Amelia Warner, Amy Madigan, Anthony Rapp

A dramatic comedy that charts the fractious reunion of an estranged father and daughter. Struggling twentysomething actress Reese Holden has been promised $100,000 by book editor Lori Lansky if Reese ...( read more  read more... )can secure for publication, love letters written by her legendary, but reclusive father Don, to his equally revered late wife--Reese's mother. Suddenly highly motivated, Reese treks from New York City to Michigan, where she finds Don in flagrant disregard of his own health and living with two younger housemates: practical former grad student Shelly and would-be musician Corbit. Reese, though no angel herself, does not approve of this ad hoc family. But she comes to appreciate her unlikely new "siblings," and as secrets are revealed, comes to terms with her father and their shared past and future.

Flixster Users

58% liked it

78,026 ratings

Critics

41% liked it

51 critics

R, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Adam Rapp

Release Date: February 17, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 16, 2006

Stats: 1,166 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,166)


  • May 6, 2009
    Winter Passing is a typical indie-darling movie. Oddball characters, quirky sense of humour, actors speaking in calm hushed voices. It works due to the talent on display. Harris is, as usual, excellent. He captures disturbed genius very well. Ferrel is also very endearing in a mo...( read more)re seious role than, but still with slight comedic quirks. It's all too similar but much less effective than other work. It's hard to find a real character to get a hold on, making it a struggle to get through some parts.
  • December 1, 2008
    Renting this movie was a mistake. Come to think of it, a lot of movies with Zooey Deschanel on the cover end up as regretful choices. With few exceptions, sadly.
  • October 17, 2008
    This one started out a little slow. Once the main character made it back to her father's house it picked up a bit. Will Ferrell, Ed Harris, and Zooey Deschanel do an awesome job. Loved the open mike night scene with Ferrell. This movie was almost like watching a live ver...( read more)sion of a journal or diary entry. A tad depressing but overall a solid story with good actors.
  • September 12, 2008
    Reese Holden: "I just can't believe this is the same man who told his six-year-old daughter that Christmas was a Republican capitalistic conspiracy created by the Hallmark Corporation and that, if Jesus were alive today he'd be down in Nicaragua rallying the Sandinistas. Grace...( read more) Away."

    Actress Reese Holden has been offered a small fortune by a book editor if she can secure for publication the love letters that her father, a reclusive novelist, wrote to her mother, who has since passed away. Returning to Michigan, Reese finds that an ex-grad student and a would-be musician have moved in with her father, who cares more about his new friends than he does about his own health and well-being.

    The first thing you'll notice in this film is Zooey Deschanel's acting. I know I did, she is just a stunning character actress and only a few people know of her stellar performance here. If only this film was marketed more in the veins of mainstream Hollywood then Zooey might just get the applaud and praise of the movie-going audience. While the script might not pique the interest of some people, and I admit, I am one of them, I gotta say this film worked because of the actors.

    This is a character driven story and each of the four main characters really got the job done. Its not Zooey Deschanel portraying Reese Holdin, its Reese Holdin as portrayed by Zooey Deschanel. The same goes to Will Ferrell, who yet again strays from his comedic roots and takes on another fine performance as hopeful musician Corbett. He nailed it in Stranger than Fiction and he nailed it again here. Ed Harris who plays Reese's dad, a down and out writer Don Holdin sporting the old man hermit hairstyle. A mighty fine performance from one of the most celebrated actors out there. Then there's Amelia Warner. Can't say I haven't heard of her name before but she sure was impressive here.

    Winter Passing is one of those dark and moody films about a dysfunctional family so the vibe is really not that jolly when you're watching it. So I guess its up to you if you wanna watch it.

    3.5/5
  • February 3, 2008
    Pending Review...

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  • November 1, 2009
    Kind of depressing and uninteresting story about self-indulgent and "suffering" artists. Whatever.
  • October 27, 2009
    Comercial! or stupid! :|
  • October 22, 2009
    Didnt like this movie at all
  • September 25, 2009
    This movie is my all time fav. I love indie films and Zooey is the Queen of Indie!!
  • August 14, 2009
    This is a really good dark and funny movies. It really should have gotten more hype than what it did. It's worth watching and I feel most people will be shocked by it.

Critic Reviews


March 10, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

There are intriguing actors and ideas here, but only occasionally do they combine with convincing force. full review

March 9, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is the kind of movie routinely dismissed as too slow and quiet by those who don't know it is more exciting to listen than to hear. full review

February 17, 2006
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Makes too many of the same rookie filmmaker mistakes which keep similar films with smaller budgets and lesser known casts from even getting a minor theatrical release full review

February 7, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

The film delivers nothing more than a familiar Sundance-style brand of stagy, small-scale drama. full review

View more Winter Passing reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Winter Passing Trivia


  • In the movie Winter Passing the main character Reese Holden has a pet kitten. What is her kitten's name?   Answer »
  • This indi actress has been in the following films: "Winter Passing", "Eulogy", "Mumford" and "Big Trouble" Who is she?  Answer »
  • Will "Kung Fu Fighter" Ferrell Movie? Winter Passing  Answer »

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