--- title: "All Is Lost: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/all-is-lost/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/all-is-lost" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 27 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # All Is Lost (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 27 reviews: 21 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find All Is Lost a gripping survival drama, with praise centred on Robert Redford’s restrained, physically expressive performance. The reviews repeatedly credit him with conveying vulnerability, age and determination with little dialogue. Chandor’s visual storytelling also draws broad approval: the methodical action, sea imagery and detailed sound make exposition seem unnecessary to many reviewers. For its strongest supporters, that spareness makes the struggle both tense and moving. The spread runs from enthusiastic praise to mixed responses, with no outright negative verdicts. Reservations centre on emotional distance, repetition and whether the restraint can sustain the running time. The Guardian admires Redford but finds the character difficult to reach; Little White Lies goes further, questioning his performance’s realism and finding the pace too sedate. The score divides opinion too, while several otherwise enthusiastic reviews express doubts about the ending’s handling. ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 5/5. 17 December 2013. The review is strongly positive about the film. It singles out Robert Redford’s tough, manly screen presence for praise. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/all-is-lost) ## Empire — Chris Hewitt Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 3 December 2013. Hewitt considers the film a triumph of pure cinema, driven by Redford’s sublime performance. He singles out Chandor’s assured direction and the visual storytelling for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/lost-review/) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating A-. 15 October 2013. Kohn finds the film an impressive, minimalist work, with Robert Redford’s performance carrying its themes of mortality. He praises Redford’s expressive physical acting, while noting that the patient pacing and occasional score can overstate the material. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-robert-redfords-strangest-role-of-his-career-in-j-c-chandors-all-is-lost-might-be-his-best-33932/) ## Sight and Sound — Michael Koresky Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2013. Koresky admires the film’s elemental, tightly sustained approach and finds it an operatic experience. He especially praises Robert Redford’s physically demanding performance and the empathy it earns for the solitary character. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-all-lost) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating A-. 17 October 2013. D’Angelo calls the film a triumph of dramatic minimalism, while noting that Redford’s performance is too single-minded to reach greatness. He praises its unsparing realism and the way it makes backstory and exposition feel unnecessary. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/all-is-lost-1798178343) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2013. Festival review. Chang praises the film as an emotionally resonant, eloquent survival drama and calls Redford’s performance superb. He especially singles out the resourceful, nearly wordless storytelling and the deeply moving ending, while noting that the final scene risks overcalculation. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/markets-festivals/cannes-film-review-all-is-lost-1200486217/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2013. Sharkey finds the film remarkably skillful, deeply moving and riveting. She especially praises Robert Redford’s grounded, unshowy star performance in a role that makes his age and physical limits part of the story. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-all-is-lost-review-20131018-story.html) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2013. Edelstein finds the film deeply satisfying, though he thinks its final decision is awkwardly timed and overly mythic. He singles out Robert Redford’s absorbing performance, anchored by his expressive stillness and gradual loss of composure. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/10/movie-review-all-is-lost.html) ## Radio Times — Damon Wise Rating 4/5. The review suggests the drama starts slowly before becoming deadly serious. It singles out the shift to life-threatening danger when a massive storm hits. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-5jq3y2/all-is-lost/) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Rating 4/5. 23 December 2013. The review finds the film thrilling and thoughtful, despite some repetition and an overused score. It praises Chandor’s immersive direction and Redford’s restrained, compelling performance. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/all-is-lost-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 76/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2013. Festival review. McCarthy finds the survival story compelling and praises Robert Redford’s natural, unshowy performance. He also approves of the film’s resourceful, coherent technical execution, while noting its deliberately spare approach. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/cannes-review-all-is-lost-527327/) ## Film Comment — Graham Fuller Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The available standfirst presents the film as a dignified survival story. It singles out Robert Redford’s clear-eyed performance as he faces death at sea. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-all-is-lost-robert-redford/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2013. Scott finds the film an absorbing, suspenseful survival story. He particularly praises Robert Redford’s compelling performance in a role with almost no dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/18/movies/all-is-lost-with-robert-redford-at-sea.html) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2013. Festival review. The review’s verdict cannot be determined because the article body is behind a paywall. Its specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable in the page text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/all-is-lost/5056640.article) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 8 October 2013. Schager finds the film austere and compelling overall, though its detached perspective and weak CGI undermine it. He praises Robert Redford’s performance as the source of the film’s suspense and strength. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/all-is-lost/) ## Little White Lies — Sophie Monks Kaufman Rating 3/3/3. 26 December 2013. The critic finds the film atmospheric but too sedate, with the engine giving out before its runtime ends. She praises the hypnotic water and the interesting ambiguity of the ending, while faulting Robert Redford’s performance for undermining the realism. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/all-is-lost) ## The Guardian — Andrew Pulver Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2013. Festival review. Pulver finds the film compelling but too pared-down to make its central character emotionally accessible. He praises Robert Redford’s tour de force performance, especially the subtle uncertainty conveyed by his age. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/22/all-is-lost-review-cannes-2013) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 2013. The critic finds the film visually striking but emotionally distant and less involving than its survival story might suggest. They praise its convincing sea sequences and evocative sound design. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/all-is-lost-film-review-9017616.html) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 5/5. 9 October 2013. Lambie praises the film as eloquent, beautiful cinema and a powerful meditation on courage in adversity. He singles out Robert Redford’s hypnotic physical performance and the meticulous sound and visuals. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/all-is-lost-review/) ## The Skinny — Philip Concannon Rating ★★★★★. 16 December 2013. The critic finds the film profoundly moving, while noting its bold ending may divide opinion. He praises Robert Redford’s commanding performance and Chandor’s efficient, single-minded filmmaking. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/all-is-lost) ## Paste — Annlee Ellingson Rating 9.1/10. 24 October 2013. Ellingson praises the film as a bold, primal survival story that finds power in its restraint. She singles out Robert Redford’s resourceful, dignified physical performance and the ocean’s natural soundscape and imagery. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/all-is-lost) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2013. Festival review. The critic finds the film moving and quietly inspiring, with its focus on perseverance and self-reliance. Redford’s vulnerable, physically expressive performance is singled out as the film’s greatest strength. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/cannes-review-all-lost-robert-redfords-jc-chandor-actions-speak-much-louder-words-93246/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 18 October 2013. Goldberg praises the film as a masterful exercise in visual storytelling, though he finds its emotional impact tenuous. He singles out Chandor’s use of nature’s noise and the protagonist’s silence to convey isolation. [Read the review](https://collider.com/all-is-lost-review/) ## Eye for Film — Richard Mowe Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2013. Mowe finds the film a gripping survival struggle, with Redford delivering a commanding, magnetic performance. He also praises the taut shooting, tight editing, and haunting, unobtrusive score. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/all-is-lost-2013-film-review-by-richard-mowe) ## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner Rating 4/5. 27 May 2013. Festival review. The critic finds the film gripping, emotionally powerful and astonishingly crafted. They single out its tense, methodical survival storytelling and Robert Redford’s central performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/cannes-2013-all-is-lost-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2013. Festival review. The critic finds the film visually striking and recommends seeing it on the big screen, though its emotional payoff is limited. Redford’s understated performance and the superb sound design are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/bfi-london-film-festival/a523175/all-is-lost-review-bfi-london-film-festival-2013/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). The page identifies a review of J.C. Chandor’s All Is Lost, but its review text is inaccessible. The headline suggests attention to the film’s bruising, formally rigorous approach, though the critic’s verdict cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-j-c-chandor-puts-robert-redford-through-watery-hell-in-bruising-formally-rigorous-all-is-lost-20131016/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/all-is-lost.md