The Caveman's Valentine

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The Caveman's Valentine

R,

2001,

1h 45m,

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

46%

79 Reviews

Tomatometer

51%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

79 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Romulus is a homeless man who dwells in a cave in one of New York City's parks, but was once a promising composer. When a boy is discovered dead on Valentine's Day, everyone assumes he froze to death, but Romulus believes he was murdered by noted photographer David Leppenraub. He struggles to convince everyone, including his police officer daughter -- but, inspired by hallucinations of his late wife, he eventually gets his chance to crack the case himself.

Critics Consensus

The Caveman's Valentine has an intriguing premise, but the film falls flat under the weight of its ambition.

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Paul Tatara

CNN.com

Feb 5, 2018

Nearly unwatchable ... but maybe next time.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Dec 28, 2010

3/5

Complex and violent movie -- not for kids.

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Ray Conlogue

Globe and Mail

Mar 22, 2002

2/4

This is a commercial film with limited ambitions.

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

Nov 2, 2024

This is a deeply strange film, but one whose rhythms and hues I deeply enjoy. It’s also probably the most beautiful Jackson has ever looked on screen, thanks to Amelia Vincent’s sumptuous cinematography.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

May 31, 2006

1/4

A sophomore jinx for Lemmons, an overstuffed drama that fails to satisfy as a murder mystery or as a spiritual redemption saga of a homeless man, disappointingly played by Samuel Jackson (who was misdirected).

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Jeffrey Westhoff

Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Jun 11, 2003

2/4

Remember David Helfgott, the concert pianist who goes mad in Shine? Imagine him in dreadlocks and as the star of a detective thriller, and you have a better understanding of The Caveman's Valentine than the people who made it.

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Draco S

Feb 21, 2019

Somewhat off-kilter crime drama never really takes off, and Jackson's performance is quite over-the-top.

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Kasi Lemmons

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Romulus Ledbetter

Colm Feore

Leppenraub

Ann Magnuson

Moira

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Lulu

Rodney Eastman

Matthew

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Synopsis

Romulus is a homeless man who dwells in a cave in one of New York City's parks, but was once a promising composer. When a boy is discovered dead on Valentine's Day, everyone assumes he froze to death, but Romulus believes he was murdered by noted photographer David Leppenraub. He struggles to convince everyone, including his police officer daughter -- but, inspired by hallucinations of his late wife, he eventually gets his chance to crack the case himself.

Director: Kasi Lemmons
Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Elie Samaha, Andrew Stevens
Screenwriter: George Dawes Green, George Dawes Green
Distributor: MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Focus
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Jersey Shore, Franchise Pictures, Arroyo Pictures, Homeless Film Productions
Rating: R (Language|Brief Sexuality|Some Violence)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $687.1K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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