59
Metascore
4 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 75San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSan Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonWhat makes the movie smart is its refusal to cast Troy, a difficult role well-played by Epino, as strictly a villain. Instead, Mendoza delves into the cycle of violence that can be passed down through generations.
- 70VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyThe complex tonal, textural and thematic mix here doesn’t always work, but it’s always interesting and often invigorating.
- 50Film ThreatFilm ThreatThere are scenes of utter brilliance and honesty, then clunky scenes of melodrama the next.
- 50The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergAlthough the first hour of Bitter Melon is a spiky and absorbing story of repressed feelings, the movie grinds to a halt in its final third as the characters talk things out, which might be helpful in life but in drama tends to belabor the obvious, as well as offer an easy exit.