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Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn ... see more see more... , Gwen Verdon , Dan Hedaya , Margo Martindale , Cynthia Nixon , Hal Scardino , Chad Dowdell

Two sisters try to set their familial differences aside -- one in hopes of saving her own life -- in this drama with comic accents. Bessie (Diane Keaton) has lived in Florida for the past 20 years, wh... read more read more...ere she's been caring for her chronically ill father Marvin (Hume Cronyn) and her Aunt Ruth (Gwen Verdon), who does not seem well aquatinted with reality. While Bessie's life has not been easy, she feels that it's rewarding in its way, and she's come to love her father very much. However, when Bessie is diagnosed with cancer, she's told that the only treatment likely to save her would be a bone marrow transplant from a close relative -- which leads Bessie to contact her sister Lee (Meryl Streep) for the first time since their father fell ill. Bessie and Lee have a number of issues with each other that they've never resolved, many concerning their responses to Marvin's illness (Bessie rushed to his side, while Lee preferred to stay away), and Lee's own life has been difficult. She's gotten herself out of a bad marriage, has only recently started supporting herself as a beautician, and has to raise two kids on her own. Ten-year-old Charlie (Hal Scardino) tries to simply ignore the chaos going on all round him, while Hank (Leonardo DiCaprio), a troubled 17-year-old, was recently institutionalized after burning down the family's home. As the straight-laced Bessie and the earthy Lee reestablish contact after two decades, they discover just how much emotional ground they have to cover before they can meet on common ground. Robert De Niro appears in a supporting role as Dr. Wally, Bessie's physician. Marvin's Room was based on the stage drama by Scott McPherson, which opened in 1990; McPherson himself was critically ill at the time -- he died two years later from complications relating to AIDS. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

58% liked it

20,331 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

48 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Jerry Zaks

Release Date: December 20, 1996

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DVD Release Date: January 15, 2002

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Stats: 600 reviews

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Hume Cronyn & Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room Leonardo DiCaprio & Meryl Streep in Marvin's Room Meryl Streep & Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room Val Kilmer in Marvin's Room Val Kilmer in Marvin's Room Elisabeth Shue in Marvin's Room Diane Keaton & Leonardo DiCaprio in Marvin's Room Leonardo DiCaprio & Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room Gwen Verdon in Marvin's Room Robert De Niro in Marvin's Room Meryl Streep in Marvin's Room Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room Val Kilmer in Marvin's Room Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room Gwen Verdon in Marvin's Room Marvin's Room Marvin's Room
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Flixster Reviews (600)

  • ajv2688
    July 8, 2011
    ajv2688
    This is another movie I had to watch for a class, and now I barely remember it. All I remember is everyone loving Leo, and thinking to myself how boring the movie was.
  • ythelastman89
    November 22, 2009
    ythelastman89
    While it is horrible story, the acting makes this movie quite entertaining. Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep gave some great performances that nearly overshadow Diane Keaton's horrible one. It was an obvious sap story that fails to produce any empathy for the ch... read morearacter in trouble.
  • 76Majikat
    May 15, 2008
    76Majikat
    I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with this film on a few different levels. Firstly great acting all around, the main topic of illness, was dealt with very well, plus Dicaprio's character behaviour problems were captured in a way I have never seen before and was very real... read moreistic.
  • thmtsang
    December 29, 2007
    thmtsang
    Movie about two sisters who do not get along and have not seen each other in 20 years. Diane's character is ill and so Meryl's character goes to visit her with her two sons. The ill sister had been caring for their elderly dad and aunt for many years and had not lived her own lif... read moree. Leo's performance is brilliant as the troubled wayward son who sets fire to the house and ends up in a mental institution. Leo does seem to be good at playing mental patients.
  • mjgildea
    November 28, 2006
    mjgildea
    i remember this being a really good movie and as usual, Meryl Streep was amazing.
  • deano
    October 10, 2006
    deano
    Not bad family story, but Keaton, Streep and DiCaprio are so good.
  • crossbladezero
    April 23, 2011
    crossbladezero
    "Marvin's Room" is slow and unengaging, but has a good story and solid acting, notably from DiCaprio (I know, who would have guessed?) to make it a decent watch.
  • michaelcorleone
    August 8, 2007
    michaelcorleone
    An absolutely amazing cast is unable to bring this movie to greatness. Very good - often touching and moving, but the screenplay has a rough journey transitioning from the play. The movie doesn't suffer an enormous amount as a result, but it doesn't accomplish anything spectacula... read morer. The acting is phenomenal, the story is interesting... but the script just can't hold it together.
  • SunilJawahir
    November 27, 2010
    SunilJawahir
    Simple movie but sweet with some really great performances by some really talented actors.
  • alush1
    May 30, 2009
    alush1
    An excellent movie with great performances from Keaton,Streep and DiCaprio.

View All Marvin's Room Reviews

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector
February 8, 2010
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

The performances are overwhelmed by cinematography so gorgeous and distracting it makes the drama seem like just so much wheel spinning. Full Review

Eric Brace
February 8, 2010
Eric Brace, Washington Post

It's all plinky-plink pianos and mewing oboes, trying to jerk those tears a little too hard. No, a lot too hard. The music is awful. Stupendously bad. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
December 26, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Based on a play by Scott McPherson's who died of AIDS, it's impossible to watch the well-acted film (particularly Diane Keaton, who should get an Oscar nod) without thinking of its themees: the variou... Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Powerhouse casting and a heartbreaking history make the screen version of Marvin's Room more memorable than it otherwise would be. Full Review

Edward Guthmann
June 18, 2002
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

Any movie with Meryl Streep is an occasion, but when you add Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hume Cronyn and Gwen Verdon, you've got an embarrassment of riches. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

There is a core of substance in Marvin's Room, and persuasive acting to back it up. Which makes it a special pity that the filmmakers didn't trust viewers to have the necessary intelligence to figure ... Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Marvin's Room seems to exist primarily to road-test every one of your emotions. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

What begins as an apparently simple tale of sibling interaction reveals a complex web of pain, guilt, and uncertainty. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Streep and Keaton, in their different styles, find ways to make Lee and Bessie into much more than the expression of their problems. Full Review

January 1, 2000
USA Today

Now and then, a scene will hit you in the gut, such as when Streep restyles Keaton's chemo wig. When sentiment is this honest, it's not hard to swallow.

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