Under Heaven

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Under Heaven

R

1998

1h 52m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Cynthia (Molly Parker) is tired of a relationship with love but no money, so she looks for work to support herself and her ne'er-do-well lover, Buck (Aden Young). She gets a job caring for cancer sufferer Eleanor (Joely Richardson), and begins to think the ill woman is in need of a lover. She then enlists Buck to seduce her, hoping that he will end up in her will and their financial problems will come to an end. What she doesn't expect is the jealousy she feels about the affair she created.

Emanuel Levy

Variety

One of the worst films at Sundance, Richman's update of Henry James' novel Wings of the Dove, is marred by obvious text, shallow motivations, and pat ending; beware the romantic meller is aka Under Heaven (where it should have stayed).

Rated: D

Aug 31, 2006

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Ruthe Stein

San Francisco Chronicle

Richman, who started out as an abstract painter, is a strongly visual filmmaker... Too bad Richman can't bring the same richness to the script.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

I found it uninspiring. I couldn't get a handle on Young's character, who at times seems to be a dumb slab of meat, and at other times is reciting poetry.

Oct 24, 2008

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Susan Tavernetti

Palo Alto Weekly

Rated: 3/4

May 20, 2003

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Mike DeWolfe

Apollo Guide

Rated: 77/100

Oct 30, 2001

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Barbara Shulgasser

San Francisco Examiner

Richman's script and direction are sorely devoid of vitality, which a story this emotionally and sexually convoluted must have to work.

Jan 1, 2000

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Audience Member

Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

walter m

[font=Century Gothic]"In the Shadows" begins with Cynthia(Molly Parker) finally having had it with her boyfriend Buck's(Aden Young) drinking and drug use and walks out on him. After losing her waitressing job, Cynthia goes to work as an aide for Eleanor(Joely Richardson), a wealthy and lonely young woman who is dying of cancer. Soon after, Cynthia comes across Buck living on the streets and gets him a job as a gardener for Eleanor but introduces him as her half-brother. Cynthia hatches up a scheme where Buck is to seduce Eleanor in order to inherit her money...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"In the Shadows" is a not quite predictable movie that ably balances between being cynical and maudlin. The excellent performances of Parker and Richardson raise the film above the routine.[/font]

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Meg Richman

Director

Joely Richardson

Eleanor Dunston

Aden Young

Buck

Molly Parker

Cynthia

Kevin Phillip

John

Krisha Fairchild

Cynthia's Mother

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Synopsis

Cynthia (Molly Parker) is tired of a relationship with love but no money, so she looks for work to support herself and her ne'er-do-well lover, Buck (Aden Young). She gets a job caring for cancer sufferer Eleanor (Joely Richardson), and begins to think the ill woman is in need of a lover. She then enlists Buck to seduce her, hoping that he will end up in her will and their financial problems will come to an end. What she doesn't expect is the jealousy she feels about the affair she created.

Director: Meg Richman
Producer: Robin Schorr, Brian Swardstrom, Mickey Liddell
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround