90
Village Voice by Alan Scherstuhl
The film is novel-rich, so bristling with life that you might not notice how familiar it is in its contours.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
Time Out London by Dave Calhoun
As filmmaking, X+Y is unassuming and not entirely remarkable, but the relationships play so sweetly and memorably.
38
Slant Magazine by Elise Nakhnikian
The film focuses on Nathan's emotions and backstage dramas in ways that generally feel forced or inauthentic.
80
With A+ acting, a solid script and sensitive handling, there’s enough here to move even the hardest of souls.
70
Matthews’ background as a documentarian is obvious and beneficial. But Matthews also demonstrates expertise as a director of actors, getting creditable performances across the board.
67
The Playlist by Nikola Grozdanovic
Without the performances and splash of style as support, the film would collapse, because the story is indisputably boxed inside a square of standard dimensions.
60
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
This is an attractively unparochial drama with a bracing interest in excellence.
63
Butterfield is quite good, the other kids well-matched and Spall, Hawkins and Marsan terrific in support. That adds up to a picture well-worth your time.
80
The film’s magic is how it slips the skin of sappy and mendacious formula, stepping away from cliché scene by scene, and in quietly revelatory ways.
60
Familiar formula yet Morgan Matthews’ feature debut adds up to a satisfying whole.