Newcastle 2008

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: A glum and slack family drama, Newcastle is punctuated by bright bursts of dreamy surfing images, but not enough to make the film rewarding. Read more

Ruth Hessey, MovieTime, ABC Radio National: Overall, [Castle] has captured what I remember of the fantasy of the classic Newcastle adolescence -- all day at the beach, string bikinis and juicy blond teenagers. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: A beautiful film, charged with energy and sensitivity. Read more

Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly: Slightly overlong but visually striking. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: The drama is a very low-slung affair, with the interconnections between characters poised to supply us with the only reasons to watch, other than the bodies, the landscape and the water. Read more