Alan Cumming, Chris O'Donnell, Colin Firth

A polished gem from 1995, this disarmingly sweet and dramatically insightful love story provided a charming showcase for Chris O'Donnell and, especially, then-newcomer Minnie Driver, whose performance...( read more  read more... ) drew critical raves and boosted her career to Hollywood. Smoothly adapted from the novel by Maeve Binchy and set in Ireland during the 1950s, the story focuses on Benny (Driver), a somewhat plump, plain-looking young woman attending university in Dublin who meets and quickly falls for Jack (O'Donnell), a handsome star of the university's rugby team who surprisingly reciprocates her glowing admiration. They're drawn together as soul mates, and their love is dramatically contrasted with a subplot involving Benny's more conventionally beautiful friend Nan (Saffron Burrows), whose appetite for older men leads her into a misguided and ultimately tragic relationship. A betrayal by Jack sets the stage for potential heartbreak, but director Pat O'Connor prevents these carefully drawn characters from resorting to sappy melodrama. They have lessons to learn about life and love, and Circle of Friends teaches those lessons with grace, humor, and heartfelt sincerity. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

67% liked it

13,294 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

34 critics

PG-13, 102 min.

Directed by: Pat O'Connor

Release Date: June 1, 1994

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DVD Release Date: January 9, 2001

Stats: 515 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (515)


  • July 17, 2007
    A beautiful story.... oh what a shame that Colin Firth had such a horrible slimy role.

    A story of growing up, where the body wants more than society "allows" and coping with these contradictory feelings.
  • July 14, 2007
    Excellent adaptation of Maeve Binchy's novel. Minnie is brilliant.
  • December 30, 2006
    Minnie Driver fans will want to see this for a look at her pre-Hollywood work. She gained 30 pounds for this role and still looks great. Colin Firth fans may want to skip this one, but Alan Cumming fans might want to see what a truly creepy character he can play. Chris O'Donne...( read more)ll . . . well, as usual, nothing much to write home to mother about.
  • November 7, 2006
    So great.
  • August 23, 2009
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic for sexual content

    Circle of Friend is more a girl movie with teenage sexual problems, friendships,first love, betrayal and the Cat...( read more)holic traditions. All the characters were so likable, and the Irish locations were wonderful. Great performances by Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell, and Alan Cumming was great in this role, he played the bad role so well.( do you remember him as the NIGHTCRAWLER in Xmen?) Overall, a very beautiful movie with a lovely story. Simply beautiful, great directing and cast.
  • August 25, 2009
    Kind of disturbing, actually, but I suppose I enjoyed parts of it.
  • June 15, 2009
    I've been so waiting so see this movie and what can I say? It was worth the while! Well, just like any other Andrew Davis story!
  • June 12, 2009
    i found some pretty good movies during my obsessive chris o'donnell kid years.
  • June 10, 2009
    Whenever I hear this movie I think about that Better Than Ezra song from the Empire Records soundtrack.

    Oh yeah, and I did like this movie.
  • May 28, 2009
    I love this movie- sad to see they don't end up staying together

Critic Reviews


May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Driver's tough core of honesty and wit is bewitching. So's the movie. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Heartwarming and poignant, a love story that glows with intelligence and feeling. full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Young Benny has a nice smile, and she and Jack seem like pleasant people, but in the end (and in the beginning and in the middle) it's hard to get worked up about them. full review

View more Circle of Friends reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • DESANTIS4264DE
    September 1, 2008
    I love this movie it is one of my faves! I read the book before I saw the movie and Usually I am disappointed by the movies if i read the book first...but not in this case..it stays true to the book and minnie driver does an excellent job as "Benny"!
    =======================================================
    Victor2008
    widecircles
  • latoyajohnson
    May 24, 2006
    If you like romantic stories, you should like this one. It teaches you about the difference abour REAL friends and (friend) enemies. Watch it, it will teach you alot.

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Circle of Friends Trivia


  • Which actress played the role of Bernadette, "Benny" in the movie "Circle of Friends" based on a novel by Maeve Binchy.   Answer »
  • where is Circle Of Friends set?  Answer »
  • This 1995 movie starred Minnie Driver, Chris O'Donnell, Alan Cummings, and Colin Firth.  Answer »
  • Name the Movie: Minnie Driver Chris O'Donnell Saffron Burrows Coin Firth  Answer »

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