The Great Lillian Hall

2024

1h 54m

Drama

List

92%

Tomatometer

13 Reviews

94%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

As beloved Broadway star Lillian Hall (Jessica Lange) pours her heart, soul, and time into preparing for her next big role, she finds herself blindsided by confusion and forgetfulness. Battling against all odds to make it to opening night, while holding on to her fading memories and identity, she must navigate a tumultuous emotional journey -- balancing her desire for the spotlight and the stark demands of the real world.

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Neal Justin

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Hall has her fair share of shortcomings, but Lange adds just enough touches to make you pray that she makes it to the opening night.

Jun 11, 2024

Full Review

Randy Myers

San Jose Mercury News

“Lillian Hall” hands Lange another opportunity for an acting tour de force, with a somber story about the sacrifices we make to appease our own need for acceptance.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 6, 2024

Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Variety

Lange’s performance is so good that she gives this therapy-corn version of The Show Must Go On a worldly center you can roll with and almost believe in.

Jun 4, 2024

Full Review

Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Jessica Lange’s performance deserves the titular adjective of this made-for-streaming movie about an aging actress confronting the initial signs of dementia, but the film doesn’t...affecting but affected.

Rated: C+

Jun 6, 2024

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

While there are massively emotive scenes along the way, the film is grounded in its artistic setting, offering realistic observations while allowing Lange to shine.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 4, 2024

Full Review

Roger Friedman

Showbiz 411

Apparently, “The Great Lillian Hall” is a last minute entry from HBO/Max in the Limited Series/TV category. After watching it tonight, I’d say nominations are in order for Jessica Lange — if not a win — as well as Rabe and Bates.

Rated: 4/4

Jun 3, 2024

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lars k

My initial impressions of Jessica Lange came from A) King Kong and B) Tootsie. She was impressive in both. In an exceptionally long an fruitful career, Ms. Lange has also been great in everything else I have seen her in—she, and only she, NEVER disappoints—and she has become a national treasure. Her performance as Lillian Hall is the synthesis of her talents, a term which is too small to encompass what she represents in the world of acting. Perfection.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/24

Full Review

Dawn S

Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates Lily Rabe are amazing. A must see, make sure to bring the issues.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

Full Review

DeeDee T

Amazing performances by all. Real tear jerker at times. Must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/24

Full Review

Steven Shane C

An absolute powerhouse of performances by the incomparable Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates. Lily Rabe is also quite amazing. It's difficult to not feel as though this is not only a story of the life of Lillian Hall, but very much an acknowledgement and portrayal of how many of aging Hollywood and Broadway starlets and actresses feel and have felt, even without the horrors of memory loss or other ailments. A true dive into the human reality of not wanting our lives to be forgotten as we age, by those we love, those that have loved us, and perhaps most tragically, forgotten by ourselves. A+ performances all around...Outstanding. A film with drama, sadness, charm, relatability and self-reflection. One of Jessica Lange's absolute best performances.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/10/24

Full Review

Susan S

What a joy to see a really wonderful film among so many bad to mediocre films streaming now. No one actor miscast, and if Jessica Lang doesn’t win an award for this performance there is no justice. I was thinking what a great stage play this would make. It is about the theater and really placed you in a theatrical audience. Brava!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/24

Full Review

Nancy W

This was phenomenal! After being so disappointed by recent films with big stars that were simply awful, this film delivered! The casting was spot on. The daughter was excellent. Jessica Lange proved she is a legend. The actor that played the director was so good. Loved him!!! They were actors that didn’t make u feel like they were acting. You felt u were part of the film. Perfect ending. Well done and thank you!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/24

Full Review

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Michael Cristofer

Director

Jessica Lange

Lillian Hall

Kathy Bates

Edith Wilson

Lily Rabe

Margaret Tanner

Jesse Williams

David Flemming

Pierce Brosnan

Ty Maynard

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Synopsis

As beloved Broadway star Lillian Hall (Jessica Lange) pours her heart, soul, and time into preparing for her next big role, she finds herself blindsided by confusion and forgetfulness. Battling against all odds to make it to opening night, while holding on to her fading memories and identity, she must navigate a tumultuous emotional journey -- balancing her desire for the spotlight and the stark demands of the real world.

Director: Michael Cristofer
Producer: Bruce Cohen, Steven Rogers, Scott Thigpen, Marie Halliday
Screenwriter: Elisabeth Seldes Annacone
Distributor: Max
Production Co: Places Productions, Crazy Legs Features, Cloud to Ground, LineProd Films, Sonny Boy Productions, HBO Films, Uncle Easy Productions, Bruce Cohen Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 31, 2024
Runtime: 1h 54m

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