Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes
Jay Carr, Boston Globe: It's pretty linear and only makeup-deep, but Bogdanovich ties it together with efficiency and an affection for the period. Read more
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: More obvious than acerbic, more inane than insightful and exaggerated to the point of caricature. Read more
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The actors do a good job of overcoming the stagebound feel of The Cat's Meow, which, for all its charms, sometimes feels as self-obsessed as the characters it slyly mocks. Read more
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: [A]n entertaining flight of fancy filled with a lot of strong performances. Read more
Susan Stark, Detroit News: A stylish trifle lit by the starring presence of Kirsten Dunst. Read more
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: As the story progresses, the tension dissipates, probably because once Bogdanovich has set his wheels in motion, he just lets them spin. Read more
A.O. Scott, New York Times: A modest, restrained picture, as small and satisfying as one of Woody Allen's better recent efforts. Read more
Jan Stuart, Newsday: Citizen Kane for fans of Agatha Christie and Liz Smith: no frills, but juicy. Read more
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Primarily works as a reminder that Bogdanovich, who hasn't made a feature film since 1993, is still very much a force as a director -- and as another signal of Dunst's astonishing talent. Read more
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It's one heck of a character study -- not of Hearst or Davies but of the unique relationship between them. Read more
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: By and large, The Cat's Meow is relatively accurate as a period piece. Read more
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Represents a return to form by Peter Bogdanovich. Read more
Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: It's great escapist fun that recreates a place and time that will never happen again. Read more
Steven Rosen, Denver Post: In the end, it's an amusing diversion. But it should be more. Read more
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Bogdanovich taps deep into the Hearst mystique, entertainingly reenacting a historic scandal. Read more
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: The result is good gossip, entertainingly delivered, yet with a distinctly musty odour, its expiry date long gone. Read more
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News: A great-looking movie that entertains without requiring empathy. Read more
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The strongest achievement of The Cat's Meow may be the performances, especially those of Kirsten Dunst (Davies), Edward Herrmann (Hearst), and even Eddie Izzard (Chaplin). Read more
Manohla Dargis, L.A. Weekly: Despite all the closed-door hanky-panky, the film is essentially juiceless. Read more
Rex Reed, New York Observer: A lavish, lascivious, elegant and enjoyable entertainment. Read more
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: As it stands, The Cat's Meow is Mr. Bogdanovich's best film since Mask. Read more
James Berardinelli, ReelViews: It represents better-than-average movie-making that doesn't demand a dumb, distracted audience. Read more
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The film is darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst's forced avuncular chortles. Read more
Charles Taylor, Salon.com: The Cat's Meow plays like an idea for a scandalous masquerade ball rather than a movie. Read more
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Bogdanovich takes a tale of old Hollywood and infuses it with velocity and enthusiasm. Read more
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: [Dunst] brings genuine humanity to a role that could have been little more than a vampish gold digger. Read more
Derek Elley, Variety: The '20s-set pic is given considerable bounce by a splendid cast, led by Kirsten Dunst in an eye-opening perf as Marion Davies. Read more
J. Hoberman, Village Voice: A better-than-competent period evocation that allows the director to flaunt his knowledge (and perhaps vent some of his own bitterness) regarding Hollywood. Read more