IslandGuru Who payed the critics

Sammy-Jo Cervantes There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Hayleigh Joseph This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Ironically Unimpressed Does the third act feel unfocused and scattered? Holy hell, does it!Overall, does the film push a little too hard on the sentimentality? It sure does, shamelessly at times.Does it suffer from minor inconsistencies and a couple of narrative plateaus the omission of which would have resulted in a shorter, more taut outcome? That would be another resounding "YES!".Do any of the above shortcomings ultimately matter? Hell, no, Rust and Bone is freaking stunning!And this coming from me, the person who dislikes both emotional manipulation AND Matthias Schoenaerts. Double whammy yet it still manages a very worthy 4 stars.Cheers for this Audiard, you're a good 'un, mate.

Rich Wright In the 1994 film Forrest Gump Gary Sinese played a double amputee. He didn't actually cut off both his legs for the role (that would've been TOO extreme) but thanks to the marvel of special effects, he was able to go around in his wheelchair and even take a swim seamlessly. Now, flash forward nearly 20 years (Gosh, how time flies) and we have Marion Cotillard getting her legs bitten off by a killer whale, and the technology is even more amazing. There isn't a single scene where we're not 100% convinced she's lost her limbs, and the stakes are raised even higher when she's fitted with artificial ones. How they managed to insert this footage so completely into the movie is anyone's guess. I kind of don't want to know, as this would spoil the illusion.Her characterisation, as a young woman who has to learn to start again after a life changing incident, is a beguiling one. It would probably be enough to carry the film by itself, but combined with Matthias Schoenaerts devil-may-care trained fighter (with a well hidden heart of gold) it becomes a great one. Their tempestuous relationship is the backbone here, and it is never less than captivating. These are two very different people; and yet they are perfect for one another... as long as both are willing to make sacrifices along the way. It is also my pleasure to report the rest of the cast are imbued with the same level of complexity as the two leads... These are REAL individuals we get to know, not dull cyphers. It all adds to a multi layered drama which is a true pleasure to watch. 7/10

Thanos Karagioras "Rust and Bone" is a drama movie which has to do with a woman who is a killer whale trainer and she had a terrible accident. After that she gets involved with a man who is fighting for money.Marion Cotillard (Stéphanie) who played as the whale trainer makes one of her best interpretations of all the movies that she played and I liked her very much. I also liked the interpretation of Matthias Schoenaerts (Alain van Versch) who played as fighter.In this movie we can observe how the relationships of people change when something very important happened to one of them. I liked this movie very much because it shows us and makes us feel how is to be and to live after that accident and with this we can think some things from our lives a little bit different.

nyjamesd With a nuanced fashion of storytelling, Rust and Bone is simply a contemporary masterpiece. This film is compelling story of love, broken love, redeeming love, and everlasting love; a must see for any lover of the cinema. It has surely been a while since I've experienced such a range of emotions on such a deep level. Also one heck of a rousing and resonating performing by Marion Cotillard, worthy of an Academy Award. Most notable is the way Audiard handled the direction of certain sequences including the first beach scene where Stephanie decides to swim, the part when Stephanie steps out of the vehicle during Ali's match, and the climax at the frozen lake. I must say I was stirred. I'm always watching the screen intently, carefully analyzing the way in which things are presented and more often than not I am not fully entertained or should I say inside the movie. However, the film was captivating enough that it made me feel a range of emotions. Through this film Audiard has rendered a masterful love story about the power of human will to overcome the greatest of challenges. So intense yet incredibly understated.The soundtrack is also stellar, featuring some of my favorite musicians including Bon Iver and M83. Jacques Audiard is underrated!