Venuto al mondo 2012

Kyle Smith, New York Post: "Twice Born" chokes to death on its own melodrama. Read more

Boyd van Hoeij, Variety: This mostly English-language tale about the difficulties of parenthood and loving photographers in wartime has little to offer beyond some pitiful twists. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: The viewer has to slog through countless scenes of the two people sulking and arguing, while warfare is tastefully represented in the background. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: One odd movie, from the casting of its leads to its backdrop to its final twist. Read more

David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: Penelope Cruz and Emile Hirsch play ill-matched - in every sense - lovers in Sergio Castellitto's misguided romantic melodrama. Read more

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times: It's debatable whether the best love stories are also the "weirdest," as Emile Hirsch's character declares in "Twice Born." But they do require chemistry, the missing piece in his pairing with Penelope Cruz. Read more

Jordan Hoffman, New York Daily News: "The weirdest love stories are the best," says Hirsch's doomed poet-warrior. "Twice Born" isn't weird enough to be half-good. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Whatever thoughtful instincts Mr. Castellitto might possess are undermined by his addiction to cinematic prettiness. Read more

David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer: A somber slog that takes far too long to reach its overwrought surprise ending. Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: A magnificent performance from Penelope Cruz. Read more

Christy Lemire, RogerEbert.com: Yes, it's all as clunky and tasteless as the description suggests, and the awkward casting doesn't improve this overlong drama. Read more

Todd Gilchrist, TheWrap: Sergio Castellitto's film projects a tumultuous love story against the backdrop of the Bosnian War for independence, and then seems unaware that the foreground overshadows it in the worst possible way. Read more

Sam Adams, Time Out: The movie's nagging inconsistency goes from merely grating to flat-out jaw-dropping, courtesy of late-game plot twists that squander whatever benefit of the doubt may remain. Read more

Zachary Wigon, Village Voice: Twice Born irresponsibly appropriates the horrific siege of Sarajevo to serve as aesthetic backdrop for a story that exhibits no real interest in the conflict. Read more