The Greatest (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Dean M

  
  This drama film is about grief and the different ways it can affect people, it was very good. I believe this is a depressing tale that forlornly tries to uplift during its final moments, but never escapes the shackles of its distressing storyline. The performances, including Pierce… More
  This drama film is about grief and the different ways it can affect people, it was very good. I believe this is a depressing tale that forlornly tries to uplift during its final moments, but never escapes the shackles of its distressing storyline. The performances, including Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, are universally wonderful, but the relentless dour tone makes <i>The Greatest</i> an easy film to admire, but a hard one to truly enjoy.

• familiar s

  
  This was an over-dramatic, over-emotional and an overdone movie in almost all respects. The grieving of the parents for their dead son left no emotional impact, and so was the case with the dead guy's pregnant girlfriend and his brother. However, the execution was such that it… More
  This was an over-dramatic, over-emotional and an overdone movie in almost all respects. The grieving of the parents for their dead son left no emotional impact, and so was the case with the dead guy's pregnant girlfriend and his brother. However, the execution was such that it almost brought me on the brink of weeping. I'd also like to clarify that I came on the verge of weeping due to the sheer boredom and not due to the effect generated by any of the scenes. The characters were so lame that it left no scope for good performance, so I can't comment on anyone's performance here.

• Al S

  
  A glorious, unforgettable and love-filled gem of a movie. A heart-wrenching, deeply moving and astonishing film that takes your breath away. A triumph that fills your soul with hope and love. One of those cherished and remarkable films that you will just have to see. The performances… More
  A glorious, unforgettable and love-filled gem of a movie. A heart-wrenching, deeply moving and astonishing film that takes your breath away. A triumph that fills your soul with hope and love. One of those cherished and remarkable films that you will just have to see. The performances are all extraordinary, some of the deepest and most effective acting you will see in a while. Pierce Brosnan is absolutely magnificent, he gives an affectionate, open and beautiful performance. Susan Sarandon gives a brilliant and heartbreaking performance. Carey Mulligan gives a wonderful and tremendous performance just showing more of why she is a born star. A gorgeous and outstanding movie.

• Anthony L

  
  The Greatest starts well but soon descends into a muddle of bad acting, awkward script and messy story-line. Some scenes are great though, Shana Feste lets the camera roll a little longer to great effect and overall, the editing is quite good. Ultimately the film is let down by the… More
  The Greatest starts well but soon descends into a muddle of bad acting, awkward script and messy story-line. Some scenes are great though, Shana Feste lets the camera roll a little longer to great effect and overall, the editing is quite good. Ultimately the film is let down by the awful performances but then it is quite mis-cast. I can't stand Carey Mulligan to be honest and I'm not sure what all the fuss regarding her is all about. This film is not the greatest!

• Jake .

  
  This is a really hard review to open. I would like to start with a compliment or one of the high points of the film, but nothing is coming to mind. It is really a decent enough movie overall. However, the factor that sticks out the most is that the whole thing feels kind of cheap and… More
  This is a really hard review to open. I would like to start with a compliment or one of the high points of the film, but nothing is coming to mind. It is really a decent enough movie overall. However, the factor that sticks out the most is that the whole thing feels kind of cheap and amateurish - the script especially. It seemed decent enough while actually watching the film, but it seems truly hideous when reading excerpts now in the aftermath. The characters seemed more symbolic than anything else. Each takes on a particular family role. Susan Sarandon does not play a specific mother as much as a general mother; her role is not personal, but a representation of how parents typically are expected to act in such a situation. The same goes for the rest of the family. Carey Mulligan and Aaron Johnson are probably also rather typical young lovers, but I loved their scenes together. The flashback sequences are hands down the best scenes in the film. Carey Mulligan is typically great, but I'm also biased. She could simply stand and smile at the camera and I would think she had done great work. She also had some great attire. Aaron Johnson also stood out from the rest of the cast. I absolutely loathed him in Kick-Ass, but he was rather interesting here, enough that I'm curious to see him in something else. From a critical standpoint, The Greatest is in most ways an absolute piece of crap. The thing is, I rather enjoy this particular type of crap. It's a tragic tale which tries so very hard to make you ponder mortally and love and appreciating what you've got and all those wonderful things. It mostly fails, but, still, it's a rather enjoyable way to spend 90 odd minutes.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"I barely knew him, but everything was exactly how I imagined it, everything was just how I pictured it. I had to keep this baby. I think he was the love of my life."</i> A drama that is centered around a troubled teenage girl and a family that is trying to… More
  <i>"I barely knew him, but everything was exactly how I imagined it, everything was just how I pictured it. I had to keep this baby. I think he was the love of my life."</i> A drama that is centered around a troubled teenage girl and a family that is trying to get over the loss of their son. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> The Greatest is a moving drama about the parents of a teenage boy who dies in an auto accident. The parents take in their late son's girlfriend, who is pregnant with their grandchild. Pierce Brosnan and Susan Surandon deliver emotionally charged performances as two people turned into complete mush by denial and obsession over the loss of their son, and Carey Mulligan also does a fine job as a lost soul trying to find some sense of family in the household of her deceased boyfriend. Johnny Simmons does the best he can with a somewhat underdeveloped character and everyone else outside of these four main characters come off as one dimensional and placed within the story for convenience sake. But if what you desire is a movie that will make your heart pang this is it. This one is worth watching simply because of Pierce Brosnan's realistic portrayal of a man making every conceivable effort not to cry, but The Greatest also has other redeeming qualities as well. Susan Surandon is in top form and shows us what being an actress is all about. The somewhat happy ending is a much appreciated relief to an otherwise emotionally draining tearjerker.

• Lewis C

  
  "I want to know everything I would know if he was still alive. I want more memories of him." After their teenage son Bennett (Aaron Johnson) dies in an accident, Allen and Grace (Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon) are left unable pick up the pieces and move on after his… More
  "I want to know everything I would know if he was still alive. I want more memories of him." After their teenage son Bennett (Aaron Johnson) dies in an accident, Allen and Grace (Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon) are left unable pick up the pieces and move on after his death. But when the young woman (Carey Mulligan) who's carrying Bennett's unborn baby arrives at their doorstep with nowhere else to go, the tension and pain of Bennett's death is brought forward in a way that will either destroy the family, or finally push them towards dealing with their grief. Scenes of Rose and Bennett's relationship before his death are also woven throughout the movie, and provide a nice way to better know the two characters. The Greatest started off pretty well. The scenario of a family struggling with the loss of a child isn't an uncommon one, but the cast seemed well on their way to delivering a solid story about loss and healing. Mulligan was excellent, and Brosnan and Sarandon were solid, even though they occasionally didn't quite deliver the emotion that they were reaching for in a few scenes. No, my problem with The Greatest wasn't the actors or the premise, it was the writing. The story takes the oddest detours at times, often with little relevance to, well...the actual story. This really seemed apparent with the character of Ryan, whose entire subplot with the girl he meets has little relevance on his character arc, and made his resolution feel artificial, as a result. And Rose and Allen's trip to a teenage party seemed completely out of place, and I was left wondering what it was supposed to add to the story. The characters also didn't appear to have a truly solid identity, and as a result, some of their decisions and interactions didn't come off as genuine. It's like writer/director Shana Feste had ideas about what she wanted to see happen in the movie, but didn't bother to build those ideas around relatable and believable characters. A movie like this depends on making a connection between the audience and the characters, and at times, that connection felt very hollow, for me. The Greatest is an okay movie, but I'm convinced that it could have been much better with a script written by someone with a better grasp on creating solid characters.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Aaron Johnson, Johnny Simmons, Kevin Hagan, Miles Robbins, Cara Seymour, Ramsey Faragallah, Zoë Kravitz, Michael Shannon Director: Shana Feste Summary: Allen (Pierce Brosnan) and Grace (Susan Sarandon) Brewer are still… More
  Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, Carey Mulligan, Aaron Johnson, Johnny Simmons, Kevin Hagan, Miles Robbins, Cara Seymour, Ramsey Faragallah, Zoë Kravitz, Michael Shannon Director: Shana Feste Summary: Allen (Pierce Brosnan) and Grace (Susan Sarandon) Brewer are still mourning the accidental death of their teenage son, Bennett (Aaron Johnson), when the boy's troubled girlfriend reveals that she is carrying his baby. Now Bennett's family must release their anger to make room for the new life. My Thoughts: "I was surprised at how much I liked this film. I've seen other movies with the same story-line, but this one was different. The characters are developed in a way where you (or maybe just me) feel like your going through the grief with them. It was a very honest and raw movie. Every character is believable in their role. The relationship between Rose and Bennett is kind of in a way very beautiful. Loving each other from afar for four years, then finally coming together and confessing their love, and to have taken away so quickly left me a bit stunned. I was a little surprised at what moment they chose to do it in. I felt the moment coming, but was still shocked by it. The script and the acting is quite good. But the star for me in this film was Johnny Simmons. His performance was touching, honest, and very sad. Pierce Brosnan, surprised me in this as well. He was really good. Carey Mulligan, was the perfect person to be casted in this, she really brought the lightness to the film. Susan Sarandon, played her part perfectly as the grief stricken mother who is obsessed with finding out what her oldest sons last minutes were like. I really liked the flash backs and how they developed Rose and Bennetts relationship. The film is sad. funny, touching, and relatable to anyone who has lost someone who they were close to. Great cast, great acting, and a great script. Can't ask for much more from a film."

• Steven C

  
  "The Greatest", a kinda lame, kinda touching grief drama, is only saved by a small, tender performance from Johnny Simmons. The rest are overdramatic but effective in the final scenes, though Carey Mulligan is pretty one note here. Her story is never used to it's full… More
  "The Greatest", a kinda lame, kinda touching grief drama, is only saved by a small, tender performance from Johnny Simmons. The rest are overdramatic but effective in the final scenes, though Carey Mulligan is pretty one note here. Her story is never used to it's full potential and the plot meanders into the melodramatic far too ofter to be taken totally seriously, but it has it's small moments.

• Carlos M

  
  Although the plot is quite sad and depressing, it seemed a bit hard for me to feel it, which is probably because of the overly dramatic performances by most of the cast. Not a bad film, despite the clichés.

• Sol C

  
  The film was so so. It kind of reminded me of movies like Ordinary People and Reign Over Me, just to name a few. I thought the acting was really good. Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan shine in this film. The pacing was off. The style of the film was more like a made… More
  The film was so so. It kind of reminded me of movies like Ordinary People and Reign Over Me, just to name a few. I thought the acting was really good. Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan shine in this film. The pacing was off. The style of the film was more like a made for TV movie than a theatrical release movie. I think if Nick Cassavettes would have directed the movie then it would have been much better. Still worth check out, especially for the performances by Brosnan, Sarandon, and Mulligan.

• Nicolas K

  
  Pierce Brosnan might look good in a suit playing the international spy but he is not a good actor. Susan Sarandon is a good actress but in thid film she does not quite make an effort. But is is young Carey Mulligan that carries the emotional weight of the film, dealing with the loss… More
  Pierce Brosnan might look good in a suit playing the international spy but he is not a good actor. Susan Sarandon is a good actress but in thid film she does not quite make an effort. But is is young Carey Mulligan that carries the emotional weight of the film, dealing with the loss of a loved one...

• Daisy M

  
  The Greatest was a small independent movie, showing great deal of painful emotions, and it was presented by a great cast of well known actors, such as Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan. As the story was tragic it showed how these families had to cope with the loss of… More
  The Greatest was a small independent movie, showing great deal of painful emotions, and it was presented by a great cast of well known actors, such as Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan. As the story was tragic it showed how these families had to cope with the loss of a son. Only the strong survive as in the end a baby took much of the pain and brought those hurt together. It was worth watching simply because of Pierce Brosnan's realistic portrayal of a man making effort not to cry, but The Greatest also had other good qualities as well. Susan Surandon was in top form and made a perfect portrayal of the grieving mother. The somewhat happy ending was much appreciated relief to an otherwise emotionally tearjerker movie.

• matt s

  
  Mulligan, Brosnan and Sarandon give it their all in a movie with a script with many, many loose ends. It's basically an extended "My So Called Life" episode. That being said, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It doesn't look bad. It's one of the… More
  Mulligan, Brosnan and Sarandon give it their all in a movie with a script with many, many loose ends. It's basically an extended "My So Called Life" episode. That being said, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It doesn't look bad. It's one of the better movies I've had to watch because of the girl picking it. So I really have no complaints other than it's not that well-written and has plot-holes a plenty. Carey Mulligan is an actress to watch. If she keeps choosing good roles like An Education, she'll win an Oscar in no time. Pierce Brosnan does a great job with this as well.

• m h

  
  I thought it was cute, heartwarming and sad all in one. I really liked the story, and especially all the flashback scenes. I think it was kind of endearing in the way that they never really knew each other, but loved each other. And I definitely had tears in my eyes during the movie.… More
  I thought it was cute, heartwarming and sad all in one. I really liked the story, and especially all the flashback scenes. I think it was kind of endearing in the way that they never really knew each other, but loved each other. And I definitely had tears in my eyes during the movie. Especially during Johnny Simmons (Ryan)'s speech about he never got to say bye to his brother. It was very emotional. I also thought the acting was good. Though I felt that sometimes the movie was a little slow moving. It's not the most perfect movie, but it's enjoyable, and worth another viewing. I would recommend it.

• Movee C

  
  A melancholy drama centering on the different ways people cope with death and how a seemingly irrational decision can sometimes birth great things. Carey Mugillan breathes life into the film with her free-spirited approach as a lovestruck pregnant teen living with her died… More
  A melancholy drama centering on the different ways people cope with death and how a seemingly irrational decision can sometimes birth great things. Carey Mugillan breathes life into the film with her free-spirited approach as a lovestruck pregnant teen living with her died boyfriend's (who she barely knows) family.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings