The defence The Auteur Devotee
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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Before and After
Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1996
Two parents deal with the effects when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.
Movie details
Before and After
“A murder. A suspect. A shadow of a doubt.”
1996 Crime · Drama · Mystery 1h 48m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
5.9 / 10
Community rating
Two parents deal with the effects when their son is accused of murdering his girlfriend.
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 Before and After?
For the defence
The Auteur Devotee
“You watch the director, not the movie.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Where it lives
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Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.
Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.
Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Barbet Schroeder
Written by
Ted Tally
Meryl Streep
Carolyn Ryan
Liam Neeson
Ben Ryan
Edward Furlong
Jacob Ryan
Julia Weldon
Judith Ryan
Alfred Molina
Panos Demeris
Daniel von Bargen
Fran Conklin
John Heard
Wendell Bye
Court is in session
Put Before and After on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.