Critic Reviews

• Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic

  It hits all the expected beats of a thoroughly vanilla biopic as an aging Leonie reflects on her unconventional life via plodding voiceover while doddering through a forest collecting berries.

• Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times

  As a portrait of female strength and a celebration of the artistic spirit, "Leonie" too seldom comes fully alive.

• John Anderson, Variety

  Failing to carve anything graceful or fluid out of a slab of biography, helmer Hisako Matsui does bring to light a curious and intriguing story of a great-woman-behind-a-great-man in Leonie.

• Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

  Lushly photographed and featuring a stellar performance by the luminous Emily Mortimer in the title role, Hisako Matsui's film is deeply heartfelt but only intermittently compelling.

• Rachel Saltz, New York Times

  Leonie Gilmour was almost certainly unusual and unusually self-reliant. Too bad that the film that bears her name ultimately reduces her to the mother of her child.

• Rex Reed, New York Observer

  Color it inspirational.

• Jamie S. Rich, Oregonian

  Though Leonie is slow at times, it highlights a little-known historical figure in a manner that is emotionally and intellectually satisfying.

• Mike Scott, Times-Picayune

  Despite some nice period elements, it's a mostly sparkle-free affair, sticking so closely to the genre blueprint as to be generic.

• Amy R. Handler, Film Threat

  Matsui's Leonie is, very simply, a beautiful film, and one that will live in our hearts and minds long after it ends on screen.

• Roger Moore, Movie Nation

  Uneven, but it captures a time, and a woman ahead of her time.

Read all 10 critic reviews