Critic Reviews

• Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

  Too formlessly turgid.

• James Berardinelli, ReelViews

  The acting is what makes this picture worth framing.

• Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

  The best thing that one can say about The Anniversary Party is that it raises more questions about its central characters than it can possibly answer -- which may weaken it as a drama but not as a search for truth.

• Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

  The result is something like being stuck at an audition for someone else's play, which you haven't read, won't invest in, and don't care too much about.

• John Hartl, Seattle Times

  What distinguishes The Anniversary Party from the movies/lives that inspired it is the dead-on quality of much of the writing and acting.

• Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

  If digital looks like this and makes it possible for such funny and intimate chamber pieces to come into existence, then bring on the digital movies.

• Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

  As first film, it suffers from problems of most movies directed by actors: Big emotional scenes and indulgent acting, but it has some moments of truth

• Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

  ...because Cumming and Leigh avoid most (though not all) of the easy choices common to first-time writers and directors, the movie stays on the right side of entertaining.

• Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer

  ... it's fascinating to search for these characters' hearts under the layers of makeup, denial, disguise, excuses, fantasies, and ego.

• Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

  Intenso e fascinante, o filme se apóia inteiramente no imenso talento de seu elenco e é recompensado com atuações absolutamente irretocáveis - e é claro que a dupla de diretores merece créditos por isto.

• Brent Simon, Entertainment Today

  A raw yet relaxed film buff's film... a wittier, recast version of one of your own dinner parties, with enough high drama to keep the guests talking for quite a while.

• Chris Gore, Film Threat

  Co-directors Jason Leigh and Cummings have delivered an uncharacteristically smart comedy with surprising dramatic turns and excellent performances across the board.

• Rachel Deahl, Boxoffice Magazine

  Focusing on the relationship between Sally and Joe ... The Anniversary Party reveals itself as a devastating parable about love, unfolding much like a stage play.

• Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan

  Unfortunately, more often than not it settles for the bright Yuppie banter ... you would expect of this bunch of characters.

• Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer

  An encouraging sign, both for the potential of low-budget, digital video movie-making and for the potential of talented actors to bring fresh ideas to the other side of the camera.

• Jason Clark, Matinee Magazine

  It feels like watered-down Robert Altman when it is intended to be a bitter, stiff drink.

• James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

  Everyone gets their own moment to shine -- Paltrow and Adams are particularly funny -- but all too often we laugh at these people, not with them...

• Shay Casey, Daily-Reviews

  A movie [made] for the express purpose of showing off a lot of other talented actors, and unfortunately, there's not much of a purpose beyond that.

• Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

  The Anniversary Party is heartfelt and affected in equal part, the product of actors' occasional desire to be understood as human beings.

• Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

  A caustic but refreshing look at how some intelligence can be scripted into a Hollywood ensemble film if some effort is applied.

Read all 25 critic reviews