Auto Focus

R

Released Oct 18, 2002

1 hr. 44 min.

Biography

Drama

List

71%

163 Reviews

Tomatometer

61%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A successful TV star during the 1960s, former "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane (Greg Kinnear) projects a wholesome family-man image, but this front masks his persona as a sex addict who records and photographs his many encounters with women, often with the help of his seedy friend, John Henry Carpenter (Willem Dafoe). This biographical drama reveals how Crane's double life takes its toll on him and his family, and ultimately contributes to his death.

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Critics Consensus

Kinnear and Dafoe help make this downward spiral of one man's life a compelling watch.

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Gareth v

A movie about the facade of one's life, and a man's downward spiral, that for the most part is a compelling watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/24

Full Review

GM

You watch it and don't watch it at the same time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Michael W

This showbiz biopic was alright. Greg Kinnear, Willem Dafoe, Rita Wilson, Maria Bello, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. This true story about actor Bob Crane was dramatic, dark, and depressing. It's about addiction and losing everything in the process. If you haven't seen this movie yet, don't waste your time. It's not worth watching.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/08/22

Full Review

jelisije j

Not a movie you will want to see over and over again, but its a nice biopic of the man who played Col. Hogan from the beloved sitcom Hogans Heroes and his fall from grace.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sharp filmmaking style skillfully mimics Crane’s descent from bland to manic, but the performances, though competent, feel restrained & dulled. Bleak ending falls a little flat - it doesn’t conclude so much as it just… stops. #nitrosMovieChallenge

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/22

Full Review

chris k

Greg Kinnear is outstanding in his role as the troubled Bob Crane and there is probably a movie to be made about Crane's life. Not sure this is it however. The mystery of who killed him is no clearer and by the end you feel that Crane was not the greatest bloke and husband going around. You don't really know much more about him than a cursory look at Wikipedia might offer though and that is the biggest flaw in the movie. The recreations of Hogan's Heroes are great and the feel of the 1970's is captured really well but it all feels a bit like biting into an apple pie and finding the filling is missing. If you are a huge fan of either Crane or Hogan's Heroes it may be worth a look but it is heavy going and reminds you a bit of wading through mud without ever really finding firm ground.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Paul Schrader

Director

Greg Kinnear

Bob Crane

Willem Dafoe

John Carpenter

Rita Wilson

Anne Crane

Maria Bello

Patricia Crane

Ron Leibman

Lenny

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David Ansen

Newsweek

The movie's themes are aptly captured in the double entendre of the title, suggesting both Crane's narcissism and the video technology that abets it...a lot of Auto Focus is coolly funny--it's a slyly satiric comedy of '60s manners.

Mar 12, 2018

Full Review

Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Another probing case history of male pathology from one of the most consistently interesting American film-makers alive.

Oct 19, 2003

Full Review

Ian Freer

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Apr 21, 2003

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A distant, even sterile, yet compulsively watchable look at the sordid life of Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 29, 2021

Full Review

David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Much more could have been done with this story. Schrader insists for some reason that certain things about Crane had to remain a "mystery" ... why not illuminate a life and time to the greatest extent one can?

Feb 16, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The technical aspects of the film are quite on the money.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 2, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A successful TV star during the 1960s, former "Hogan's Heroes" actor Bob Crane (Greg Kinnear) projects a wholesome family-man image, but this front masks his persona as a sex addict who records and photographs his many encounters with women, often with the help of his seedy friend, John Henry Carpenter (Willem Dafoe). This biographical drama reveals how Crane's double life takes its toll on him and his family, and ultimately contributes to his death.

Director: Paul Schrader
Executive Producer: Trevor Macy, Rick Hess, James Schamus
Screenwriter: Michael Gerbosi
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Propaganda Films
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Drug Use|Strong Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Sound Mix: Surround

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