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The Worst Film Ever

So much average

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

First things first, if you're pro-life or pro-abortion you probably won't like this film. It's like many of us, ambivalent to the main issue, but shows the comedy that sometimes goes with passionate alternate views. It is well handled and evenly balanced in it's caricatures. Laura Dern is great as possibly the least glamorous heroine an actress would choose to play. But that could also be said of the whole cast, well acted, well made, well worth watching if it won't offend any strongly held views.

Firstly, it's interesting how this film is structured and pans out as it develops. You get the impression to start with it's this heavy drama with difficult themes and an atmosphere too realistic that the film could really be considered 'entertaining'; interesting, but rather almost like an informative piece on grave contemporary social issues.Then I remembered the label 'comedy', remembered the pleasant-looking poster and thought there was a problem there. But as the story plays out, we're given a glimpse of what the principle point really is, and as that establishes progressively we're dropped into a much lighter atmosphere, all the while the plot thickens and the problems pile on for the characters. The film turns into a parody of its own theme and does it quite seamlessly, like as it progresses the story naturally exposes its ridiculous nature, that being the ridiculous caricature-like nature of human beings in their quest for interest and self-promotion.There are two sides and both are so caught up in their battle against the opponent they lose sight of the very subject (and person) they got involved with in the first place.The ending is very pleasantly casual and spontaneous and terribly dense with meaning without ever spelling it out whatsoever. A big change from overtly dramatic, spoon-fed morals during endings.Top notch stuff. Very good acting, all actors buy into their roles and the film entirely - and Alexander Payne great as always.8.25/10

There are 49 reviews and no one mentioned the ending credits? Maybe nobody waits for them to roll. The first 1/2 has typical end of the movie music. Then there is the loud sound of a cassette turning over. The cassette she was playing earlier about how to make money plays with lots of pseudo advanced theories about investing money from a small nest egg. Then the tape jams and breaks and the movie ends. Too funny. My Dad picked this movie. Reading the short description given of a comedy about both sides of the abortion debate I was expecting the worst. However it is a dark comedy that pulls off its subject quite well, making fun of everyone. That is rare for a movie made in the last 10 years. A movie such as this works best when the main characters don't come off too stereotypically. The movie only partly succeeds with this. This type of movie is so uncommon nowadays though that I give it a 9.

There is something about Citizen Ruth that keeps me coming back to it. I must have seen it 30 times and haven't tired of it yet. It is genuine and the people are so amazingly real. It's almost as if some of my neighbours seem just like the characters in the film. That says a lot in my opinion. The Mid-west is a land that holds a special place in the American psyche. I can literally count on my hands the number of films that truly capture its spirit. Citizen Ruth is one of those films. From scenes in the hardware store to large rear wheel drive Fords, everything fits perfectly. This film captures a place called Omaha which for better or worse Hollywood largely ignores. It also treats a controversial topic like abortion in a thoughtful manner. Excellent film. Highly recommended.10 out of 10 stars.