Janie Jones 2010

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: "Janie Jones'' would feel more assured if Rosenthal had shown more inclination to commit. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: There are moments when "Janie Jones" threatens to turn into "Crazy Heart," which is not necessarily a bad thing. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: The predictability is crushing, and with movies like Crazy Heart and Sofia Coppola's distinctly personal Somewhere so close in the rearview, David M. Rosenthal's estrangement drama feels especially soft. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Nominated for an Academy Award for 2006's "Little Miss Sunshine" when she was just 10 years old, Breslin here gives a performance of great naturalism and charm, effortlessly carrying a challenging leading role. Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: Contrivances aside ... Janie Jones is one of the more realistic depictions of what the rock 'n' roll lifestyle is really like. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Read more

Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter: An earnest tale about a faded rock star who discovers he has a teenaged daughter and takes her on the road, Janie Jones follows a predictable path and despite decent performances it does not catch fire. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: A mixture of discordant notes and way-too-familiar chords. Read more

Ian Buckwalter, NPR: After a messy, cliched first half, Janie Jones is barely salvaged by the lightweight sweetness that emerges once it becomes a two-hander for Breslin and Nivola. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: Rosenthal fills this dewy road-trip movie with too many cliches. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: The indie road movie "Janie Jones" is billed as "inspired by the true story" of its writer-director, David M. Rosenthal. Impossible. No one's life is this boring. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: The movie works because it's essentially an old-fashioned two-hander for a couple of subtle and terrific actors. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: Despite the pic's assets and overall restraint, a whiff of cliched deja vu remains. Read more

Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: Nivola and Breslin sing and perform the original numbers, welcome interludes that provide respite from Rosenthal's lousy script. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Nivola and Breslin make a terrific mismatched pair in a film that often resembles a mash-up of "Crazy Heart" and Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere"... Read more