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The Caveman's Valentine

Play trailer Poster for The Caveman's Valentine R 2001 1h 45m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer 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.
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The Caveman's Valentine

The Caveman's Valentine

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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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Critics Reviews

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Paul Tatara CNN.com Feb 5, 2018
Nearly unwatchable ... but maybe next time. Go to Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 28, 2010
3/5
Complex and violent movie -- not for kids. Go to Full Review Ray Conlogue Globe and Mail Mar 22, 2002
2/4
This is a commercial film with limited ambitions. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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). Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Oct 21, 2026 The Caveman's Valentine is a *2.5* star Movie! See more Dumont W @RT88331313 Jul 14, 2024 Phobe. Stimolson made me watch this movie and I'll never forgive him. See more Alec B @Alec97 Jan 9, 2024 A thoroughly strange noir. The resolution is a bit muddled but before that point the protagonists' instability creates a hallucinogenic atmosphere. You're just never sure what is real. See more Jun 17, 2022 I lost the count of the times I've fall asleep watching this movie. It is Simply boooring and slug. See more colin m @RT35044827 Mar 1, 2022 ("The Caveman's Valentine", a.k.a "Sign of the Killer") An okay movie. A bit odd. See more Jan 13, 2022 I really appreciated some of the bigger themes alluded to and explored in this mystery thriller, while some of the dialogue and technical aspects come off cheesy and low budget over twenty years later. Samuel L. Jackson Binge: Similar to the movie as a whole, I really liked aspects of Jackson's character and really disliked others. It was great to see him in a solo lead, and especially as a mentally ill homeless person in the role of the hero. The way in which mental illness was portrayed however, was lazy and cliche, and probably a bigger indictment of the era than the individual writers and actor. *SLJ January #16 See more Read all reviews
The Caveman's Valentine

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Caveman's Valentine

The Caveman's Valentine (2001) The Caveman's Valentine (2001) The Caveman's Valentine (2001) The Caveman's Valentine (2001) Cast members Aunjanue Lawan Ellis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Peter MacNeill. Moira (Ann Magnuson) and Romulus (Samuel L. Jackson) outside at the farm. Romulus (Samuel L. Jackson) playing the piano. Romulus (Samuel L. Jackson) in front of his cave. Director Kasi Lemmons on the set of The Caveman's Valentine. Romulus (Samuel L. Jackson). View more photos

Movie Info

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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