83
Binoche’s naturalistic performance marries itself beautifully to the ensemble while grounding, in reality, a character unbelievable, yet true.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
68
Between Two Worlds is highly self-aware, at some points simply playing up the odd dissonance of seeing as glamorous a figure as Juliette Binoche scrubbing toilets, and at other points making more caustic commentary on the impossible task the book and adaptation set out to accomplish.
80
Although Binoche is the film’s star, her presence is smartly muted, allowing us time and space to discover the world as she does, and providing room for complexity in considering the ethics of his character’s work and of Carrère’s film itself.
40
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
Neither of the two worlds of the film’s English title is illuminated clearly enough
50
The movie provides some nice, memorable bonding moments between Marianne and her subjects, including Cédric (nonactor Dominique Pupin), a decent if slightly pathetic middle-aged man also looking for work. But its portrayal of cleaning women ultimately feels flat, and it’s not clear whether watching Binoche scrub a few toilets is meant to dignify/humanize those stuck doing such chores, or to underscore the lengths to which she’ll go as an actor.
80
It’s particularly perceptive when it comes to the ethics of using real lives as material, and the question of the legitimacy of emotional bonds if one party is hiding essential truths about themselves.
That this movie could be made, without irony, is one of the most embarrassing examples of an actress being so out of touch as to be almost deranged. That anyone expects us to watch Juliette Binoche portraying a woman who takes a job as a cleaning lady "to investigate conditions" has got to be on Zork. An embarrassment. If Juliet Binoche had one once of self awareness, she would have the sense to leave this alone. But this film is evidence that she is utterly clueless. A rich and pampered woman with a broom...sure, sure, I get it. Anti stars -*****.
That this movie could be made, without irony, is one of the most embarrassing examples of an actress being so out of touch as to be almost deranged. That anyone expects us to watch Juliette Binoche portraying a woman who takes a job as a cleaning lady "to investigate conditions" has got to be on Zork. An embarrassment. If Juliet Binoche had one once of self awareness, she would have the sense to leave this alone. But this film is evidence that she is utterly clueless. A rich and pampered woman with a broom...sure, sure, I get it. Anti stars -*****.