72
Metascore
15 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- From its invitingly upbeat overture to its pathos-filled but ultimately life-affirming finale, "Martin" is a masterfully conducted work.
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertStarts at the beginning and goes straight through to the inevitable end, unblinkingly. It doesn't relieve the pressure, as "Iris" does, with flashbacks to happier days.
- 80Village VoiceLeslie CamhiVillage VoiceLeslie CamhiScenes from a marriage unfolding at the limits of love and personality.
- 80Washington PostDesson ThomsonWashington PostDesson ThomsonAugust, who also made "Pelle the Conqueror" and "House of the Spirits," steers this story to its stirring conclusion with firm lack of sentimentality.
- 80VarietyVarietyA moving love story with two exquisite central performances.
- 70Film ThreatMichael DequinaFilm ThreatMichael DequinaAugust so firmly establishes characters of Martin and Barbara and their relationship, so when the disease does enter the picture, the film does not suddenly become about that; the focus clearly remains on the effect it takes on the people.
- 70The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenWatching it, I kept imagining the depth of feeling Ingmar Bergman and his troupe might have brought to the same material. As much as A Song for Martin hurts, it doesn't quite go the distance.
- 60Chicago ReaderTed ShenChicago ReaderTed ShenOnly August's assured direction and the leads' solid performances elevate this above a TV "disease of the week" movie.
- 50New York PostMegan LehmannNew York PostMegan LehmannThis slow-moving Swedish film offers not even a hint of joy, preferring to focus on the humiliation of Martin as he defecates in bed and urinates on the plants at his own birthday party.