loading loading...

Nell Details

1994 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 2318 members

The backwoods of North Carolina is where Nell (Jodie Foster) lives, all alone. She has her own form of language and no idea of a world beyond her small plot of land. Then civilisation enters her life in the form of two doctors (Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson), who discover the untamed wild child. Now that they have come to .. Read more

Starring Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini
Director Michael Apted
Genres Drama

loading loading...

Nell

The backwoods of North Carolina is where Nell (Jodie Foster) lives, all alone. She has her own form of language and no idea of a world beyond her small plot of land. Then civilisation enters her life in the form of two doctors (Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson), who discover the untamed wild child. Now that they have come to study her, Nell's life will never be the same again--but neither will theirs. Based on Mark Handley's play IDIOGLOSSIA, which means a language for one, NELL is an intriguing look at a person who has grown up without any contact with the modern world--like the famous wild boy of Aveyron portrayed in Francois Truffaut's WILD CHILD. Foster is excellent in delivering Nell's unique language and body movements, while Neeson and Richardson are intense in their sparring over how Nell should be treated. For eclectic director Michael Apted, this film is just one of several (COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER and GORILLAS IN THE MIST) he has made about women who are not easily categorised. NELL is also the first film from Foster's production company, Egg Pictures.

Starring Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini
Director Michael Apted
Studio MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 48 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English, German
Released DVD: 23 Jun 2003
Production year: 1994
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (6) of Nell

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    This variation on the “wild child” scenario gave Jodie Foster a very juicy role to sink her teeth into and the double Oscar-winning actress doesn't miss a trick. She plays a young woman living in the North Carolina woods who has never seen the outside world and speaks a strange indecipherable language. Psychologist Natasha Richardson wants to take her into psychiatric care for research; sympathetic local doctor Liam Neeson believes she should be left alone. Although Foster is perhaps a little too showy in the title role (and was again Oscar-nominated for her pains), she still delivers a marvellous performance, and director Michael Apted, making the most of the stunning locations, does his best to keep the syrup at bay.

    • Radio Times
  • This is little more than an ordinary romance between two opposites, spiced with a bizarre turn from Jodie Foster; it confuses innocence and ignorance.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Nell

    View all
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Quality

    What a brilliant film it kept us quiet from start to finish, jodie foster is 1st class as to be expected she is quality. If you like a really good story with a lump in your throat its for you.

      • Decca from Tyne & Wear
  • Most recent members' review of Nell

    View all
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Moving

    Jodie Foster is terrific as the wild child who has to learn to live with others. A fascinating story that really pulls you in.

      • camy from Cambridge
  • News and features

    View all
    Widow's Peak

    Foster remembers 'brilliant, beautiful' Richardson

    • 20 Mar 2009

    Jodie Foster has become the latest star to pay tribute to actress Natasha Richardson, who died on Wednesday (18Mar09). In a statement, Foster, who starred alongside Richardson and her husband Liam Neeson in 1994 movie Nell, remembers her as a woman who "loved fiercely". She says, "Natasha was brilliant, beautiful, funny, talented beyond measure, as emotionally raw as she was razor sharp. "Tasha loved fiercely and that love continues in all of us who knew her. May Liam, her beautiful boys and... Read more

  • Image gallery

    View all
  • More like this

    View all

Rating breakdown

2,318 Member ratings
  • 100
256
  • 90
219
  • 80
452
  • 70
451
  • 60
445
  • 50
207
  • 40
133
  • 30
73
  • 20
55
  • 10
27

Related user collection

great political films (26)

Average rating: 4.15   83% from 13 members

by: A customer from scotland

* The Amazon.co.uk prices on our site are updated every 24 hours and may not be up to date at the time you view this page.
To see the current new and "new and used" Amazon.co.uk prices, please click on the Buy button.