--- title: "The Invisible Woman: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-invisible-woman/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-invisible-woman" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 19 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." --- # The Invisible Woman (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 19 reviews: 11 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics respond positively to The Invisible Woman, with praise clustering around the performances rather than the affair itself. Felicity Jones’s controlled, expressive portrayal of Nelly draws the broadest approval, while Ralph Fiennes’s Dickens is frequently admired for his energy and humanity. Joanna Scanlan’s brief appearance as Dickens’s wife also makes a strong impression. Supporters find the relationship sensitively handled and emotionally affecting, and the film’s visual compositions earn approval even from some less persuaded by its storytelling. The spread is wide, however: what some find moving, others find too restrained to engage with. Reservations centre on stately pacing, excessive polish and an affair that does not always become a compelling drama. The New Yorker admires Fiennes but finds the relationship insufficiently clear; Digital Spy faults the way the timelines fit together. Even favourable reviews acknowledge stretches of tedium or heavy-handedness, making this a qualified rather than settled consensus. ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2013. Turan calls the film exceptional and praises its sensitive, evenhanded treatment of a complicated relationship. He singles out Ralph Fiennes’s performance and Felicity Jones’s expressive portrayal of Nelly Ternan. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-invisible-woman-review-ralph-fiennes-20131225-story.html) ## Variety — Scott Foundas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2013. Festival review. Foundas finds the film exceptionally classy, vibrant, and brilliantly acted. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s emotionally controlled performance as Nelly. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/global/the-invisible-woman-review-telluride-toronto-1200601472/) ## Radio Times — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. Johnston gives the film a positive four-star review. He singles out Ralph Fiennes’s portrayal of Dickens as particularly effective. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-9w0pv8/the-invisible-woman/) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 4 February 2014. The review describes the film as a touching insight into its subject. It notes that, despite the title’s superhero-like suggestion, the film’s special powers are not superheroic. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-invisible-woman) ## The Guardian — Catherine Shoard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2013. Festival review. Shoard finds the film a mature, affecting romance, though its approach can be heavy-handed. She singles out Nelly’s reticence and the unusual power dynamic as the story’s source of force. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/06/the-invisible-woman-toronto-2013-review) ## Film Comment — Graham Fuller Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). Fuller’s assessment appears positive, describing the film as a sensitive account of Dickens’s relationship with a young actress. The page provides no further detail about what the review singles out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/the-invisible-woman-ralph-fiennes-review/) ## IndieWire — Chris Willman Rating B-. 1 September 2013. Festival review. Willman finds the familiar affair story dramatically limited, though Fiennes gives a strong performance. He singles out Joanna Scanlan’s brief, affecting portrayal of Dickens’s wife as more compelling than the titular character. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/telluride-review-the-invisible-woman-starring-ralph-fiennes-felicity-jones-94205/) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2014. Edelstein finds the film richly affecting despite occasional over-polish and a clumsy final scene. He especially praises Ralph Fiennes’s vivid performance as Dickens and Felicity Jones’s startlingly vivid portrayal of Nelly. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/01/movie-review-the-invisible-woman.html) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page appears to be a review of the matching film, but its verdict is inaccessible. The blocked page provides no praise or complaint to identify. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-invisible-woman-2013) ## Screen Daily — Mark Adams Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2013. The page identifies this as a review, but the paywall prevents access to the critic’s verdict. No praise or complaint is visible in the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-invisible-woman/5060141.article) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2012. Errigo finds the film beautifully crafted but frustratingly elusive in its emotional engagement. She particularly praises Felicity Jones’s performance and the exquisite visual compositions. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/invisible-woman-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Andrew Schenker Rating 2/4. 10 October 2013. Schenker finds the film flat and conventional, with its central romance lacking conviction. He praises Joanna Scanlan’s performance as Dickens’s wife for bringing resigned understanding to the role. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-invisible-woman/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2014. The critic finds the film beautifully acted and elegantly shot, but ultimately a fudge that misses the heart of Nelly’s story. They single out the tense encounter between Nelly and Dickens’s wife as a harsh, lovely moment the film needed more of. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-invisible-woman-film-review-9113866.html) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2013. Denby finds the film handsome but ultimately unsatisfying, with the Dickens–Ternan affair failing to develop into a compelling story. He praises Ralph Fiennes’s energetic portrayal of Dickens and the film’s Victorian recreation, but faults the story for leaving the relationship’s nature unclear. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/01/06/home-truths-2) ## Paste — Geoff Berkshire Rating 8.9. 29 December 2013. Berkshire finds the film a radical, emotionally balanced biographical story. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s nuanced performance and the film’s striking visual motifs. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-invisible-woman) ## HeyUGuys — Stefan Pape Rating 4/5. 19 October 2013. Pape finds the film refined and compelling, though it occasionally becomes tedious. He praises Abi Morgan’s screenplay for making Dickens feel human and giving Nelly equal depth. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-invisible-woman-review/) ## Den of Geek — Ivan Radford Rating 3 out of 5. 7 February 2014. Radford finds the film thoughtful and engaging, though its pacing can feel overly stately. He especially praises Felicity Jones’s performance and the cast’s quiet, intimate moments. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-invisible-woman-review/) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Rating 2/5. 6 February 2014. The review finds the film patchy, with Dickens remaining remote and the story’s timelines failing to come together. It praises Felicity Jones’s presence and her portrayal of Nelly’s struggle between propriety and romantic dreams. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a542753/the-invisible-woman-review-ralph-fiennes-directs-charles-dickens-drama/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 7 February 2014. The critic finds the film overly tasteful and emotionally restrained, leaving Nellie insufficiently developed. He singles out Felicity Jones’s face and movement as memorable. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-invisible-woman-2013-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/the-invisible-woman.md