64
Metascore
23 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100San Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannSan Francisco ChronicleEdward GuthmannThis is a smart film, told in a minor key, that augurs well for Whaley's directing career.
- 75Boston GlobeJay CarrBoston GlobeJay CarrWhaley's self-effacing but strongly etched and wrenchingly effective film.
- 75Portland OregonianDiana Abu-JaberPortland OregonianDiana Abu-JaberThe atmosphere of the movie is dense and unrelieved; it's a heavy role for such a little boy, and some people won't want to watch such a bleak, monster world.
- 75New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardThe movie isn't a day in the park, but it manages to close on an existentially uplifting note.
- 75Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonOne of my favorite U.S. fiction features at 1999's Sundance Festival.
- 70Chicago ReaderLisa AlspectorChicago ReaderLisa AlspectorDeftly realist character study.
- 70L.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyL.A. WeeklyF. X. FeeneyWhaley successfully balances his scenes on a knife-edge of tenderness and anger that was Truffaut's trademark.
- 67Austin ChronicleMarc SavlovAustin ChronicleMarc SavlovA powerful little gem: a little bit of "The Outsiders" (the film's tone is remarkably similar to Coppola's film, minus the airy redemption and golden sunrises), a lot of "The 400 Blows," and a slice of "Radio Flyer" all wrapped up in a dirty black bow.
- 60Village VoiceAmy TaubinVillage VoiceAmy TaubinThe film belongs to Fleiss, and he makes Joe's inner life so transparent that it's heartbreaking to watch the boy dig himself into a hole.
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertToo much self-pity.