The Fixer

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The Fixer

PG-13

Released Dec 8, 1968

2h 12m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

56%

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9 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Based on the acclaimed Bernard Malamud novel of the same name, this drama finds Yakov Bok (Alan Bates), a Jewish handyman, wrongly imprisoned and accused of murder by the Russian Empire. As Bok struggles to deal with life in jail, his unsympathetic captors only make his existence harder as they cruelly press him for a confession to a crime that he did not commit. With nothing but time on his hands, Bok contemplates his existence and tries to come to terms with his bleak situation.

Philip Strick

Sight & Sound

If [director] John Frankenheimer occasionally shows uncharacteristic signs of letting the story ride along as best it can, [Alan] Bates ensures that it never loses its force.

Mar 31, 2020

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Renata Adler

New York Times

"The Fixer" is not equal to the dignity of the case is that the movie is such an unremittingly. unenlighteningly depressing experience.

May 9, 2005

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

What were needed were fewer self-conscious humanistic speeches, less articulate nobility, and more of the real experience.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Robert Kotlowitz

Harper's Magazine

In the face of Frankenheimer's beautiful intentions it is really awful to have to say that The Fixer is a high-minded, monotonous drone.

Aug 11, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I came away admiring only the acting.

Rated: B-

Dec 30, 2014

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Alan Bates received an Oscar nomination (his only one) for this mediocre version of the famous novel.

Rated: C+

Apr 25, 2011

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delysid d

this is a great film, other reviews here should get back to watching hunger games

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/07/20

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steve d

Really bleak but really well acted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Excellent film, above all Alan Bates acting.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

This is "The Fixer" who didn't know he had courage...until courage was all he had left.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

Boring for the most part.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

deep but at the time of the revolution it would be worth watching for the history

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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John Frankenheimer

Director

Alan Bates

Yakov Bok

Dirk Bogarde

Bibikov

Georgia Brown

Marfa Golov

Hugh Griffith

Lebedev

Elizabeth Hartman

Zinaida

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Synopsis

Based on the acclaimed Bernard Malamud novel of the same name, this drama finds Yakov Bok (Alan Bates), a Jewish handyman, wrongly imprisoned and accused of murder by the Russian Empire. As Bok struggles to deal with life in jail, his unsympathetic captors only make his existence harder as they cruelly press him for a confession to a crime that he did not commit. With nothing but time on his hands, Bok contemplates his existence and tries to come to terms with his bleak situation.

Director: John Frankenheimer
Screenwriter: Dalton Trumbo
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 8, 1968, Original
Runtime: 2h 12m