Adoration

R

Released May 8, 2009

1 hr. 40 min.

Drama

List

63%

103 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A straightforward translation assignment in a high school French class leads to unexpected drama for Simon (Devon Bostick), an imaginative Canadian student, and his teacher, Sabine (Arsinée Khanjian). The son of a Palestinian father, Simon takes an article about a terrorist plot and weaves it into his own tragic family history. Encouraged by Sabine, Simon passes the tale off as a true story -- but the ramifications of this action, which end up online, deliver surprising results.

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Critics Consensus

A complex and thought-provoking work, Atom Egoyan's Adoration works well as both mystery and engaging drama.

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John A

Not nearly as searing as a tenured Egoyan viewer would rightfully expect. 'Adoration' is by no means a truly bad or boring film. Its just remarkably pale and is almost on the made-for-television level of writing and directing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

dave s

Like so many of Atom Egoyan's other films, Adoration is a complex story filled with complicated themes. Centered around ideas concerning identity, it tells the story of a wildly imaginative high school student who combines his own personal story with that of an article about a thwarted terrorist bombing in the Middle East, leading to unexpected revelations. The story itself if fascinating, Egoyan's direction is, as always, fantastic (the slow tracking shots are great) and Devon Bostick gives a strong performance in the lead role, but the film ultimately falters due to some horrific acting by the remainder of the cast, some awkward dialogue and an often confusing non-linear presentation of scenes.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Had the look & feel of one of those cheesy-made-for-TV Lifetime movies. Even with the fairly controversial, heavy themes this movie explores I found it pretty insipid.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not your typical drama and at times difficult to follow, but very well done and interesting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So Will There Be A Part Two? ..Where The Daughters Of The New Fathers Do A Swap 20-Years Later? Or Is That Too Politically Incorrect?? ...An Interesting, And Moralistic Deplorable Drama All At The Same Time. But Leaves One Feeling Very Jaded About 'Motherly' Love..The Witches Brew A Spinster Doth Create.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An exquisite chronicle about a story that is so intense that the mystery of the characters and the tale itself become captivating for every second of production. Cinematography is deliciously beautiful creating an ambiance that is deeply penetrating for the eye. Actors absorb the passion and bring it out in their human spirit in front of the camera making this a must see film. Nibbles: Cornflakes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Atom Egoyan

Director

Scott Speedman

Tom

Devon Bostick

Simon

Arsinée Khanjian

Sabine

Kenneth Welsh

Morris

Rachel Blanchard

Rachel

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41%

46%

Where the Truth Lies

68%

64%

Fugitive Pieces

17%

31%

What Goes Up

80%

52%

The Advocate

88%

87%

Boy A

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Critics Consensus: Star Trek Is The Best-Reviewed Wide Release of 2009!

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Alan Morrison

Empire Magazine

Without the constrictions of an adapted text, Egoyan's creativity turns towards intellectual exercise.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 2, 2010

Full Review

Trevor Johnston

Time Out

Unfortunately the elaborately unspooled plot delivering these ideas in dramatic form is so scraggy and effortful it defeats the cast and rather compromises our involvement.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 2, 2010

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

The most positive thing you can say about Atom Egoyan's latest film is that it is well-intentioned. But the most honest thing that you can say is that it's a painfully misguided and pretentious folly.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 2, 2010

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

This is a real treat for fans of early Egoyan films like Next of Kin or Speaking Parts.

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Times

Adoration is a triumph, a provocative work about terror in the world and in people's hearts.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 6, 2018

Full Review

Brigit Grant

Daily Express (UK)

Clearly fascinated by the power of new technology and the fact that anyone is able to broadcast their thoughts, Egoyan has made an engrossing movie with an intriguing, original plot.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 23, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

A straightforward translation assignment in a high school French class leads to unexpected drama for Simon (Devon Bostick), an imaginative Canadian student, and his teacher, Sabine (Arsinée Khanjian). The son of a Palestinian father, Simon takes an article about a terrorist plot and weaves it into his own tragic family history. Encouraged by Sabine, Simon passes the tale off as a true story -- but the ramifications of this action, which end up online, deliver surprising results.

Director: Atom Egoyan
Executive Producer: Robert Lantos, Laurent Pétin, Michele Halberstadt
Screenwriter: Atom Egoyan
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Serendipity Point Films
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 8, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 27, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $293.6K

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