Here are some reviews for a movie: 1. Skip the voting and hand [Spacek] the Oscar now.
2. Fields' elegant storytelling is layered with profound details
3. May not be the landmark film some will stupidly, inevitably label it (and it may be too frail to withstand the subsequent backlash), but it stands out as a sharply crafted family ode of bracing candor.
4. The actors, especially the leads, give performances ... rich, connected and full of nuance and spontaneity.
5. A rare cinematic creature: a very depressing film that gives you a lift with the sheer magic of its craft.
6. We sense from its opening minutes that we are in the hands of accomplished storytellers.
7. Like most movies directed by actors, this is a wonderful acting showcase.
8. It's a testament to the cast and crew that they pull that off and create such an engaging, moving and ultimately rather shocking experience.
9. The multi-leveled motivations are so convincingly established that the outcome follows ineluctably.
10. Todd Field has constructed a remarkable first feature, directing with patient, effective pacing and a good eye for detail.

What was the overall consensus about the movie?
Expertly crafted and performed, In the Bedroom is a quietly wrenching portrayal of grief.