95% The Sessions

All Critics (125) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (6)

A funny, tender and mostly unsentimentalized movie about physical and emotional triumph.

Forced to do all his acting with his face, Hawkes displays the kind of camera-arresting capability that has earned others Oscar nominations.

This is a crowd-pleaser of the finest sort.

Using only his tilted head, his eyes, nose, and mouth and that quizzical voice, Hawkes brings O'Brien to life.

It's funny and well-meaning, with great performances, but the story plays out more like an Afterschool Special with full-frontal nudity.

Writer-director Ben Lewin has made the decision to position the film somewhere between the comedic and dramatic genres.... and it works.

Australian veteran writer/director Ben Lewin (The Dunera Boys) delivers a heartfelt gem that is as moving as it is unassuming. It easily chimes in as one of the films of the year.

John Hawkes delivers what is perhaps the performance of his career and Helen Hunt is fearless and charming. The Sessions is a heartfelt journey that will leave your emotional spectrum overwhelmed to your heart's content.

The Sessions is entertaining but also the sort of feature that can wait for a DVD rental. Sex scenes aside, it feels puny on the big screen.

Were you to come to The Sessions expecting a disease-of-the-week heartstring-puller, you'd be completely out of luck -- fortunately.

Their film is more than a skin flick, despite it definitely being that. Just as Cheryl is more than a prostitute, while definitely still that.

Most R-rated comedies involve meaningless sex. "The Sessions" is the rare one about meaningful sex.

For such a specific story, affecting only a few, the film triumphs in revealing a kaleidoscope of human emotions and truths.

Driven by John Hawkes' inspired turn, this is a candid, funny and touching charmer.

I just found that it was a tremendously compassionate film and you think it's not something I would rush out to see but, in fact, it's such a lovely, nourishing experience, this film.

Importantly, the film doesn't take itself too seriously, and there's a pleasantly off-beat sense of humour behind the agony and the ecstasy of this beautiful movie.

John Hawkes is exceptional. Look for him and Helen Hunt in the Oscar mix.

An extraordinary account of sexual exploration and intimacy against the odds, The Sessions is a powerful achievement.

Sex & a very singular man

Boasts a rare, inherent understanding of its subject, with Lewin now facing the prospect of becoming seriously hot property, as awards season beckons.

We are engaged by the compelling characters and a man's discovery of sexuality in a short span of time and in a unique way. And we are touched by the relationship that develops

Sex, religion, poetry and the disabled might be the subject matter, but nothing will prepare you for the emotions that are shared in this unique, poignant and unforgettable film

The most grown-up depiction of emotionally meaningful sexual relations... that will have any sort of general distribution in U.S. movie theaters in this or any of the next several years.

The Sessions resembles one of O'Brien's poems (which are featured in the story) - neither flawless nor ever-graceful in terms of technique but still gentle and sincere.

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_sessions/

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