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Old Joy

Play trailer Poster for Old Joy Released Jan 20, 2006 1h 16m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 94 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Soon to be a father, Mark (Daniel London) feels the pressure of domestic responsibility closing in, so he is more than happy to accept when his old friend Kurt (Will Oldham) proposes a camping trip in the Oregon wilderness. During their time together, the men come to grips with the changes in their lives and the effect on their relationship.
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Old Joy

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Critics Consensus

A serene, melancholy beauty permeates this meditative portrait of deep friendship and faded glory.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve Murray Atlanta Journal-Constitution Old Joy may be built around a road trip, but it's also a movie about two roads -- and two souls -- diverging. Rated: B Mar 15, 2007 Full Review Lisa Kennedy Denver Post Subdued, artistic, with beautifully nuanced performances that are as true as they are often elusive of commercial triumph. Rated: 3/4 Mar 9, 2007 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard You would be perfectly at liberty to find it boring and empty, but also to understand the tiny resonances that have made it one of the best reviewed films of 2006 in America. Somehow it does strike home. Rated: 3/5 Jan 26, 2007 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review It's an achingly sensitive film about two men quietly suffering in their own way, yet each of them struggles to acknowledge the full extent of their yearning. Rated: 4/4 Feb 22, 2022 Full Review Piers Marchant Arkansas Democrat-Gazette There are a lot of turning wheels and delicately moving dial adjustments going on underneath the frontal action creating a finely tuned, impressively understated narrative. Nov 13, 2020 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture More than just an investigation of a friendship past its expiration date, Old Joy is a quiet study of masculinity. Sep 8, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Laura S So boring, I stopped watching. No talent actors. Trite script. No surprise I've never heard of any of you. Mt Lebanon, PA. You could do better working at Hershey Park. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/28/24 Full Review Thomas L Slow paced and nuanced, two old friends, one a free spirit with little direction or responsibility and the other who is busy with impending responsibilities, take a camping trip, and reconnect. Mesemerizing. Watching this little gem again 18 years later, and it makes you remember your younger self, when life when it was a little more simple, life was less diviseve and there were places to get away from it all. Now it is just scary out there. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/24 Full Review Sal D Old school relationship type film that embraces a very mellow, relaxing vibe. While I cannot recite the specifics of then two characters other than one being a hippie type and the other a more straight laced, soon to be Dad, not much more is needed to enjoy this film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/27/24 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 16 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!! Featuring a cross-country trek across the United States of America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/23 Full Review Ravenswood R More is implied than shown or told. Two late-twenties age guys who were closer friends when younger and seemingly have not spent much time together recently get together and don't have much to talk about. Exciting? No. Interesting? Yes. A straightforward look at an aspect of real life that we all go through at that age. True to life, and basically an objective look at one of life's many forks in the road. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/28/23 Full Review isla s This is a sort of a contemplative nature retreat film (rather than a road trip film), focussing on two male friends being somewhat philosophical while taking in the countryside. Its another light and subtle film by Kelly Reichardt and I thought it was quite relaxing to watch, with the sounds of nature in the background (waterfalls, birds etc.). It has an aimlessness about it which I found quite pleasing, so I don't mean that in a bad way. For example, I liked the camerawork showing the sort of 'open (country and urban) road' driving the men do near the start and end of the film. Its got a soothing quality to it. Its also got some melodic instrumental music played quietly at times. The plot did seem a little weak and its perhaps not entirely memorable but its certainly worth seeing regardless, I'd say. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Soon to be a father, Mark (Daniel London) feels the pressure of domestic responsibility closing in, so he is more than happy to accept when his old friend Kurt (Will Oldham) proposes a camping trip in the Oregon wilderness. During their time together, the men come to grips with the changes in their lives and the effect on their relationship.
Director
Kelly Reichardt
Producer
Lars Knudsen, Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani, Jay Van Hoy
Screenwriter
Kelly Reichardt, Jonathan Raymond
Production Co
Film Science, Washingston Square Films, Van Hoy/Knudsen Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 20, 2006, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$255.4K
Runtime
1h 16m
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