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Fierce People

Play trailer Poster for Fierce People R Released Apr 24, 2005 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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24% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Finn (Anton Yelchin) is a teenager trying to escape his drug-addicted mother (Diane Lane) by going to study tribal people. His hopes are dashed when he gets caught scoring drugs for her, and she decides to start their lives over by moving them in with her massage client, billionaire Ogden (Donald Sutherland). At first, Finn indulges in the luxury around him and falls for Ogden's granddaughter (Kristen Stewart), but he soon finds that the rich can be more savage than any group in the wild.
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Fierce People

Fierce People

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Critics Consensus

Fierce People's premise of a teenager studying rich people like animals is grating and self-satisfied, and Anton Yelchin's smug performance makes the film even harder to agree with.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Beer Time Out Rated: 1/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Joshua Katzman Chicago Reader Director Griffin Dunne, working from Dirk Wittenborn's adaptation of his own novel, pounds away at the analogy between the inherent cruelty of the tribal rituals of the Iskanani and those of the well-heeled. Dec 3, 2007 Full Review Jennifer Preyss Atlanta Journal-Constitution On balance, it's a movie worth seeing with its artistic inserts, appropriate soundtrack and organic performances. Rated: B- Nov 24, 2007 Full Review Brent Simon ReelzChannel.com Rated: 5/10 Feb 9, 2011 Full Review Caffeinated Clint Moviehole divine performances from Lane and Sutherland Apr 19, 2008 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...the movie's abrupt (and downright graceless) transformation from jaunty comedy to heavy-handed drama strips the proceedings of any momentum it may have had... Rated: 1.5/4 Feb 22, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (357) audience reviews
N P "Fierce People" uncovers the ultra privileged's lifestyle, through the eyes of a young outsider, as they disregard anyone else's well-being to protect themselves and live life as their own playground without a sense of morality. There is an anthropologic tribe through line that may be seen as misrepresented and may trigger those with references to R, substance abuse, etc. The story is rich with characters and events, as it follows a novel, and is centered around youth and self discovery. The film is well made, and there is some value if you choose to watch it. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/05/24 Full Review pj m Great cast. Not just Diane Lane and Donald Sutherland, but also Anton Yelchin and Chris Evans, Elizabeth Perkins. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Other than respectable performances from Donald Sutherland and Diane Lane, Fierce People, despite a promising premise, really doesn't have much to offer. Instead of spending his summer studying and living with the Iskanani people in the Amazon rainforest, future anthropologist Finn, due to unforeseen circumstances, is forced to spend his time among the wealthy and powerful on a sprawling New Jersey estate. As it turns out, to no one's surprise, the wealthy and powerful are more uncivilized than the Iskananis. And that's the movie in a nutshell. Sadly, this revelation is revealed in the first quarter of the movie, which makes the final ninety minutes a bit of a snooze. The supporting cast is uniformly horrible, especially Anton Yelchin as Finn, and the script of filled with trite and often cringe-worthy dialogue. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review cees t Natural Born Killers and Donnie Darko are much more consistent than this random look at some rich psychos. 5/10 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie is described as a commentary on the wealthy tribe and how "fierce," viscious the uber-wealthy can be, but that's a misnomer, for those of any class has shown similar jealousy and vindictiveness. Certainly the wealthy with their money can enforce it it more broadly with greater impunity, but there's a more important message afoot here: the lure of the security of wealth and how the wealthy can enslave those in economic dire straights or how those without money can end up prostituting themselves for security. Personally, I didn't find much to connect to here. Not my bag. And one last note, the anthropological element was handled with much greater humor and aplomb in Encino Man (now that's an entertaining movie) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review steve d I really liked the performances but the story was just ok. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Fierce People

Fierce People: Official Clip - A Eunuch Fierce People: Official Clip - A Eunuch 2:40 Fierce People: Official Clip - You Never Want to Kiss Me Fierce People: Official Clip - You Never Want to Kiss Me 1:26 Fierce People: Official Clip - Hot Air Balloon Race Fierce People: Official Clip - Hot Air Balloon Race 2:11 Fierce People: Official Clip - Let's Get High Together Fierce People: Official Clip - Let's Get High Together 1:41 Fierce People: Official Clip - Dying to Do It Fierce People: Official Clip - Dying to Do It 2:19 Fierce People: Official Clip - Bear Trap Fierce People: Official Clip - Bear Trap 3:12 Fierce People: Official Clip - Caught in the Act Fierce People: Official Clip - Caught in the Act 2:13 Fierce People: Official Clip - Wanna Shotgun? Fierce People: Official Clip - Wanna Shotgun? 1:18 Fierce People: Official Clip - Take Off Your Clothes Fierce People: Official Clip - Take Off Your Clothes 2:36 Fierce People: Official Clip - A Pretty Girl Fierce People: Official Clip - A Pretty Girl 2:24 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Finn (Anton Yelchin) is a teenager trying to escape his drug-addicted mother (Diane Lane) by going to study tribal people. His hopes are dashed when he gets caught scoring drugs for her, and she decides to start their lives over by moving them in with her massage client, billionaire Ogden (Donald Sutherland). At first, Finn indulges in the luxury around him and falls for Ogden's granddaughter (Kristen Stewart), but he soon finds that the rich can be more savage than any group in the wild.
Director
Griffin Dunne
Producer
Griffin Dunne, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter
Dirk Wittenborn
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Production Co
Lions Gate Entertainment, Lionsgate Films
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Drug Use|Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 24, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 7, 2007
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$85.4K
Runtime
1h 52m
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