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THE INVISIBLE WARMovie Reviews
Documentary about the epidemic of rape in the US military, featuring interviews with victims, military officials and members of Congress, and ending with a call for action. Cast:Kori Cioca, Jessica Hinves, Anu Bhagwati, Elle Helmer, Hannah Sewell, Rob McDonald, Loree Sutton, Russell Strand, Stace Nelson, Amy Herdy, Susan Burke, Helen Benedict, Loretta Sanchez, Jackie Speier, Susan Davis, Niki Tsongas, Anthony Kurta, Mary Kay Hertog, Kaye Whitley, Wilma VaughtDirector:Kirby DickRelease Date:June 22, 2012DVD Release:October 23, 2012From:CinedigmLength:1 hr. 35 min.
OCTOBER 23, 2012
The Invisible War, Sensational Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
The Invisible War played in key cities to sensational reviews. • Chris Barsanti wrote for Pop Matters, "Rarely has there been an exposé like this, with its ranks of beleaguered soldiers trying to make sense of their PTSD-shattered lives and seeing little hope for the future." • And Mark Jenkins wrote for NPR, "...the movie's power comes from words and numbers.... chilling and inflaming..." More Reviews Below...
The Invisible War Positive Reviews (27 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: OUTSTANDING "...the scariest, most emotionally draining film you must see this year.... identifies soldiers who are true heroes because they dared to fight for justice."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,696 words, 06/20/12
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "The intense interviews and damning statistics (20 percent of all female personnel have experienced sexual assault) do the work of whipping up outrage."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 87 words, 06/22/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Although doumentarian Kirby Dick is known for visually imaginative films, he wisely chooses to depend on the powerful stories told here."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 585 words, 06/29/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (10 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...addresses the shockingly common, profoundly distressing problem of sexual assault in the United States military.... This is not a movie that can be ignored."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 06/22/12
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a heartbreaking documentary about sexual violence in the military.... The least we can do is listen, given the fact that their voices have been silenced for so long."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 197 words, 06/22/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...what makes this savage indictment so unforgettable are not numbers but the devastating personal stories of the victims of brutal sexual assault."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 858 words, 06/22/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "Although doumentarian Kirby Dick is known for visually imaginative films, he wisely chooses to depend on the powerful stories told here."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 585 words, 06/29/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...reveals a shocking amount of abuse and cover-up within this so-called 'band of brothers'.... the victims include both women and men..."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 85 words, 05/04/12
Gayle MacDonald, Toronto Globe & Mail: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...teamed with scores of heart-wrenching interviews of rape victims... a must-see exposé of the abuse of power in an institution that is supposed to serve and protect."(See all of Gayle MacDonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 145 words, 04/27/12
Melissa Anderson, LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Interview after interview, statistic after statistic, Kirby Dick's advocacy project thoroughly incenses -- and appears to be having results."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 245 words, 06/21/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...an important, infuriating work. The testimonials from assaulted servicewomen and men should be screened on a loop in recruiting offices around the world."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 130 words, 04/26/12
KEY CITIES (4 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...riveting, heartbreaking and infuriating... another galvanizing call to action... For Washington audiences, that action may need to begin right in our own back yard."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 414 words, 06/22/12
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Clearly, the filmmakers did their homework. There are many talking heads here. Too many, perhaps: A tighter edit might have made the documentary more compelling."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 616 words, 07/06/12
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...you watch both fascinated and repulsed... one of those films that you sense just might be instrumental in helping to change an utterly unacceptable status quo."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 405 words, 07/13/12
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Stylistically straightforward.... in the end there is something to cheer about -- vindication for some victims, and proof that a film can make a difference."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 156 words, 07/05/12
Melissa Anderson, LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Interview after interview, statistic after statistic, Kirby Dick's advocacy project thoroughly incenses -- and appears to be having results."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 245 words, 06/21/12
Chris Barsanti, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "Rarely has there been an exposé like this, with its ranks of beleaguered soldiers trying to make sense of their PTSD-shattered lives and seeing little hope for the future."(See all of Chris Barsanti's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 437 words, 06/15/12
Alison Willmore, Movieline: EXCELLENT(cg) "The stranger sitting next to me at my screening spent the latter half of the runtime sobbing into a fistful of tissues, and I couldn't blame her..."(See all of Alison Willmore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 915 words, 06/21/12
Nick Schager, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "...drags ugly truths out of the shadows... the overarching portrait that emerges is one of an insular organization dedicated to protecting some (always male) of its own..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 430 words, 06/17/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...an important, infuriating work. The testimonials from assaulted servicewomen and men should be screened on a loop in recruiting offices around the world."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 130 words, 04/26/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...women are people who are driven by the same motives that drive men. The women here are strong and smart, guided by everything from patriotism to a sense of duty..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 874 words, 02/22/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...addresses the shockingly common, profoundly distressing problem of sexual assault in the United States military.... This is not a movie that can be ignored."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 06/22/12
Mark Jenkins, NPR: OUTSTANDING "...addresses the subject directly, without gimmicks or gambits.... the movie's power comes from words and numbers.... chilling and inflaming..."(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 06/21/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...what makes this savage indictment so unforgettable are not numbers but the devastating personal stories of the victims of brutal sexual assault."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 858 words, 06/22/12
Mary Elizabeth Williams, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...intends to reform the entire United States military. And it stands a very good chance of succeeding.... its genius is that it cannot help but shock us into action."(See all of Mary Elizabeth Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,053 words, 06/27/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Rob Nelson, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "An aptly infuriating expose of sexual abuse within the U.S. military.... smartly details the bureaucratic structures that allow the vast majority of perpetrators to escape justice."(See all of Rob Nelson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 532 words, 01/31/12
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...presents overwhelming evidence that the U.S. military's purported zero-tolerance attitude to sexual assault is a charade... admirably non-partisan..."(See all of David Rooney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,032 words, 01/29/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...what makes this savage indictment so unforgettable are not numbers but the devastating personal stories of the victims of brutal sexual assault."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 858 words, 06/22/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...hard-hitting... profoundly moving. A rare film in its remarkably candid approach and cumulatively powerful, reportedly, this movie has already helped change military policy."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 186 words, 01/19/13
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...addresses the shockingly common, profoundly distressing problem of sexual assault in the United States military.... This is not a movie that can be ignored."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 718 words, 06/22/12
11.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Invisible War's reviews are separated by an average 11.7 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.
The Invisible War (27 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Invisible War's reviews cover 43.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 14,116 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 523 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Invisible War Coverage, Volume & Length (27 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 65.5 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Invisible War's reviews on average broke 65.5 hours 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 The Invisible War's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Invisible War (27 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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