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Blue Car

Play trailer Poster for Blue Car R Released May 2, 2003 1h 36m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Meg is a gifted but emotionally scarred 18-year-old. Meg finds solace in writing poetry. Mr. Auster, her English teacher, recognizes her talent and steps into the role of mentor and father figure, encouraging her to enter a national poetry contest for which he is a judge. As tension at home escalates and Meg struggles to find a way to get to the poetry finals in Florida, Auster's role in her life becomes increasingly complex.

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Blue Car

Blue Car

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Critics Consensus

A cautionary tale that rings true.

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Critics Reviews

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David Ansen Newsweek There's nothing flashy about Moncrieff's filmmaking, and there doesn't need to be: from the start, she gets the emotional details right, and the viewer feels intimately engaged with the young protagonist. It's a powerful, fresh, honest debut. Mar 7, 2018 Full Review Bill Muller Arizona Republic Worth watching for the coming-out party of Agnes Bruckner, a relative newcomer who shows her mettle with an extraordinary performance in this very ordinary tear-jerker. Rated: 3/5 Jun 12, 2003 Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer An impressive first effort from Ms. Moncrieff, but the eternal Aristotelian in me finds it depressing to watch characters always walking around in moral quicksand. Jun 11, 2003 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Margaret Colin is excellent as the harried mother, making desperate and perhaps humiliating efforts to win promotion, unable to pay sufficient attention to her two daughters, alternately angry and tender. Feb 16, 2021 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com One of the more stunning films I've seen on the subject of sexual abuse and family dynamics. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 3, 2020 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (101) audience reviews
Audience Member just ok coming of age tale Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Frances H Well acted and well made drama about a teen in crisis. What I found unforgivable was the betrayal of trust on the part of the teacher in the story--an adult, no matter how unhappy his life, only commits this kind act out of pure selfishness and to do such a thing to a girl he knows has been through hell is inexcusable. Everyone involved betrays their responsibility to this girl, and no one tries to get her the help she needs. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/09/13 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant pairing of Agnes Bruckner and David Strathairn in this disturbing tale. The way it explores vulnerability and motivation was impressive and I'll be looking for other films where the director, Karen Moncrieff has been involved. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member A slow paced, beautiful and melancholic film that touched a nerve. Great performance from Agnes Bruckner. Amazing film considering it is writer/director Karen Moncrieff's film debut and was edited on an apple computer. Stunning. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Gripping, raw, dramatic, real, sad, but not too melodramatic. Everything an indie drama should be. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member Small but recommendable film about a young girl, growing up in an unstable environment with a lack of people who care for her and various people abusing her. Agnes Bruckner gives an excellent performance as Meg. The story isn't something refreshing and new, but it doesn't disturbs me. The subject is handled very well and the co-actors are good as well. Excellent directing debut by Karen Moncrieff. She managed to make it a remarkable debut. "Blue Car" is an enjoyable film who's certainly worth watching. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Blue Car

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Movie Info

Synopsis Meg is a gifted but emotionally scarred 18-year-old. Meg finds solace in writing poetry. Mr. Auster, her English teacher, recognizes her talent and steps into the role of mentor and father figure, encouraging her to enter a national poetry contest for which he is a judge. As tension at home escalates and Meg struggles to find a way to get to the poetry finals in Florida, Auster's role in her life becomes increasingly complex.
Director
Karen Moncrieff
Producer
Peer J. Oppenheimer, Amy Sommer, David Waters
Screenwriter
Karen Moncrieff
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Miramax
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 23, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$464.1K
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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