Critic Reviews
Before Night Falls (2000) Rank 4 Reviews
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based on (152) reviews
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Reviews by Score:
Film.com (Peter Brunette)
With Before Night Falls, Schnabel has moved to an entirely new plane of cinematic achievement. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Film.com (Peter Brunette)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
In uniting to honor Arenas, Bardem and Schnabel create something extraordinary. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
It's huge and bewildering and it hurts to watch, but it hurts so good it's gorgeous. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Since when did the holiday season become the time of year to reflect on tortured artists? If you don't believe me, look at the films released in New York and Los Angeles between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They're all there - Marquis de Sade, Jackson ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Planet Sick-Boy (Jon Popick)
Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
There are times in Before Night Falls when it physically hurts to watch. Yes, the scenes of violence are terrifying to behold, like when a grown man is forced to suckle a pistol, knowing how completely at mercy he is to the tyranny of another man. But ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Austin Chronicle (Kimberley Jones)
watchingmovies.com (Rob McKinnon)
It's a powerful and compelling story that is unflinching in the telling. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at watchingmovies.com (Rob McKinnon)
San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)
It's an horrific and tragic story, but somehow made beautiful through the care and attention of Schnabel's direction and Bardem's tender, unforgettable performance. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Edward Guthmann)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
How much did Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas crave freedom? Enough to try to float 90 miles to Florida in an inner tube.The action was foolhardy and a failure, but it underscored Arenas' relentless desire for free expression.Before ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Arenas' life zigzags before us in a manner as heady and unpredictable as it must have felt to the man who lived it. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Buzz (Dusan Stojkovic)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)
A visually arresting, well-acted biopic that would be better in Spanish. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Steve Murray)
Variety (David Rooney)
A dense, emotionally satisfying portrait of a man, a time and a place. ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Variety (David Rooney)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
There is a little something of the spoiled masochist about Arenas. One would not say he seeks misery, but he wears it like a badge of honor, and we can see his mistakes approaching before he does. This is not a weakness in the film but one of its ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
Xiibaro Productions (David Perry)
The Movie Chicks
This is based on the memoirs of the Cuban novelist/poet, Reinaldo Arenas (Javier Bardem) who drew poetry from his life even in the extreme poverty he grew up with. Reinaldo runs away to join Castro's rebels believing in the idealistic dreams of a ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at The Movie Chicks
Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)
Johnny Depp and Sean Penn both have small roles as men he meets on his journey. Still this is a one-man show from beginning to end and it is never boring. Bravo ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Patrick Nash)
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
TV Guide Entertainment Network, Movie Guide
FilmHead.com (Matt Heffernan)
Boxoffice Magazine
The tragic life of exiled Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas is the subject of "Before Night Falls," director Julian Schnabel's followup to his debut film "Basquiat." The famed artist-turned-filmmaker here displays the same brash sensibilities that he did in ...read the complete Before Night Falls movie review at Boxoffice Magazine
Daily-Reviews.com (Mike Pinsky)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
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