Sorry, Haters (2005)

37% of critics liked it
(38 reviews)
47% of users liked it
(4,368 ratings)

An embittered television executive working for a hip-hop-oriented music channel finds her fate intricately tied with a New York City taxi driver after hailing his cab for questionable purposes in director Jeff Stanzler's intimate look at the tenuous relationship between Caucasians and Muslims in… More An embittered television executive working for a hip-hop-oriented music channel finds her fate intricately tied with a New York City taxi driver after hailing his cab for questionable purposes in director Jeff Stanzler's intimate look at the tenuous relationship between Caucasians and Muslims in post-9/11 America. Phoebe (Robin Wright Penn) hates her job at Q Dog TV, and focuses the brunt of her disgruntled rage squarely on co-worker Phyllis MacIntyre (Sandra Oh). During the course of their extended journey to Phoebe's suburban destination, troubled Muslim cab driver Ashade (Abdel Kechiche) confides to his passenger that the arrest of his brother on charges of suspected terrorism has thrown his family into chaos. Though the increasingly unstable Phoebe listens diligently to Ashade's tragic confession -- even offering to help the distraught Syrian chemist-turned-cab driver's struggling family -- it's only after arriving at his fare's destination that Ashade truly begins to grasp Phoebe's true nature and realize that he has made a grave mistake in placing his trust in her. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Jeff Stanzler
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 20, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Aug 8, 2006
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
As the characters unravel -- and how -- so too does the movie.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It contains such a gripping performance by Robin Wright Penn that it succeeds, in a way, despite itself. To see great work is a reason to see an imperfect movie, and to observe how the movie loses its way may be useful even if it's frustrating.
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
A preposterous screwball psychological drama called Sorry, Haters, a film roughly as successful as the phrase 'screwball psychological drama' implies.
John McMurtrie, San Francisco Chronicle
It's a well-meaning but ultimately feeble and misguided attempt to say something profound about the aftereffects of the 2001 attacks on New York.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
That Penn and Kechiche are so committed to their roles only makes writer-director Jeff Stanzler's film more of a conundrum.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
[It's] such a fascinating story.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
Stereotype- and expectation-busting indie drama.
Prairie Miller, NY Rock
A product of a younger, confused generation raised on a junk diet of corporate media propaganda and tabloid news substituting hip for history, it's distanced from any candid self-reflection, while demonizing women as the main source of global distress.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
A psychological thriller with a cleverly-concealed subplot likely to surprise even the best of cinema sleuths.
Prairie Miller, WBAI Web Radio
A product of a younger, confused generation raised on a junk diet of corporate media propaganda and tabloid news substituting hip for history, it's distanced from any candid self-reflection, while demonizing women as the main source of global distress.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Does build steam as it goes, though the somewhat slow pacing works against it.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Many audience members will likely be turned off by the film's bizarre ending. I'd defend it, solely on the grounds that it is the appropriate finish for the entire misbegotten mess.
Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Despite moments of confusion in the script by director Jeff Stanzler, Sorry, Haters remains engrossing, largely because of Penn's superb portrayal.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Ambitious but seriously confused social commentary.
, L.A. Weekly
Sorry, Haters trades in glib reversals, not complexities -- just about everyone is a crude stereotype turned on its head.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
The idea could and previously has been done well, but here it makes for a thoroughly unpleasant film experience.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[It's] all about how New Yorkers are dealing with the wake of 9/11, but the replication of that off-kilter feeling comes all in the structure of the story and the heightened sense of the absurd that it creates.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Rather than lovers or haters, the film is most likely to find indifference from audiences.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "Sorry, Haters", Phyllis(Robin Wright Penn) is an unstable and divorced executive for a music television channel in New York, looking to redeem her corporate job and make a difference in her empty life. One night, opportunity arrives when she hails a… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "Sorry, Haters", Phyllis(Robin Wright Penn) is an unstable and divorced executive for a music television channel in New York, looking to redeem her corporate job and make a difference in her empty life. One night, opportunity arrives when she hails a cab driven by Ashade(Abdellatif Kechiche), originally from Syria where he earned a PhD in chemistry. He spends all of his free time trying to gain the freedom of his brother who was deported and caring for his sister-in-law, Eloise(Elodie Bouchez). After he drives Phyllis out to her former home in New Jersey, she offers to help by contacting an attorney friend.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]But then she asks Ashade if he is interested in retribution...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Sorry, Haters" is a believable allegory about terrorism and American culture that Robin Wright Penn keeps together through sheer force of will. The movie has more than its share of twists, but never entirely goes off the rails. On the other hand, it is less than original.[/font]
alan j

wow what a movie...very realistic and an excellent performance by Robin Wright Penn...all I can say is see this movie!! Its a very disturbing and provocative character study...and yes, the ending will leave you speechless, and having you thinking long afterwards!
Leo L

Pretty interesting, but intense.