You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. In short, Lisa's life is incredibly unfulfilling. Throughout the history of cinema, critics have made arguments for actors and actresses making bad films into good ones or vice versa, but I haven't had many of those experiences, personally. She takes him to this poetry club after his father insisted that he go to baseball practice with a friend instead. Having a child prodigy as the central focus of your film has always been an intriguing plot device in my opinion. It's no fault of hers that writer-director Sara Colangelo takes the fable too far and lets pottiness, finally, cosh plausibility. | Fresh (89) With that said, this is a very interesting movie in that themes of obsession have been explored in movies many times before. Later on, and this will feature MASSIVE SPOILERS so just look away, she even kidnaps him with plans to take him over the Canadian border to, theoretically, start a new life where she can guide his path to where she feels it can go. | Rating: 4/5 So you can see how she would take an immense interest in nurturing Jimmy's poetic talents and protecting him from the world that would just crush his talent and creativity. Was this review helpful to you? Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. J.R. 'Bob' Dobbs & The Church of the SubGenius, Fall TV First Look: Find Out What’s Coming, The Best Peacock Original Shows and Movies, All Upcoming Disney Movies: New Disney Live-Action, Animation, Pixar, Marvel, and More. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. |, August 3, 2020 That's a level of daring we don't often see, particularly in a film about children. While her and Grant don't have a broken marriage, you can tell that the spark just isn't there anymore and Lisa's children do not seem to be interested in the same things she is. Exquisitely non-judgmental, this is one of those little films that restores your faith in indie cinema. Sign up here. Here's why I can admit this is a very well-done movie, but why it didn't quite sit well with me. She doesn't have to say this for you to know that she is unhappy and that she wants her life to mean something more. Their day together in the city confronts their mutual expectations in the face of a complex Israeli society. She's willing to abandon her husband and children in order to achieve this life she so desperately wants. Small-scale and slow, The Kindergarten Teacher works best as a showcase for the brilliance of Maggie Gyllenhaal. It is the story of a female Don Quixote, who strives to save the world through the poetry of a child, and of a pensive child who has no desire to be saved. It's the best performance from Gyllenhaal since her breakthrough performance in Steven Shainberg's 2002 cult classic Secretary. Writer-director Sarah Colangelo's sophomore feature film is based on the 2014 Israeli film of the same name. Lisa is trying to mold him the way she failed to mold her children because, again, her own children never showed any inclinations towards the things that she enjoys or values. |, March 6, 2019 Fatal Attraction or Basic Instinct come to mind almost immediate as movies dealing with that theme. I think that's the difference because I'm entirely self-aware of what I'm not talented at while still recognizing that same talent in someone else. You can understand where Lisa is coming from in wanting Jimmy's talents to grow, but her methods go too far. Elevated by a bravura performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Kindergarten Teacher is one American remake that retains its impact the second time around. This woman goes way too far and, honestly, it's a little unnerving at times. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. A kindergarten teacher discovers in a five year-old child a prodigious gift for poetry. Cinemark This FAQ is empty. Looking for a slightly scary movie to watch this Halloween? By signing up, you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy. press ... particularly in a film about children. All Critics (98) I can clearly see the effort that went into this film and some viewers may love every bit of this movie, so I'll give it a mild recommendation with an asterisk on the conclusion of the movie. In Tel Aviv, Yoav receives a visit from Delphine, the girlfriend of Emile, his boyfriend from Paris. |, June 29, 2020 Maggie Gyllenhaal is at the top of her game in The Kindergarten Teacher, delivering a performance that leaves audiences feeling conflicted. (as Yotam Korem). The Kindergarten Teacher is probably the only movie about poetry with an ending as tense as any thriller. 3 of 8 people found this review helpful. To post ratings/reviews we need a username. Maggie Gyllenhaal is one of our best actors, and this could be her finest hour. Check out our picks for movies that (hopefully) won't keep you up at night. In the end, The Kindergarten Teacher starts off as a very strong drama with believable performances all around and quite solid direction, but it spirals out of control by the third act. The main storyline, Nira's relationship with the chubby-cheeked prodigy, Yoav, gets your attention right away and really builds; our main complaint was that Yoav's character seems inconsistent—he's withdrawn and suspicious at first (and rightly so! Regal FINE PRINT & DISCLAIMER: Flicks's official rating: Pretty good, but not perfect. View production, box office, & company info, European Film Awards: Vogt, Östlund, Pawlikowski, Zvyagintsev , Glazer & Ceylan Among 50 Contenders, ICM Forums 500 400 2017 by edward5 UNRANKED, 2014 - Favourite films released in Paris (or to be released this year). This is what will appear next to your ratings and reviews. A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town. She even goes as far as to take his poems, which are actually great (and this is as someone who knows nothing about poetry) and incredibly advanced for Jimmy's age, and reads them at her class. Following Lisa Spinelli (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a teacher who believes one of her young students may be gifted, The Kindergarten Teacher is truly about the fact that this woman has conflicted emotions toward the entire situation. As I mentioned, I thoroughly disliked her character, but that's also due to her fantastic performance. Coming Soon. This film started out strong but lost my interest by the final act, and that's pretty much the opposite of what you'd want a movie to do. The Haunting: Season 2 - The Haunting of Bly Manor, Find Trailers, News, Reviews and Features. She allows herself to, unhealthily, live vicariously through Jimmy's talent. ), then suddenly turns trusting and confiding, without any real transition. Young Jimmy Roy is the centrepiece for this story and although their scenes together are easily the best in the movie, the third act of this film feels very odd. My personal feelings about the way this film ends may be getting the better of me here, but it's really hard to ignore how strongly I felt about a few moments that affected my overall enjoyment. Their destinies are linked by the power of a mysterious fire. A bad performance doesn't make a fantastic film automatically terrible in my opinion, but I can admit when a mediocre movie is accented by a stellar lead performance. Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers. She never says they're hers, but she never clarifies that they're Jimmy's either.