Suffragette 2015

Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press: In Suffragette, which without [Mulligan] would be a far, far less compelling movie, she doesn't merely entertain us with her skill. She brings to vibrant life an important part of our global history that's easy to forget. Read more

Sara Stewart, New York Post: Despite Mulligan bringing her A-game, the film falls short of its potential. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: As a period piece, Suffragette captures and preserves the pulse and passion of a past era, yet strengthens the vibrant urgency of a cause that continues to inform the future. Read more

John Anderson, TIME Magazine: Yes, such things happened. Gavron's touch, though, renders them melodramatic. Read more

Justin Chang, Variety: A picture whose politics prove rather more commendable than its artistry. Read more

Jesse Hassenger, AV Club: It depicts an important movement that remains relevant today as a historical obligation of a movie, dutiful and often surprisingly dull. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: Suffragette, like Maud, is modest in scope and ambition, and is more emotionally affecting for it. Read more

Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader: This period drama shows how awful it was to be a working-class woman at that time... [but] scenes dramatizing the political organizing and protests are less effective, bogged down by pedantic dialogue and historical generalizations. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: [Mulligan is] a fiercely intelligent performer, and that suits her here. She gives some human weight to Maud's big moments, especially when they veer dangerously close to hokum. Read more

Adam Graham, Detroit News: "Suffragette" is a meaningful history lesson, but as a movie, it plays like a slog through history class. Read more

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly: It's a shame that, despite some excellent performances, this urgent, well-intentioned film feels so conventional and stolid. Read more

Stephen Farber, Hollywood Reporter: A rousing, relevant slice of feminist history. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Though ably acted and indisputably on the side of the angels, "Suffragette" as directed by Sarah Gavron is more dead-on earnest and schematic than it needs to be. Read more

Karen D'Souza, San Jose Mercury News: "Suffragette" urges us to look at the dynamics of gender, class and power then and now with fresh eyes. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: Suffragette occasionally turns hard truths into platitudes. But the story is inspiring, buoyed by a fine cast, a pointed, important examination of the price paid for a shot at equality. Read more

Rafer Guzman, Newsday: An intriguing premise dampened by thin characters and a formulaic story. Read more

Richard Brody, New Yorker: The script, by Abi Morgan, filters out the contextual complexities of politics, and Sarah Gavron's direction reduces difficult situations to simple sentiments. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: In minimizing the usual scenes that fill this sort of film - terribly awkward breakfasts at the country house, men wagging their chinwhiskers at each other - Gavron finds room for others. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Stirring and cleareyed - the best kind of history lesson. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: If we now take a woman's right to vote and to hold public office for granted, Suffragette reminds us that it wasn't that long ago when things were different. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: From a historical perspective, Suffragette is riddled with inaccuracies, but that's less of a problem than its questionable dramatic arc. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: In a sea of Hollywood escapism, Suffragette -- flaws and all -- is a movie that matters. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: Gavron splits the difference between didactic history lesson and "relatable" storytelling without quite reaching either goal. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: It's always compelling; you feel grateful, watching, that this story is being told at all. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: It's a movie that's easier to respect than love, but it is something to respect. Read more

Kristin Tillotson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Mulligan, in particular, delivers, bringing believability to a role that's quite a stretch, given the transformation her character has to go through from workaday mum to first-wave feminist superhero. Read more

Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Morgan's writing is occasionally pedestrian, but the sweep of the story, the performances and Gavron's vision make up for it. Read more

Julia Cooper, Globe and Mail: Mulligan's performance, coupled with a solid script by Abi Morgan, shows us just how much is at stake when a woman decides to wage war. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Suffragette has the power to shock even those familiar with the early days of the feminist movement it dramatizes. Read more

Inkoo Kang, TheWrap: "Suffragette" derives its considerable intellectual and emotional might from recognizing the symbolic nature of the vote. ... That practical view makes the [film] not just an urgent history lesson but also a perceptive human drama. Read more

Sasha Stone, TheWrap: The supporting cast, including Helena Bonham Carter, Romola Garai and Anne-Marie Duff, are all top notch, and a reminder of how few films like this exist anywhere. Read more

Cath Clarke, Time Out: It's a tremendous, awards-worthy performance from Carey Mulligan. Read more

Liz Braun, Toronto Sun: Suffragette is easy to look at, populated by strong actors who move through a world furnished with lovely period detail, but it feels hollow at the centre. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: Suffragette expends its energy selling us on what we already believe rather than examining the way these activists pressed the world into believing it. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: It's a movie with a lot of things to say, but walking out, you feel like you're still waiting for it to say them. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: "Suffragette" is an absorbing, ultimately moving portrait of thwarted ideals that rings all too true today. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: The movie does well to shine a light on the venerable struggle, but its beam is narrow, and often pallid. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: It riles you up and at times may move you to tears of rage. Read more