Holy Smoke | Rotten Tomatoes

Holy Smoke

R

Released Feb 22, 2000

1 hr. 54 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

46%

82 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barron (Kate Winslet) falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire PJ Waters (Harvey Keitel), a macho cult de-programmer who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But PJ quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent and iron-willed Ruth!

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Critics Consensus

Superb performances hindered by weak script and incoherent story.

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lucca b

It has great performances and insightful commentary on religion, sexuality and cultism. However, its weak script and uneven narrative prevent it from being a worthy watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love movies that take you away to another place where you get to meet interesting people do interesting things. This is one of those movies. What a fascinating, aggressive, deep, unique, and perplexing movie. Harvey Keitel and Kate are at the top of their game and should have been nominated for Oscars. The supporting cast only makes the film better. Kate's mom deserved a nomination for Best Female in a supporting role. Great acting all around. Rating: A-

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

john m

Some of it is wonderfully acted, specifically in the more intimate scenes with just Keitel and Winslet but Campion has too much going on here overall and a lot of Keitel's character arcs just seem out of place and strange. As much as I love Campion as a unique feminist filmmaker, there is an ultimate loss of cohesion and focus to this film which could have been easily amended by keeping it simpler and more grounded in its characters.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

lanfranco c

When the "Victim" becomes the "Master"

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Starts really well only to run out of ideas and drive off the proverbial cliff.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

takes on sex and religion all in 1 pic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Jane Campion

Director

Kate Winslet

Ruth Barron

Harvey Keitel

PJ Walters

Pam Grier

Carol

Julie Hamilton

Mum

Sophie Lee

Yvonne

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Holy Smoke: Official Clip - I Love You, Ruth

1:57

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - P.J. Waters, Cult Exiter

1:47

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - Indian Guru Baba

2:08

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - I Put a Spell on You

2:08

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - How to Kiss a Woman

2:13

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - Hindu Hallucination

2:10

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - Man Hater

2:06

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - An Ugly Woman

2:12

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - Revolting Sex

2:13

Holy Smoke: Official Clip - Punch Out

2:12

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

All sorts of questions go unanswered, and there's little of the density found in Campion's early work; this is mainly smoke, not fire.

Apr 27, 2012

Full Review

David Rooney

Variety

Original in every sense, this often difficult film about family, relationships, sexual politics, spiritual questing, faith and obsession further explores the director's abiding fascinations in excitingly unconventional terms.

Jun 17, 2008

Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Observer

Ms. Winslet is, by contrast, champagne and caviar for moviegoing grown-ups with good taste.

Apr 27, 2007

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...a sexual awakening of sorts for both of its characters.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 13, 2013

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: C

Sep 22, 2012

Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

A profoundly generous treatise on how men and women misunderstand and torment one another.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 27, 2009

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

While on a journey of discovery in exotic India, beautiful young Ruth Barron (Kate Winslet) falls under the influence of a charismatic religious guru. Her desperate parents then hire PJ Waters (Harvey Keitel), a macho cult de-programmer who confronts Ruth in a remote desert hideaway. But PJ quickly learns that he's met his match in the sexy, intelligent and iron-willed Ruth!

Director: Jane Campion
Executive Producer: Julie Goldstein, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein
Screenwriter: Jane Campion, Anna Campion
Distributor: Buena Vista International [us], Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R (Strong Sexuality|Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 22, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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