The Eye of the Storm (2011)

68% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(4,063 ratings)

In the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter as her expatriate son and daughter convene at her deathbed. But in dying, as in living, Mrs Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her. Based on the novel by Nobel Prize… More In the Sydney suburb of Centennial Park, two nurses, a housekeeper and a solicitor attend to Elizabeth Hunter as her expatriate son and daughter convene at her deathbed. But in dying, as in living, Mrs Hunter remains a powerful force on those who surround her. Based on the novel by Nobel Prize winner Patrick White, The Eye of the Storm is a savage exploration of family relationships - and the sharp undercurrents of love and hate, comedy and tragedy, which define them. -- (C) Official Site

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.
Directed By: Fred Schepisi
Written By: Judy Morris, Patrick White
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Apr 20, 2012 Limited
Studio: Sycamore Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Sometimes a film just can't live up to all its reputations.
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
The subject matter is dark but disjointed, despite the best efforts of the cast.
Russell Edwards, Variety
Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis bookend a cast consisting of some of Oz's finest thesps, but Schepisi never gets a grip on a script with awkward literary tics.
Megan Lehmann, Hollywood Reporter
An intelligent, visually sumptuous drama that embraces the grandeur of the Australian literary classic upon which it's based.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
The film is blackly funny, incisive and often moving, and the performances are spectacular.
Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW Toronto
Charlotte Rampling has been remarkably good at playing craggy old women lately (see Melancholia) and she outdoes herself as Elizabeth.
Julie Rigg, MovieTime, ABC Radio National
It's a rich, sad and bitchy canvas, this film. Schepisi and screenwriter Judy Morris have captured White's tone pretty well.
Leigh Paatsch, Herald Sun (Australia)
Like the central figure in this ambitious adaptation of the celebrated Patrick White novel, The Eye of the Storm coughs a little, splutters a lot and then finally passes away.
Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald
At times, I felt as if I were watching a series of splendidly realised set-pieces arranged like showcases for watching actors act.
Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)
The film is a ramble; the constant shifts in dramatic focus keep you from becoming fully engaged in the characters, leaving one with that feeling of the journey having been more satisfying than the destination.
Rose Capp, The Vine
A frank, funny and immensely satisfying adaptation of White's novel and a welcome return to the screen for one of Australia's most accomplished directors.
Andrew Moraitis, FILMINK (Australia)
Sadly, this is not the return to form expected from director Fred Schepisi, whose laboured direction never finds the right tone between comedy and tragedy.
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy
A film rich in style and characterisation to draw on the complexities of White's dense novel.
Tom Ryan, The Age (Australia)
Schepisi's approach is detached, thoughtful and observant, mostly allowing the performances and the compositions to speak for themselves.
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile
Well crafted, to be sure, but light on genuine emotional depth, the material is aching to find meaning, but falls short
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile
This is not a film for everyone but the discerning will find plenty to admire in Fred Schepisi's brave statement that demands to be noticed
Jake Wilson, The Age (Australia)
It's fascinating to see Schepisi, who made his name with period pieces, return to the 1970s as an era that deserves examination in its own right.
Matthew Pejkovic, Matt's Movie Reviews
With three powerhouse actors out front and one of Australia's most renowned filmmakers calling the shots, it is of no wonder that The Eye of the Storm is one of the better local productions this year.
David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)
The characters are very brittle and very difficult to sympathise with in many ways and so it presents the actors with tremendous challenges. But I think that they've overcome those challenges really very well indeed and there is some marvellous acting.
Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)
I'm not sure that the depths of the novel have been plumbed in the film... But it is time that an attempt was made on Patrick White and the array of talent in and around this film makes this a grand effort