The Dressmaker

R

Released Sep 23, 2016

1 hr. 53 min.

Comedy

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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List

59%

144 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Accused of murder when she was a child, a dressmaker (Kate Winslet) returns to her small Australian town to seek revenge on the locals who did her wrong.

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Critics Consensus

The Dressmaker boasts a strong central performance by Kate Winslet and a captivating array of narrative weirdness -- all of which may or may not be a comfortable fit with viewers.

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Audience Member

So frustrating. This could have been a great film but it just wasn’t at all.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

bao s

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I almost wish it could be a series. It's very reminiscent of Lynch's Twin Peaks. Wonderful characters, but kind of a weak plot. Still, a great watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

Yoshi G

So disappointed with several critic reviews giving it a low rating simply because of "tonal inconsistencies," as if there should only be a single tone throughout a whole movie. Tilly's life isn't single-toned (no one's is) so why should her story be? I find that to be a pretty narrow minded thought process. I really enjoyed this movie. I suppose you have to be someone who can understand and appreciate dark humor and that drama and comedy can live in the same space. Yes, some of the scenes and characters were hyperbolic and almost self-aware but it was done in a purposeful manner with sarcasm. Kate did so well at conveying every emotion on her rollercoaster of an experience after returning to her hometown. I loved Hugo Weaving and his fervent obsession with textiles and fabrics -- not too dissimilar to his character in one of my favorite movies "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." I feel that these two movies share a vibe, unafraid of quickly switching between silly, sad, and dark. I just so happened to turn this movie on while flipping through Prime one night and was pleasantly surprised. So glad I did! I only wish more people could set aside their rigid ideas of tonality and enjoy the movie for what it is.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Interesting fare from Down Under. A pretty good try at comedy and drama. A bit too long with years of ground to cover. But over all, I really liked it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/24/23

Full Review

Celina F

As soon as this movie ended, I said aloud, "what a strange movie." Set in rural Australia in the mid-20th century, Kate Winslet is beautiful as ever, giving an understated performance as a Parisian fashion designer against a backdrop of more eccentric characters, including a fantastic Judy Davis, who plays her mother. A redemption tale about memory, regret, love, and love lost, this movie almost felt like it would move into magical realism territory at times, but never quite made it there. The costumes were outstanding and not to be missed, and Liam Hemsworth was quite nice to look at as a rogue-ish and charming love interest. I was entertained throughout and never felt a lull in the plot. Overall, I'd recommend this quirky flick if you're looking for something different than your run-of-the-mill fare.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/21/23

Full Review

George C

The worst film I have ever watched. What is the point of it?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/23

Full Review

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Jocelyn Moorhouse

Director

Kate Winslet

Myrtle "Tilly" Dunnage

Judy Davis

Molly Dunnage

Liam Hemsworth

Teddy McSwiney

Hugo Weaving

Sergeant Farrat

Sarah Snook

Gertrude Pratt

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The Dressmaker: US Release Trailer

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Moorhouse's willingness to push the envelope and dive into the darkest aspects of the tale with such macabre relish allows the emotions swirling within this maelstrom to resonate all the deeper.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 7, 2016

Full Review

Adam Graham

Detroit News

There's plenty to admire here, especially if your taste is tailored to the unusual.

Rated: B

Sep 30, 2016

Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

The Dressmaker's twists are best experienced blind, and its treats are modest but genuine.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 29, 2016

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Not all of the fits and starts of many, many dalliances of the film end up working, but the presence of Oscar winner Kate Winslet demands attention.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 7, 2024

Full Review

Brian T. Carney

Washington Blade

A delightful feminist take on the spaghetti Western.

Dec 21, 2022

Full Review

Merryn Johns

Curve

The Dressmaker is recommended for those who enjoy a female tour de force and the unexpected visual pleasure of cinema cut from different cloth than standard Hollywood issue.

May 20, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Accused of murder when she was a child, a dressmaker (Kate Winslet) returns to her small Australian town to seek revenge on the locals who did her wrong.

Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Executive Producer: Gavin Poolman, Michael Shyjka, Tim Haslam, Hugo Grumbar, Ian Kirk, Roger Savage, Karl Engeler, Greg Sitch, Fred Gaines, P.J. Hogan, Daryl Dellora
Screenwriter: Jocelyn Moorhouse, P.J. Hogan
Distributor: Amazon Studios, Broad Green Pictures
Production Co: Embankment Films, Screen Australia, Film Art Media, Ingenious Senior Film Fund, White Hot Productions
Rating: R (Brief Language|A Scene of Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English (Australia)
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 23, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M

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