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Limbo

Limbo

Adventure · Drama · Thriller · 1999

Traumatized by a fishing boat accident many years before, Joe Gastineau has given up his hopes for a life beyond the odd jobs he takes to support himself. That quickly changes when nomadic club singer Donna de Angelo and her troubled teen-age daughter enter Joe’s life. Both mother and daughter fall for Joe, increasing the friction between them. The tension continues to build when Joe invites them on a pleasure cruise up the Alaskan coast, discovering too late that the trip may cost them their lives.

Movie details

Limbo

“The only thing more dangerous than death...is survival.”

1999 Adventure · Drama · Thriller 2h 6m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

Traumatized by a fishing boat accident many years before, Joe Gastineau has given up his hopes for a life beyond the odd jobs he takes to support himself. That quickly changes when nomadic club singer Donna de Angelo and her troubled teen-age daughter enter Joe’s life. Both mother and daughter fall for Joe, increasing the friction between them. The tension continues to build when Joe invites them on a pleasure cruise up the Alaskan coast, discovering too late that the trip may cost them 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 Limbo?

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

John Sayles

Written by

John Sayles

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio

Donna De Angelo

David Strathairn

David Strathairn

Joe Gastineau

Vanessa Martinez

Vanessa Martinez

Noelle De Angelo

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson

Smilin' Jack

Casey Siemaszko

Casey Siemaszko

Bobby Gastineau

Kathryn Grody

Kathryn Grody

Frankie

Rita Taggart

Rita Taggart

Lou

Court is in session

Put Limbo on trial.

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

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.