Rare Objects

It's a deeply moving film I liked a lot.

Unfortunately, none of the movie’s good intentions ever pan out.

As appealing a setting as this is for a movie, I couldn’t help but feel that the premise doesn’t quite parse.

For long stretches of its two-hour running time, “Rare Objects,” a story of recovery and addition based on Kathleen Tessaro’s novel of the same name, is a heavy, somewhat slow-moving drama that seems perhaps better suited to the stage.

Admirable premise, shaky execution.

The film provides multiple angles to sympathize with Benita, except that the uneven screenplay feels too deliberately paced and narratively disjointed to maximize its impact.

Rare Objects is a boring slog of a film with a flimsy plot and main characters who sound very phony. Katie Holmes has directed yet another cinematic misfire in which she's cast herself as the star. Her awkward over-acting in Rare Objects does not help.

It's well-meaning and warmly embraces its flawed characters, but the rambling structure of "Rare Objects" prevents it from achieving much of an emotional impact.


It's very sensitively done and the lead actress, Julia Mayorga, is excellent.

Overall, Rare Objects is a solid watch, and as Holmes' third feature film as director, it's a good entry on her resume. But some scenes feel more languid than they have to be...