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Broken Vessels

Play trailer Poster for Broken Vessels R 1998 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A relocated Pennsylvanian (Jason London) works with a seemingly unflappable partner (Todd Field) at a Los Angeles ambulance service.

Critics Reviews

View All (16) Critics Reviews
Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times What makes the movie special is the way both lead actors find the right quiet notes for their performances. Rated: 3/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle Rated: 1/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Kaleem Aftab The List The action is bolstered by several wacky characters and an unrelenting dark comic touch. Rated: 4/5 Apr 13, 2019 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Competently made but it tells the same old story of drug addiction that Trainspotting (1996) told much better. May 26, 2006 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (14) audience reviews
Audience Member The story may not be the most inspired, but it is engaging. The one thing that really bugs me though is the "original music" which is a series of blatant rip-offs of other, legitimately good music from the era. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member A peculiar drug-rush movie! The mentor- newbie bond is extremely well portrayed by our two main characters. they get carried away in their high habbit, eventually stranding on shooting hero (what's worse!). The background of our lad keeps the intrest high on his side, comensating it with the drugs. therefor the titel 'broken vessel' as in they don't learn. The escapades our two medics embark on are pretty entertaining and far out! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member http://stagevu.com/video/csqqxsdvzspn ... reads: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0149964)... Over the edge and out of control...Where the hell did BROKEN VESSELS come from? This film is everything Scorcese's "Bringing Out The Dead" promised to deliver - but didn't. My brother sent me a DVD saying "This is the best Indie film of that year." The art work on the cover was dreadful. It looked like a stupid B horror film. The back of the thing had some awards listed and kudos for the actors... What a ride! Who is Scott Ziehl? Who is Susan Traylor? And who is Todd Field? Field should have been nominated for this performance. I can only guess that the film went straight to video. Too bad more people won't see it. The film accurately depicted the decline of two young men into self delusion and drug abuse. Far better (dare I say) than "Trainspotting." By: nYx64 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Surprisingly effective drama with fine performances from Todd Field and Jason London. Great pace, believable situations, good supporting cast. The score is very nice, good editing and the overall direction is right on target. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Obvious symbolism and pretentiousness aside, this is one boring film. Though it was cool to see William Smith (the white one) in a film again. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Attempts to makes a quieter but deeper impression than Bringing Out the Dead, but is weighted down by conventional morality and predictable storytelling. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Broken Vessels

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A relocated Pennsylvanian (Jason London) works with a seemingly unflappable partner (Todd Field) at a Los Angeles ambulance service.
Director
Scott Ziehl
Producer
Roxana Zal, Scott Ziehl
Screenwriter
David Baer, John McMahon, Scott Ziehl
Production Co
Ziehl & Zal
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 9, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.5K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Surround