Bel Canto

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Bel Canto

Released Sep 14, 2018

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

47%

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73 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A famous American soprano becomes trapped in a hostage situation when she's invited to perform for a wealthy industrialist in South America.

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Critics Consensus

Bel Canto's reach occasionally exceeds its ambitious grasp in terms of juggling themes and tones, but it's held together by palpable emotion and a pair of strong leads.

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Kathleen Sachs

Chicago Reader

This is emotionally affecting at times, but writer-director Paul Weitz... adopts a prosaic approach that abandons the source novel's lyrical persuasions.

Mar 4, 2020

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Stinky is the only word to describe this earnest thriller in which a famous American opera singer learns life lessons (and gets jiggy) in a hostage crisis.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 28, 2019

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Beth Webb

Empire Magazine

Bel Canto pushes a hard message about cultural misconceptions and boasts a promising and diverse cast, but only really makes an impact in the first and final minutes.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 28, 2019

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

The story should have political and socioeconomic resonances but it plays more like a soap opera, flitting from scene to scene with an ever-increasing sense of melodrama.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 1, 2021

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James Hanton

Outtake Mag

If you are willing to treat Bel Canto as a drama rather than a political thriller or action film, then you stand to be rewarded.

Rated: 3 / 5

Jul 27, 2020

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James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

A deeply disappointing drama.

Rated: 2/5

Jul 23, 2020

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Jason

Ken Watanabe simps for Julianne Moore, and then everyone becomes best friends with terrorists. [4.9/10] This movie is hard evidence that simping will work for you if you try hard enough.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/20/24

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Daniel H

In an ocean of modern mediocrity this is one of the best films I have ever seen. It touches the soul of what it is to be positive and human. I strongly recommend this film. I am not sure why others have not given it the maximum score. Every actor and actress performance regardless of individual fame was magical. Types of films I rate highly: Creation (2009); The Red Violin (1999); Miss Congeniality (2000); Paris Texas (1984); Mr Bean's Holiday (2007); Little Lord Fauntleroy (1921 w M.Pickford); Mifunes sidste sang (Danish 1999); As One (2012); Stockholm East (2011)....

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/24

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A.L.Jude P

Terribly Underrated when it deserves some accolade ?

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/23

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james g

IMO, the problem is that in the book, we get to know humans first. But in the film, we see Japanese business men, South American terrorists, etc., first and the film makers don't take us past our first impressions. Or at least I didn't get past mine. Some works of art are just simply great in a single medium, and 'Bel Canto' seems to be a great book in this category. In print, the story glistens. But on film, it's flat. In the special features, a voice over tells us it took over seven years to get this production started. So there you go.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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jelisije j

A movie that tries to tell the story in a hostage situation where the hostages and their captors find joy in music together (particular opera) and come to realize how they relate to one another. Not an action packed movie, but a slow paced movie to build the relationship between the characters. Not a movie your going to rewatch a lot, but a movie that will stick with you.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This film is stunning in so many ways. A complex and fascinating narrative backed up with extraordinary performances - the whole cast carry this film with equal weight. The best film I've seen in years - but you'll only ever watch it once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Paul Weitz

Director

Julianne Moore

Roxanne Coss

Ken Watanabe

Katsumi Hosokawa

Tenoch Huerta

Comandante Benjamin

Sebastian Koch

Messner

Christopher Lambert

Simon Thibault

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Bel Canto: Trailer 1

2:20

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Synopsis

A famous American soprano becomes trapped in a hostage situation when she's invited to perform for a wealthy industrialist in South America.

Director: Paul Weitz
Producer: Caroline Baron, Lizzie Friedman, Karen Lauder, Greg Little, Andrew Miano, Anthony Weintraub, Paul Weitz
Screenwriter: Paul Weitz, Anthony Weintraub
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Priority Pictures, Screen Media Ventures, Depth of Field
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 21, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $79.9K
Runtime: 1h 42m

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