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The Free World

Play trailer 2:09 Poster for The Free World R Released Sep 23, 2016 1h 40m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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53% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, a man (Boyd Holbrook) goes on the run with a woman (Elisabeth Moss) who's suspected of killing her abusive husband.
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The Free World

Critics Reviews

View All (19) Critics Reviews
Matthew Lickona San Diego Reader While the religious stuff is clearly set forth, it's easy to overlook, given the abundant humanity radiated by the leads, the hothouse atmosphere of the murder investigation that threatens them, and the explosion of violence that forces the issue. Rated: 3/5 Oct 27, 2016 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen Los Angeles Times Despite the drama's questionable, abrupt shift into B-thriller territory, its leads remain affectingly rooted. Sep 29, 2016 Full Review Nick Allen RogerEbert.com Dog metaphors prove to be only one of Jason Lew's problems, as his debut The Free World is riddled with more than a few unfortunate directorial choices. Rated: 1.5/4 Sep 23, 2016 Full Review Jason Best What's On TV First-time writer-director Jason Lew is heavy handed with his use of symbolism... But the two stars somehow make their overwrought characters work - and earn our sympathy to boot. Rated: 3/5 Dec 20, 2020 Full Review Travis Hopson Punch Drunk Critics What begins as a quiet, character-driven story of one man trying to break free from the shackles of his past flips the switch into gritty, down 'n dirty action thriller... Rated: 3/5 Sep 23, 2016 Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film While his narrative is over-written, Lew has an unfussy and measured directing style that offers promise. Rated: 3/5 Aug 7, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I really love this movie and don't understand why it doesn't get better reviews. After watching it the first time, I went back to the beginning and watched it all the way through again - something I have never done before! The acting is understated and sincere, the love story is tender with some moments of subtle intimacy and genuine emotion. It is a slow burner with not much dialogue, something I personally enjoy. The soundtrack is perfect. Without wanting to give too much away, the plot slightly falls apart towards the end but you can pretty much work out what is supposed to have happened and it's incidental if you just focus on the emotional plot and how a relationship develops and strengthens. My only complaint is it's quite hard to understand the dialogue at times when the main character quietly mumbles. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The Free World starts with a fairly original idea of an innocent ex-con and a battered woman finding solace in each other. But in an attempt to escape, the plot derails and it comes to a jail-cell ending. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Already being a huge fan of Moss & Octavia this film definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.. This movie has a little bit of everything including romance, drama, and violence. There's a lot of twists & turns. Definitely bought this after renting it. It is a MUST see film Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/21 Full Review chris n Well made but it panders to too many modern American social issues that never get any traction or closure. So who cares? Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Yet another white guy who converts to the Religion of Peace-Islam...forget all that messy violence that Islamists cause and support Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Frances H Powerfully poignant indie about two innocent people who are as trapped by circumstances as the dogs for whom Mo cares. Is Mo really in the Free World? Or is he still trapped, sleeping in his closet, working in the fenced in shelter with the captive dogs, hemmed in by police who hound him constantly? Doris is trapped also in an abusive marriage, beaten like the dog her husband drops off at the shelter to be killed. The two find each other as they try to escape, but the free world is kind to neither. All around them are those who only want to incarcerate them again. Can they ever really exist in The Free World, or is freedom only an illusion from which neither can escape? Beautifully acted and directed, with a moving story to tell. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/08/17 Full Review Read all reviews
The Free World

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, a man (Boyd Holbrook) goes on the run with a woman (Elisabeth Moss) who's suspected of killing her abusive husband.
Director
Jason Lew
Producer
Laura Rister
Screenwriter
Jason Lew
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Untitled Entertainment, Great Point Media
Rating
R (Some Violence and Language)
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 23, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 40m
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