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Tape

Tape

2001
Drama
1h 26m
Richard Linklater directs this three-character ensemble piece set within the confines of a tawdry motor lodge in Lansing, Michigan. After 10 years apart, three disparate people come together to play out the unresolved drama of their final days in high school. (Lions Gate Films)
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Tape

2001
Drama
1h 26m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 57.77% from 836 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(836)
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Rated 22 Nov 2008
85
94th
We stay in the hotel room for the whole running time - and there's no need to leave. Hawkes and Leonard keeps things interesting for a huge chunk of the film until Thurman arrives. It all comes down to well-written and deftly delivered dialogue. Respect.
Rated 28 Jun 2009
79
77th
Despite some distracting editing and a simple premise, Tape is a very engaging character piece dealing with morality and guilt. The one-room setting, real-time approach made it quite gripping to watch and even a bit claustrophobic. The characters could have been a bit more straightforward in their communication...on the other hand, their awkward avoiding of the tough questions was believable enough.
Rated 09 Mar 2011
89
67th
exceptional for its simplicity and its powerful writing.
Rated 15 Oct 2011
84
81st
A real-time drama that explores a lot of compelling ethical ground, and gripped me despite its simplicity. The moral high ground keeps shifting between the three characters and the film takes a strong premise to surprising places. I thought the performances were quite good... not great, but very good. I also thought filming the whole thing with fuzzy handheld camera was a poor choice. It was distracting. However, the script is so strong and thought-provoking that it's not a major detriment.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
39th
This is a very difficult movie. I had to think about it a lot to make up my mind about it. Finally I decided that, while it's a very intense and intriguing movie, both Vince's and Amy's motivations were too shaky for me to fully believe them, and in a movie like this, that's a deal breaker. At any point, the entire situation could've been resolved very simply with a mature discussion. It's part of the point that that's precisely where the characters fail, but I couldn't get past it.
Rated 26 Apr 2008
85
53rd
Dialogue driven film by Linklater, I thought the conversations were engaging. Linklater can tells a good story with just words.
Rated 14 Nov 2008
60
28th
"What are you saying?" "No, what are YOU saying?" "I asked you first!" "Well, I want to know what you're implying!" "I'm not implying anything! *wink nudge*" This goes on for about an hour and a half.
Rated 03 Aug 2014
80
84th
I was surprised to see afterwards that the script wasn't from the hands of Richard Linklater himself this time. This is a great, almost minimalistic movie about people and their interactions over the course of 90 minutes. Great acting, a fantastic script and some really interesting directing make for a very simple but highly engaging movie.
Rated 10 Jun 2020
45
30th
Well acted and unique, but too simplistic and doesn't arrive at a satisfying conclusion. Difficult and tested my patience. Say what you have to say already.
Rated 16 Sep 2007
75
79th
effective low budget drama
Rated 14 Oct 2007
94
95th
The film uses the tape as something of a Macguffin--its role in the proceedings serving as a counterpoint to what is actually necessary in this situation--real, personal interaction. That the characters are inarticulate and defensive in the climactic sequence only serves to highlight the seriousness of the subject--this isn't something that people can just discuss. To be done properly, it involves the gracious ability to listen, to recognize and own mixed motives, and to be okay with tension.
Rated 11 Feb 2008
39
18th
Adapted from a play, it's not an issue that Linklter doesn't open it up, but someone should have reminded the actors to adjust the level of their performances. Ethan Hawke is especially over-amped, pitching his take on an admittedly anxious character somewhere between the Phantom of the Paradise and Daffy Duck. Uma Thurman fares somewhat better as a woman intrinsically involved in the dispute between the two friends, but her role is a much a dramatic device as a fully drawn character.
Rated 13 Jun 2008
7
68th
Not as great as I hoped and struggles from being obviously based on a play but still an enjoyable movie. I just don't know how what the point was.
Rated 06 Jul 2009
0
7th
I don't know why I began watching this but I had to stop into 1/3 of the film (before Thurman enters, if she ever does) beacuse I had to do something, and I didn't continue. It didn't seem worth watching further.
Rated 02 Mar 2010
75
83rd
I was going to describe the plot developments as "surprising" but that's not the right word for it. It would be more accurate just to say that the writer made good decisions, and sent the story in a more interesting and wrinkly location than what you usually see.
Rated 11 May 2010
3
45th
A respectable effort, though it doesn't come off quite as profound as Linklater may wish. Still, some good points are raised about perspective and how one can never fathom another person's heart, mind, or motivations. Hawke and Thurman do well enough, but Robert Sean Leonard is mediocre. A bit forgettable in the end.
Rated 10 Jul 2010
7
40th
Clever Dialog-centric film. 3 People in a room talking about an incident of almost rape in highschool.
Rated 30 Nov 2010
75
64th
Excelent dialogue and plot development although sometimes it does feel a little theatrical, but then again it is based on a play. The style takes a little time to adjust to with many different camera angles on very little place (the movie only takes place in one room). You really for the characters and you always wonder what they will do next.
Rated 08 Jan 2011
30
78th
"By film's end, the only rape that remains is that of words and memories." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 17 May 2011
77
51st
Taking place in a hotel room, Tape has the feel of a play, but its engrossing psychodrama allows its stars to shine.
Rated 16 Jul 2013
85
84th
Pretty impressive piece of film, regarding aspects of acting and performance on all sides as well as Linklater's decision to use video tape, cinematography and editing. Great experience though not expected at all. Highly recommendable!
Rated 03 Oct 2013
74
48th
74.00.
Rated 04 Nov 2013
95
93rd
An outstanding, utterly engrossing adaptation of an intense, sharp and gripping one-set play. Ethan Hawke is blisteringly good, but I think Robert Sean Leonard may be on even finer form, imbuing a more grounded character with a complex array of emotions. The whole product, from script to scene, is judged perfectly, and things culminate spectacularly. There aren't enough superlatives.
Rated 17 Jul 2014
60
0th
It's a movie, that's about all I can say
Rated 12 Sep 2014
82
64th
Haven't seen anything like this before. The actors do a great job and it takes its time to unravel.
Rated 27 Oct 2014
85
74th
Sterk historie som kun foregår i ett rom med tre skuespillere, Linklater er tøff.
Rated 07 Mar 2015
70
58th
yooooooo Uma is GOAT in this
Rated 23 Jun 2016
77
77th
The best work by far I've seen Uma Thurman do. It shows what she's capable of with thoughtful direction--something she clearly does not get very often. Don't give up before she enters--the sparring and jabbing of the two guys gets a bit irritating. But on the whole it's quite well done, despite the fact you never forget for one moment it's a play.
Rated 30 Apr 2020
80
64th
Em honra dos 50 anos de Uma Thurman. Esse filme tem um texto tão bom e os atores estão tão fodas nele, plus o dinamismo da câmera e edição de Linklater, que a gente até esquece a origem teatral da coisa e afunda no puro cinema. WEBRip RARBG.
Rated 19 Aug 2021
90
70th
This was made between the first and second movies of the Before trilogy, but I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon it so many years after fully enjoying the Before trilogy. And it was great to see these 3 actors ("Jesse" plus Tarantino's go-to girl plus the guy from Dead Poet's Society) in a Linklater style dialogue-centric movie. A bit unrealistic that nobody left the room and nobody says what they think, when any human would have.... but who cares!
Rated 24 Jul 2022
40
75th
Amazing script and great performances

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