--- title: "Metropolitan: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/metropolitan/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/metropolitan" critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 7 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." --- # Metropolitan (1990): what the critics said Critics' score 83 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are favourable without exception, and the praise gathers almost entirely around Whit Stillman’s screenplay. Critic after critic singles out the dialogue, described variously as chiselled, glittering, quotable and musical, and most note the affection in the observation: a comedy of manners that ribs its privileged young New Yorkers without belittling them. The ensemble is admired too, with Taylor Nichols and Christopher Eigeman picked out as the funniest performers and the outsider Tom as the sharpest piece of characterisation. The spread of scores is narrow and the reservations are mild. Empire finds the second half drifting from astringent social comedy into somewhat forced romance. The Los Angeles Times admits that sympathy for the very rich and rather dim is tested before the film’s quiet observation wins it round, and Eye for Film recommends it despite rather than because of its Park Avenue setting. Nobody is hostile; the only question is how much patience the milieu asks of the viewer. ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Rating A. 6 August 2015. The critic calls the film a hilarious yet warmly affectionate portrait of New York’s debutante-ball subculture that remains a fascinating cinematic oddity. He singles out the plethora of quotable lines and the superb ensemble delivering them for praise. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/whit-stillman-s-hilarious-high-society-comedy-metropoli-1798184548) ## Film Comment — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The critic views Metropolitan as a melancholic yet appreciative elegy for a class of anachronistic young socialites whose charm and self-awareness make the film enduring. He singles out the film's elegant, perceptive dialogue and aperçus for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/film-of-the-week-metropolitan/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 19 May 2006. Whit Stillman’s directorial debut confidently immerses viewers in an improbable but believable hothouse world of privileged Manhattan youth. The critic singles out the beautifully chiselled dialogue, paired with near-static camerawork and mannered performances, as the film’s chief attraction. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/may/19/comedy.drama) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 May 2006. Whit Stillman's first film from 1990 is a wryly sympathetic portrait of aristocratic college students attending nightly balls in Manhattan over Christmas. It features glittering dialogue and lovely New York scenery, evoking what Woody Allen might have made if born rich. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/metropolitan-15-479128.html) ## Time Out — Jessica Winter Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2006. Stillman’s semi-autobiographical debut follows the university-age scions of New York’s old-money Upper East Side during Christmas vacation debutante balls and after-parties. The critic praises the dry, affable humour that ribs the characters’ vanities without belittling them and highlights the sharp characterisation, especially of the outsider stand-in Tom. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/metropolitan) ## Empire — Angie Errigo 26 May 2006. This small, gentle first feature shows Stillman's literary background to good effect with sound cinematic instincts and affectionate, witty observation of young New York socialites. The second half shifts from astringent social comedy to somewhat forced romantic nonsense. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/metropolitan-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson 10 August 1990. The critic notes that compassion for the very rich and rather dim may be tested but appreciates the gentle irony and the director's gift for quiet, scrupulous observation that grows on the viewer. Stillman understands caste, class and deportment as perfectly as Jane Austen. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-10-ca-399-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Jaime N. Christley 2 August 2015. The critic finds Stillman’s portrait of the urban haute bourgeoisie redeemed by the filmmaker’s affectionate custody of their idiosyncrasies and flaws. The review singles out the musical quality of the dialogue and the bittersweet evocation of a vanished youthful milieu for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/metropolitan/) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby 3 August 1990. The critic calls it a comedy of manners of a very high order with unparochial wit and sense of fun. The film places its privileged young characters in context with alertness and intelligence, with particularly funny performances from Taylor Nichols and Christopher Eigeman. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/03/arts/review-film-whit-stillman-s-metropolitan-a-modern-comedy-of-manners.html) ## Variety — Amy Dawes 27 January 1990. Festival review. Whit Stillman makes a strikingly original debut with a glib, ironic portrait of the vulnerable young heirs to Manhattan’s disappearing debutante scene, offering rich, sparkling dialog, distinct characters and an intriguing peek into a seldom seen milieu. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1990/film/reviews/metropolitan-1200428333/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 27 August 2012. The film is a nuanced and original portrait of crumbling preppy aristocracy that humanizes its privileged characters through witty dialogue and intellectual banter. It stands out as one of the most elegant and intelligent debuts of its generation. [Read the review](https://collider.com/metropolitan-criterion-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 2006. The critic finds Whit Stillman's debut worth seeing despite its focus on Park Avenue debutantes and their escorts. The screenplay stands out for its tact, wit and modesty in portraying the group's entertaining, hypocritical banter without easy mockery. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/metropolitan-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © 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/metropolitan.md