54
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterWebber's way with his young cast is as unforced as the movie itself, which easily could have been overwrought and maudlin but is instead oddly affirming.
- 67Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanWebber has a knack for bringing out actors at their showiest, but he palms off too much first-draft sketchiness as ''ambiguity.''
- 63Philadelphia InquirerSteven ReaPhiladelphia InquirerSteven ReaThere's a lot of rambling and shambling going on in these overlapping stories, often to the point where Explicit Ills no longer feels like it has a point.
- 60Film ThreatPete Vonder HaarFilm ThreatPete Vonder HaarAs a look at the disenfranchised of America, Explicit Ills could use some work. As a debut, however, it's quite promising. I'm looking forward to seeing what Webber comes up with next.
- 60Village VoiceVillage VoiceA tender ensemble slice of inner-city Philly life.
- 60New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanThe lack of subtlety indicates that this is a first film, but the passion and insights are strong enough to make you wonder what he'll (Webber) do next.
- 50The New York TimesManohla DargisThe New York TimesManohla DargisIt's a beautiful message: surely there's no arguing with "Hey, hey, ho, ho, poverty has got to go!" But there is much to argue with, and much to regret, about a film whose director thinks he needs to drop an anvil on our heads when art would suffice.
- Undone by a deadly twofer: lack of trust in characterization coupled with single-minded faith in spelled-out messages.