Affliction

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Affliction

R

1999

1h 53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.

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Critics Consensus

Dark and bleak, the "kick-ass" performances, especially Nolte's "effective" portrayal of an abused soul, is the reason to see this film.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Apr 1, 2019

There are too many of these men in life, and not enough films that tell their sad tales. That gives Affliction a therapeutic worth.

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Ed Gonzalez

Slant Magazine

Aug 17, 2001

2.5/4

Overwrought metaphors abound in Paul Schrader's ham-fisted Affliction.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

Nick Nolte is a big, shambling, confident male presence in the movies, and it is startling to see his cocksure presence change into fear in Paul Schrader's Affliction.

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Jun 24, 2024

10/10

Affliction hones in on masculinity and the demons that men inherit from one another.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Apr 22, 2024

3.5/4

Nolte is phenomenal in what’s a career performance, but he was absurdly beaten for the Best Actor Oscar by the buffoonish Roberto Benigni for that extended Hogan’s Heroes episode.

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Deborah Hornblow

Hartford Courant

Jan 2, 2018

3.5/5

"Affliction'' stands as one of [Paul] Schrader's finest efforts, but the real star is [Russell] Banks, who tells a small story with universal implications and explores the devastating affliction of violence between men.

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razvan P

@n1mr0d Sep 15, 2026

anti male propaganda :) tho obviously despair exists, cannot make everyone around just so angelic and absurd

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Apr 4, 2026

Superbly acted and quite a tough watch because of the realism. This was a great portrayal of a man breaking down and the extent of self destructive elements. Nicely portrayed as to how his father afflicted him with the conditions for a perfect breakdown. Very well made film that we just don’t get these days. Watched on Amazon Prime.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1, 2026

Success in 1 hour and 53 minutes. The 1999 winner of Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (James Coburn).

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Ronald R

@Doctorron Feb 14, 2026

Very powerful! Especially in light of the horrible behaviors today

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Scott R

@ScottR Nov 25, 2025

NYT 1000 films. I can see why this may have been appreciated, but I don’t think it praiseworthy. The acting was ridiculous and contrived. The plot was worse. Coburn was the best part, but he was someone we were to hate. Really this was a struggle to get through. Saw on YouTube.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Aug 8, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Paul Schrader

Director

Nick Nolte

Wade Whitehouse

Sissy Spacek

Marge Fogg

James Coburn

Glen Whitehouse

Willem Dafoe

Rolfe Whitehouse

Mary Beth Hurt

Lillian

Affliction: Official Clip - Don't You Sass Me

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Affliction: Official Clip - Halloween

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Affliction: Official Clip - Afflicted by Violence

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Affliction: Official Clip - Hunting Accident

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Affliction: Official Clip - Don't Make a Scene

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Affliction: Official Clip - Pulling Teeth

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Affliction: Official Clip - A Modest Proposal

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Affliction: Official Clip - Jesus Freaks and Candy-Asses

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Affliction: Official Clip - A Lesson in Work

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Affliction: Official Clip - I'll Shoot You Dead

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Synopsis

In a small New Hampshire town, washed-up cop Wade Whitehouse (Nick Nolte) has a troubled past, an abusive father (James Coburn), the contempt of his ex-wife (Mary Beth Hurt) and an unimpressive streak as a lawman. When hunting guide Jack Hewitt (Jim True) reports a businessman's accidental death during a hunting trip, Wade believes he has a chance to turn around his life, if he can prove it was murder. Increasingly obsessed, Wade begins to lose his composure during the investigation.

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: Frank K. Isaac, Linda Reisman
Screenwriter: Russell Banks, Paul Schrader
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: JVC Entertainment, Largo Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.3M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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