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Amelia Review

Movies.com Critics

2.5

Dave White Profile

Not enough snakes on this plane. Read full review

2.5

Jen Yamato Profile

Hyperbolic heroine worship. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 2.0
    37

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally unfavorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 20

    out of 100

    The New York Times Manohla Dargis

    Alas, excesses of any pleasurable kind are absent from this exasperatingly dull production.

    Read Full Review

  • 20

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    Amelia Earhart is still missing.

    Read Full Review

  • 30

    out of 100

    Variety Justin Chang

    What rankles most about Amelia is the timidity and lack of imagination with which Nair approaches one of America's most exceptional and intriguing celebrity life stories.

    Read Full Review

  • 40

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Betsy Sharkey

    So a pioneering feminist in the hands of a feminist filmmaker should have been a perfect match. But like her subject, the filmmaker gets lost in the clouds.

    Read Full Review

  • 58

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    A frustratingly old-school, Hollywood-style, inspirational biopic about Amelia Earhart that doesn't trust a viewer's independent assessment of the famous woman pictured on the screen.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    Amelia goes airborne but never fully soars.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    A perfectly sound biopic, well directed and acted, about an admirable woman. It confirmed for me Earhart's courage -- not only in flying, but in insisting on living her life outside the conventions of her time for well-behaved females. The next generation of American women grew up in her slipstream.

    Read Full Review

  • 90

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Ray Bennett

    Most of all, Earhart wanted to be able to fly free as a bird above the clouds, and director Nair and star Swank make her quest not only understandable but truly impressive.

    Read Full Review

  • See all Amelia reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 11+

Period biopic is uplifting but doesn’t truly soar.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this biopic about iconic female pilot Amelia Earhart (played by Oscar winner Hilary Swank) has a strong female role model for preteen girls and older. Although the film addresses Earhart's tumultuous personal life (including issues related to fidelity and fame), it also offers empowering messages -- throughout the film, Earhart is portrayed as a true champion of a woman's right to take flight and “be free.” Expect some kissing and underwear-clad cuddling, an affair, a fair bit of smoking (accurate to the era), some social drinking, and a little salty language ("ass," "hell," and the like).

  • Families can talk about what drives Earhart to set records. Does she have anything to prove, or is she simply a true aviator? Was she, as critics said, reckless?
  • What impact did Earhart have the women’s movement? Did she detract from that with all her endorsements, especially of products she didn’t actually like, such as cigarettes?
  • What is the movie saying about "celebrity culture"? How have things changed (or haven't they?) since Earhart's day?

The good stuff
  • message true3

    Messages: The movie has positive take-aways about being brave and following your dreams; as Earhart says to a child, “Look your fear right in the face." It’s a character-building exhortation that still resonates today. The film also raises issues related to "celebrity culture," as Earhart'siconic status is engineered by her marketing genius of a husband.

  • rolemodels true3

    Role models: She’s flawed, of course, like most heroines, but Amelia Earhart was still revolutionary. She advanced women’s causes and fought to stay true to herself even as she was being molded by celebrity culture and financial considerations.

What to watch for
  • violence false1

    Violence: Some turbulence in the air. Black-and-white footage of a plane crash (not serious).

  • sex false2

    Sex: Passionate kissing; a married woman has an affair; some discussions about having a marriage in which fidelity may not be a necessity. A man propositions a woman, hinting that she’s the kind who doesn’t respect her marriage. A man and a woman cuddle; they lounge in their underwear and lingerie.

  • language false2

    Language: A few uses of words like “hell,” “damn,” "goddamn," and “a--hole."

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Social drinking in restaurants and bars. One man is described as having a drinking problem. A good bit of smoking (accurate for the era); Earhart somewhat reluctantly agrees to an endorsement deal with Lucky Strike brand cigarettes (though she herself isn't a smoker).

Fan Reviews provided by

4

by Ret Butler

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