Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)

Stars	User	Rating
5	WWallce4prez	78 _66th
An incredibly powerful story that is small in scope but soars with its small moments. Eliza Hittman tackles each mundane step in Autumn's plight with the utmost care with result being a completely immersive experience. Everything is gritty and removed until a scene halfway through that is heartbreaking. Sidney Flanigan has all of thirty lines of dialogue but her eyes give away plenty in a very impressive debut.
5	Hofschneider	92 _94th
When the questionnaire forces her so see the abuse through the eyes of a healthy soul and how her environment taught her to internalize and normalize it. Heartbreaking.
4	schnofel	63 _57th
Every single male that is seen or implied in this film is an asshole/molester. Does this happen in well-made, empathetic feminist films never/rarely/sometimes/always?
3	bof	84 _91st
What strikes me about this is how little is ever said in this film. She follows the social contract, which requires that this is something girls simply have to deal with themselves, and everyone already knows how it goes. Only when an actual, printed script is introduced is she forced to put words on it for a few minutes before slipping back into low-key survival mode - no great resolution, no riding off into new life, just a dodged bullet.
2	KasperL	80 _86th
A great slow-burning indie drama. The two obvious highlights are the infuriating early scene in which Autumn is given questionable advice from a well-meaning lady and the chilling session in which she is asked a series of questions. Sidney Flanigan knocks the latter out of the park but Talia Ryder is also terrific as the cousin. My only small gripe is that the sex as a commodity theme is hammered home in the somewhat unnecessary pinky solidarity scene.
2	TheRealJ-Ro	65 _31st
Themes and events in this movie will resonate personally with a lot of viewers. For me, there are a few minor annoyances that keep me from liking this as much as I could, which is a shame because some scenes in this are rather good, especially the titular scene that many have pointed out. They almost had a redeemable male character in there; so close, yet so far. I guess I'll settle for the bus driver. This has relevant things to say; I just wish it didn't always choose caricature to say them.
2	moraesfelipe	75 _80th
Not quite the Dardenne's feminine drama some painted, but pretty solid in its own terms. This is of course a world of pain for women, and hideous men are all over -- dad, boss, dude they meet on the road, pervert on the NYC sub --, but this plays as sharp as a knife, more interested in scary, brave eyes facing big decisions -- go to NY, have an abortion, hide it from mom, who also struggles with a lot (drunk husband, other kids) -- than straightforward, talky teen drama. Flanigan is a blast.
2	joel-w-m	10 _97th
The oppressive environment weighs so heavy here: the stream of normalized wounds is endless (see "slut" x2, creep manager) and becomes a flood of pain and tears during the titular scene and the reach around the pillar. Riveting and heartbreaking with its subtle script, intimate cinematography, delicate soundtrack, quietly powerful performances, and absence of a happy or climactic ending. Fuck the patriarchy and fuck any male defensiveness taking the place of empathy in reaction to this film.
2	Corbad	90 _96th
A film absolutely powerful in its intimacy. Natural performances and lighting and a soft touch behind the lens give its all-too-real content an almost documentarian quality that simply aches in its subtleties. The touch around the pillar, the shared suitcase on the escalator, the makeup in the bathroom - these quiet scenes and tiny moments overwhelm the heart while the titular scene midway through utterly rends it. Also, this film is not about men, so quit complaining.
2	Mist600	55 _16th
Dry, grim, sterile watch \| Feels more quasi-mentary than cinema: Shaky closeup, bare camera. Noises LOUD & no music: Willfully real' to point of artifice! (The Office minus jokes) \| V valid agenda but didn't need ONLY it, ground in face for 2hrs \| (BTW, as a man: Is that how U see us ALL? \| Still, U cannot deny the acting (esp in Manhattan interview) - Title is awkward yet smart \|\| Least cinematic film I've seen - would actually suffer from the big screen
1	Moribunny	68 _70th
Restrained considering the subject, and narrowly escapes the shadow of Cristian Mungiu. It's no masterpiece - having but one truly great scene - but otherwise it's a fine American indie with very few missteps, portraying the real life of young women in the U.S.
1	Obdurate	45 _11th
I don't absolutely hate it and I think that there are some good parts--namely when she's talking to the counselor the part that the movie is named after--but I have more issues. It was a little tedious and lacked oomph a lot of the time; the girls never built a good enough relationship to be engaging. Lost interest many times but still appreciate how unwavering it is in what it wants to explore. Problematic feminist issues are present; not offended, it was just awfully simplistic.
1	psim	80 _74th
A sobering portrayal of the lengths that a young woman must go to in order to exert even a tiny amount of control over her own life. It reminded me of the great 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, but with the added horror of taking place now (and in a supposedly progressive country).
1	DavidBlast	90 _92nd
The sister companion to ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ takes a grim look at abortion in America. Thanks to the towering performances of Flanigan and Ryder, the result is heartbreaking, without resolution, almost tragically anecdotal. So nearly a masterpiece, the story is dented by misandrist undercurrents, flowing throughout the film. Men serve only to assault women verbally and physically. Hittman may have had bad experiences with men, but sexism is a door that swings both ways.
1	FoxyRussian	95 _90th
A quiet touching movie. The scene the title comes from is easily my favorite scene of the year and of recent memory. It's hard to not be touched and feel what the characters are feeling in the moment. Being scared at strangers, fearful of who to trust in the abortion process, not knowing where they'll sleep. It's crazy the power of "Show Don't Tell" and how much this movie succeeds at using it.
1	sprfede	45 _17th
I like the concept, the acting and there are a few great scenes, but overall the film is extremely one-dimensioned, and has a lot of dead time. Not gonna blame it entirely on the editing, but the cutting did seem to lack purpose and stay overly long on irrelevant shots. Seemed a little indulgent a project.

Average Percentile 60.9% from 547 Ratings