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Trucker

EMAILPRINTMonterey Media

Trucker reviews
61
9.1 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 7 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: James Mottern

Directed by: James Mottern

Release Date:
Theatrical: October 9, 2009
DVD: January 5, 2010

Running Time: 90 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for some sexuality, language, brief drug use involving minors, and a sexual assault

Starring Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jimmy Bennett

Diane Ford, a vivacious and successful independent truck driver, leads a carefree life of long-haul trucking, one night stands and all-night drinking with Runner until the evening her estranged 11-year-old son, Peter is unexpectedly dropped at her door. (Monterey Media)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Trucker sets out on a difficult and tricky path, and doesn't put a foot wrong.

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100

Los Angeles Times Betsy Sharkey

There are so many wonderfully unconventional things to like about this tiny independent film, Monaghan's earthy and uncompromising performance chief among them, its depth surprising you at every turn.

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75

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Written and directed by James Mottern with more attention to character than to plot, Trucker is a simple, unadorned study of a loner forced by circumstance to embrace the world again -- but only on her terms.

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70

Village Voice Aaron Hillis

It's a smooth ride thanks to Monaghan, and an impressive ensemble.

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60

Time Out New York Joshua Rothkopf

You sense the Demme-esque working-class comedy that might have been.

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60

The Hollywood Reporter Stephen Farber

Although Trucker doesn't have the social import that made "Norma Rae" a hit, it's an affecting, small film that could catch on with sophisticated audiences as well as more down-home types.

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60

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Trucker sometimes feels like a performance in search of a movie.

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60

New York Daily News Joe Neumaier

Writer-director James Mottern's drama has a lived-in feel, but is notable mainly for Michelle Monaghan's glam-less turn as Diane.

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58

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Fiercely acted but made with indifferent craft and no palpable feel for its subject matter, Trucker takes you on a ride from intrigue to indifference.

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50

New York Post Kyle Smith

Strip away the alt-country soundtrack, though, and you've got a Bette Davis fallen-woman-redeemed picture from 1937.

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50

Chicago Reader Cliff Doerksen

Writer-director James Mottern has a reasonably good feel for the textures of blue-collar life, but he pounds home the life lessons, underscoring them with poignant country-western songs.

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50

Variety John Anderson

Playing a negligent mother isn't usually the way to get ahead in the acting biz, but the elfin Michelle Monaghan must have seen Trucker as her vehicle out of the ingenue parking lot of sidekicks and potential hostages.

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25

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Whenever an actress takes on a gritty working-class role, the audience does a gut check of authenticity. Either the actress gets it, like Melissa Leo did in "Frozen River," or she doesn't, like Michelle Monaghan as the spoilin'-for-a-fight truck-driver heroine of the inert indie dud Trucker

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Bob W. gave it a9:
Great performances, excellent story.

Winston L. gave it a10:
Monaghan in on my Oscar-watch.

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