Movieo
Poster for R

R

2010 · 1h 39m · UNRATED Crime, Drama
Directed by Tobias Lindholm , Michael Noer

Seen it?

Overview

The R of the title stands for the young protagonist, Rune, fearlessly played by Pilou Asbæk. Imprisoned for violent assault, he's a cocky, good-looking young man placed in the hardcore ward, where his survival depends on quickly learning the prison's parallel world of rules, honor, and obligations. R also stands for Rachid, a young Muslim prisoner who becomes Rune's friend and accomplice, defying the rigid racial stratifications among the inmates.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
89%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Who knows better about prison life than someone who has experienced it firsthand?

V.A. Musetto, New York Post
Fresh

"R" is not about justice or redemption. You couldn't even call it a protest film about prison conditions, but it is very well made and persuasively acted.

Stephen Holden, New York Times
Fresh

Directors-screenwriters Lindholm and Noer are careful not to let the audience know more than their protagonist does, keeping them in the nerve-wrecking state of uncertainty and fear.

Karsten Kastelan, Hollywood Reporter
Fresh

The film's brilliance starts to surpass its brutality.

David Fear, Time Out New York
Rotten

Lindholm and Noer attempt to make up in raw emotion what their film lacks in context, an approach good for a surprising amount of mileage, until the project finally chokes on its own inevitable nihilism.

Andrew Schenker, Village Voice

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films