Jon Foster, Peter Sarsgaard, Sienna Miller

Art Bechstein (Jon Foster) is struggling with his new-found post-college freedom and is looking to sleepwalk through the exams that will send him far away to a job chosen by his gangster father (Nick ...( read more  read more... )Nolte) and hide him from his family’s criminal connections in Pittsburgh. But Art’s fortunes soon change when meets the beautiful and wild Jane Bellweather (Sienna Miller) who he finds an immediate connection with. Art quickly encounters Jane’s on-again off-again boyfriend Cleveland (Peter Sarsgaard) who takes Art hostage from his dreary summer job and opens his eyes to the fun, freedom and excitement summer life should bring. Art soon realizes that his summer has finally begun in what would become the last true summer of his life. Based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon The Mysteries of Pittsburgh captures the adventures and emotional explorations of three young peo­ple trying to find their way in a shifting world.

Flixster Users

30% liked it

312 ratings

Critics

11% liked it

38 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Release Date: April 10, 2009

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DVD Release Date: May 9, 2006

Stats: 119 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (119)


  • August 26, 2009
    I always have high expectations for movies involving or set in Pittsburgh because that's my hometown, but this one was highly disappointing. The storyline was weak, and it just seemed like there was no point to watching it. A waste of time...
  • August 3, 2009
    There's nothing exceptionally rotten about this critically-panned adaptation of Michael Chabon's well-received novel; it simply translates into a pretty flat coming-of-age story in cinematic form. Director Rawson Marshall Thurber manages to get a few moments of genuine human emot...( read more)ion, most of them involving Peter Sarsgaard in an enigmatic and thoroughly engaging star turn, but other than that... let's just say he doesn't elevate a dull and obvious screenplay from mediocrity. Jon Foster is an okay choice for the role of Art, but his too-obvious narration gets tiresome rather fast. The women in the cast don't fare much better, with Mena Suvari barely having a character to inhabit and Sienna Miller showing a rather alarming lack of naturality.

    The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is not a film I'd recommend to anybody, but then again, it isn't the type of film that's worth lamenting on. Just like Art Bechstein should... let's move on to something else, kids.
  • October 24, 2009
    It's A Home At the End of the World all over again - i.e., one of my most favorite books (which coincidentally also centres on, but is not limited to, a complicated love triangle) is simplified so much that not only are almost all sub-plots removed, but the main plot is so...( read more) diluted that nothing much of any consequence seems to happen. Even though, in actuality, a lot does happen. Simply put, this is a mediocre adaptation of a superior novel. What elevates this slightly above A Home are some excellent performances. Peter Sarsgaard handles his ambisexual (my term) character with skill, and Jon Foster comes close to matching this, although his monotone delivery can be hard to follow. It's little wonder this failed to set the box-office on fire but it still remains a big disappointment, particularly since Michael Chabon's works lend themselves very well to adaptation (Wonder Boys is evidence of that).
  • September 29, 2009
    I actually didn't hate this flick, good acting and interesting dynamic between the characters.
  • September 5, 2009
    A very forgettable flick. The film has little substance and the acting is pretty flat. The story has the feel of "been there, done that... way too many times." A narration can be effective if used cleverly but it was utilized poorly. The setting could have taken place in any cit...( read more)y. I'm sure there are lots of mysteries in Pittsburgh but this movie reveals none. Rent "Garden State" instead.
  • August 24, 2009
    A thoughtful drama, if a little too earnest at times. Though a tad slow at the start, the story finds it's feet as soon as Peter Sarsgaard arrives, saving grace of indie film once again. He breathes life into a dull script with a character that is flawed and immensely fun to watc...( read more)h. Not having read the novel, I'm led to believe that his character is a hybrid of two different characters from the source material, and it works beautifully, I can't really imagine how the story would go if he was split into two people. The three main characters, each a point of a twisted love triangle, build tension that simmers slowly to a boil. Jon Foster and Sienna Miller aren't quite as interesting to watch individually, but play important roles in a story that belongs entirely to Sarsgaard. Why this man doesn't get more lead roles is the biggest mystery here. The secondary plots involving Foster's overbearing father and sort-of-but-not-really girlfriend are forgettable and horribly acted, but even a few of those moments have some so-bad-it's-good value. While I won't call this top-notch cinema, it's definitely an overlooked gem and worthwhile for Sarsgaard alone.
  • August 22, 2009
    I have really had enough of the comedic dramas about a twenty something slacker that doesnt know what he wants to do with his life. This mvie is garbage, the only redeeming thing is the periodic shot of Pittsburgh landmarks.
  • August 14, 2009
    Sienna Miller naked in a guy's lap as they have sex sitting down, Sienna's right breast coming into view. This view alternates with footage of Sienna undressing for the guy, ending up showing her fantastic bare butt from behind as she stands nude.
    And
    Mena Suvari starting off ben...( read more)t over a shipping pallet with her skirt hiked up as she waits for a guy to have sex with her. We then see them having sex in other locations in a book store, Mena showing first her right breast up against a rack, then both breasts as she rides the guy in reverse, and finally leaning against another rack with her dress hiked up as the guy has sex with her from behind.
  • August 2, 2009
    Nicely acted, but the movie is just fair. It's well enough done, it has a polished and professional look to it. The story just didn't always hold my interest. Nice cinematography.
  • April 23, 2009
    ooOWwWwW!!!!!!........

Critic Reviews


April 10, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

A clumsy and confused adaptation of Michael Chabon's 1988 novel. full review

April 9, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

At any middling arthouse festival, films like this are four for a dollar. full review

April 9, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is all the more artificial because it has been made with great, almost painful, earnestness. full review

View more The Mysteries of Pittsburgh reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • movielover4ever14
    September 9, 2008
    Is this the movie where she kept on saying Pittsburgh is Shitsburgh?

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