Metacritic Movie Ratings
Fireflies in the Garden Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 50

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  The resentments acted out at the dining table by the rest of this miserable family - gathered for a graduation celebration that turns into a wake - are so oppressive that Eugene O'Neill might ask, ''Too much?''

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• 50

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  The screenplay shows signs of being inspired by personal memories that still hurt and are still piling up in Michael's mind. Fair enough, but the film doesn't sort this out clearly, and we experience vignettes in search of a story arc.

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• 40

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesBetsy Sharkey

  There's a strange sort of diffidence that seems to inhabit Dafoe and Roberts' performances, and the disconnect between the two Janes is simply insurmountable.

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• 40

  out of 100

  The New York TimesManohla Dargis

  Mr. Lee gathers together a lifetime of hurt without conveying that there's something personal at stake.

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• 40

  out of 100

  Variety

  Clumsy melodrama, which looks and sounds no better than an average made-for-cabler.

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• 40

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt

  Dennis Lee comes up empty. Kids, parents, siblings, an aunt and an estranged wife all bicker and yell, but the noise cancels itself out. The movie is one long argument, tiresome and repetitive, that produces more heat than light.

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• 20

  out of 100

  Village VoiceNick Schager

  Despite an A-list roster, the performances are universally one-note, a fact largely attributable to a script overflowing with blunt dialogue and heavy-handed symbolism.

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See all Fireflies in the Garden movie reviews at Metacritic.com