The Theory of Flight | Rotten Tomatoes

The Theory of Flight

R

Released Jan 22, 1999

1h 39m

Romance

List

50%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

57%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Free-spirited artist Richard (Kenneth Branagh) finds himself in the employ of Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) when he is forced to do community service after leaping from a building with a rickety homemade glider strapped to his back. Jane, a young woman with a degenerative neurological disease, uses a wheelchair for mobility and a voice synthesizer to communicate. Through this device, she implores Richard to help her in her quest to lose her virginity before she dies.

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Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

Unprincipled in its naked contrivance.

Apr 2, 2019

Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 2/4

Apr 25, 2003

Full Review

Antonia Quirke

Independent on Sunday

The final reel of the film is over-sentimental, but the early scenes involving the couple at war are affecting.

Nov 28, 2017

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 25, 2005

Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Rated: 3/5

Feb 8, 2004

Full Review

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Steve D

Ridiculous, obvious, and emotionally manipulative.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/29/24

Full Review

Audience Member

An extremely moving film of a most unlikely romance. Bring your tissues as you will have need of them. A real screen gem that will appeal to hopeless romantics, underachievers, the hopeless. See The Theory of Flight for an extraordanary human though improbable adventure. Still, thumbs up by me. [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/74/Theoryofflightposter.jpeg/220px-Theoryofflightposter.jpeg[/img] PLOT: A dreamer who aspires to human flight [in 1998] is assigned public service after one of his attempts jumping off a public building. This leads him to meeting a young woman, who is dying of motor neuron disease. Her one hope is to have a love affair which our dreamer feels he cannot provide yet can he? [img]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSih-zmRDxRi6c86zdDBvg1f_K6NXGcHvY4VhpJ0egEkDUnPRbeHw[/img] "The Theory of Flight is a 1998 film directed by Paul Greengrass, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Kenneth Branagh. Bonham Carter plays a woman with motor neurone disease (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease)...'--- wikipedia [img]http://www.movie-roulette.com/photos_big/the-theory-of-flight-2-1.jpeg[/img] The two stars of the film flying SEE the entire film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHfGr4tULw REVIEWS: Just watched this on Indieplex....amazing performances by Kenneth Branagh and Helena Bonham Carter..... must see!!!! 40% Film Critic Gene Siskel Died On February 20th, 1999. [this was the last film Siskel reviewed (thumbs up) before his death, while partner Roger Ebert gave it a thumbs down] [img]https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIVAh1FA2WlJD0X90z8w3L9QGGYPa-Nr1mIlcHKEz_XArqX38F[/img] NOTES: 1 This was the last film reviewed by the noted film critics Gene Siskel, who gave the film a thumbs up, and Roger Ebert, who gave the film a thumbs down, on Siskel and Ebert at The Movies before Siskel's death on 20 February 1999. CAST Helena Bonham Carter as Jane Hatchard Kenneth Branagh as Richard Gemma Jones as Anne Holly Aird as Julie Ray Stevenson as Gigolo [img]http://www.branaghcompendium.com/rickbwjane.jpg[/img] Directed by Paul Greengrass Produced by Ruth Caleb Anant Singh Helena Spring Written by Richard Hawkins Music by Rolfe Kent Cinematography Ivan Strasburg Editing by Mark Day Distributed by Fine Line Features Capelight Pictures Release dates 22 January 1999 Running time 101 minutes Country United Kingdom Language English [img]https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRx58BA37huKm1lrxg52yjEfeaWTaYqDbgZ3_RhbtxTVolvp9Qx[/img]

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

alex k

Film Critic Gene Siskel Died On February 20th, 1999.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It was about as inoffensive as such a premise could be. HBC & KB made it watchable, but just barely.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A marvelous performance by the great Helena Bonham Carter!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I thought it was funny and sweet

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Paul Greengrass

Director

Helena Bonham Carter

Jane Hatchard

Kenneth Branagh

Richard

Gemma Jones

Anne

Holly Aird

Julie

Ray Stevenson

Gigolo

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Synopsis

Free-spirited artist Richard (Kenneth Branagh) finds himself in the employ of Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) when he is forced to do community service after leaping from a building with a rickety homemade glider strapped to his back. Jane, a young woman with a degenerative neurological disease, uses a wheelchair for mobility and a voice synthesizer to communicate. Through this device, she implores Richard to help her in her quest to lose her virginity before she dies.

Director: Paul Greengrass
Producer: Ruth Caleb, Anant Singh, Helena Spring
Screenwriter: Richard Hawkins
Distributor: Fine Line Features
Production Co: Distant Horizon
Rating: R
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $72.0K
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital