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Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini, Nick Searcy ... see more see more... , Robin Mullins , Jeremy Davies , O'Neal Compton , Joe Inscoe , Marlon Jackson , Robin Rochelle , Dana Stevens

A woman is brought to civilization after spending her life in the wilds in this drama. Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson) happens upon a shack deep in the woods, where he discovers a strange woman who ap... read more read more...pears to be about 30, speaking an incomprehensible language. The woman, named Nell (Jodie Foster), was raised in the cabin by her late mother, who was incapacitated by strokes (Nell speaks English, but distorted -- as it was by her mother's infirmities); with the exception of her twin sister, who died as a child, Nell has had contact with no other human being. Lovell brings in a psychiatrist, Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) to help determine what, if anything, should be done for Nell; Olsen thinks that Nell should be committed to an institution, but Lovell demands a period of unobtrusive observation instead. When it becomes obvious that the courts will demand that Nell be hospitalized for psychiatric observation, Lovell and Olsen take it upon themselves to gently introduce Nell to the outside world. Jodie Foster's performance in Nell earned her an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, and she won the Screen Actor's Guild award in that category. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

36,546 ratings

Critics

53% liked it

32 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Michael Apted

Release Date: December 14, 1994

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DVD Release Date: February 3, 2004

Stats: 1,213 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,213)

  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Not a great movie.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 24, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    i liked this film i thought it was inspirational and heart warming and probably jodie fosters best acting ever she did a performance of a lifetime and a really good film and really worth a watch
  • 76Majikat
    May 15, 2008
    76Majikat
    A unique and original film, Jodie Foster plays a great part in this and is a very intersting story.
  • deano
    January 11, 2008
    deano
    Gripping and emotionally rewarding, this offbeat story never compromises its clear-eyed point of view.
  • thmtsang
    July 14, 2007
    thmtsang
    This one was a bit weird about a women found in the woods.
  • ceWEBrity
    February 17, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    You know that Jodie Foster was thinking "Oscar! Oscar!" to herself when she signed on for this terminally stupid hunk of pap.
  • garyX
    January 7, 2007
    garyX
    Jodie Foster ego project that seems to have been conceived for the sole reason of bagging a best actress oscar ("ha ha" as Nelson Muntz would say.) Very worthy, and oh so very dull.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Foster is excellent in this movie.
  • Peandpi
    June 19, 2011
    Peandpi
    A highly average film which lingers for too long rather than developing further. Foster certainly makes this film worth watching, portraying a young woman who speaks in her own language. In hindsight the film has been done since to much better effects. A worthwhile ending but it'... read mores a long journey there.
  • Ivan6655321
    February 20, 2011
    Ivan6655321
    Though certainly not a 'great' film in any way, "Nell" is probably an ideal film to be shown on Sociology classes. It's a tale about the eponymous girl who was raised in extreme isolation, talking in unfinished old English, and often initially mistaken to be inflicted with mental... read more retardation. Jodie Foster(in perfect Oscar-bait mode) gave a very believable, often unrecognizable rendition of her, stripping of the intelligence, psychology and measured calculations of Clarice Starling(a role that launched her A-list status in Hollywood) and ably portrayed the deficiency of her actions resulted by lack of social exposure, and the uncommon depths and purity of her heart brought forth by not being able to do so.

    Liam Neeson was quite good(though a bit stiff, I may say) as the concerned Dr. Lovell, a character that, along with Nell herself, formed the film's primary emotional connection whose slow development was very prevalent throughout. Yes, "Nell" is a pure tear-jerker for the easily touched, but for the more experienced film-goer that has gone through and endured so much Hollywood cheese, 'tears' is never impossible, but an almost otherworldly 'sob' is quite pushing it. Which brings me to my personal conflict as to "what will be the real reason if ever I let out a tear for the film?" Will it be the penetrating human drama displayed? Or will it be a genuine thump into my heart regarding Liam Neeson's struggles to cope up with her real-life wife Natasha Richardson's(who played Paula Olsen in the film) untimely death? Seeing them all happy and hugging and kissing each other in the film makes me lean on the latter more.

    "Nell" isn't just about Nell herself and her subsequent integration into mainstream reality. At some point, it's also about the doctors themselves. And as what Richard Libertini's character Dr. Paley stated(a quote that lingered with me long after the film has ended): "Even caring has an ulterior motive". Beyond all our aspirations to help others, to give meaning to other less fortunate people's lives, is an unconscious, buried search for our own and an impulse to internally conform with how other people may view us. Dr. Paley followed it up with the claim that even Mother Teresa's unconditional caring in Calcutta is truly a mission for her existential re-assurance. That may be debatable, but the film's clear and considerable articulacy of the sociological human condition clearly isn't.

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Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves
January 20, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Stunningly awful on almost every level. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 13, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Somber, ponderous, and pretentious, this is a clinical study of a wild woman (Jodie Foster) raised in the backwoods, far from the interference and contamination (according to the film) of Civilization... Full Review

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Decent triumph over adversity movie. Nell has a unique disability.

Clint Morris
April 27, 2003
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Jodie Foster is totally immersing

Alex Sandell
April 14, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

I know I'm in a minority, but I sort of had fun with this movie.

Brian Mckay
March 19, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Interesting, with strong performances, though not thoroughly convincing

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 22, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Nell will startle you with its poignant message that we can all be angels bringing grace and trust and light into each other's lives. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 14, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Truly dismal

Brandon Judell
April 15, 2002
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ

Nell's bell knells when her stroke-victim mother drops dead at the beginning of the film. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • What movie has the characters Theo, Nell, Luke and Dr. Marrow living under the same roof for a scintific experiment that goes terribly wrong?  Answer »
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