The Return

"The pacing is far from what you’d expect in a Hollywood movie with this much action, which can make the film feel longer than its 116 minutes. But that rich languor and that love of words is earned" 

"Director Pasolini employs a stark visual style, with the simple costumes and scenery providing little distraction. The approach works up to a point, but with its nearly two-hour running time 'The Return' eventually taxes patience with its austerity" 

"Ralph Fiennes Shines in Vicious ‘The Return’ (...) The celebrated actor is more buff than he’s ever been—and a terrifying force of fury—in this terrifying, thrilling take on ‘The Odyssey." 

"Fiennes is outstanding (...) Binoche is also excellent, infusing Penelope’s steadfast loyalty with a necessary streak of rage (...) If this movie has a glaring flaw, it’s that we just don’t get to see them interact enough" 

"One gets the sense this film was only made for reasons not dissimilar to most modern IP exploitation: an algorithm determining there was some market for the source material" 

"The film does struggle to break out of a limited dramatic register. Nevertheless, there’s a hushed profundity, especially in Binoche and Fiennes’ performances" 

"Even if the ending perfectly tied everything together, the movie’s moroseness doesn’t connect, occasionally becoming tedious"