Genres

Visitors Review

Emanuel Levy 2012-05-25 12:33:43

Somber, ponderous, and pretentious, this is a clinical study of a wild woman (Jodie Foster) raised in the backwoods, far from the interference and contamination (according to the film) of Civilization. It's better to see Truffaut's Wild Child.

mwright-13 2012-05-24 17:48:02

not believable, on any level

Not believable. So many of these "wild person" movies have been done,from Tarzan to Crocodile Dundee, that we know what to expect ofthem...nothing believable, and nothing to learn from. Characters inother movies have been suckled by wolves, raised to swing from vineslike apes, to fight crocodiles by the Australian Aborigines, raised byIndians and taught to dance with wolves, who knows what else? The onlything is, it could never happen. Raised by people in other societies,yes, but children raised without contact with any other people, it'simpossible. Nell, if she had been living like the story has us believe,would have matted hair, filthy skin that was callused from head to toe,and she would be eating caterpillars and bark, not the groceries thatwere delivered to her door every week. And if the grocer knew where shewas living, so would everybody else. Who pays the grocer? Why is shewearing shoes that fit? Why is her skin so soft and smooth? Why doesher sister have to be an identical twin to make their ownlanguage...she could just as easily be a cousin. The thing that bothersme the most is that the average hillbilly in the mountains of NorthCarolina are much worse off than she is, and yet she is the one withnew clean clothes and perfect teeth, while they are the ones with none.You want to make a movie about hillbillies in NC, then just go into thewoods and film an average family in those hills, you don't need to dragJodie Foster in with 25 makeup artists to hide blemishes. We have herin a cabin near a road that some local bikers have found. Are they thefirst people who ever stumbled on that cabin? The US government hassurveyed every square inch of land in this country, and census takersknow where every cabin or shack is. I have 28 acres in a part of theAdirondacks that are every bit as remote as the hills of NC, and when Itried sneaking a cabin in there, within a week I had the Town Officialsup there wanting to see my permit. The movie is impossible.

Brian Mckay 2012-05-24 17:02:27

Interesting, with strong performances, though not thoroughly convincing

Fred Topel 2012-05-23 22:31:49

Decent triumph over adversity movie. Nell has a unique disability.

Morten E 2012-05-20 03:45:29

Awful sh**

This movie is so STUPID! I mean.. why does Liam Neeson take this woman soseriously, having only heard her say 3 WORDS! When they found her in thewoods, they should immidiately have committed her to psychiatric hospital totry and make her a real human being.Just to see Jodie "hey-see how stupid I look" Foster dance around chantingis stupid....

ahmandal 2012-05-19 09:58:01

You should see it !!!

That is really a very very good film. It approach the word "humanism"in a very kind way. We are first of all human beings, leaving in thesame planet, breathing the same air, having the same needs, we shouldall show respect to each other no matter what sex,color and religiousbeliefs have the other people. Nell's character in the film is in myopinion the human being that most of us seek in our modern communities.I sorry if i tired you, but all that thoughts and feelings, that i havealready mentioned, came from that wonderful film. Closing i wouldreally like to congratulate all the cast of the film and especiallyJodie Foster for her excellent performance in a very demanding role. Istrongly recommend to see that movie, after all it's worthwhile!

Resa 2012-05-18 11:35:56

Absorbing

An all-around nice film. The situation itself feels a bit contrived, butthere is some solid acting from Liam Neeson and Jodie Foster. NatashaRichardson is a bit iffy, but there's also a great support cast. Somewhatmelodramatic, but I suppose that couldn't be avoided. Beautifulphotographyand music, completely absorbing.

robertofuiano 2012-05-17 19:15:20

Shame for comments

A film of this kind enough to put a stunted? Are you crazy, is a greatpsychological film, show the hardship of those who lived far from urbanreality and the various psychological effects of those who live in aworld all his own. Excellent acting of Neeson and Foster. Great movie.Shame for comments! It 'a film really emotional and moving as thesestories are based on reality not entirely wrong. In the past in thejungle were found people who had their own language. They were alienworld from civil and had developed a way of communicating their verycontorted and maccheronico. The film is not only action and specialeffects. Shame for the miserable 6.2!

anonymous 2012-05-15 20:29:19

The languages of souls differ from experience.

No one but Jodie Foster could have taken on the part of portraying a womanliving in the world alone. While some of the story was flawed, the acting iswonderful. Liam Neeson plays the conflicted caring scientist well- Thelanguage, movements and clarity of conviction Foster brought to the movie isnonpareil... She can lose herself in a part and the audience can losethemselves in the character... This is a movie of courage- to let a beingstay free rather than institutionlizing them. And it has beautiful scenery-the Smokies are a deep protecting shelter for Nell.

Andreas Jacke 2012-05-15 06:47:28

A film about a lost sister

Nell is a film about doubling and mirrors. It's a film about a double - if it get lost Nell can not understand it andlive with her dead sister together in her dreams. She is neveralonein her dreams and this hallucination and her special language makesitimpossible for her to be a part of a real society. The drama ofthefilm is to go inside of her world, understand it and than openthisworld for other, real people. The second problem is hermisunderstandingof mens world, who was given by her mother. A great film with astrangeperson called Nell!

JessTheCat 2012-05-14 14:00:34

Breath Taking

Nell is one of the most captivating, moving and thought provoking films Ihave ever seen in my life. The acting all round is superb, including atrulyfine performance by Jodie Foster. This film is nothing short ofspectacular,boasting a strong script, beautiful scenery and excellent direction.Overall, Nell is nothing short of breath taking. I strongly advise to seeit. You won't be disappointed.

Tet-5 2012-05-13 22:33:41

Well-acted, but unbelievable story

At first, the story about Nell is very intriguing. Jodie Foster is a greatactress, and she succeeds in making Nell into a fascinating woman. I alsoliked Liam Neeson's performance. But, on the moment Nell is being introducedto "civilization", the movie goes wrong. The shrink, Richard Libertini, is acomplete cliche. It's so obvious that the audience is being manipulated intofeeling that civilization is bad, nature is good. I also hated thecourt-scene, because I found it unbelieveable that Nell, who hardly knewmankind, could defend herself like this. The obligatory final scene was oneof the worst I've ever seen.

helpless_dancer 2012-05-13 05:47:12

excellent film dealing with a strange, backwoods girl

This one got a lower rating than it deserved, in my opinion; I gave it a10.This story was so unusual that I had to give it a high rating. I seldomseeanything that is really different on film, and when I do it is a realtreat.Not only was the storyline great, but the dialogue was spellbinding. Iwatched in fascination as a man discovered the odd girl, gained her trust,and eventually came to communicate with her. Above averageeffort.

gcd70 2012-05-12 14:41:42

Foster a prodigy, unparallelled

Powerful acting from leads Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson and JodieFoster dominates this tale concerning a 'wild woman' from ruggedmountain country who is forced into mainstream society when her elderlymother passes away and can no longer take care of her and keep hersheltered from the outside world.Director Michael Apted has taken a theme that is not a new one, andshaped it into a strong drama about how an unpolluted human being cantransform those who have suppressed their emotions in the outside worldmerely through their purity. "Nell" contains a definite message in thislight, and it's one we could all learn from. Apted takes everythingvery seriously in bringing William Nicholson's screenplay to celluloid,while carefully balancing things with a gentle humour. His competenceis most evident early on and continues through the middle of thenarrative, yet towards the end one gets the feeling "Nell" is tryingtoo hard to say something. The final court scene is effective, butperhaps a little unnecessary (attempting the quintessential tear jerkermaybe). Everything is just too nicely wrapped up.The cinematography is wonderful as it captures the splendid localebeautifully, and Mark Isham's score is truly soulful, but let's getback to the movie's real strength.Jodie Foster is a true prodigy, even though she may not be at her best,she manages to deliver an unbridled performance, holding your attentionwith ease whenever she is on the screen. Her earthy beauty makes herlook all the more natural, and she maintains complete control withseemingly no effort. Foster is an actress unparalleled among hercontemporaries.Tuesday, February 14, 1995 - Village Southland

Dale Haufrect 2012-05-04 03:44:16

"Nell" is a Jodie Foster Triumph

The 1994 film, "Nell", is an acting triumph for Jodie Foster. Thescreenplay is by William Nicholson and it was adapted from theremarkable play by Mark Hadley. Foster grows up as a Yeti in a remoteforest having been raised by her mother who suffered from a speechdisorder or aphasia after running to the woods escaping the rapist whohad attacked her. "Nell" then grows to adulthood with little to say infavor of men, and little speech to begin with anyway. Modern societyattempts to "treat" her, but Liam Neesam is able to convince thedoctors to allow her some space for growing room and a period ofadjustment in order to make a more gradual adjustment to society. Thisfilm is compelling from the moment it begins and holds ones attentionto the very end. It is deserving of much praise for handling a delicatesubject with loving care and empathy that permeates the film. Thecinematography is overwhelming and makes one jealous of Nell'senvironment. It is a very good rent now on DVD and well worth the timeinvolved. Neesam's portrayal of a family physician turned naturalist isequally as compelling as is that of Foster making for a very satisfyingpicture.

edgeorton 2012-05-03 09:47:20

Awesome

Excellent movie it's worth watching big thumbs up to Jodie and the casti really enjoyed it bought the DVD 3 days later and watched it againTi's movie makes me feel good gives me a warm feeling inside and i beteveryone that views it Will feel the same way if you like it or hate iti think the movie rocks the greatest acting from Jodie Foster i haveever seen and Liam Neeson Jodie Foster is grand as Nell just so sad itonly gets so Little points and ratings while it deserves allot betteras i said great acting no best acting i have ever seen i personallylove the scene were Jerry takes Nell out of the hospital and just runslike the wind just awesome

mustang22 2012-05-03 15:54:47

pretty good movie

I read a number of the reviews posted here before I watched this movie.Like many others I enjoyed the movie, but found the endingdisappointing. At the end where it is 5 years later, Nell didn't seemto have made any progress in her speech, or basically in anything! Sheseemed stuck in time. I also thought Liam seemed far more interested inNell then he did the other doctor, so I was disappointed where he windsup with her at the end. He looked like he really wanted to pack up hisstuff and moved into Nell's cabin.I like Jodie Foster for taking on these difficult acting roles, and notjust out to make sequels to Silence of the Lambs. All the acting wasreally good in this movie. I gave it a 7.

davebennings 2012-05-03 07:10:51

There's a definition to great art.

I can't think of another movie better than this one that I have seenanyway so I nominate it for a ten. The thing about great art is itengages the consciousness of the perceiver creatively with the sameamount of energy the perceiver invests. That might sound like a lot ofpseudo-babble so let me try again. What you see is what you get withgreat art--and this relationship happens unpretentiously. In an idealcreation there is nothing presumptuous about the art. No doubt thereare moments of stereotypes, but these could be just as easily blamed onbad acting from the supporting cast, or simple lapses in composition. Idon't think anyone could seriously say stereotypes are a fundamentalweakness of this flick, mainly because the use of stereotypes isserving a larger purpose to the story--at least as I see it. This isprobably one of the most complex, multi-layered movies I have everseen. We witness all the archetypes of good storytelling utilized inever-meshing ways. How sexual violence is a fetish, and how an innocentmind sees it as simple playing. And in every scene we are given, themeaning of Foster's character and what she represents grows. The endingunder these terms is truly remarkable and frankly a surprise ifwitnessed representationally. I mean these are heavy comments onreality folks. I didn't see the play the screenplay was based on, butover and over again I kept thinking "Who the hell wrote this thing? Whodirected this?" It is masterful, and if you can't see it that way, Idon't know, go read some books on critical theory, on the developmentof human consciousness, on Aristotle's's poetics, etc. It iscounterpoint perfection--extremely well crafted, and a powerfulcommentary on not only our culture and "civilization," but what itmeans to be human in this contemporary moment. Oh yeah, Jodi Foster isoutstanding. We could make a case that she and her character are thecenter of this movie, except that it is the world unfolding around herthat makes this such great drama. I think I have to go back to herDisney-era movies to think of a truly awful movie she has made. Butthat shouldn't count either. I never thought those movies were all thatbad, but then I simply watched them as a kid.

rockinghorse 2012-05-01 11:58:30

spoilers, probably, from a health care professional

I found this movie intriguing as I watched it the first time. I wonderedwhat the diagnosis (es) could be. I wondered how the two doctors couldpossibly figure out what Nell's life had been.Then I looked back on it. There was never a diagnosis because none of itmakes any sense. They didn't make a through search of her house as soon asthey could? They can learn her language but she can't learn theirs? Agroup of behavioral psychologist ignore three months of tape in thepatient's native environment and make determinations based on a few hours inan observation room? Nell, catatonic for days, suddenly communicates in acourtroom and starts to think in abstract terms with a new and mispronouncedvocabulary? She learned limited language from her mother, who spoke with asouthern drawl marred by strokes, but she can't learn a new word until . . .when?I don't think this was intended to be seen as a true story, or even abelievable one, but it didn't make sense to me. With this cast and thismuch trouble over the setting, I would have expected realism.

goya-4 2012-04-30 14:23:35

A woman is discovered in the Carolina woods..having lived in a world of her own

Jodie Foster stars in this popular film about a woman discovered in thewoods of Carolina having not know civilization as commonly known.Of course, the ones who found her, Neeson and Richardson, want to take careof her and show her the new world, while their colleagues and othergovernment people as exposed as "bad guys" and want to exlpoither.A good film but way too predictable and too "hollywood-ized". There are nosuprises at all..Jodie Foster does a great job in the title role.6 of 10