Shelter

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Shelter

Released Nov 13, 2015

1h 45m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

48%

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23 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

A homeless Nigerian immigrant (Anthony Mackie) and a junkie (Jennifer Connelly) band together for survival on the streets of New York.

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Bilge Ebiri

Spirituality & Health

...for much of its running time, it's a sharply observed, sensitively acted, moving little film.

Mar 24, 2020

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Susan Wloszczyna

RogerEbert.com

What started as an engaging character study falls apart when the cards that Tahir and Hannah are dealt are so obviously and overtly stacked against them at every turn.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 13, 2015

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Tom Long

Detroit News

Both actors bring confused dignity and downright anguish to their roles, and if Bettany eventually begins piling the woes on a bit heavy, they make you believe that as dark as things get, they're still more than possible.

Rated: B

Nov 13, 2015

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

Bettany's film is a sincere effort to depict the extreme vulnerability of those who live without shelter, in many cases dying because they are excluded by a vicious system without any kind of social safety net.

Aug 13, 2020

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Jared Mobarak

The Film Stage

A document on our judgment of the homeless-preconceptions and ignorance towards-as well as forgiveness.

Rated: B

Feb 20, 2016

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Eddie Harrison

The List

Shelter feels like an act of penance for all involved, and Connelly's powerful performance perfectly captures the anguish of a woman rendered all but invisible by poverty.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 14, 2015

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Ohad R

This is not an easy film to watch. It has violence, sex, and drug abuse. An illegal Nigerian immigrant (Anthony Mackai), and a heroin addict (Jeniffer Connellly) fall in love on the streets of NY. They are both homeless, trying to eke out an existence between begging, street music, petty theft, and squating. As the story unfolds, we learn what life accidents brought them to this particular spot in hell. I think Jennifer Connelly’s performance is outstanding, I wish the story was not so heartbreaking. For myself, I learned how very bad it is to end up on the streets, and that, yes, it could happen to anyone.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

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Audience Member

This movie will pull you in and spit you out. In the end sadness and happiness is a thing of feeling. A bum and a dope fein (characters) It is a real eye opener to the average individual that may never look at those types of people in a heartfelt way.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

It's honest, most people don't understand how hard it actually is to be homeless, how other people treat you, how invisible you are. Most people have no idea how hard it is to be a homeless woman, and I don't know that many homeless women saw this, so I don't expect critics, who have not known hardship or poverty, to understand.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Shelter è un dramma in cui il personaggio di Anthonhy Mackie è interessante ma poco esplorato (probabilmente anche a causa di una scarsa prova dell'attore) e l'interpretazione di Jennifer Connelly è ottima, nonostante il personaggio non sia per nulla originale. Il dramma decide di fondare le sue basi sul presente dei personaggi e sui loro attori, senza andare ad indagare sulle condizioni in cui versano; alcuni passaggi sono davvero troppo affrettati ma nella totalità il film è abbastanza ben riuscito.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Very depressing but great acting! Realistic of New York City...no hope for the homeless no matter your gender, race or nationality..period. She (Jennifer) tried to better herself and succeeded but who cares? She had to become a statistic even after she was clean and thought of someone besides herself..she still was do It on by society. No wonder people do what they do to survive.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Weird and depressing. Certainly not a mood lifter

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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Paul Bettany

Director

Jennifer Connelly

Hannah

Anthony Mackie

Tahir

Amy Hargreaves

Carrie

Scott Johnsen

Terry

Alok Tewari

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Shelter: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A homeless Nigerian immigrant (Anthony Mackie) and a junkie (Jennifer Connelly) band together for survival on the streets of New York.

Director: Paul Bettany
Producer: Robert Ogden Barnum, Katie Mustard, Daniel Wagner, Paul Bettany
Screenwriter: Paul Bettany
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Bifrost Pictures, Recidivist
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 13, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 2, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

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