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The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

Drama · 2019

A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces about the written correspondence he once shared with the former, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives.

Movie details

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

2019 Drama 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces about the written correspondence he once shared with the former, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Death & Life of John F. Donovan?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Xavier Dolan

Written by

Xavier Dolan · Jacob Tierney

Kit Harington

Kit Harington

John F. Donovan

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman

Sam Turner

Jacob Tremblay

Jacob Tremblay

Rupert Turner

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon

Grace Donovan

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates

Barbara Haggermaker

Ben Schnetzer

Ben Schnetzer

Rupert Turner (21 y.o.)

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton

Journalist

Court is in session

Put The Death & Life of John F. Donovan on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.