Agnes of God

PG-13

Released Sep 13, 1985

1h 39m

Drama

List

42%

31 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda) is a court-appointed psychiatrist sent to evaluate Sister Agnes (Meg Tilly), a young nun whose infant has been found strangled. With Agnes claiming a virgin conception and having no memory of giving birth, Livingston must distinguish between the lies and the nun's perception-altering faith. Complicating her investigation, Livingston continually clashes with the overbearing Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), who insists that Livingston leave Agnes alone.

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Regina P

I enjoyed this film... for the most part. I was disappointed in the ending. I thought we would find out if there was a man who fathered the child. The movie seemed to indicate that there was a supernatural conception here, but that doesn't square with the fact that the nun had a psychotic episode and ended the child's life. It doesn't make sense ultimately. But the journey towards the end was engaging, even if the ending itself was pure horse manure.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The worst 01 hour: and 39 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

dave s

The premise of Agnes of God is fascinating – a psychiatrist (Jane Fonda) is assigned to perform a pre-trial mental assessment on a young nun (Meg Tilly) who was found in her convent room in a bloodied state with a strangled baby in the wastebasket. However, the movie loses focus, veering wildly from murder mystery to countless debates concerning matters of faith to the question of who the actual father of the baby might be. By the end of the film, which doesn't really answer much of anything, as the young nun stands before the court, you realize that you've managed to forget all about the psychiatric assessment. In one of her weaker performances, Fonda seems to be reading her lines off of a teleprompter. Fortunately, Meg Tilly gives a touching performance as Agnes, a woman whose only defense against a tragic past is the perceived safety of the church.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

steve d

Tilly makes it worth your time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

While AGNES OF GOD is an excellent film . The convoluted extraordinary , intense source material really gets under ones/my skin. Meg Tilly plays a young nun who secretly gives birth to a baby; the child's body is later found strangled to death. Court-appointed psychiatrist Jane Fonda is sent to the convent to investigate, a task made difficult by the weathervane behavior of mother superior Anne Bancroft. To draw out Tilly, who remembers nothing of the birth, Fonda suggests that hypnosis is called for. Playwright Pielmeier poses many questions--is Tilly a pure-and-simple murderess, or was there something "divine" in her act?--but offers frustratingly few answers. It is Meg Tilly who makes the movie live. Her performance, which works on both realistic and symbolic levels, allows you to believe in the story. Psychiatrist Jane Fonda and mother superior Anne Bancroft round out the excellent acting. All three stars do smart, honorable work. Controversial religion themed story worth seeing; based on stage success. Just be ready to brace yourself this was a powerful film dealing with innocence and guilt and faith versus skepticism in a wholly believable manner.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Some strong performances, but not much else.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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Norman Jewison

Director

Jane Fonda

Dr. Martha Livingston

Meg Tilly

Sister Agnes

Anne Bancroft

Mother Miriam Ruth

Anne Pitoniak

Dr. Livingston's Mother

Winston Rekert

Detective Langevin

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Rich characters all. But their interplay is not always convincing. And when the mystery is finally solved, it is no great revelation.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

What "Agnes of God" needed was a director like David "Scanners" Cronenberg, the Bergman of blood, who would compose a fantasia upon it, drag it down to its B-movie roots.

Jan 4, 2018

Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

All three stars do smart, honorable work.

May 8, 2013

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an excessively deliberate endeavor...

Rated: 2/4

May 2, 2021

Full Review

TV Guide

Though the plot has some annoying holes, the dialogue and the performances are excellent.

Rated: 3/4

May 8, 2013

Full Review

Film4

Jewison thankfully offers no easy conclusions or happy endings, but he also brings up little to add to the theological debate.

May 8, 2013

Full Review

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Synopsis

Dr. Martha Livingston (Jane Fonda) is a court-appointed psychiatrist sent to evaluate Sister Agnes (Meg Tilly), a young nun whose infant has been found strangled. With Agnes claiming a virgin conception and having no memory of giving birth, Livingston must distinguish between the lies and the nun's perception-altering faith. Complicating her investigation, Livingston continually clashes with the overbearing Mother Miriam Ruth (Anne Bancroft), who insists that Livingston leave Agnes alone.

Director: Norman Jewison
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Delphi IV Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.6M
Runtime: 1h 39m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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