Old Joy

Old Joy (2005)

  • 85% of critics liked it
    (85 reviews)

  • 72% of users liked it
    (5,143 ratings)

Old Joy is writer/director Kelly Reichardt's long-awaited follow-up to her revered but underseen 1994 feature debut, River of Grass. (She directed a couple of shorts in the interim, including Ode, a Super-8 film inspired by the song "Ode to Bill.") Daniel London and cult folksinger… More

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Unrated,
Directed By
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Aug 25, 2006 Wide
Kino International

Critic Reviews

  • Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    Old Joy may be built around a road trip, but it's also a movie about two roads -- and two souls -- diverging.

  • Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

    You may find yourself asking whether anything's going to happen. But for those who can tolerate a slow-brewing movie, [director] Reichardt's work provides sufficient rewards.

  • Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

    Subdued, artistic, with beautifully nuanced performances that are as true as they are often elusive of commercial triumph.

  • Jessica Winter, Time Out

    Such watchful reticence takes a bold, confident filmmaker.

  • Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

    At just 76 minutes, Old Joy is a minimalist film, but illuminating, bittersweet, gentle and deeply alive.

Read all 18 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Emil K


    Very well made and relaxed film from talented Kelly Reichardt. Here is a film that achieves to tell so many things about it's main characters in so short running time. Reichardt is a director whose style is something completely unique. She has this amazing capability to pull us… More

  • Anthony L


    The best way I can describe Old Joy is like this, at points in our lifetimes, our feelings change, simple feelings that effect the very core of what we are, it's part of our growth and development and sometimes it's not nice. Because it is often unpleasant, it's… More

  • Reid V


    This film was my first foray into the work of the well-respected Kelly Reichardt. If this film is any indication, I need to be ready for some serious introspection if I choose to go further. Although this film is very minimalistic, it tackles some pretty serious issues regarding the… More

  • Walter M


    [font=Century Gothic]"Old Joy" starts with Mark(Daniel London) enjoying a quiet day off with his very pregnant wife, Tanya(Tanya Smith), when his old friend, Kurt(Will Oldham), calls, asking him if wants to go hiking to a hot springs up in the mountains. Mark agrees and… More

  • Robert F


    Even more minimalistic than Reichardt's follow-up, Wendy & Lucy. Still, it was a satisfying experience.

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Cast

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