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The Yellow Handkerchief Review

Movies.com Critics

3.0

Dave White Profile

Harmless hitchhiking. It can TOO happen. Read full review

3.5

Jen Yamato Profile

William hurts, Kristen stews, Maria bellows. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

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

  • 4.0
    62

    out of 100

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

  • 60

    out of 100

    The New York Times Stephen Holden

    If Mr. Hurt gives a meticulously detailed performance, he is still so innately refined that Brett never quite registers as an authentic blue-collar type, either vocally or in his body language. Ultimately, men like Brett are just not in Mr. Hurt's DNA, and you are left with the impression of observing a silk purse artfully (but only partially) disguised as a sow's ear.

    Read Full Review

  • 67

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Here the fascination is Hurt, so deft at steering his character away from booby-trap clichs that he guides his young costars safely out of sap's way and brightens an otherwise very yellowed tale.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Variety

    A thoughtful, niche-oriented portrait of four off-the-beaten-path characters trying to find their way.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

    Four terrific performances make the transition to a U.S. setting go smoothly for British director Udayan Prasad.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    The formula is obvious, but the story, curiously, turns out to be based on fact.

    Read Full Review

  • 80

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

    Cohn has assembled a quartet of gifted actors who are captivating under Prasad's perceptive direction.

    Read Full Review

  • See all The Yellow Handkerchief reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 14+

Subtly powerful road trip film OK for most teens.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this road-trip drama might appeal to more teens than expected because of co-star Kristen Stewart (of Twilight fame). There’s no Bella here, and the material, which includes marital isolation and incarceration, is mature, and includes a teen girl propositioning an adult man as well as a fight that turns fatal. Still, it’s a thoughtful, pretty film, and there’s plenty here to hold their interest. Expect some swearing -- like "s--t" and "bitch" -- and some drinking.

  • Families can talk about what binds these three characters together. Are they believable as companions on a journey?
  • How is this film similar or different to other road trip movies? What makes it surprising (or not)?
  • Two of the three characters are in their teens, and they both seem lost. Is their depiction realistic? What do they learn from Brett, and vice versa?

The good stuff
  • message true3

    Messages: Even the most disparate characters can find common ground, and, clichéd but true: love heals. Also: forgiveness can redeem even the most hardened, or defeated, souls.

  • rolemodels true1

    Role models: An ex-con, a sexually assertive 15-year-old, and a strange young grifter don’t sound like the best role models on paper, but they all use their hardened facades to mask depths of pain and a longing for love. Nobody is what he or she first seems in this film, and that’s a good thing.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: A man accidentally kills another in a brawl. (The scene is brief and not at all gory.) Some yelling at tense moments, and a fight breaks out among strangers. Awkward romantic moment turns briefly threatening. One character talks briefly about suicide.

  • sex false2

    Sex: Teens kiss and the encounter gets tense when the boy pushes things a bit too far. A girl propositions a much older man. Some passionate embracing and lengthy discussions about relationships. No nudity.

  • language false3

    Language: A smattering of “s--t” and “bitch.”

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some social drinking; a woman enters a bar, takes a shot and yells at another man who’s also drinking. A character gives another a pack of cigarettes.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.83
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4

The Yellow Handkerchief review by Derrick Deane
William Hurt, the reason I even bothered watching this movie, is solid as is Maria Bello in a supporting role. And Kristen Stewart. Probably the best acting you're going to see her do. Mind you there was still the annoying acting ticks (angst face, short breaths after she says he lines) that take away from the performance a bit, but I found Eddie Redmayne's character more annoying than Stewart. But William Hurt. Superb.

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