The Bridge of San Luis Rey 2004

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: The Bridge of San Luis Rey raises an important philosophical question: Is it better to fall to one's death from a rickety rope bridge overlooking a deep gorge or watch this miserable movie about several people sharing that awful fate? Read more

Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News: Unlike the bridge, the movie unravels at a very slow pace. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: Audiences may wonder why a picture with Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates and Harvey Keitel would be so bereft of hype. After you've endured the film, all 120 airless minutes, you'll understand the rationale behind the quiet release. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: So dully written and executed that you'll be wishing the production had collapsed instead of the swaying bridge of San Luis Rey. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Best characterized as an honourable folly. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: As a director, McGuckian is overwhelmed by the immensity of her cast, and her misguided attempt to make a Hollywood epic on a European production budget. Read more

Stephen Garrett, Time Out: Why do good actors pop up in bad movies? More perplexingly, why do so many good actors end up in the same bad movie? Read more

Time Out: Read more

Jonathan Holland, Variety: The stellar cast can do little to paper over the cracks in an awkward, unevenly-paced script that is composed of a series of sometimes-attractive scenes with little emotional undertow. Read more

Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice: An honorable but dull attempt to translate a neglected literary source to the screen. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Even though director-adaptor Mary McGuckian expended much creative energy trying to pump original spirit into the characters, she never brings any of them to life. Read more