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God's Pocket

Play trailer Poster for God's Pocket R Released May 9, 2014 1h 28m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
36% Tomatometer 97 Reviews 34% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A boozy lowlife (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to bury the truth about his crazy stepson's suspicious death, but a nosy newspaper columnist (Richard Jenkins) and the young man's mother complicate matters.

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God's Pocket

God's Pocket

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Critics Consensus

Well-cast but frustratingly clichéd, God's Pocket fails to strike a sensible balance between comedy and drama.

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Critics Reviews

View All (97) Critics Reviews
Jason Bailey Flavorwire Slattery shows real promise as a director, guiding his actors with ease and effectively evoking a very specific time and place. Jun 18, 2016 Full Review Jonathan Romney Observer (UK) The film skates unevenly between spit-and-sawdust realism, mean-streets crime anecdote and queasy black comedy, but it's never boring. Rated: 3/5 Aug 10, 2014 Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times Everyone gets at least one good scene, but the cumulative effect of all these rampaging tragedies and outbreaks of black comedy is ultimately rather exhausting. Rated: 3/5 Aug 8, 2014 Full Review Robert Sims Lights Camera Austin While the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman finds mild humor in his smalltime criminal's lethargic efforts to appease his grieving wife, first-time director John Slattery is unable to consistently maintain the tragicomic tone he strives for. Jan 22, 2022 Full Review Dan Brightmore NME (New Musical Express) Those looking for one last great Hoffman piece won't find it here. Rated: 2.5/5 May 26, 2021 Full Review Jonah Koslofsky The Spool This might sound harsh, but God's Pocket is a movie that has no business existing. Apr 13, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (134) audience reviews
Stewart E What surprised me most about this movie is how much I enjoyed it, despite its overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics and audiences. It’s not often you find a film that divides people so deeply, but I think I understand why. The biggest reason people might not like this movie is that it doesn’t feel like anything else. There’s no easy comparison or clear genre to place it in. We’re so used to watching movies that follow familiar patterns—stories, tones, or styles that remind us of something we’ve seen before. This film doesn’t offer that. It’s entirely unique, which can feel disorienting if you’re expecting something more conventional. Even now, I’m not sure if I watched a drama or a comedy—or some strange combination of both. But what I do know is that it held my attention from beginning to end, which doesn’t happen often for me. Another reason people might reject this movie is its aesthetic. It’s unapologetically harsh. The characters, buildings, rooms, and even the colors are abrasive and unpleasant to look at. The only exception is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s wife, whose presence and appearance feel like a rare softness amidst all the grit. That contrast makes her stand out even more. The harsh visuals might repel some viewers, making it hard for them to connect with the story. But for me, the raw ugliness of the film felt intentional. If you can embrace the grittiness and let go of any expectations about how a movie should look or feel, there’s something compelling here. This film challenges you to meet it on its own terms. It’s not easy or polished, but it’s deeply memorable. If you approach it with an open mind and resist the urge to compare it to anything else, you might just find yourself appreciating it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/25 Full Review john T Dare I say this Hoffman was the better actor Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Uynga U i'm watching this witch pure joy Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Bahad j The idea behind this movie moved me a lot, but it was a movie with really satisfying expectations Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/24 Full Review Elizabeth D Wish i had watched this sooner - superb, thoughtful direction and scripting. The attention to detail is pure joy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Jelisije J You ever get a movie where the side characters and their side stories are a lot more interesting then the main characters in the main plot of the film? Well if not then there is this film. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/24 Full Review Read all reviews
God's Pocket

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Movie Info

Synopsis A boozy lowlife (Philip Seymour Hoffman) tries to bury the truth about his crazy stepson's suspicious death, but a nosy newspaper columnist (Richard Jenkins) and the young man's mother complicate matters.
Director
John Slattery
Producer
Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Brisbee, Lance Acord, John Slattery, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emily Ziff
Screenwriter
John Slattery, Alex Metcalf
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Park Pictures, Cooper's Town
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Language Throughout|Violence)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$104.4K
Runtime
1h 28m
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