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LUV (2013)Movie Reviews
Drama about an 11-year-old boy who gets a crash course in adult life when he spends the day with his uncle, an ex-con trying to start a new business. Cast:Common, Michael Rainey Jr, Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Charles S. Dutton, Meagan Good, Lonette McKee, Michael Kenneth Williams, Todd Anthony, Chris Clanton, Grover Coulson, Telisha L. Davis, John Doty, Nikki Estridge, Anwan GloverDirector:Sheldon CandisRelease Date:January 18, 2013DVD Release:April 2, 2013From:Indomina MediaRating:RLength:1 hr 34 min
LUV (2013) played in key cities to fair reviews. • Stephanie Merry wrote in the Washington Post, "...sometimes taut and occasionally preposterous... It's a shame that the plot proves to be such a head-scratcher when so many elements of the film seem promising." More Reviews Below...
Alynda Wheat, People: WEAK(cg) "Eleven-year-old Woody (the promising Michael Rainey Jr.) gets the kind of education no kid should have in this hard knocks coming-of-age drama.... Sorry, I can't get there."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 81 words, 01/24/13
Jake Coyle, Associated Press: WEAK(cg) "...well-intended but hollow... The dialogue is often cringe-worthy... Though lacking some dynamism, Common has the gravity to keep the film grounded."(See all of Jake Coyle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 509 words, 01/17/13
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: FAIR(cg) "The rapper and actor Common has become a highly skilled screen star, but this touchy-feely dud does him wrong.... every scene wobbles around."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 85 words, 01/18/13
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells such a sad story.... Here is a film about African-Americans that sidesteps all the usual, hopeful cliches and comments on how one failed generation raises another."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 768 words, 01/18/13
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: WEAK(cg) "...steers into a fantasy-fulfillment ending that not only stretches plausibility, but has the effect of invalidating much of what has gone before.... average, well-intentioned..."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 01/17/13
S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Common is charismatic as the ex-con... Rainey is even better as the boy who hero worships his uncle... The story sometimes seems just a step too far-fetched... Age 16."(See all of S. Jhoanna Robledo's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 476 words, 01/16/13
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (8 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...sensitive.... it does not entirely succeed, but at its best shows the kind of heart and intelligence that is always welcome -- and often missing -- in American movies."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 01/18/13
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "Where the writing fails, Sheldon Candis' work with actors, including stalwarts Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover and a subtly menacing Dennis Haysbert, is solid."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 224 words, 01/18/13
Farran Smith Nehme, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "Candis gets some wonderful performances from his impressive cast: Danny Glover... Charles S. Dutton... Dennis Haysbert... Lonette McKee..."(See all of Farran Smith Nehme's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 239 words, 01/18/13
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...uneven but strongly acted.... may not convince with Woody's aggressively telescoped transformation. But the actors compensate."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 437 words, 01/18/13
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells such a sad story.... Here is a film about African-Americans that sidesteps all the usual, hopeful cliches and comments on how one failed generation raises another."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 768 words, 01/18/13
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Common and Michael Rainey Jr. are well-matched... their chemistry is frequently squandered by a script that boxes them into one clichéd scene after another."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 216 words, 01/16/13
KEY CITIES (4 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...sometimes taut and occasionally preposterous... It's a shame that the plot proves to be such a head-scratcher when so many elements of the film seem promising."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 487 words, 01/18/13
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: MODERATE(cg) "...scrappy... retains its tense pull on viewers, even as it unravels in the final act. The strength is in the performances and visual detail."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 403 words, 01/18/13
Tom Long, Detroit News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "If the film is a bit far-fetched, it still carries some bite, thanks largely to its talented cast.... There's a nice, not particularly easy chemistry between Vincent and Woody..."(See all of Tom Long's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 01/18/13
Roger Moore, Miami Herald: WEAK(cg) "The absurd turns the story takes to serve up streetwise and bloody 'life lessons' for the kid will make any parent blanch... will make any movie lover roll his or her eyes."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 384 words, 01/18/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "Common and Michael Rainey Jr. are well-matched... their chemistry is frequently squandered by a script that boxes them into one clichéd scene after another."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 216 words, 01/16/13
Noel Murray, AV Club: MODERATE(cg) "...the movie is split right down the middle between preposterousness and truth, and between amateurishness and confidence... an exaggerated coming-of-age story..."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 354 words, 01/17/13
R. Kurt Osenlund, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...operates like an urban companion piece to 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'... it comes from a comparably gritty and honest place... explores an alternative form of nurturing."(See all of R. Kurt Osenlund's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 685 words, 01/14/13
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...draws on such a deep pool of talent and succeeds in so many areas that it deserves discovery.... Don't let the sweet-sounding title give you the wrong impression."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 539 words, 01/18/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...sensitive.... it does not entirely succeed, but at its best shows the kind of heart and intelligence that is always welcome -- and often missing -- in American movies."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 01/18/13
Joel Arnold, NPR: VERY GOOD "...gets childhood-cut-short heartbreakingly right.... Saved from its predictable plotline by a strong cast and a central relationship written and performed with sensitivity..."(See all of Joel Arnold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 654 words, 01/17/13
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "Where the writing fails, Sheldon Candis' work with actors, including stalwarts Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover and a subtly menacing Dennis Haysbert, is solid."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 224 words, 01/18/13
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...impressive... heartbreaking and effective... channels a legacy of fatalistic American crime cinema that includes 'Mean Streets' and 'Treasure of the Sierra Madre.' "(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,018 words, 01/18/13
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Robert Koehler, Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "Heartfelt and formulaic in equal measure... Fairly involving while onscreen... director/co-writer Sheldon Candis' debut quickly diminishes after the lights go up."(See all of Robert Koehler's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 614 words, 01/24/12
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "The climactic violence is a little clumsily choreographed, but Sheldon Candis generally displays solid skills, and clearly works well with actors."(See all of David Rooney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 756 words, 01/25/12
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: MODERATE "Where the writing fails, Sheldon Candis' work with actors, including stalwarts Charles S. Dutton, Danny Glover and a subtly menacing Dennis Haysbert, is solid."(See all of Robert Abele's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 224 words, 01/18/13
A.O. Scott, New York Times: GOOD "...sensitive.... it does not entirely succeed, but at its best shows the kind of heart and intelligence that is always welcome -- and often missing -- in American movies."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 01/18/13
16.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
LUV (2013)'s reviews are separated by an average 16.6 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.
LUV (2013) (24 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:LUV (2013)'s reviews cover 50.5% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 10,659 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 444 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 6 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
LUV (2013)'s reviews on average broke 6 days before 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 LUV (2013)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
LUV (2013) (24 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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