Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)

O’Sullivan finds the film sexy, polished and emotionally engaging, praising Jamie Bell’s witty, heartfelt performance and Annette Bening’s portrayal of Gloria Grahame. She faults the film for raising but then abandoning the serious allegation about Grahame’s stepson.

Aspinall’s verdict is strongly positive, describing the romance as beautifully made and incredibly moving. He singles out its witty, affecting portrayal of the love affair between Gloria Grahame and Peter Turner.

Bradshaw finds the film a warm, tender and affecting love story. He particularly praises the chemistry and relaxed performances of Annette Bening and Jamie Bell.

Farber finds the film a tender, emotionally forceful romantic drama, despite a few underexplored elements. He especially praises Annette Bening and Jamie Bell, calling their performances subtle and riveting.

The review describes the film as a tender-hearted love story. Its praise singles out the soulful blend of everyday realism and Hollywood glamour.

Richards finds the film a classy, sentimental weepie that earns its melodrama. He singles out Annette Bening’s nuanced, compelling performance as its biggest strength.

Turan finds the film engaging and says it is essential viewing for Annette Bening fans. He especially praises Bening’s convincing, nuanced portrayal of Gloria Grahame.

The review is positive about the film’s intimate, tender portrayal of a relationship. It singles out Annette Bening’s performance for praise.

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Rife finds the film overly sentimental and visually heavy-handed despite its strong central performance. She singles out Annette Bening’s restrained, sympathetic portrayal of Gloria Grahame as the film’s chief strength.

Bowen finds the romance clichéd and emotionally underdeveloped, with its shuffled timeline further draining the story of urgency. He praises Annette Bening’s expressive performance, especially how her eyes and movements evoke Gloria Grahame.

The review finds the biopic bland despite its engaging leads. It praises the chemistry between Annette Bening and Jamie Bell, but faults the later sections for feeling formulaic and emotionally weightless.

Edelstein finds the story too narrow and conceptually limited, despite its engaging cast. He especially praises Annette Bening’s lively performance and Julie Walters’s grounded portrayal of Peter’s mother.

Brody finds the film psychologically simplistic and dramatically thin, ultimately saying it has little to say about its eras. He praises Annette Bening’s early scenes as Grahame, while faulting the film for failing to develop her presence and insights more fully.

Debruge finds the film elegant but ultimately forgettable and overly manipulative. He praises Annette Bening’s nuanced, vulnerable performance, especially in the early romance scenes.

Marric finds the film genuinely moving and tender, with awards-worthy performances. She especially praises Jamie Bell’s assured portrayal of Peter and Annette Bening’s mimicry of Gloria Grahame.

The review finds the film warm, moving and tender, and recommends it for its two excellent central performances. It particularly praises Annette Bening’s screen presence and Paul McGuigan’s restrained direction.

The review finds the biopic tepid and uncurious, with its cautious storytelling failing to develop Gloria Grahame’s life. It praises Annette Bening’s vulnerable performance, alongside Jamie Bell’s work.

The critic finds the film disappointing and says it fails to move the heart. He singles out Annette Bening’s performance as unconvincing, despite its evident intensity.