Nell (1994)

53% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(36,546 ratings)

A woman is brought to civilization after spending her life in the wilds in this drama. Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson) happens upon a shack deep in the woods, where he discovers a strange woman who appears to be about 30, speaking an incomprehensible language. The woman, named Nell (Jodie Foster),… More A woman is brought to civilization after spending her life in the wilds in this drama. Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson) happens upon a shack deep in the woods, where he discovers a strange woman who appears to be about 30, speaking an incomprehensible language. The woman, named Nell (Jodie Foster), was raised in the cabin by her late mother, who was incapacitated by strokes (Nell speaks English, but distorted -- as it was by her mother's infirmities); with the exception of her twin sister, who died as a child, Nell has had contact with no other human being. Lovell brings in a psychiatrist, Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) to help determine what, if anything, should be done for Nell; Olsen thinks that Nell should be committed to an institution, but Lovell demands a period of unobtrusive observation instead. When it becomes obvious that the courts will demand that Nell be hospitalized for psychiatric observation, Lovell and Olsen take it upon themselves to gently introduce Nell to the outside world. Jodie Foster's performance in Nell earned her an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, and she won the Screen Actor's Guild award in that category. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Michael Apted
Written By: William Nicholson, Mark Handley
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 14, 1994 Wide
On DVD: Feb 3, 2004
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Stunningly awful on almost every level.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Somber, ponderous, and pretentious, this is a clinical study of a wild woman (Jodie Foster) raised in the backwoods, far from the interference and contamination (according to the film) of Civilization. It's better to see Truffaut's Wild Child.
Fred Topel, About.com
Decent triumph over adversity movie. Nell has a unique disability.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Not a great movie.
Film C

i liked this film i thought it was inspirational and heart warming and probably jodie fosters best acting ever she did a performance of a lifetime and a really good film and really worth a watch
Lady D

A unique and original film, Jodie Foster plays a great part in this and is a very intersting story.
Dean M

Gripping and emotionally rewarding, this offbeat story never compromises its clear-eyed point of view.
Candy R

This one was a bit weird about a women found in the woods.
Drew S

You know that Jodie Foster was thinking "Oscar! Oscar!" to herself when she signed on for this terminally stupid hunk of pap.
xGary X

Jodie Foster ego project that seems to have been conceived for the sole reason of bagging a best actress oscar ("ha ha" as Nelson Muntz would say.) Very worthy, and oh so very dull.
Leigh R

Foster is excellent in this movie.
Andrew P

A highly average film which lingers for too long rather than developing further. Foster certainly makes this film worth watching, portraying a young woman who speaks in her own language. In hindsight the film has been done since to much better effects. A worthwhile ending but… More
A highly average film which lingers for too long rather than developing further. Foster certainly makes this film worth watching, portraying a young woman who speaks in her own language. In hindsight the film has been done since to much better effects. A worthwhile ending but it's a long journey there.
Ivan D

Though certainly not a 'great' film in any way, "Nell" is probably an ideal film to be shown on Sociology classes. It's a tale about the eponymous girl who was raised in extreme isolation, talking in unfinished old English, and often initially mistaken to be… More
Though certainly not a 'great' film in any way, "Nell" is probably an ideal film to be shown on Sociology classes. It's a tale about the eponymous girl who was raised in extreme isolation, talking in unfinished old English, and often initially mistaken to be inflicted with mental retardation. Jodie Foster(in perfect Oscar-bait mode) gave a very believable, often unrecognizable rendition of her, stripping of the intelligence, psychology and measured calculations of Clarice Starling(a role that launched her A-list status in Hollywood) and ably portrayed the deficiency of her actions resulted by lack of social exposure, and the uncommon depths and purity of her heart brought forth by not being able to do so. Liam Neeson was quite good(though a bit stiff, I may say) as the concerned Dr. Lovell, a character that, along with Nell herself, formed the film's primary emotional connection whose slow development was very prevalent throughout. Yes, "Nell" is a pure tear-jerker for the easily touched, but for the more experienced film-goer that has gone through and endured so much Hollywood cheese, 'tears' is never impossible, but an almost otherworldly 'sob' is quite pushing it. Which brings me to my personal conflict as to "what will be the real reason if ever I let out a tear for the film?" Will it be the penetrating human drama displayed? Or will it be a genuine thump into my heart regarding Liam Neeson's struggles to cope up with her real-life wife Natasha Richardson's(who played Paula Olsen in the film) untimely death? Seeing them all happy and hugging and kissing each other in the film makes me lean on the latter more. "Nell" isn't just about Nell herself and her subsequent integration into mainstream reality. At some point, it's also about the doctors themselves. And as what Richard Libertini's character Dr. Paley stated(a quote that lingered with me long after the film has ended): "Even caring has an ulterior motive". Beyond all our aspirations to help others, to give meaning to other less fortunate people's lives, is an unconscious, buried search for our own and an impulse to internally conform with how other people may view us. Dr. Paley followed it up with the claim that even Mother Teresa's unconditional caring in Calcutta is truly a mission for her existential re-assurance. That may be debatable, but the film's clear and considerable articulacy of the sociological human condition clearly isn't.
Erin C

This movie was so good! Foster was so convincing in her role, and Neeson and Richardson were perfect picks for their characters. It was so touching (and sad at times), and I found myself mesmerized by Foster's character, Nell.
Jason R

Jodie Foster is amazing in this film, and gives one of the best performances I've ever seen! Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson are equally as good. The fact that these two actors were not only in love on screen but off-screen as well, and with the tragic passing of Richardson… More
Jodie Foster is amazing in this film, and gives one of the best performances I've ever seen! Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson are equally as good. The fact that these two actors were not only in love on screen but off-screen as well, and with the tragic passing of Richardson made watching these two actors who would become Husband and Wife pretty heartbreaking and it was hard not thinking about it as the movie was on. But the one thing this film does do is showcase the love they had for each other, and that is a very special thing. This is a very special film, one that not many critics like but like always I say screw the critics just lose yourself in the movie and enjoy, because it is a good one.
Audrey L

Add a review (optional)...
Sarah P

An enjoyable tale. Jodie Foster does a great job of portraying a type of person that has very rarely existed.
Lee K

The always great jodie foster shines in this too. A must see
Robert F

Deeply moving. I was a little apprehensive, as the DVD cover made it look a bit boring, but it was great. I'm so glad I watched it. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson (probably my favourite of the Redgrave-Richardson family of acting dinosaurs) both gave very strong performances,… More
Deeply moving. I was a little apprehensive, as the DVD cover made it look a bit boring, but it was great. I'm so glad I watched it. Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson (probably my favourite of the Redgrave-Richardson family of acting dinosaurs) both gave very strong performances, but it was Jodie Foster who was probably at the best that I've ever seen her.
Ina S

Weird and clever. Unfortunately some lengths and too preachy - but Jodie Foster is brilliant. Wouldn't rewatch it, though.