Ceremony 2010

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Throughout the movie, Ms. Thurman's facial expressions suggest a peevish spoiled child about to stomp her feet and throw a full-scale tantrum. Read more

Keith Phipps, AV Club: Winkler directs with a borrowed sense of assurance. Read more

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly: Yes, it's been done before (and better). But Uma lends it a sly and sexy spark. Read more

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: Sporadically funny though less effective at selling its melancholy undercurrents. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: If the scenario is unconvincing, debuting writer-director Max Winkler has a feel for the dynamics of this kind of ritualized yet informal social gathering, and his affection for his characters is clear. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The contradictory elements stack up at the same time your interest in the characters dwindles. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Does Uma Thurman perpetually underestimate herself, or is Quentin Tarantino the only filmmaker who appreciates her? Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Young Winkler needs to learn that simply instructing characters to smirk and look ironic is not enough; you actually have to come up with funny things for them to say. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: The offbeat comedy is not entirely devoid of charm, but its derivativeness is almost embarrassing. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Despite a few grace notes and mildly clever twists, this handsomely produced indie is such a grating turnoff throughout its first third that its minor virtues may be discovered only by insomniac latenight cable viewers. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: Ceremony is a callow movie: Winkler exhibits no comprehension of the class anxieties he addresses, and extends precocity into adulthood. That callowness is Ceremony's subject scarcely makes it funnier. Read more