The Forty-Year-Old Version

R

2020

2h 3m

Comedy

Drama

Music

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List

99%

135 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she's left with no choice but to reinvent herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater on a quest to find her true voice.

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Critics Consensus

The Forty-Year-Old Version opens a compelling window into the ebbs and flows of the artist's life -- and announces writer-director-star Radha Blank as a major filmmaking talent with her feature debut.

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Michael D

If you liked: Birdman "The Forty-Year-Old Version" is a 2020 black-and-white dramedy about the mid-life crisis and artistic struggles of an African-American playwrite, Rhada Blank. This is her actual name, she is the lead actress, director and scriptwriter; and the film is a dramatized version of her own experiences to achieve artistic fulfillment. The whole time as I am writing this I feel that I am not qualified or informed enough to do so; but it is a film I want to share, so go easy on me. Rhada is approaching forty, it's been 10 years since she wrote anything that has been recognized (or paid her rent), and her mother passed about a month ago; all this goes on to fuel her insecurity and doubt about her life-accomplishments and her future. This crisis pushes her to explore new possibilities, as she decides to try herself out as a rapper, simultaneously signing a contract to write a "Hollywood-friendly" Harlem play. Now, the plot sounds a bit boring and ridiculous, and it is ridiculous but not boring. First of all, it's a hilarious sarcastic comedy. It even seemed a little pretentious at the very beginning because of the amount of sarcasm, but you quickly pick up on it and laugh your booty out for the rest of the film. The amount of sarcasm is so overwhelming, it almost seems like a parody of a comedy if that makes sense, which gives the film it's very own style. The dramatic messages are also quite powerful; it's the first time I recognized the rude, raw, cruel self-reproach in somebody's rap lyrics which made sense; spitting harsh truths as you call it. Her play is being heavily edited, and she obviously doesn't like both this and herself, for allowing such a thing. She is torn between feeling like a complete artistic pushover without a real voice, and justifying it as simple "survival" during hard times. All that mixed emotion is mirrored in her music. This movie doesn't follow the usual narrative of suddenly experiencing great success against all odds. It is more interested in the little details and is all the better for it. The message is clear: don't be conformist to what anyone thinks true or write. Say only what you know is true. One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world. Find your own vision. Fill your own void. Find your own voice. I recommend this to anyone who has some kind of artistic aspiration, and to anyone that wants to broaden their film outlook.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Corey W

Honest acting and razor-sharp writing position relative newcomer Radha Blank toward stardom.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

phil v

Loved, loved, loved. Laughed out loud in places, which is very rare for me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie is amazing. If you have the feeling that you are doing with your life, the exact opposite of what you think you should do, do not hesitate, this is your movie. It will help you to have compassion for your fragility, and at the same time it will give you strength to return to the path you like.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I very much enjoyed this movie. I thought I might not like it that much, since I have not liked rap music that much. But this movie helped me see that rap can be an authentic means of self-expression for women, especially minority women. This movie is beautifully written and acted by its star. This is her first movie, and I hope to see her in many more!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I don't know why NY is revamping Sex in its City, when the answer to everything everyone is searching for is here: Radha. The Writer/Director/Star of this film is Radha. Remember her name? Radha. Have you gone Blank? That's her last name...Blank. Radha Radha Radha Blank. Amazing film that should be seen and not described, though the "Puberty Porn" Rap? Holy Crap, Radha. When "Harlem Ave" opens? I lost it. Watch this film to its end and you will be rewarded, and I can't help think what Lin-Manuel Miranda might think of the whole bit? Beautiful performances by the whole cast, and the music is fantastic. Oswin Benjamin as Radha's love interest is so smooth and gorgeous you'll be cheering for Radha to get it (and she does). I loved this film so much. Thank you Radha for making it. I hope Google fixes its SEO so when I type your film's name it doesn't take me to the Virgin next time, even though Google knows I typed in VERSION...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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Radha Blank

Director

Welker White

Julie

Reed Birney

Josh Whitman

Radha Blank

Radha

Peter Kim

Archie

Jacob Ming-Trent

Lamont

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Fresh First: The Forty-Year-Old Version

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The 40-Year-Old Version: Trailer 1

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Violet Lucca

Sight & Sound

The Forty-Year-Old Version paints a loving portrait of parts of New York City that aren't represented with such care, if at all, in narrative films of this scale.

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Robert Daniels

Polygon

Everything about The Forty-Year-Old Version feels fresh.

Feb 12, 2021

Full Review

Soraya Nadia McDonald

Andscape

The Forty-Year-Old Version offers a refreshing, unpretentious and often hilarious take on middle-aged Black womanhood.

Jan 20, 2021

Full Review

Brett Doze

InSession Film

Radha Blank very well might be the entertainer of the year in my book, based on everything she does in this film.

May 2, 2023

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Blank’s film is a fearless, razor-sharp comedy about keeping the gentrification out of art.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 3, 2022

Full Review

Dan Bayer

Next Best Picture

A bravura debut, one that will hopefully lead to more opportunities for its multi-talented creator.

Rated: 8/10

May 13, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Radha, a down-on-her-luck NY playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she's left with no choice but to reinvent herself as rapper RadhaMUSPrime. The Forty-Year-Old Version follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of Hip Hop and theater on a quest to find her true voice.

Director: Radha Blank
Screenwriter: Radha Blank
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Hillman Grad
Rating: R (Some Drug Use|Brief Nudity|Sexual Content|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2020
Runtime: 2h 3m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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