What Maisie Knew

R

Released May 3, 2013

1 hr. 38 min.

Drama

List

86%

111 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.

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Critics Consensus

It's undeniably difficult to watch at times, but What Maisie Knew ultimately rises on the strength of its solidly sourced script, powerful performances, and empathetic direction.

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Lee C

Incredible acting by everyone. One of the best movies I've ever watched and I'm 81 years old. As far as I'm concerned if this movie does not "get to you" you'd wanna take a real good look at yourself.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/24

Full Review

Jamie V

Can't understand why this wasn't a more well known movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/23

Full Review

Kandise L

I was surprised by the "all star" cast.. Great acting, The reality of many young children, I am afraid..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

isla s

I liked this film as it did well at showing things from the childs point of view. Of course the subject of child custody battles is far from new ground in terms of Hollywood films but I felt the subject was handled very well and the young girl, Maisie, played by Onata Aprile, gave a compelling performance. She really did seem genuinely confused/upset and tired by the various twists and turns of the plot. The parents do seem rather petty and I felt very sorry for Maisie. I'd recommend this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite multiple layers of cliché, the film is quite touching and escapes the corniness through good performances. I liked it more than I would expect.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/06/22

Full Review

colin m

The early years of Maisie Beale. A great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Scott McGehee

Director

David Siegel

Director

Julianne Moore

Susanna

Alexander Skarsgård

Lincoln

Onata Aprile

Maisie

Joanna Vanderham

Margo

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

I don't know where the directors (Scott McGehee and David Siegel) discovered Miss Aprile, or how they elicited her performance but, my God, she knocks it out the court. Over and over.

Sep 5, 2018

Full Review

Philip Horne

Sight & Sound

Soft-centred and bland though it is as a version of [Henry] James, the McGehee-Siegel What Maisie Knew is worth seeing for the performances.

Jul 31, 2018

Full Review

Emma Myers

Film Comment Magazine

Scott McGehee and David Siegel's adaptation commendably preserves the book's child perspective even if it doesn't quite match the characteristically dark shades of the author's moral fare.

Nov 4, 2013

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The performance from newcomer Onata Aprile is astounding precisely because it's not astounding.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 27, 2020

Full Review

David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

The directing duo of Scott McGehee and David Siegel may have finally found their masterpiece in this deft update of Henry James' Victorian-era novel...

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

A tough, rewarding study of emotional neglect that plays the emotions like a grand piano.

May 12, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.

Director: Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Executive Producer: Stephen Hays, Todd J. Labarowski, Anne O'Shea, Eva Maria Daniels, Peter Fruchtman, Jennifer Roth, Marissa McMahon, Todd Traina, Riva Marker
Screenwriter: Nancy Doyne, Carroll Cartwright
Distributor: Millennium Entertainment
Production Co: 10th Hole Productions, Filmax, Weinstock Productions, Red Crown Productions
Rating: R (Some Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 3, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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