Kingsgate (1989) User Reviews

Painful

[TechnicallyTwisted · 2/10 · 18 September 1999]

I saw Kingsgate about a year ago as part of the curriculum in the film school I was attending. The assistant director is an instructor at the school, and even the director filled in to teach a few courses. I can't really remember the plot in great detail but it centers around a couple's stay at the country home of a writer named Daniel Kingsgate, and the tension that arises in their relationship. Christopher Plummer gives the best performance in the film in a brief role as the father of the woman. But the film is dull, painful, and not very artistic, although it thinks it is. It was the butt of jokes for the rest of the year in my film class. "Why are they showing us this dreck?" we thought. The story was pointless. Well maybe it had a point but it really didn't get you thinking about it. Instead it just made me think that I had chosen the wrong school to go to to pursue my film education. Oh well. It is a film that I think very few people will like. If I didn't know the people behind this mess I would be a lot tougher on it, but mercifully I am a nice guy. What the heck...the movie was positively dreadful, and I am one who usually keeps an open mind about movies since I love them so dearly. Avoid this at all costs. (sorry guys)

Painful

[TechnicallyTwisted · 2/10 · 20 September 1999]

I saw this film as part of the curriculum at a Film School I was attending. It was horrible. It concerns a couple who spend a weekend at the house of a writer named Daniel Kingsgate. While the actors did their best, it was the script and the direction that destroyed this film. I am not an easy person to bore, and I usually don't like to call anything "boring" but it is the only word I can use here. The plot was simple enough, but I simply didn't care about it. It was an attempt at artiness I guess. Not once did I ever feel engaged in the film. Not the cinematography, the editing, the acting, or the plot had any redeeming factors. You couldn't help but get the sense that all involved WANTED to make a good movie, but really just didn't know how. Christopher Plummer is in this and he is the best thing in the movie. If you like his work......

avoid

[moo-vee · 2/10 · 1 March 2002]

It's such a shame when the promise of such a strong cast is destroyed by tired directing, a weak script and a pace equivalent to an arthritic snail. Christopher Plummer at lest provides some distraction, but therein lies the only saving grace. this is paint-dryingly tedious. Decorate your house instead.

Not for everyone

[semenic · 23 May 2002]

I saw this movie 3-4 times, and each time I feel it better. I know that I will be in contradiction with the other comments, but I identify myself a lot with a character in the movie. Life is hell for a lot of us; it is only a matter of pride if you want to see it or not in this way. For most people it will look like an unrealistic movie, but not to me. So for people that are down like me, into the grave, and don't want to come out, scared that they may take others with them, down there, this movie seems like your biography. And the rest, lucky you...