61
Metascore
24 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeIn places, The Sense of an Ending seems almost frustratingly uninterested in establishing, much less solving, the riddles at its core, when in fact, it’s merely uninterested in pandering to those who lack the patience to appreciate its nuances.
- 75IndieWireSteve GreeneIndieWireSteve GreeneModest in its ambition but profound in its specificity, Batra gets to the core of the slipperiness of memory and the allure of the past. It’s not through grand pronouncements and cosmic love stories; instead, a handful of unshakable moments do the trick.
- 75Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerChristian Science MonitorPeter RainerWithout an actor of Broadbent’s poise and humor, The Sense of an Ending – which, I must add, is appropriately also the title of a famous work of literary criticism by Frank Kermode about theories of fiction – would be a bit too fusty.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyThe Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyThe lineup of fine actors keenly registers minute details about the passage of time with humor, wisdom and a sharp sense of how moments of rash or just misguided behavior can forever dictate a life's path.
- 63RogerEbert.comChristy LemireRogerEbert.comChristy LemireNot to sound derisive, but there’s definitely a target audience here. What they’ll get will be mildly satisfying: a film that’s well-acted but tastefully restrained to a fault, with gentle humor about aging and a central mystery that isn’t all that engaging.
- 60TheWrapRay GreeneTheWrapRay GreeneHad this well-meaning movie been more willing to directly embrace its origins in Barnes’s luminous prose, it’s quite possible The Sense of an Ending might be something special rather than something worthy.
- 60The New York TimesGlenn KennyThe New York TimesGlenn KennyDirected by Ritesh Batra from a screenplay by Nick Payne, The Sense of an Ending maintains intrigue and emotional magnetism as its mystery unfolds.
- 60Los Angeles TimesJustin ChangLos Angeles TimesJustin ChangThe Sense of an Ending, despite its polished construction and immaculate pedigree, doesn’t ultimately mean as much as it thinks it does.
- 58The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe entire movie consists of this same delayed-gratification tactic, as significant events from Tony’s past are first teased and then revealed a bit at a time, via numerous flashbacks. A little of that sort of thing can be invigorating. Push it too far, however, and it starts to feel like a pointless game of narrative Keep Away.
- 12Slant MagazineDiego SemereneSlant MagazineDiego SemereneRitesh Batra's film is a tale of white nostalgia that should have found its footing on dramatic grounds.