Nick Nolte, Uma Thurman, Jeremy Northam

Another triumph from the producing-directing team of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant, The Golden Bowl (adapted from the classic novel by Henry James) pits an American industrialist (Nick Nolte) and hi...( read more  read more... )s daughter against two well-connected but impoverished social climbers (Uma Thurman and Jeremy Northam) who'd rather marry for money than lower their station. Together, they engage in a subtle, fascinating dance with misdirection at its heart.

Flixster Users

40% liked it

2,532 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

85 critics

R, 130 min.

Directed by: James Ivory

Release Date: May 14, 2000

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 6, 2001

Stats: 97 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (97)


  • May 22, 2007
    wathced half an hour of it and it bored da hell outta me. just not my type of flick
  • June 21, 2006
    I didn't like this movie the first time, I've watched it couple more times and it has grown on me.
  • September 21, 2009
    I didn't like it at all. Great cast but I realy I didn't enjoyed it. Wating for the end of the film desperately. Quite good photo and custumes.
  • April 4, 2009
    I so much enjoyed this movie. When one is married no matter how much u feel for someone else don't have an affair especilly too if its wife a father in law who loves his dauthter and his wife is off limits.
  • September 16, 2008
    A wealthy father and daughter marry, but don't realize that their spouses use to be together in the past and now are lovers again.
  • July 14, 2008
    An intricately plotted tale of thwarted love and betrayal, The Golden Bowl tells the story of an extravagantly rich American widower (NOLTE) and his sheltered daughter (BECKINSALE), both of whom marry only to discover that their respective mates, a beautiful American expatriate a...( read more)nd an impoverished Italian aristocrat (THURMAN and NORTHAM), are entangled with one another in a romantic intrigue of seduction and deceit.

    Set in England and Italy between 1903 and 1909, The Golden Bowl is adapted from the Henry James novel by the acclaimed and award-winning filmmaking team of Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who have had great past success with James, namely in their films based on his novels The Bostonians and The Europeans. Such literary adaptations as these, as well as A Room with a View, Maurice, Howards End, The Remains of the Day, and now The Golden Bowl, are clearly a Merchant Ivory forte - the team has thirty-one Academy Award nominations and six Oscars for their screen adaptations, including two for writer Ruth Jhabvala, between them. But these films are also consistent showcases for their actors' best work, and The Golden Bowl is no exception. Thurman's passionate Charlotte Stant is her most challenging role so far; Nolte is a revelation as the brilliant and subtle Robber Baron; and screen legends Huston and Fox stand out in their supporting performances. Jeremy Northam's Prince is infused with a rare sophistication; and Kate Beckinsale (who will also star in the much-anticipated film Pearl Harbor, opening in May) shines as a seemingly naive beauty who proves to have the strongest will of all.
  • June 23, 2008
    Loved Uma Thurman's performance and the wonderful setting!
  • October 16, 2007
    I liked it, but it pretty much was a horrible movie.
  • September 4, 2007
    Not sure why I've been watching so many elite society movies lately, especially since I hardly ever enjoy them. That holds true with this one. I don't understand any of the social things these people do and I have no interest in understanding. All these people running around h...( read more)aving their affairs and feeling sorry for themselves because they can't have everything. To hell with that.

    On a positive note - the cast is good. I always like to see Nolte in a big part. Thurman holds her own in a movie that I wouldn't have considered her being in. Beckinsale and Northam are both very good as well. You can relate to them every once in a while.

    As far as filmmaking, I noticed very little. Other than the intro scene which left me with a since of dread throughout (though the pay off was a bit more reserved than the intro scene).

Critic Reviews


May 18, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It kept me at arm's length, but that is where I am supposed to be; the characters are after all at arm's length from each other, and the tragedy of the story is implied but never spoken aloud. full review

May 17, 2001
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

If not for its high-cult pedigree -- from a Henry James novel, adapted by the tony Merchant-Ivory team -- The Golden Bowl would seem the stuff of raging soap opera.

View more The Golden Bowl reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "The Golden Bowl" !

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)

Official Trailer

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Grease
    Grease (26%)
  • Vanity Fair
    Vanity Fair (33%)
  • Fuck (F*ck)
    Fuck (F*ck) (67%)
  • The Age of Innocence
    The Age of Innocence (20%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Golden Bowl : Watch Free on TV


The Golden Bowl Trivia


  • Who stars in tiptoes, the last days of disco, laurel canyon and the golden bowl?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for The Golden Bowl. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?