Mr. Jones

Though it's a shame that "Mr. Jones" is not more cohesive, the remarkable story of Gareth Jones retains its potency.

A disordered script cobbles this stirring indictment of Stalin's evil from director Agnieszka Holland. There are flashes of epic filmmaking, but the great movie that might have been remains frustratingly out of reach.

A compelling watch throughout in spite of its rambling feel.

[A] bleak, murky, and instructive film...

There are moments in the blistering cold when Jones's quest for truth looks like it will end. This is where Holland and the script turn the drama up so high that you're riveted to his plight, lost in his agony, shivering in the frosty climate.

At times, Mr. Jones has the gravity and grace to remind us of what an accomplished chronicler of 20th-century horror Agnieszka Holland can be. And at times, it goes off track in ways that sadly undercut both the gravity and the grace.

Norton, Jones, and Sarsgaard are terrific in their parts, though only Norton grows from an idea into a person. The second half of the film, set in Ukraine, is magnificent in its sorrow.

“Mr. Jones” feels like a neglected slice of history that’s finally being exposed.

A compelling narrative told in a mostly un-compelling way.

Both the cinematography and production design are breathtaking...