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IMDbPro

Kinsey

  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
50K
YOUR RATING
Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)
Trailer
Play trailer2:37
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaRomance
A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that sa... Read allA look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.A look at the life of Alfred Kinsey, a pioneer in the area of human sexuality research, whose 1948 publication "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" was one of the first recorded works that saw science address sexual behavior.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
50K
YOUR RATING
    • Bill Condon
    • Bill Condon
  • Stars
    • Liam Neeson
    • Laura Linney
    • Chris O'Donnell
    • Bill Condon
    • Bill Condon
  • Stars
    • Liam Neeson
    • Laura Linney
    • Chris O'Donnell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 215User reviews
    • 187Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    Kinsey
    Trailer 2:37
    Watch Kinsey

    Photos118

    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton and Chris O'Donnell in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Donnell, and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson and Laura Linney in Kinsey (2004)
    Timothy Hutton, Liam Neeson, Chris O'Donnell, and Peter Sarsgaard in Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)
    Kinsey (2004)
    Liam Neeson in Kinsey (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Alfred Kinsey
    Laura Linney
    Laura Linney
    • Clara McMillen
    Chris O'Donnell
    Chris O'Donnell
    • Wardell Pomeroy
    Peter Sarsgaard
    Peter Sarsgaard
    • Clyde Martin
    Timothy Hutton
    Timothy Hutton
    • Paul Gebhard
    John Lithgow
    John Lithgow
    • Alfred Seguine Kinsey
    Tim Curry
    Tim Curry
    • Thurman Rice
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Herman Wells
    Dylan Baker
    Dylan Baker
    • Alan Gregg
    Julianne Nicholson
    Julianne Nicholson
    • Alice Martin
    William Sadler
    William Sadler
    • Kenneth Braun
    John McMartin
    John McMartin
    • Huntington Hartford
    Veronica Cartwright
    Veronica Cartwright
    • Sara Kinsey
    Kathleen Chalfant
    Kathleen Chalfant
    • Barbara Merkle
    Heather Goldenhersh
    Heather Goldenhersh
    • Martha Pomeroy
    Dagmara Dominczyk
    Dagmara Dominczyk
    • Agnes Gebhard
    Harley Cross
    Harley Cross
    • Young Man in Gay Bar
    Susan Blommaert
    Susan Blommaert
    • Staff Secretary
      • Bill Condon
      • Bill Condon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On the DVD commentary, writer and director Bill Condon revealed that he wanted to include, in a montage, a clip from I Love Lucy (1951), in which a character makes a joking reference to Dr. Alfred Kinsey's research. Condon says that he was unable to use the clip because Lucie Arnaz (the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) denied him the rights, offering very little explanation, aside from claiming that her parents would never allow themselves to be associated with Kinsey.
    • Goofs
      During the credits, the producers thank the "University of Indiana" when it is actually "Indiana University" of which Alfred Kinsey was a part. The university notified director Bill Condon of the mistake. Condon gave his word that it would be taken care of when the film went on general release, but the mistake remains.
    • Quotes

      Wardell Pomeroy: How old were you when you first engaged in sexual activity with a partner?

      Research Subject: Fourteen.

      Wardell Pomeroy: How?

      Research Subject: With horse.

      Wardell Pomeroy: [pause] How often were you having intercourse with animals at age 14?

      Research Subject: [stunned] It's true. I fucked a pony. You are genius, how did you know?

      Wardell Pomeroy: You just said you had... sex with horse.

      Research Subject: Nooo... Whores, not horse, *whores*.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the film (following the main cast credits), a montage featuring Kinsey Institute footage of the mating habits of various animals is accompanied by "Fever" by Little Willie John.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason/Finding Neverland/Kinsey/After the Sunset (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Etudes, Opus 25
      Written by Frédéric Chopin

      Performed by Idil Biret

      Courtesy of Naxos of North America, Inc.

    User reviews215

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Enjoy the performances of Liam Neeson and Laura Linney
    Liam Neeson is a terrific actor, and Dr. Alfred Kinsey is his character. After seeing "Kinsey" I can't imagine anyone else better for the role. People usually say that, I know, but you couldn't possibly imagine anyone else playing the part, ever. I think Neeson has a strong chance at winning an Oscar this year; as does Laura Linney, playing Kinsey's wife, a terrifically kind, warm woman trying to keep up with Kinsey's life, which moves along pretty fast. Too fast for her at times. These two performances are awesome, two of the actors' best, the Academy, and every other awards show, would have to be insane not to mention them.

    Unfortunately, I don't think the rest of the movie is really up to par with the performances. Not to say it's bad, just that it fails to really interest us when Neeson or Linney aren't on screen (which, fortunately, doesn't happen much). The movie is about Alfred Kinsey, who pioneered the research on human sexuality. Neeson shows him as a strong man, but one with as many flaws as the gall wasps he collected, all buried deep beneath his drive and focus.

    Kinsey's studies proved some things, and let a lot of homosexuality and other deviances from the norm at the time out into the open. I'd just like to say that I agree with some of his studies, I like that he unlocked the way uptight supposed "morality" of the masses think that any sexual behavior other than the missionary position is both unhealthy and immoral. How they thought that I don't know, but I admire Kinsey for proving them wrong. Other things I do not agree with, like Kinsey's studies on the time it takes really young children to reach orgasm…and Kinsey's way of thinking that sex on its basic level should have no emotional attachment; I think I can say that these things are ethically wrong without feeling ignorant.

    But I won't be biased against the quality of the film because of this. I will speak of the technique of how it was made: the writing, the directing, etc. I liked how the movie began: with a black and white practice interview between Kinsey, his wife Clara, and their students. It is inter-cut with scenes from Kinsey's youth: Kinsey facing temptation with masturbation, and having trouble with his insanely strict father (John Lithgow).

    Lithgow's first scene, where he speaks of the temptation and evil caused by zippers, electricity and ice cream parlors is the film's first problem. It doesn't show both sides of Kinsey's argument, it merely dismisses Lithgow – and those like him – as a laughing stock, instead of considering any validity in points that they're making.

    This problem is carried throughout the movie, and Lithgow is seen as such a monster that we feel no sympathy for his character in a later scene showing his inner weakness and tragic past, the scene feels thrown in and very foreign to the rest of the movie.

    I think the opening scenes, with Kinsey and Clara first falling for each other, and his proposal and collection of gall wasps, are the movie's best, I believe. Once Kinsey starts his research on sex I think the movie becomes a bit conventional. We get the usual scenes such as Kinsey alienated from his family, Kinsey receiving trouble from his financial backers, Clara feeling alienated from Kinsey, and so on. Of course, most of the time we watch eagerly, because Neeson and Linney are awesome, but we still have that itching feeling that the film isn't as special as Ebert says.

    What I mean is, after decades of biopics, especially this year; a biopic has to be more than conventional. Unless the lead character is amazing and extremely watchable, like in "Ray", the film needs to show us something new. I mean, when you see a biopic, you pretty much know the lead is going be alienated from his family, obsessed with his work and full of inner demons. So give us something else, please.

    Problems also arise with the introduction of Kinsey's staff, including bisexual Clyde Martin (Peter Sarsgaard), Wardell Pomeroy (Chris O'Donnell) and Paul Gebhart (Timothy Hutton). The problem is, we hardly know any of these characters, so we are bored when they get into arguments because we don't feel that we know anything about them. When we find out that Martin is bisexual it comes as a surprise, but we react with a shrug. Sarsgaard's performance is surprisingly flat; that he's getting any buzz for awards surprises me.

    I'm giving the movie a seven simply because of the professionalism Neeson and Linney display on screen. They are the acting pros; they wash the floor with the rest of the cast. The Academy voters will all be struck by lightning if either isn't mentioned. So see it for them, and about the rest, well, shrug.

    7/10
    helpful•32
    34
    • NoArrow
    • Dec 26, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 7, 2005 (United States)
      • United States
      • Germany
      • Fox Searchlight
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Fordham University - 441 E. Fordham Road. Rose Hill, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Searchlight Pictures
      • Qwerty Films
      • N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 58 minutes
      • Color
      • Black and White
      • Dolby Digital

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