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Before and After
1996 108 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★6.0
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Trailers
Description
Two parents deal with the effects when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.
Budget:
$35M
US Gross:
$8.8M
Worldwide:
$8.8M
Starring
Meryl Streep
Actor
Liam Neeson
Actor
Edward Furlong
Actor
Key opinion
Before and After is a polarizing family drama that attempts to explore the moral decay and psychological fallout following a son's alleged crime. While some viewers find its themes of accountability and familial loyalty deeply moving, others criticize the execution as superficial, emotionally distant, and narratively uneven.
| Acting | The performances of Meryl Streep and Liam Neeson are consistently recognized as the film's strongest assets, even when the material falters. | |
| Theme | The film raises thought-provoking questions regarding the boundaries of parental loyalty and the moral cost of protecting one's child at all costs. | |
| Direction | The direction by Barbet Schroeder is perceived as cold and superficial, failing to generate the expected emotional resonance for such a tragic premise. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for having flat dialogue and a meandering narrative that struggles to justify the characters' illogical choices. | |
| Emotion | Viewers are divided on the film's emotional impact; some find it a touching, life-altering experience, while others describe it as dry, artificial, and devoid of genuine feeling. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the pacing are split: some appreciate the contemplative, thoughtful approach to the aftermath of a tragedy, while others find the tempo glacial and exhausting. |