SummaryAudrey Burke's life has been shattered by the sudden death of her husband. In grief, she turns to one of his lifelong friends, Jerry Sunborne, a former lawyer who is on a serious downward spiral. Together they work to repair their lives. (DreamWorks Pictures)
Directed By:Susanne Bier
Written By:Allan Loeb
Things We Lost in the Fire
Metascore
Generally Favorable
63
User score
Generally Favorable
7.3
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
67% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
27% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
7% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
89
In the end this movie belongs to Del Toro. He imbues Jerry with such life, such ambiguity, such unsentimental complexity and depth that you can’t help but feel you’re watching the most intricately mapped depiction of addiction and strained humanity the film world has ever given us.
75
The film also has an unexpected and rich vein of humor. John Carroll Lynch -- you might know him as Norm Gunderson of "Fargo" -- is a stitch as a neighbor of the Burkes.
User score
Generally Favorable
82% Positive
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
9% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
9% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Sep 2, 2014
10
This is a thoroughly engaging depiction of the life that is led by those who struggle with chemical dependency. The characters are entirely believable, the acting is superb, and the dialogue/script writing is so authentic you have to remind yourself you are watching a movie. Every character is flawed, but they are never kept from imparting something good to their relationships, which are equally flawed. Real forgiveness, redemption, and love are given the most valuable opportunities in unlikely places. I believe this is true in real life, and this movie is an excellent portrayal of that truth.
75
The movie is an engrossing melodrama, and it has its heart in the right place.
70
Bier is one of the cinema's most acute observers of intimate relations, her Scandinavian reserve muting the inherent melodrama of her material, and she draws piercing, modestly scaled performances from Duchovny, Del Toro, Alison Lohman, and John Carroll Lynch.
63
Apart from the mobile camera and a moderately challenging time-jumping script, this is weepy women's cable-television fare of the tears-and-cuddles variety.
50
This movie asks us to "accept the good" in life - not a bad message. But to overpraise Things We Lost in the Fire would be to accept the mediocre.
30
Del Toro will probably get an Oscar nod for his Jerry, because the film is so full of Oscar moments, including a cold-turkey detox bit. He rumbles and shivers and screeches and bangs his head on the wall and takes a shower in his clothes. I never believed a second of it.
Aug 4, 2013
3
Couldn't last 1/4 way through the film, I tried, but it was sssooooooo booooorrrrrrring. David Duchovny should do ads for sleep aids, seriously. This is the type of film you'd expect to find on Lifetime, LMN, O2, Hallmark, etc. In other words, wherever you'd expect to find oldsters, shutins, nuns, and the like. I'm one of the fortunate ones that got out only a half hour in. Not. Reco. Mended.
Production Company:
- DreamWorks Pictures
- Neal Street Productions
- Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit
Release Date:Oct 19, 2007
Duration:1 h 58 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Hope comes with letting go.
Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Young Artist Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
BET Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
