Higher Ground 2011

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: "Higher Ground'' is a noble failure, a case of an artist loving a character so much that she loses sight of why. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: "Higher Ground" probably sounds rather somber, but Farmiga also deftly conveys the absurdity of Corinne's predicament. Every once in a while she'll let out a cackle that's just pure joy. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Higher Ground insists on the deep normality of true believers, but it also portrays their belief as a choice that seeps into mundane moments of existence. Read more

James Rocchi, MSN Movies: Even at its most clumsy, Farmiga's directorial debut makes you look forward to her next effort from behind the camera... Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: There is something remarkable - you might even say miraculous - about the way "Higher Ground" makes its gentle, thoughtful way across the burned-over terrain of the American culture wars. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: Funny and heartbreaking, this is a movie that would have made the '80s-era Jonathan Demme, attuned to American anxieties, blush with pride. Read more

David Edelstein, New York Magazine/Vulture: The movie is flushed with hope, wonder, heartbreak. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: There's a gentleness to "Higher Ground" that's very appealing; you sense a real affection for all the characters, particularly the women, and a genuine curiosity about religion as a guiding principal in one's life. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: A shapeless collection of tonally diverse moments strung together with little organizing principle beyond the protagonist's identity struggles. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: "Higher Ground" glides and takes time to explore. In the best way it feels very '70s: It's about a relatable lost soul finding herself. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: Higher Ground is one of the few open-minded Hollywood movies about Christian fundamentalism, but the mind isn't sufficiently exploratory. Read more

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: The film is a deft, graceful and often poignant story of a woman's quest to find her own identity and a spiritual sanctuary that will give her life hope and meaning. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: The same intelligence, wit and mature spirit that actress Vera Farmiga brings to her performances is richly apparent in her directorial debut as well, the inquisitive spiritual drama "Higher Ground." Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Farmiga is terrific, but her clear vision as a director and her ability to play fair with believers and skeptics alike provides the balance and insight needed to ground the film in thoughtful reality. Read more

Anthony Lane, New Yorker: The crucial thing about Higher Ground is that it takes at face value the faces, many bearded, almost all beatific, that the camera surveys -- quite an achievement, given Hollywood's woeful record in the dramatizing of faith. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: It's a movie of glances, emotions that pass between characters - which the camera, and the other characters, sometimes inconveniently notice. Read more

Jeannette Catsoulis, NPR: Corinne's journey is riveting not because she seeks the divine, but because she finds herself. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: This would be tricky territory for the most experienced director, but I can't remember the last time I saw organized religion handled in such an even-handed, thoughtful manner. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: Most contemporary movies either treat religion uncri tically or mock it outright. This promising directing debut by whip-smart actress Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air") takes another, more interesting path. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: At times, these analogies feel forced. But give the rookie filmmaker credit for visual storytelling. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: In a world where believers and agnostics are polarized and hold simplified ideas about each other, it takes a step back and sees faith as a series of choices that should be freely made. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: High praise for Vera Farmiga, a stunner of an actress, who makes her directing debut with the same bold instincts for sharp humor and harsh truths that mark her performances. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: "Higher Ground" shines a light on an important aspect of the human experience, one not often explored onscreen, and contains a number of notable performances - not the least of which is Farmiga in the central role. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: The film is ultimately a message movie about the virtue of independent thinking, offering plenty of small insights but no revelations. Read more

Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: This film might easily have settled for mocking religion. Instead, it's a fascinating glimpse into a culture that forces some people to choose between fitting in and opting out. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: The film's quiet realism demands from us our own act of faith: We're asked to watch closely and to listen intently in the promise of a greater reward to come. Well, the promise is partly kept. Read more

Leah Rozen, TheWrap: Vera Farmiga makes a heavenly debut as a director with Higher Ground, a compelling drama about a woman's spiritual journey. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: As director, Farmiga is a strong believer in cinematic democracy, allowing the other actors to seize the center of the action and the frame. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Farmiga's first film is good enough to make us look forward to her next one. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: A satirical yet sensitive portrait of life in an evangelical Christian community, Higher Ground marks a startlingly bold directing debut for actress Vera Farmiga. Read more

Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: Even with her beatific face (the actress looks like one of Parmigianino's Madonnas), Farmiga is never wholly believable as a woman shaken by a crisis of belief. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: The film is refreshingly free of proselytizing. In its place, however, is a whiff of condescension. Read more