beating heart, if not exactly a focus, in the tender father-daughter relationship between Archie and Skunk, nicely underplayed by Roth and Laurence. Read more

Inkoo Kang, Village Voice: Unfortunately, Broken lives up to its mawkish title, and the slice-of-life tragedies of the film's first half devolve into manipulative melodrama in the latter part. Read more