Limbo

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Limbo

R

Released Jun 4, 1999

2h 6m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

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39 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

After a traumatic accident years ago that left others dead, Joe Gastineau (David Strathairn) has lived a life full of guilt, leading a solitary existence as a fisherman in Alaska. After he meets lounge singer Donna (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), he starts to fall for her and open up. However, when Joe's half brother (Casey Siemaszko) returns, asking for help, it sends Joe, Donna and her daughter, Noelle (Vanessa Martinez), on a boat ride that will change their lives.

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Globe and Mail

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 22, 2002

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Sayles has started with a domestic comedy, and led us unswervingly into the heart of darkness.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Sharply uneven, John Sayles' 12th film features many of his thematic motifs but the ambiguous ending is problematic.

Rated: C+

Jul 2, 2009

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2008

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Film Threat

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Alec B

The characters are all well written but the movie loses something in its second half (namely believability) that makes some narrative sense but is also frustrating.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

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Audience Member

I always seem to enjoy the work of David Strathairn. Interesting film, except for the type of fuzzy ending that leaves me yelling at the screen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

This movie definitely leaves the viewer in limbo, as it doesn't have the kind of ending you'd expect. I didn't mind that. That is not why I'm giving this film a low rating. I found the film boring at times. I wasn't invested in the romance between the two main characters, either. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is a very good singer and the scenes where she sings were the best in the movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well-acted though the ending of John Sayles' Alaska-set drama about a trio of its troubled inhabitants render the titular sentiment and leaves little resolution to the earlier narrative that appears to describe the attributions of the frigid U.S. state.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A rich and powerful story with well developed characters. I was the most impressed with how unpredictable it was, although not a thriller, it kept me guessing literally until the end - justifying the movie's title.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

This is the first film distributed by Screen Gems Pictures.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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John Sayles

Director

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Donna De Angelo

David Strathairn

Joe Gastineau a.k.a. Jumpin' Joe Gastineau

Vanessa Martinez

Noelle De Angelo

Kris Kristofferson

'Smilin' Jack Johannson

Casey Siemaszko

Bobby Gastineau

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Synopsis

After a traumatic accident years ago that left others dead, Joe Gastineau (David Strathairn) has lived a life full of guilt, leading a solitary existence as a fisherman in Alaska. After he meets lounge singer Donna (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), he starts to fall for her and open up. However, when Joe's half brother (Casey Siemaszko) returns, asking for help, it sends Joe, Donna and her daughter, Noelle (Vanessa Martinez), on a boat ride that will change their lives.

Director: John Sayles
Producer: Maggie Renzi
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Screen Gems
Production Co: Green/Renzi
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 4, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 2h 6m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, SDDS

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