Titus 1999

Critics score:
68 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Roger Ebert, At the Movies: This is the film Shakespeare's play deserves, and perhaps even a little more. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: A strong case for Titus Andronicus to be taken much more seriously than it has been. Read more

Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It's all plot twists and shock tactics, without the poetry and resonance of Shakespeare's later work. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: It functions like a giant meat grinder, making hash of everything it depicts. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Hopkins unwisely echoes his performance as Hannibal Lecter, but Lange rises to the occasion with a mesmerizingly in-your-face portrait of mother love gone haywire. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: It's a rage that suits a proscenium, but nearly chokes a screen with smoke. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Along with everything else, the acting styles here clash, though the dissonance serves the drama's bellicose theme. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: The film is striking and original and, in its clash of the brutal and the delicately poetic, supremely offputting. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: A consistently absorbing entertainment that never becomes either campy or facetious, given its inescapable exaggerations. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Despite its nearly three-hour running time, there are few dead spots. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: Looks like a jumble sale featuring the work of other directors and artists. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Julie Taymor has created a film that is as vulgar, obvious and glorious as the Shakespeare play it's based on. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: A striking addition to the Shakespeare filmography. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: A conditional victory. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: While (Taymor's) film version isn't exactly a solemn spectacle, neither is it much fun. Read more