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Under Heaven

Play trailer Under Heaven R 1998 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.

Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety 08/31/2006
D
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). Go to Full Review Ruthe Stein San Francisco Chronicle 01/01/2000
2/4
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. Go to Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid 10/24/2008
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. Go to Full Review Susan Tavernetti Palo Alto Weekly 05/20/2003
3/4
Mike DeWolfe Apollo Guide 10/30/2001
77/100
Barbara Shulgasser San Francisco Examiner 01/01/2000
Richman's script and direction are sorely devoid of vitality, which a story this emotionally and sexually convoluted must have to work. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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04/12/2013 Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck. See more 05/07/2009 Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck. See more 11/10/2007 Even the amazing Molly Parker can't save this dreck. See more walter m @Harlequin68 08/07/2006 [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] See more Read all reviews
Under Heaven

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Cast & Crew

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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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Under Heaven

Under Heaven (1998) View more photos

Movie Info

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