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Poster for Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

2002 · 1h 44m · R Comedy, Drama, Romance
Directed by Shane Meadows

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Overview

Though Dek leads a simple and happy life with his girlfriend Shirley and her 12-year-old daughter Marlene, his grand, televised marriage proposal puts his devotion to the test—especially as Marlene's long-absent biological father, Jimmy, looms in the background.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
51%
Tomatometer
Fresh

The family dynamics are intriguing, and the performances mildly diverting.

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh

What Leone did for cowboys and crime, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands does for a more contemporary genre.

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Rotten

Some strong performances make it go by fairly painlessly, but inconsistencies involving plot and character keep it from ever being more than marginally involving.

Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
Rotten

Largely unintelligible romantic comedy about a couple of annoying losers and their personality-free love interest.

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
Rotten

The movie is so busy being quirky that it's hard to relate to it.

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

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