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The Free World
Released from prison for a crime he didn't commit, a man (Boyd Holbrook) goes on the run with a woman (Elisabeth Moss) who's suspected of killing her abusive husband. The film explores guilt, redemption, and what it means to be free.
25 May 1970, Montgomery, Alabama, USA
18 April 1966, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
1 September 1981, Prestonsburg, Kentucky, USA
September 23, 2016
What begins as a quiet, character-driven story of one man trying to break free from the shackles of his past flips the switch into gritty, down 'n dirty action thriller...May 03, 2016
The pair get a good byplay going, and a couple of individual scenes sing, but overall, it's a creaky mess.September 23, 2016
Dog metaphors prove to be only one of Jason Lew's problems, as his debut The Free World is riddled with more than a few unfortunate directorial choices.February 20, 2016
Despite actors who are clearly committed to the material, The Free World is an unfortunate misfire of banality.January 23, 2016
While there are some missteps in the story, there's a lot to admire in "The Free World," particularly in what is sure to be a breakout role for Holbrook.September 29, 2016
Despite the drama's questionable, abrupt shift into B-thriller territory, its leads remain affectingly rooted.January 22, 2016
Watchable leads elevate a downbeat story that takes its time to ignite.September 22, 2016
A movie that abruptly changes direction as it goes along while taking shortcuts that leave its characters underdeveloped and crucial plot elements barely fleshed out.August 07, 2016
While his narrative is over-written, Lew has an unfussy and measured directing style that offers promise.February 05, 2016
Lew offers up enough soft pleasures in this blend of existential drama and lovers-on-the-run thriller, letting us dwell on modest hopes and dreams, worthy of his seemingly minor story with a large emotional scope.October 27, 2016
While the religious stuff is clearly set forth, it's easy to overlook, given the abundant humanity radiated by the leads, the hothouse atmosphere of the murder investigation that threatens them, and the explosion of violence that forces the issue.February 23, 2016
The Free World is a film that doesn't know what it wants to be, and its hodgepodge of tones and focus result in a frustrating viewing experience.