Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
EXPLICIT ILLSMovie Reviews
Drama about an ensemble of neighbors living in a tough part of Philadelphia and struggling with love, drugs, poverty and the power of unity. Cast:Paul Dano, Rosario Dawson, Naomie Harris, Lou Taylor Pucci, Frankie Shaw, Tariq TrotterDirector:Mark WebberRelease Date:March 6, 2009DVD Release:July 14, 2009From:Peace Arch EntertainmentRating:RLength:1 hr 27 min
Explicit Ills played in limited release to fair reviews. Reviews were mixed. • Steven Rea wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer, "...there's a lot of rambling and shambling going on in these overlapping stories, often to the point where the film no longer feels like it has a point." • And Elizabeth Weitzman wrote in the New York Daily News, "...touchingly sincere..." More Reviews Below...
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: GOOD(cg) "Mark Webber has a knack for bringing out actors at their showiest, but he palms off too much first-draft sketchiness as 'ambiguity.' "(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 92 words, 03/06/09
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: WEAK "...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."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 590 words, 03/06/09
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...touchingly sincere... The lack of subtlety indicates that this is a first film, but the passion and insights are strong enough to make you wonder what Webber will do next."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 133 words, 03/06/09
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...undone by a deadly twofer: lack of trust in characterization coupled with single-minded faith in spelled-out messages.... a lost opportunity."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 235 words, 03/20/09
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: POOR(cg) "...an inept, inner-city Philadelphia version of 'Crash,' actor-director Mark Webber's film is about as subtle as its title - and at least twice as pretentious."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 136 words, 03/06/09
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...the film is confidently polished and thankfully more sweet-tempered than preachy, given that every narrative thread has an underlying theme of social injustice."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 03/04/09
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...there's a lot of rambling and shambling going on in these overlapping stories, often to the point where the film no longer feels like it has a point."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 345 words, 03/13/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (2 Reviews)
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...the film is confidently polished and thankfully more sweet-tempered than preachy, given that every narrative thread has an underlying theme of social injustice."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 03/04/09
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: WEAK "...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."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 590 words, 03/06/09
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...undone by a deadly twofer: lack of trust in characterization coupled with single-minded faith in spelled-out messages.... a lost opportunity."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 235 words, 03/20/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Robert Koehler, Daily Variety: WEAK "Actor-turned-director Mark Webber combines the worst of two schemes in his debut feature: overweening artistic pretense with a crudely conceived political message."(See all of Robert Koehler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 597 words, 06/30/08
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: WEAK "The distinction between off-handedness and aimlessness gets very fuzzy here. Plus, the characters remain at arm's length. You never get to know anyone deeply enough."(See all of Kirk Honeycutt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 200 words, 05/13/09
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: WEAK "...undone by a deadly twofer: lack of trust in characterization coupled with single-minded faith in spelled-out messages.... a lost opportunity."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 235 words, 03/20/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: WEAK "...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."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 590 words, 03/06/09
20.8 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Explicit Ills's reviews are separated by an average 20.8 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Explicit Ills (10 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Explicit Ills's reviews cover 15.2% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,791 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 279 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 30.7 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Explicit Ills's reviews on average broke 30.7 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Explicit Ills's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Explicit Ills (10 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
