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What They Had

2018

Elizabeth Chomko

Hilary Swank, Blythe Danner, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster ...

6.2

433

Drama Bridget (Hilary Swank) returns home at her brother's (Michael Shannon) urging to deal with her ailing mother (Blythe Danner) and her father's (Robert Forster) reluctance to let go of their life together.

	Author	Review
United States	Jeannette Catsoulis The New York Times	"Though occasional bursts of spikiness suggest that Chomko has a more unexpected story to tell, the narrative beats of this one - even without its eye-rolling final shot - are audible well in advance of the end credits."	NEU
United States	Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"Watch out for 'What They Had'. It can sneak up and floor you (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	Oliver Jones The New York Observer	"A family drama that seems so real you leave the theater feeling like you just flew back from seeing your parents, even if they're nothing like the parents portrayed in the film (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"	POS
United States	Dennis Harvey Variety	"This satisfying drama provides excellent roles for a fine cast, particularly Michael Shannon, Hilary Swank and Robert Forster."	POS
United States	David Rooney The Hollywood Reporter	"A deluxe ensemble cast and a judicious trickle of minor-key humor elevate debuting writer-director Elizabeth Chomko's intergenerational family drama, 'What They Had'."	POS
United States	Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly	"If it's a good cry you're after, 'What They Had' will more than do the trick. I just wish that this particular tearjerker jerked its tears with something subtler than a crowbar."	NEU
United Kingdom	Cath Clarke The Guardian	"[The script] throws up plenty of authentic-looking observations of life with Alzheimer’s (...) And credit to the cast for adding substance (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"	POS
United States	David Edelstein Vulture	"There's raw power in Chomko's writing, but so much scrupulousness and craft that you feel safe when the time comes to weep."	POS
United States	Tricia Olszewski The Wrap	"The real triumph is its refusal to descend into mawkishness, even when a third-act tragedy takes place. It's blunt and bold, just like its characters."	POS
United States	Caroline Siede AV Club	"In the overcrowded field of indie dramas about intergenerational family struggles, 'What They Had' feels inessential; it rarely rises to the level of its performances."	NEG
Canada	Brad Wheeler The Globe and Mail	"An excellent cast (including Michael Shannon and Hillary Swank) hit the right notes in an evenly wrought family drama that rings true (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"	POS

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