70
The filmmakers have allowed themselves an overlong 140 minutes in order to preserve as much of the plot as possible, but they have bypassed many of the novel's key ideas and ironies.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
Chicago Reader by Jonathan Rosenbaum
This is the apotheosis of Classics Illustrated filmmaking, aiming at nothing more than tasteful reduction, and the fact that it's done so well here doesn't mean that it's necessarily worth doing.
100
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
Because it is confident of its story and its powers, “Howards End” takes the time to establish itself, to allow its characters the space to demonstrate subtlety and complexity.
78
Austin Chronicle by Marjorie Baumgarten
The performances in this costume drama are wonderful.
90
Rolling Stone by Peter Travers
Incisively witty, provocative and acted to perfection, this sublime entertainment is a career peak for producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
100
Washington Post by Rita Kempley
Merchant and Ivory have regathered many of the cast and crew from their earlier films to work on this reproduction to exquisite effect.
100
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
The splendid cast embodies the characters so fully that the events actually seem to be happening to them, instead of unfolding from a screenplay.
100
The New York Times by Vincent Canby
Merchant, Ivory and Jhabvala triumph again with their entertaining, richly textured film. [13 March 1992]