Somersault 2004

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: A small film, done with limited resources, but it's impressive -- and so is Cornish. Read more

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: Shortland's payoff is good and redolent of wisdom. But getting there is like sitting in a waiting room with stale magazines. Read more

G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle: Heartfelt, painful, exhilarating and, above all, truthful. Read more

Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Heavy on atmosphere but very light on plot. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: The film occasionally succumbs to preciousness, but Cornish makes for an unusually complicated Lolita, as if her hormones were waging war with her heart. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Shortland balances showing Heidi as a heartbreaking mess -- doing a jailbait dance here, impulsively swallowing a mouthful of chili peppers there -- and judging her for it. Read more

Carina Chocano, Los Angeles Times: A frank and visceral film that at the same time exudes an unexpected innocence. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: Generous and authentic. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Cornish is a marvel... Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: [Cornish] creates a character who pulls us in and makes us recoil all at once. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: This remarkable film from Australia, the debut feature of writer-director Cate Shortland, moves to the lyrical rhythms and unhurried pace of a 1970s road movie, or one of those Joni Mitchell ballads. Read more

Gene Seymour, Newsday: Director Cate Shortland's first film is as remote, sullen and mercurial as her protagonist. Read more

Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger: The movie's centerpiece is a candid, fearless performance by newcomer Abbie Cornish. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: Shortland's script takes some unnecessary turns, mostly with Joe's drinking and sexual insecurities. But as long as it's focused on Heidi's predicament, it is riveting drama. Read more

Dave Calhoun, Time Out: Shortland well deserves the awards already lavished on her back home in Australia. Read more

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Russell Edwards, Variety: Shortland appears to have a great fascination with objects like pine needles and gas jets, but the pic's visual flourishes tend to be distracting in their restless artiness. Read more

Melissa Levine, Village Voice: Somersault's dreamy, sexy, rather chilly style captures Heidi's attempt to escape her past, to build something new atop the rubble of what came before, and ultimately to hide it. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Reflects surprisingly assured filmmaking sensibilities, especially when it comes to portraying the foibles and preoccupations of young women at loose ends. Read more