Margaret DVD (2011)

Margaret details

Format:	15 DVD
Starring:	Anna Paquin, J. Smith-Cameron, Mark Ruffalo, Matt Damon, Jean Reno, Matthew Broderick, Matthew Broderick
Director:	Kenneth Lonergan
Genre:	Drama - General
Studio:	20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd
Collections:	Drama Greats

DVD 1 disc

Name	Discs
Margaret	15 Feature

DVD Information

Run time:	2 hours 29 minutes
Rental release:	31 Aug 2012
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review Margaret

Worth watching just for Anna Paquins performance, its a shame the film doesn’t dazzle in the same way.

By Tarumatu (39 reviews) from Brighton, England , 03 Jan 2012

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS Show review anywayHide

[Highly rated reviewer]

Lisa (Anna Paquin) is a bright, self-absorbed teenager in New York. Her carefree existence is shattered after witnessing an accident which causes the death of a woman (Allison Janney). Lisa was partly to blame, by distracting a bus driver (Mark Ruffalo) which caused him to run a red light.

Typical of a teenager, Lisa cannot quite articulate her grief and despair, taking her anger out on those close to her and especially her equally self-absorbed mother (J. Smith-Cameron). Growing more and more unhinged, Lisa is a disaster waiting to happen. Unable to find any solutions from her awkward attempts at sex and drugs, Lisa eventually decides to right a wrong that has been plagueing her since the accident.

‘Margaret’ misfires as much as it should be admired. The film is way too long, the film was originally made in 2005 but the producers could not agree on the length of the film until the director Kenneth Lonergan cut the film from 3 to 2.5 hours. We may never know if the original 3 hours is an improvement, i personally don’t think so. Some scenes are way too short, others linger too long. ‘Margaret’ doesn’t feel complete, a scene near the end of the film typifies this when what should be a shocking scene seems more of a joke and is badly misjudged.

The performances of the cast save ‘Margaret’, especially J. Smith Cameron and Anna Paquin who both deliver fiery performances which provide the backbone to the film. Paquins performance is one of the great depictions of what it feels like to be a teenager, a wonderful portrait of moral confusion and helplessness in a young woman who is completely out of her depth and who just wants to get some closure. ‘Margaret’ is worth watching just for her performance, its a shame the film doesn’t dazzle in the same way.
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average film

By vickig0306 (429 reviews) from Halifax , 19 May 2013

I did not watch this film but my teenage daughter assures me it was quite a moving film & she says that she quite liked it
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Stay the Course

By a customer , 14 Apr 2013

Compelling viewing, despite the 3-hour runtime. A coming-of-age story with a brilliant central character learning the painful truths of compromise in an adult world. Luscious music score and dreamy scenes of Manhattan complement the main character's inner torment.
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Modern masterpiece, criminally buried by the studio

By tedfrost (5 reviews) , 11 Apr 2013

Absolutely one of the most affecting films I have seen over the last few years. Why, as some reviewers have it, would you perceive the morality of the film as being based on whether or not Lisa caused the accident. That is not even nearly the point, and the full, complex, emotional impact of the girl's relationship with those around her and with her mother is sensitively portrayed. While three hours long, and longer than the version I saw at the cinema, I could not recommend any cuts as it is all thoroughly engrossing; even the opera bits, which I don't usually go in for.
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Great cast, fantastic film - best seen over a couple of sittings

By ashie259 (10 reviews) from London , 22 Mar 2013

Lovely film - we are fast becoming big fans of Kenneth Lonergan, having recently also seen and loved 'You Can Count On Me'. A fast-moving action adventure it's not, and this cut is probably best seen at a couple of sittings - I do feel for those who saw it in one go at a cinema. But the characters and the relationships between them are beautifully drawn - they're given time to develop, and the result is compelling viewing. Unusually, no-one is entirely good or bad, likeable or unlikeable. You'll be weighing up their pros and cons long afterwards, just as you are about the rights and wrongs of the film's main event. Similarly, we experience the setting - New York City - as both beautiful and oppressive. Would like to have seen more of the excellent Mark Ruffalo, and at times had to turn down the volume to lessen the abrasive impact of the operatic soundtrack. But that's just me. These minor gripes aside, I can't recommend this film highly enough. Ignore the many negative viewings and treat yourself to a work of genius.
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Self-indulgent rubbish

By a customer , 10 Mar 2013

There is nothing redeeming I can say about this film. I rented it because it looked refreshingly 'unmainstream' and I liked the sound of the serious subject matter. In fact, it was the most pretentious, longest 3 hours I have ever sat through. By the end I was fast-forwarding. The main thrust of the plot reminded me slightly of Another Earth, which is in a different league altogether. Whereas Another Earth was subtle, gripping, original and profound, this film was laughable in its attempts to be all those things. The opera soundover was unbelievably crass. Being a Kiwi, I hoped the Anna Paquin would redeem the film somehow, but she didn't. The only thing she did well was her American accent. Actually, I can't blame her; she wasn't terrible; she just had to play an unlikeable and unlikely character in a film with a terrible script and worse direction. AVOID.
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