The Magnificent Ambersons
The Magnificent Ambersons

Movie spotlight

The Magnificent Ambersons

2002
Movie
150 min
English

The spoiled rotten and utterly unlikable rich kid George Amberson becomes horrified when his recently widowed mother rekindles her relationship with the wealthy Eugene Morgan, who she left decades earlier in order to marry George's father. As George struggles to sabotage his mother's new romance, he must deal with his own romantic feelings for Morgan's daughter and the consequences of his meddling as his once great family falls into ruin due to his machinations...

Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes67%
Metacritic58/100
Google Users70%
Director: Alfonso Cuarón (TV Film)Genres: Drama, Western

Plot Summary

In turn-of-the-century Indiana, the spoiled George Amberson Mina is accustomed to wealth and privilege. His life takes a dramatic turn when his widowed mother falls in love with a charming but manipulative inventor, threatening to unravel the family's fortune and social standing. George's resistance to this change and his own arrogance lead to a cascade of consequences that affect everyone around him.

Critical Reception

This made-for-television film adaptation of Booth Tarkington's novel received a mixed to positive reception, particularly praising its visual style and performances, though some critics noted its deviation from the source material and the perceived compression of the original narrative.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric direction and strong visual aesthetic.

  • Noted for a compelling performance by Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

  • Some viewers found the adaptation to be less impactful than Orson Welles's original version.

Google audience: Audience reviews frequently highlight the film's beautiful cinematography and the engaging portrayal of the central relationships. Some viewers appreciated the updated setting and character interpretations, while others felt it didn't quite capture the depth of the original story.

Fun Fact

This adaptation was made for A&E Network and is notable for being a television film, distinct from Orson Welles's critically acclaimed, but famously troubled, 1942 theatrical release.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review