Death Defying Acts 2007

Critics score:
44 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Amy Nicholson, I.E. Weekly: Director Gilliam Anderson doesn't distinguish this generic romance from a thousand other costumed bodice rippers -- is a kinky handcuff scene too much to ask? Read more

Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: What the film loses in momentum as the romance takes over, it gains in sex appeal as its two attractive actors make their own kind of magic. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: This won't be remembered as one of the prodigiously talented Armstrong's great films (My Brilliant Career, High Tide, Little Women), but it's still 90 percent better than everything else out there. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Zeta-Jones and Pearce don't have much chemistry, the script lacks any significant depth and the direction feels oddly uninspired. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: Director Gillian Armstrong is more attentive to decor than the story, which never seems in a hurry to get anyplace in particular and concludes with a thud. Read more

Dana Stevens, Slate: All a 'what if' movie needs to win me over are some lush costumes and production design, a smart casting choice or two, and a really ridiculous basic idea. Death Defying Acts obliges on all fronts. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: Pearce's boys-adventure take on the vaudeville legend is a hoot, though not nearly as laughable as the dialogue or Zeta-Jones's pitiful attempts at basic emoting. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: All in all, it's a bit of a snore that falls back on romance when all else fails. Read more

Jeremy Gerard, Variety: Read more

Lisa Nesselson, Variety: Sounding intriguing enough in concept, Death misses the mark onscreen in a way adaptations of deceptively cinematic novels often do. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: Read more