75
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- It's hard to believe, but Hal Holbrook, one of the stage and screen's enduring talents, has never had the solo lead in a feature film. That has been duly rectified with the actor's achingly memorable star performance in the superb That Evening Sun.
- 90Film ThreatFilm ThreatHalbrook absolutely nails the lead role of Mr. Abner Meecham, the headstrong farmer whose lips can’t form the words “give up.”
- 90VarietyJoe LeydonVarietyJoe LeydonDeliberately paced, richly atmospheric drama also boasts first-rate work by a splendid supporting cast and impressive production values.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckA moving if too-leisurely paced effort that benefits immeasurably from the superb performance by its 84-year-old star.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanHolbrook makes Abner a shining-eyed, noble crank.
- 75New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickThere are a lot of grace notes in That Evening Sun, including Barry Corbin's hilarious work as Abner's neighbor, a vivid sense of landscape and a visually arresting climax.
- 70Village VoiceVillage VoiceMore than once, the director inserts a gooey flashback to a tender moment between the farmer and his late wife (Dixie Carter) that not only extends an already overlong movie, but also fatally undercuts the artful rigor of its leading man.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenHal Holbrook strips the stereotype of the grumpy old man of sentimental shtick and cutesy old-codger mannerisms.
- 40Time OutStephen GarrettTime OutStephen GarrettThe grizzled veteran actor, naturally, elevates the material like a pro, yet the entire exercise feels thin and reedy, trading in geriatric sentiment instead of hard-forged emotion.
- 40New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierDirector Scott Teems' film is as quiet as untilled soil -- not always a good thing -- but Holbrook has a handle on where to dig.