55
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Ray ConlogueThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Ray ConlogueYou don't need to have seen a lot of art films to love The Diaries of Vaslav Nijinsky. All it takes is compassionate curiosity and perhaps some lingering memory of the world as a child experiences it.
- It's absorbing stuff, with some of the dishy quality of Andy Warhol's diaries and an almost humorous single-mindedness whenever Nijinsky returns, yet again, to the subjects of his vegetarianism, or how much he loves Russia (and France, and England, and just about everywhere he's ever been).
- 60Washington PostWashington PostHas its share of arresting images, especially a lovely pas de deux performed in the nude and a dazzling performance of "Le Spectre de la Rose."
- 50Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanThose who are only mildly curious, I fear, will be put to sleep or bewildered by the artsy and often pointless visuals.
- Sadly, this noble effort is loving but lame.
- 50The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenWatching Paul Cox's impressionistic film based on the diaries of that legendary dancer and choreographer, it is impossible not to contemplate with a shudder the shadowy line between art, ecstasy and psychosis.
- 40TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghIt quickly becomes clear that Nijinsky's disordered thoughts are simply the rantings of a man losing his grip on reality. They're sad and occasionally evocative, but they're not especially interesting in and of themselves, and do nothing to evoke or illuminate Nijinsky's genius.
- 38New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanUnfortunately, the visuals are not compelling enough on their own to hold our interest, and a highly mannered Derek Jacobi is all wrong as the narrative voice of Nijinsky.
- 30VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyDespite its occasional visual interest, avant-garde package is far from the accessible tortured-artist portrait helmer essayed 15 years ago in "Vincent." Even committed dance and experimental cinema fans are likely to find this rough sledding.
- 10Village VoiceVillage VoiceA real snooze.