Featured Audience Ratings

• Jim H

  
  An ex-fisherman falls in love with a singer, but their relationship is tested when they are stranded in the Alaskan hinterland. This film is two films in one. The first is a continuation of <i>Silver City</i> set in Alaska, and the second is a mildly compelling survival… More
  An ex-fisherman falls in love with a singer, but their relationship is tested when they are stranded in the Alaskan hinterland. This film is two films in one. The first is a continuation of <i>Silver City</i> set in Alaska, and the second is a mildly compelling survival tale. I side with the anti-corporate political points director John Sayles elaborates on in the first part of the film, but like <i>Silver City</i> and anything Richard Linklater has ever done, the politics seem preachy and aren't especially compelling as a story. The survival tale is pretty good, but it doesn't reach the levels that films like <i>The Edge</i> or even the less compelling <I>127 Hours</i>. Other critics have called the ending of the film "contrived" and a "cop-out," and only because they have commented on it, I'll weigh in with my agreement. Sure, the ending fits with the title and maybe even the film's theme (this is a place in between modernity and tradition), but I ultimately just rolled my eyes during the credits. Overall, I think fans of John Sayles know what they're getting, and most people would only find this film because they like Sayles.

• Emil K

  
  Atmopheric, very well written and dark insight about humans who find themselves in desperate situation. Limbo is possibly darkest and most complex of Sayles films among his own Lone Star and Matewan. It is also his grimmest work to date with beautiful photgraphy by Sayles regular… More
  Atmopheric, very well written and dark insight about humans who find themselves in desperate situation. Limbo is possibly darkest and most complex of Sayles films among his own Lone Star and Matewan. It is also his grimmest work to date with beautiful photgraphy by Sayles regular Haskell Wexler. There is a masterpiece hidden somewhere in this film, but Sayles' decision to split his film into a two different films is not a wise move. If Limbo only would centered it's fantastic and touching second half, which focuses into the survival of three humans in a wilderness of Alaska. This seqment has career best performaces from film's lead actors David Strathairn, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and especially for young Vanessa Martinez who outdoes even her older collagues. Her delicate monologues and ability to portatrait loneliness and hidden angst is wonderful to watch and ranks as one this unique film's highpoints. Director/writer John Sayles also delivers perfect ending for his film. It might not satisfy everyone, but in a way it is a masterful way to end film titled as a Limbo. If Sayles would instead of two films focused in one, this would be something masterful, but now it ends just being very good. That is still not a bad achievement at all.

• Robert F

  
  An absorbing story about appealing, rounded characters. The more you think about the way it ends, the more you realise that any other ending would betray the purpose of the story.

• Anthony V

  
  Another winning film from Sayles.