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Stealing Beauty

Play trailer Poster for Stealing Beauty R Released Jun 14, 1996 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When she was 15, pretty but callow Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler) visited the Tuscan town where her mother once enchanted the local male population. Four years later, in the wake of her mother's suicide, Lucy returns to the village. She plans to write some poetry, learn more about her family history and reunite with a boy she once kissed. Surveying an expansive field of suitors, Lucy finds herself taken with unattainable Alex (Jeremy Irons), as her journey imparts some unexpected lessons about love.
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Stealing Beauty

Critics Reviews

View All (52) Critics Reviews
Peter Rainer Los Angeles Magazine Stealing Beauty would be an odd elixir coming from most directors; from Bernardo Bertolucci, it’s almost perverse. And yet it’s consistent with the central nostalgia in his movies. Aug 9, 2022 Full Review Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Very pretty, and very creepy. Dec 12, 2018 Full Review Anne Billson Daily Telegraph (UK) Is there not something a little disturbing about the way in which ageing male film-makers are applauded for their ogling of actresses young enough to be their granddaughters? Nov 22, 2017 Full Review Michael Atkinson Spin Bertolucci's florid, rather sophomoric notions of decadent eroticism and parabohemian lifestyles are delivered in elliptical, inconclusive fiction-workshop parcels. Oct 25, 2019 Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media Meditation on sex, life, death; older teens only. Rated: 4/5 Jan 2, 2011 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 4/5 Dec 14, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (753) audience reviews
G S Visually, it's very nice to look at. The premise is interesting but in my view, executed poorly so it just didn't land with me. It's a shame because all the elements were there. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/03/24 Full Review Steve D Unconfirmable but its cast is really good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review nina This movie is an aestethic masterpiece, but i found the dominating "male gaze" quite disruptive. A bunch of 50+ year old men lusting after a 19 year old and everyone else just accepting it. I found this aspect in other Bertolucci movies as well so it might be normal. Again, cinematic work of art but still kind of gross. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member I love this movie for his beautiful landscapes, lovely story, cativating characters, for it's amazing atmosphere and specially because of it's soundtrack which I think is the best. Because of this movie I got the opportunity to know Liz Phair, Charlie Haden, I had the pleasure to know more about Cocteau Twins (a movie with a Cocteau Twins song it deserve an oscar), Hooverphonic, Portishead, Billie Holliday, Mozart, John Lee Hooker, Chet Baker !!! I really got the soundtrack of this movie for my own life !!! I watch this movie from time to time when I want to unplug from the daily issues like I listen those songs until these days. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member The director of 'The Last Emperor' Bernardo Bertolucci presents one of Liv Tyler's earliest outings Liv Tyler, Jeremy Irons, and Rachel Weisz Lucy Harmon fell in love when she was 15 years old Her mother then committed suicide so now at 19 Lucy decides to go back to Italy But she's there for more than to pose for a painting; she's hoping to reconnect with her past and find her lot in life She begins to affect the lives of others around her including Alex, an English writer who's suffering from an unknown disease This is officially Liv Tyler's first leading role and she carries the whole thing It's just that everything else seems pretty lackluster You'd think there would be more hard hitting drama but it never goes that route The scenery is breathtaking but none of these other players are as compelling It's way too long making the whole thing virtually plotless Hour and a half might've done it more justice and some actual melodrama thrown in for good measure Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member It is very much European in its sensibilities, but full of rich characters, and is wonderfully paced. And very, very sensual. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Stealing Beauty

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Movie Info

Synopsis When she was 15, pretty but callow Lucy Harmon (Liv Tyler) visited the Tuscan town where her mother once enchanted the local male population. Four years later, in the wake of her mother's suicide, Lucy returns to the village. She plans to write some poetry, learn more about her family history and reunite with a boy she once kissed. Surveying an expansive field of suitors, Lucy finds herself taken with unattainable Alex (Jeremy Irons), as her journey imparts some unexpected lessons about love.
Director
Bernardo Bertolucci
Producer
Jeremy Thomas
Screenwriter
Bernardo Bertolucci, Susan Minot
Distributor
Fox
Production Co
Jeremy Thomas Production
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 14, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.6M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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