Affliction

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Affliction

R

1999

1h 53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.

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Critics Consensus

Dark and bleak, the "kick-ass" performances, especially Nolte's "effective" portrayal of an abused soul, is the reason to see this film.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

There are too many of these men in life, and not enough films that tell their sad tales. That gives Affliction a therapeutic worth.

Apr 1, 2019

Full Review

Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

Overwrought metaphors abound in Paul Schrader's ham-fisted Affliction.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 17, 2001

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Nick Nolte is a big, shambling, confident male presence in the movies, and it is startling to see his cocksure presence change into fear in Paul Schrader's Affliction.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Affliction hones in on masculinity and the demons that men inherit from one another.

Rated: 10/10

Jun 24, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nolte is phenomenal in what’s a career performance, but he was absurdly beaten for the Best Actor Oscar by the buffoonish Roberto Benigni for that extended Hogan’s Heroes episode.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 22, 2024

Full Review

Deborah Hornblow

Hartford Courant

"Affliction'' stands as one of [Paul] Schrader's finest efforts, but the real star is [Russell] Banks, who tells a small story with universal implications and explores the devastating affliction of violence between men.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 2, 2018

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Scott R

NYT 1000 films. I can see why this may have been appreciated, but I don’t think it praiseworthy. The acting was ridiculous and contrived. The plot was worse. Coburn was the best part, but he was someone we were to hate. Really this was a struggle to get through. Saw on YouTube.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/25/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

Full Review

Boopi H

when not being numbed by boredom i was depressed by these pathetic losers.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Paul K

An acting clinic brought to you by Nolte and Coburn.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/19/25

Full Review

steve d

A+ for Nolte and Coburn's performances. B- for plot with unnecessary mystery. A for overall message of a man not being able to escape generational trauma.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

Full Review

Devin B

Starts out slow but worth watching all the way through.A great lesson that abuse to a child is very hard on them even up until they leave this earth.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/24

Full Review

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Paul Schrader

Director

Nick Nolte

Wade Whitehouse

Sissy Spacek

Marge Fogg

James Coburn

Glen Whitehouse

Willem Dafoe

Rolfe Whitehouse

Mary Beth Hurt

Lillian

Affliction: Official Clip - Don't You Sass Me

3:00

Affliction: Official Clip - Halloween

2:13

Affliction: Official Clip - Afflicted by Violence

1:50

Affliction: Official Clip - Hunting Accident

1:58

Affliction: Official Clip - Don't Make a Scene

2:05

Affliction: Official Clip - Pulling Teeth

2:02

Affliction: Official Clip - A Modest Proposal

2:07

Affliction: Official Clip - Jesus Freaks and Candy-Asses

2:09

Affliction: Official Clip - A Lesson in Work

2:13

Affliction: Official Clip - I'll Shoot You Dead

2:00

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Synopsis

In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: Frank K. Isaac, Linda Reisman
Screenwriter: Russell Banks, Paul Schrader
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: JVC Entertainment, Largo Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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