The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2005)

4% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(1,853 ratings)

Thornton Wilder's award-winning novel is given a lavish screen adaptation in this historical drama from writer and director Mary McGuckian. In Peru in 1714, a rickety bridge collapsed as five people were attempting to cross, forcing them to plunge to their deaths. Brother Fray Juniper (Gabriel… More Thornton Wilder's award-winning novel is given a lavish screen adaptation in this historical drama from writer and director Mary McGuckian. In Peru in 1714, a rickety bridge collapsed as five people were attempting to cross, forcing them to plunge to their deaths. Brother Fray Juniper (Gabriel Byrne) is a Franciscan monk who has been given the duty of looking into the tragedy by the archbishop of Lima (Robert De Niro), and to learn what he can about the victims. It is Juniper's belief that these particular people died for some reason, and that it is his duty to determine why God chose these five people to perish, while others in the vicinity survived. After five years, Juniper delivers his findings to the archbishop as well as the viceroy of Peru (F. Murray Abraham), as Juniper tells them of the lives of the troubled Dona Maria (Kathy Bates), the nun Pepita (Adriana Dominguez), warm-hearted Uncle Pio (Harvey Keitel), street kid-turned-actress La Perichola (Pilar Lopez de Ayala), and others involved in the tragedy. The Bridge of San Luis Rey also features Geraldine Chaplin, John Lynch, and brothers Mark Polish and Michael Polish. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By: Mary McGuckian
Written By: Mary McGuckian, Thornton Wilder
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 10, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Oct 11, 2005
Studio: Fine Line Features

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell, Toronto Star
As a director, McGuckian is overwhelmed by the immensity of her cast, and her misguided attempt to make a Hollywood epic on a European production budget.
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Best characterized as an honourable folly.
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger
Audiences may wonder why a picture with Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates and Harvey Keitel would be so bereft of hype. After you've endured the film, all 120 airless minutes, you'll understand the rationale behind the quiet release.
Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice
An honorable but dull attempt to translate a neglected literary source to the screen.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
How bad could a movie be that features talent as serious as Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates, Gabriel Byrne, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham and Geraldine Chaplin? That bad, alas.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
An endless powdered-wigs-and-feathered-pen slog.
Brandon Fibbs, BrandonFibbs.com
The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a beautiful movie. The film's shooting locations are exquisite. The sets are stunning. The costumes are gorgeous. The actors are superlative. Too bad the movie sucks.
Stephen Garrett, Time Out
Why do good actors pop up in bad movies? More perplexingly, why do so many good actors end up in the same bad movie?
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
How to turn an embarrassment of riches into an embarrassment, period.
Dragan Antulov, Draxblog Movie Reviews
leaves audience with the same unanswered question as the one asked by its narrator
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
the worst film of the year... a fraud of the highest order
Angela Baldassarre, Sympatico.ca
A wobbly Bridge. Impressive cast can't save terrible script.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
It is an intense philosophical undertaking that examines questions of faith, fate and chance.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though handsomely mounted, this parable of intersecting destinies and implacable tragedy is as lifeless as a wax tableau.
Tom Keogh, Seattle Times
The Bridge of San Luis Rey raises an important philosophical question: Is it better to fall to one's death from a rickety rope bridge overlooking a deep gorge or watch this miserable movie about several people sharing that awful fate?
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
The Viceroy states that they are 'surrounded by an ocean of boredom' - then you realize you're swimming in it.
William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
None of the performances work.

Read all 17 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

FanGirl B

A little long and a little boreing but good over all.
Ashton R

Eh, I wasn't really expecting anything as I watched this, and I'm glad I didn't. It was alright, but I was glad that De Niro and Keitel covered their accents (unlike what the synopsis says) so at least you could focus what was going on and not have a blaring reminder of… More
Eh, I wasn't really expecting anything as I watched this, and I'm glad I didn't. It was alright, but I was glad that De Niro and Keitel covered their accents (unlike what the synopsis says) so at least you could focus what was going on and not have a blaring reminder of who they really are. None of the characters really caused me to feel for them, and in fact it was the opposite. You actually end up disliking pretty much all of them, so when they die you don't really care. It had some pretty witty and heartfelt moments, but they weren't enough to save this boring movie. De Niro as the Archbishop was by far the most compelling performance, with an incensed religous yet arrogant ferver that was entertaining to watch. But other than that the other actors were fairly drab. Not the worst movie out there, but definitely not one of the best. It's sad to say but almost anything would be better to watch than this.