The Broken Circle Breakdown

"The less convincingly scripted second half sputters more often than it shines."

"Van Groeningen blends the happiness and tragedy of life like a master alchemist, using music as an emotional life-raft, which is just as well: the bleak final third will test the hardiest of souls."

"When the narrative gets bogged down with science-versus-religion ranting, yet you're still left with a movie a little too reliant on playing clawhammer on your heartstrings."

"After a while, the temporal shuffling feels more programmatic than revelatory and increasingly false."

"I'm afraid I couldn't quite see past the oddness of its conceit: to redo Blue Valentine with songs."

"Invigorating musical elements and the lead actors' potent chemistry can't entirely protect this tragic relationship drama from its encroaching shortage of subtlety."

"Plot contrivances aside, it's easy to see why this Belgian drama, powerfully sound-tracked by bluegrass tunes, has seduced festival crowds."