73
Metascore
18 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasAssayas has made a great film from Jacques Chardonne's classic novel. Although far different in tone, time, place and temperament, it brings to mind "Gone With the Wind" in its depth and scope and in its love story, which unfolds over a turbulent era.
- 91Portland OregonianKim MorganPortland OregonianKim MorganRich in detail, gorgeously shot and beautifully acted, Les Destinees is, in its quiet, epic way, daring, inventive and refreshingly unusual.
- 90L.A. WeeklyRon StringerL.A. WeeklyRon StringerAn exquisite metaphor for the high cost and higher returns of an enduring marriage.
- 90VarietyDavid RooneyVarietyDavid RooneyA massive undertaking and an accomplished piece of filmmaking in a solid tradition of intelligent, meticulous literary adaptations.
- 90The New YorkerDavid DenbyThe New YorkerDavid DenbyQuiety sumptuous movie. [15 April 2002, p. 98]
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertIt will not appeal to the impatient, but those who like long books and movies will admire the way it accumulates power and depth. It is about youthful idealism, headstrong love and fierce ambition, and is pessimistic about all of them.
- 67Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula NechakSeattle Post-IntelligencerPaula NechakBut the irony of Les Destinées is that while Assayas is a pro at examining the inner workings of present-day connection and nuance, he's so overwhelmed by the sheer historical scope and detail of this massive saga that after three hours we're starved for emotional involvement with such inaccessible characters.
- 60Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonHow great can an epic be, when it takes 30 years, including a whole sequence devoted to World War I, for Jean to realize he could be a little nicer to his wife? This is for diehard Francophiles and literate-movie fans only.
- 50Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittIt's as elegant as any movie around, though, and boasts strong acting by a distinguished cast.
- 50New Times (L.A.)Andy KleinNew Times (L.A.)Andy KleinLes Destinées has a leisurely, contemplative pace without ever growing boring. Still, at the end, we are left somehow empty. For all the time we spend with these people, we never really get inside of them.