Demme is a master of finding the bizarre in the ordinary.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
The film's principal difficulty is E. Max Frye's original screenplay, which is better thought out in terms of its narrative than of the characters.
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Demme observes the human eccentricity that underlies the corner-store banalities of Middle America with warmth and loving detail; while a magnificent rock soundtrack and faultless performances from Daniels, Griffith and Liotta ensure pleasures galore.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
24 Jun 2006
fresh:
Jonathan Demme's picaresque joyride across the American landscape is still arguably the best thing he's ever done.
– Pat Graham,
Chicago Reader,
26 Dec 2006
fresh:
It begins with a meet-cute and ends with a murder, and sandwiched in between those emotional extremes are romance, regret and revenge.