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THE REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISTSMovie Reviews
Bengali language documentary about Amlan Ganguly, who empowers children in the slums of Calcutta to transform their neighborhoods by teaching them to battle poverty. Cast:Salim Sheikh, Amlan Ganguly, Priyanka Mandal, Kajal Kahar, Sikha PatroDirector:Maren R. Monsen, Nicole NewnhamRelease Date:March 29, 2013DVD Release: TBD From:Shadow DistributionLength:1 hr. 35 min.
The Revolutionary Optimists, Good Reviews (Doc) Limited
The Revolutionary Optimists played in limited release to good reviews. • Cynthia Fuchs wrote for Pop Matters, "...celebrates the efforts at Prayasam and the successes, while never losing sight of the crises that define daily life for the kids growing up in the Kolkata slums." More Reviews Below...
The Revolutionary Optimists Positive Reviews (11 Reviews, reviews below)
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...moving.... the filmmakers show how all it takes is one person who believes in them for these children to rise up and have hope.... Age 11."(See all of Sandie Angulo Chen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 535 words, 04/07/13
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (4 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as heartening as it is to see a slum child tutored about vicious cycles of adversity and using the buzzword 'partnership' with aplomb, the film comes to feel cut and dried."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 03/29/13
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...feels somewhat random and disorganized, never zeroing in on a cohesive narrative structure. Still, the engaging subjects and valuable themes largely carry the day."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 209 words, 04/19/13
Michelle Orange, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...an engaging portrait of several children seeking to improve life in India's slums.... Change may be elusive, the film confirms, but the will to make it blazes."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 200 words, 03/13/13
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...these are inspiring anecdotes, not necessarily because of what these people have accomplished, but because they never give up. Most people could learn a lot..."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 474 words, 04/05/13
David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...inspired by the work of Kolkata activist Amlan Ganguly... the film is quite cinematic and engaging... you'll get the sense that change is possible -- one child at a time."(See all of David Lewis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 50 words, 04/05/13
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...remarkable.... It's a tribute to the power of optimism -- and to an inspiring man who's changing the world, one child at a time."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 348 words, 03/29/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Michelle Orange, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...an engaging portrait of several children seeking to improve life in India's slums.... Change may be elusive, the film confirms, but the will to make it blazes."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 200 words, 03/13/13
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "...celebrates the efforts at Prayasam and the successes, while never losing sight of the crises that define daily life for the kids growing up in the Kolkata slums."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,006 words, 03/13/13
Drew Hunt, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...the doc never strays from its central mission, which is to give Amlan Ganguly and his students a virtuous and deserved platform. But structural issues abound..."(See all of Drew Hunt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 474 words, 03/25/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as heartening as it is to see a slum child tutored about vicious cycles of adversity and using the buzzword 'partnership' with aplomb, the film comes to feel cut and dried."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 03/29/13
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...feels somewhat random and disorganized, never zeroing in on a cohesive narrative structure. Still, the engaging subjects and valuable themes largely carry the day."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 209 words, 04/19/13
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...offers immense cause for hopefulness without becoming Pollyannaish or downplaying the serious challenges its protagonists face..."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 471 words, 03/26/13
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...feels somewhat random and disorganized, never zeroing in on a cohesive narrative structure. Still, the engaging subjects and valuable themes largely carry the day."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 209 words, 04/19/13
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as heartening as it is to see a slum child tutored about vicious cycles of adversity and using the buzzword 'partnership' with aplomb, the film comes to feel cut and dried."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 218 words, 03/29/13
11.1 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Revolutionary Optimists's reviews are separated by an average 11.1 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 Revolutionary Optimists (11 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Revolutionary Optimists's reviews cover 10.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 4,185 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 380 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 3 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Revolutionary Optimists's reviews on average broke 3 days 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 The Revolutionary Optimists's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Revolutionary Optimists (11 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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