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Black Bear

Play trailer Poster for Black Bear R 2020 1h 44m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 161 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A filmmaker plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in pursuit of a work of art that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention.
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Black Bear

Black Bear

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Critics Consensus

A fascinating look at the creative intricacies of show business, Black Bear is a provocative, mind-bending experience -- and finds Aubrey Plaza at the top of her game.

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Critics Reviews

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Christina Newland iNews.co.uk 09/23/2024
3/5
Plaza is wonderful in the role of Alison, going from slithery, diffident cool girl in the first vignette to howlingly paranoid wronged wife in the second. Go to Full Review
Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 07/16/2021
3.5/5
Even if you spot the final twist coming a mile off, there are a few mysteries left to ponder -- and on the other hand, there can be little doubt that Plaza's performance is a tour de force. Go to Full Review
Katherine McLaughlin Sight & Sound 05/11/2021
Aubrey Plaza is an unpredictable powerhouse in writer-director Lawrence Michael Levine's two-part negotiation of the untrustworthy power dynamics of a filmmaking couple. Go to Full Review
Ben Flanagan Vague Visages 02/06/2024
Black Bear does, after all, stink of men writing women as cute dolls to be played with. It’s the sardonic, versatile Plaza performance that saves Levine’s Black Bear. Go to Full Review
Alessandra Rangel InSession Film 03/20/2023
B
Black Bear is an enveloping experience that shines because of the shameless commitment of its stars and the privileged view it provides on the abusive bond between artists. Just do not try to find an answer to everything you see on screen. Go to Full Review
Dallas King Flick Feast 11/12/2022
4/5
Black Bear is a fascinating study of the subjectivity of art and a fantastic showcase for a trio of actors working at the top of their game. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Dave S Sep 13 When struggling filmmaker Allison (Aubrey Plaza) settles in at a luxurious upstate New York cottage to help clear her writer’s block, things quickly go off the rails when she meets the owners of the property, a young couple (Sarah Gadon, Christopher Abbott) with troubles of their own. Or…do things really go off the rails? Told in two parts with the same actors and the same location but with different storylines, Black Bear, a movie that blurs the lines between reality and fiction (or does it?), deals with complex themes involving relationships, jealousy, and the creative process. It’s a complex story that is sure to raise questions when the credits roll, questions that will undoubtedly frustrate a lot of viewers. Despite its complexity, it needs to be seen for the amazing performance from Plaza, most notably during the second segment, where she teeters on the edge of drunken madness - it is something to experience. See more Tim W Aug 31 What makes my heart beat with baited anticipation is what next is coming from Aubrey Plaza. Her performance in the last 10 minutes is stunning; and how the characters contrived to put her in that mindset was clever and diabolical. See more Wesley H Aug 13 This is a brain-dead dumb movie that makes no sense whatsoever. Don't waste two hours of your life. The critics think this is good? You're joking! This tripe gives movies a bad name. If you haven't got a good script, you've got nothing. OK, in reading other reviews Aubrey Plaza acted brilliantly? Whoopee. The movie is a complete fail so that makes her performance a waste of time, better served with a good script. See more Scott M Aug 10 This is split into 2 stories where the 2 female characters take turns being angry and hurt because of the guy's infidelity. It's well acted, but overall didn't feel anything in the end. Overdramatic, like a soap opera. See more Ilaria D Jul 29 I was a bit confused by the plot, but Aubrey Plaza stole the show. It was so emotional and raw. I was very impressed. Amazing acting! See more Roy R Jul 22 Apparently, in writing school, one is taught early a writer shouldn't deceive the audience by revealing at the end it wasn't real; a dream or only versions of something that maybe played out. Scene 1 is sold by a steamy Audrey Plaza and the sparks between the characters - stylish but it is cut short. Scene 2 ripped me out of that state of anticipation into a chaotic script that turned all before upside down into an overplayed drama, except for the Black Bear. Then the closing scene made me feel I wasted 2 hours watching it. See more Read all reviews
Black Bear

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Movie Info

Synopsis A filmmaker plays a calculated game of desire and jealousy in pursuit of a work of art that blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention.
Director
Lawrence Michael Levine
Producer
Jonathan Blitstein, Richard J. Bosner, Julie Christeas, Marina Grasic, Jai Khanna, Lawrence Michael Levine, Aubrey Plaza, Sophia Takal
Screenwriter
Lawrence Michael Levine
Distributor
Momentum Pictures
Production Co
Oakhurst Entertainment, Tandem Pictures, Blue Creek Pictures, Productivity Media
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language Throughout|Drug Use|Some Nudity)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 4, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 4, 2020
Runtime
1h 44m
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