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What Maisie Knew

Play trailer Poster for What Maisie Knew R 2013 1h 38m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 109 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.

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What Maisie Knew

What Maisie Knew

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Critics Consensus

It's undeniably difficult to watch at times, but What Maisie Knew ultimately rises on the strength of its solidly sourced script, powerful performances, and empathetic direction.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 09/05/2018
I don't know where the directors (Scott McGehee and David Siegel) discovered Miss Aprile, or how they elicited her performance but, my God, she knocks it out the court. Over and over. Go to Full Review Philip Horne Sight & Sound 07/31/2018
Soft-centred and bland though it is as a version of [Henry] James, the McGehee-Siegel What Maisie Knew is worth seeing for the performances. Go to Full Review Emma Myers Film Comment Magazine 11/04/2013
Scott McGehee and David Siegel's adaptation commendably preserves the book's child perspective even if it doesn't quite match the characteristically dark shades of the author's moral fare. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/27/2020
3.5/4.0
The performance from newcomer Onata Aprile is astounding precisely because it's not astounding. Go to Full Review David Lamble Bay Area Reporter 06/18/2020
The directing duo of Scott McGehee and David Siegel may have finally found their masterpiece in this deft update of Henry James' Victorian-era novel... Go to Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 05/12/2020
A tough, rewarding study of emotional neglect that plays the emotions like a grand piano. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Barbie S @agntamiko Dec 27 This is a drama, therefore if it seems slow it's because the movie focuses on the characters NOT situations like most American movies. This was an excellent drama from the perspective of the little girl Maisie. Onata Aprile played a character who was mature for her age; it seemed little Maisie was empathetic to each person who was a part of her life. Onata was on point, spot on in the entire movie, very natural with all of her reactions and responses, and Maisie's relationship with Lincoln was absolutely precious! Julianne Moore, well what can you say? She played her character brilliantly! I loved this movie and I occasionally watch it to be reminded of innocence (and lost innocence), and the idea that we're all searching for love, happiness, and peace, but sometimes in order to do so we must not "miss the boat!" See more M D @RT82513945 Dec 4 Good acting, but the movie was slow. See more KOOKLA C @Kookla49 11/14/2024 best movie I've seen in ages! See more isla s @RT89656869 09/03/2022 I liked this film as it did well at showing things from the childs point of view. Of course the subject of child custody battles is far from new ground in terms of Hollywood films but I felt the subject was handled very well and the young girl, Maisie, played by Onata Aprile, gave a compelling performance. She really did seem genuinely confused/upset and tired by the various twists and turns of the plot. The parents do seem rather petty and I felt very sorry for Maisie. I'd recommend this film. See more 07/06/2022 Despite multiple layers of cliché, the film is quite touching and escapes the corniness through good performances. I liked it more than I would expect. See more colin m @RT35044827 03/19/2022 The early years of Maisie Beale. A great movie. See more Read all reviews
What Maisie Knew

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Cast & Crew

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Scott McGehee

Director

David Siegel

Director

Julianne Moore

Susanna

Alexander Skarsgård

Lincoln

Onata Aprile

Maisie

Joanna Vanderham

Margo

Movie Clips

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What Maisie Knew

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What Maisie Knew

Onata Aprile as Maisie and Alexander Skarsgård as Lincoln in "What Maisie Knew." (L-R) Julianne Moore as Susanna and Onata Aprile as Maisie in "What Maisie Knew." Joanna Vanderham as Margo in "What Maisie Knew." (L-R) Onata Aprile as Maisie and Julianne Moore as Susanna in "What Maisie Knew." (L-R) Onata Aprile as Maisie and Julianne Moore as Susanna in "What Maisie Knew." Onata Aprile as Maisie and Steve Coogan as Beale in "What Maisie Knew." Alexander Skarsgård as Lincoln and Onata Aprile as Maisie in "What Maisie Knew." Onata Aprile as Maisie in "What Maisie Knew." Alexander Skarsgård as Lincoln in "What Maisie Knew." What Maisie Knew (2012) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The offspring of a hot-headed musician (Julianne Moore) and an art dealer (Steve Coogan), little Maisie (Onata Aprile) learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection -- but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.
Director
Scott McGehee, David Siegel
Producer
William Teitler, Charles Weinstock, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Daniel Crown
Screenwriter
Nancy Doyne, Carroll Cartwright
Distributor
Millennium Entertainment
Production Co
10th Hole Productions, Weinstock Productions, Red Crown Productions, Filmax
Rating
R (Some Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.1M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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