The Sessions
Seen it?2012 | 95 min | Drama, Romance, Comedy
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (91% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won an Oscar and it made about 9 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Voicemails for Isabelle or Lolita, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 35 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect sex.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene to lose his virginity.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction. Won 2 Independent Spirit Awards: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Male Lead, Independent Spirit Awards: Best Supporting Female. Also nominated for 2 more Oscars, 2 Golden Globes and 2 SAG Awards. Plus 12 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$9 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 78K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Ben Lewin
- John HawkesMark
- Helen HuntCheryl
- William H. MacyFather Brendan
- Moon BloodgoodVera
- Annika MarksAmanda
- Adam ArkinJosh
- Rhea PerlmanMikvah Lady
- W. Earl BrownRod
- Robin WeigertSusan
- Blake LindsleyDr. Laura White