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Higher Ground Review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

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

  • 4.0
    74

    out of 100

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

  • 50

    out of 100

    Village Voice Melissa Anderson

    Even with her beatific face (the actress looks like one of Parmigianino's Madonnas), Farmiga is never wholly believable as a woman shaken by a crisis of belief.

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  • 70

    out of 100

    The New Yorker Anthony Lane

    You could argue that the film is too wrenching a departure for an actress as earthy as Farmiga, but that, I suspect, is why she took the risk - daring herself, in the person of Corinne, to slip the surly bonds of beauty and desire.

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  • 75

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    Farmiga never seems to strike a false note in any role, but this is perhaps her most reflective and multi-layered performance.

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  • 80

    out of 100

    The New York Times A.O. Scott

    There is something remarkable - you might even say miraculous - about the way Higher Ground makes its gentle, thoughtful way across the burned-over terrain of the American culture wars.

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  • 80

    out of 100

    Variety Justin Chang

    A satirical yet sensitive portrait of life in an evangelical Christian community, Higher Ground marks a startlingly bold directing debut for actress Vera Farmiga.

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  • 80

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

    The film is a deft, graceful and often poignant story of a woman's quest to find her own identity and a spiritual sanctuary that will give her life hope and meaning.

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  • 83

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    Higher Ground breaks crucial, sacred ground in American moviemaking.

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  • 88

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    There are no heavy-handed portraits of holy rollers here, just people whose view of the world is narrow. There are also no outsize sinners, just some gentle singer-songwriters who are too fond of pot and whose lyrics are parades of cliches.

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  • 90

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Robert Abele

    The same intelligence, wit and mature spirit that actress Vera Farmiga brings to her performances is richly apparent in her directorial debut as well, the inquisitive spiritual drama Higher Ground.

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  • See all Higher Ground reviews at Metacritic.com

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 16+

Moving drama about faith and doubt dares to be smart.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this affecting, complex drama depicts a faithful woman struggling to reconcile her doubts with her religious beliefs. It's a bracingly honest portrayal that doesn't buy into the typical stereotypes of either the pious or the questioning. The lead character starts her relationship with God in earnest as a teen mom; the road that leads her there is revealed straightforwardly: She's shown having premarital sex (though there's no nudity) and struggling to understand the adults around her, many of whom have lost their moorings themselves. These are heavy themes, which -- along with the movie's sexual content (in addition to teens having sex, characters also frankly discuss body parts and how to pleasure the opposite sex) and swearing -- makes it a better fit for older viewers.

  • Families can talk about how the movie depicts Corinne and her faith. How does she compare to other religious/spiritual characters you've seen in other movies/TV shows?
  • How does the movie tackle the complex topics of Christianity, religion, and faith? How does it compare to other movies that have examined the same subjects?

The good stuff
  • message true3

    Messages: The movie is an earnest, honest examination of faith and how different people form their beliefs and handle the struggle to remain faithful in the face of doubts.

  • rolemodels true4

    Role models: Corinne is an impressively multi-dimensional character. She's religious, caring, inquisitive, supportive, questioning, and smart. And she embarks on her journey of understanding with great excitement, pain, and confusion. Everyone else is in the movie is very human, too.

What to watch for
  • violence false2

    Violence: A car crash puts a child's life in peril. A married couple fights; once, it gets ugly, with the man nearly choking the woman. Another couple screams at each other within earshot of their kids.

  • sex false3

    Sex: Teens are shown making out and seemingly having sex (viewers mostly hear grunts and hints of movement; there's no nudity). A married woman flirts with men who aren't her husband. A group of men discusses how to pleasure their wives; parts of the vagina are mentioned. Two women draw their husband's penises on paper.

  • language false3

    Language: Infrequent use of "damn," "piss," "ass," "s--t" and "f--k." A character gives another the finger.

  • consumerism false1

    Consumerism: Bulova, Miracle Whip, and Egg McMuffin are mentioned.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: A woman is found to have cocaine in her luggage, which a child discovers and plays with.

Fan Reviews provided by

3

Higher Ground
I liked the acting. I got a little annoyed with all of the church songs. It is a good movie with a great plot. A little heartwarming, too. I really enjoyed the acting. Annika was a great character!

5

best movie of the decade! by vegemonster
This is a fabulous movie in so many ways. Because it doesn't try to covert you or deconvert you, its just one woman journey

5

by mossra

4

by isaacsmike

4

Worth seeing in the theater by cleighm
My husband and I enjoyed seeing Higher Ground and would recommend seeing it in the theater, not waiting for the DVD. I thought the acting and directing we very wel done. The director did a good job of choosing actors to fill the well written script. It was not a very complex story or dialogue, but their was care and focus where it needed it. Vera Farmiga did a great job.

4

by Tonita1996

4

A sensitive and thoughtful look at a woman's grappling with faith by saulk
Extremely well acted, non-forulaic look at what you give and get from some religious experiences. It makes you think.

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