--- title: "Cool Hand Luke: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 10 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." --- # Cool Hand Luke (1967): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 10 reviews: 9 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Cool Hand Luke, with praise centred on Paul Newman’s understated performance as a defiant prisoner. The reviews repeatedly find humour alongside the brutality of captivity, and several admire how the film handles individual freedom without losing sight of the people involved. Newman’s sardonic manner and quiet authority draw consistent approval, while the supporting cast also earns praise, particularly George Kennedy and Jo Van Fleet. The differences concern how firmly the film presses its themes and how efficiently it tells its story. Slant Magazine finds the Christ imagery heavy-handed and the sentiment intrusive, despite admiring the ensemble; Variety finds the film engaging but its exposition rambling. The spread runs from enthusiastic endorsement to qualified approval rather than outright rejection, with Newman remaining a point of agreement even among the more reserved notices. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. The page’s review content could not be accessed, so its verdict and specific praise cannot be verified. The available page provides no reliable details about what the critic singled out. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cool-hand-luke-1967) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John Mahoney Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 October 2019. Mahoney praises the film as a powerful, humorous and deeply dramatic study of people in captivity. He singles out Jo Van Fleet’s brief scene with Newman as one of the film’s finest moments. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cool-hand-luke-review-1967-movie-1206020/) ## Radio Times — Tony Sloman Rating 4/5. The critic regards the film as a key American work, praising its subtle treatment of individual freedom. Paul Newman’s performance and the prologue and egg-eating scene stand out as especially memorable. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-1m956j/cool-hand-luke/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Newman gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it both an excellent prison movie and a comic allegory of redemption. He singles out Paul Newman’s performance and the film’s memorable moments and supporting cast for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/cool-hand-luke-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Bill Weber Rating 3.5/5. 13 April 2023. Weber finds the film compelling but undermined by its heavy-handed Christ imagery and sentimental touches. He praises the ensemble cast and the strong, detailed 4K transfer. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/cool-hand-luke-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-review-paul-newman/) ## The New York Times — Bosley Crowther Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 November 1967. Crowther presents the film as a forceful portrait of a man born to lose. He singles out Paul Newman’s performance as superb. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1967/11/02/archives/screen-forceful-portrait-of-a-man-born-to-losepaul-newman-superb-as.html) ## Time Out — TM Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The review presents the film as caustically witty and speaks approvingly of Paul Newman’s sardonic performance. It singles out Newman’s portrayal of a defiant chain-gang prisoner, though the full review text is unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/cool-hand-luke) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1966. The review finds the film engaging overall, though its exposition rambles and it ends on a downbeat note. It especially praises Paul Newman’s performance and the strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1966/film/reviews/cool-hand-luke-1200421403/) ## Paste — Jonah Flicker Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 November 2008. The review finds the film as fresh and vibrant decades later. It singles out Paul Newman’s understated, quietly compelling performance as the film’s anchor. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/paul-newman/cool-hand-luke-deluxe-edition) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 5 out of 5. 14 October 2008. Brew calls the film brilliant and says it retains its dramatic power, while the Blu-ray disc itself is not essential. He especially praises Paul Newman’s subtle, mesmerizing performance, with George Kennedy also singled out for an excellent supporting turn. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/cool-hand-luke-blu-ray-review/) --- © 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/cool-hand-luke.md