A Long Way Down 2014

Jason Clark, Entertainment Weekly: The movie criminally wastes Sam Neill and Rosamund Pike in barely there supporting roles, and the picture has exactly two tones: grim and gooey. They do not coexist harmoniously. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: "A Long Way Down" may prove uniquely inspirational: It's bound to make audience members want to kill themselves. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: Does everything but bring in Bozo the Clown to make suicide no more serious than what to wear to the junior prom. Read more

Peter Debruge, Variety: Four characters meet while planning to commit suicide and decide to annoy one another instead in this tacky Nick Hornby adaptation. Read more

Mike D'Angelo, AV Club: It presents four people who no longer care to exist, then fails to make a strong case for why their continued existence is necessary or desirable. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: Tackles the topic of life-ending despair with all the delicacy and grace of a Hallmark greeting card. Read more

Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter: A horrible misfire of a movie which starts off badly and just keeps getting worse. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: There's not much meat here - just a slightly smart setup without any followthrough. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Awkward and atonal. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: [An] inane, preposterous and stupefying film ... Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Whatever the intent of the filmmakers, a story that hinges on existential despair requires at least a modicum of emotional credulity. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: As British comedy sometimes will, "A Long Way Down" has an occasional attack of the cutes, but the actors' commitment keeps the movie on the plus side. Read more

Cath Clarke, Time Out: It's hard to care about these characters. And the film lacks that slip-into-a-Slanket cosy feel you want from Hornby. Read more

Keith Uhlich, Time Out: Everything that transpires onscreen feels wholly inauthentic and calculated for maximum treacle. Read more

Serena Donadoni, Village Voice: Author Nick Hornby establishes a tone of sentimental black humor, and director Pascal Chaumeil orchestrates the encounter as the formation of rag-tag band where each player gets a stirring solo number. Read more