Nell (1994)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Sadly Over-hyped

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I just watched a news story of a group of four teenagers, two boys and two girls, kidnapping and assaulting a boy with special needs. They are so delighted with themselves that they film it an put it on Facebook. We have a culture that enjoys going after those the least able to defend themselves. The character of Nell, based on a real person, is a woman who was raised in the woods and has developed a language all her own. It was a hybrid of two influences as she grew up. Of course, this brings in authorities who want to have her committed. One is a doctor who has no respect for her humanity and who wants to have her handy to study. Fortunately, someone intervenes and begins to "break the code" of the language she uses. How this happens is really interesting. Jodi Foster as the title character does a fine job, once again showing the versatility of her acting.

My rating: 8 out of 10 (I really liked it) I just watched this and wow, what a movie.I hope no one would let the "average" rating this movie has received on IMDb dissuade them from giving it a try. I can't predict what people will like and what they won't like, but I know that for me it was an experience I didn't want to end. The point of movies is to immerse you in another world, to make you believe you're watching real people going through real experiences. For 2 hours 'Nell' did that for me.The acting in 'Nell' is some of the best I've ever seen. There wasn't a false note to be found from a single person in the cast – these actors BECAME those characters. Never once did I feel that I was watching a performance. It was all incredibly real, and that's rare. I was in awe the whole time.'Nell' is full of wonderful things. The cinematography is utterly gorgeous. Normally visuals don't carry much weight with me, but even I couldn't help but notice. And the music, while simple, was so weighty and effective.This is not a movie for people who are bored unless there's fighting and explosions and such. This is a thoughtful movie. It's about people, their life experiences, and how they deal with and are shaped by those experiences.It's interesting…I've read a number of reviews of 'Nell', and the mixed reactions it's gotten for the last 20 years tell me that sometimes even highly intelligent people can see a movie and yet not really see it. Many reviewers would have you think 'Nell' is about language, about the phenomenon of "idioglossia". Trust me, that's NOT what this movie is about. Yes, that may be the framework for the story, and "Idioglossia" is the name of the play on which this is based, but that's not what 'Nell' is about. Simply put, the story of 'Nell' is a story of two of the most basic and yet most profound of human experiences – love and loss. For two hours we are given a window into the lives of these characters, watching them as they help one another deal with these two matters together.I won't say any more about the plot because I would hate to spoil anything for someone reading this, but I will add one more thing. Watching Jodi Foster in the very last scene of the movie…maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, but wow. Rarely have I seen an end to a movie that so simply, effectively, and profoundly reflects on a human being's experience of love and loss.My rating of an 8 in no way implies that I found flaws with this movie. When you reach a certain level of quality in art it becomes simply a matter of preference. In my scale, 9 and 10 are generally reserved for movies of certain genres and certain subjects. Therefore, I would not argue one bit with someone who gave this movie a perfect score.

Nell, the movie is titled after the protagonist Nell, a wild girl who has grown up isolated in the woods. The lack of exposure, death of her twin sister, and tales narrated by her paralyzed hermit mother leaves her with an unusual behavior, distorted speech, fear of strangers and the real world. The story revolves around Dr. Jerome Lovell who discovers Nell, panic-stricken at the death of her mother. He tries his best to communicate with her, protect her from strangers, and lead her to a normal life. With time, he grows fond of her. When Jerome explores different options to grab Nell's attention and persuades her to respond, the movie gets intriguing. Dr. Jerome discusses Nell's case with Paula Olsen, who believes and proposes that institutionalization is the way to treat and protect Nell. Paula appeals to the court for the custody of Nell. However, Jerome counters that Nell will turn out to be an object of scientific research like other patients in such medical facilities. The court grants 3 months to both the appellants to observe Nell closely and prove their stance. However, after observing Nell's independence, routines, and response to Jerome, Paula is convinced that the impersonal medical procedures will not cure Nell. Therefore, she begins to assist Jerome in his efforts to understand Nell's language and interact with her. Jerome soon turns out to be Nell's "Guardian Angel". But during their stay together, Jerome and Paula also develop intimacy.Towards the climax, I was convinced that Jerome and Nell will lead a happy life together. However, the movie takes a smooth turn when Nell is seen as the same person but in the company of Jerome's friends. She is shown free, happy, and playing in the woods with Ruthie, Jerome and Paula's daughter. I am impressed by the remarkable performances of Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson. Jodie Foster's effort to justify Nell's appearance and behavior as a wild girl deserves a clamorous applause, mainly for her voice modulation, expressions, movements, and gestures. Liam Neeson's acting as Dr Jerome is significant. Particularly, the dramatic narration of his childhood to evoke Nell's reaction is spectacular. The portrayal of innocence and purity is heart-warming, when Nell vents out her feelings to Jerome and embraces him. Jerome's natural display of disappointment and anger is powerful, at the pathetic sight of Nell in the hospital. The impulsive reaction on realizing that he would lose Nell is admirable. Last but not the least, the choice of the pristine location in the movie, around Nell's wood cabin, certainly adds to the effectiveness of the plot. Firstly, if you are a fan of either Jodie Foster or Liam Neeson, you must not miss this movie. In general, "Nell" is worth your money and time.

Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson play a couple of doctors who discover a wild child named Nell, a woman who's grown up completely isolated from human contact, and who as a result has developed her own language, mode of communication, etc.I can understand what drew Jodie Foster to the role of Nell, because on paper it's a serious actress's wet dream. However, the results, while earnest, are rather embarrassing. Something about the film, and Foster's performance, never quite works, and I found myself laughing at her performance, never a good sign.The whole thing is just a little too nauseating to be completely enjoyable.Grade: B-