Oleanna

Oleanna (1994)

  • 56% of critics liked it
    (16 reviews)

  • 58% of users liked it
    (1,529 ratings)

David Mamet directed this screen version of his controversial two-character stage drama. John (William H. Macy) is a self-centered college professor preoccupied with his bid for tenure and negotiations for a house that he and his wife want to buy. Mary (Debra Eisenstadt), one of his students, comes… More

Play Trailer

R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By
David Mamet
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Nov 4, 1994 Wide
On DVD
Sep 16, 2003
Hallmark Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Overly schematic and the least effective screen adaptation of a David Mamet play.

  • Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

    ...feels like it was made in a rush, on the cheap, and to fulfill a contractual obligation.... a disappointment compared to his House of Games or Heist, which at least possessed the fall-back position of being intermittently entertaining.

  • Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

    MGM's DVD edition of Oleanna presents a good clean print and transfer (1.66:1, non-anamorphic), but is otherwise wholly unremarkable.... MGM's disc lacks the featurette, stills gallery, and bios/filmographies found on the earlier Seville edition.

  • Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

    Mamet's most frustrating movie

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    As to be expected, the Mamet-speak is sharp, witty and masterful.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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

  • Pierluigi P


    A compelling, elocuent, dialogue-driven, unpretentious, well made two characters drama. Mamet's prose really works.

  • Leo L


    An interesting movie.

  • Kit X


    A tad dry on screen. would have been interesting to see how a different director would have handled it - maybe emphasised the sensual experiences. Read the play. Good performance fom William H. Macy

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