UPDATE: As of Thursday morning, the reviews keep coming in, most of them extremely critical. The rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 32% from all critics, 18% from top critics, which if it stands will make it one of the worst reviewed films of the year. However, the user reviews are just as influential, if not more, for many people in deciding which movies to go see on the opening weekend; which in turn determines how long theaters will keep it going. Students First, Michelle Rhee's group, is sending its staff people to write positive reviews; as Jersey Jazzman blogged about last night. I strongly encourage anyone who has seen the film to send in your review, whatever you thought of the film, even if its only a few short lines, to Rotten Tomatoes as well.
Today there have been many scathing reviews of the new “parent tricker” film “Won’t Back Down” consistent with my view, that it is an extremely poorly made film as well as shameless propaganda.
Hopefully the huge promotional push by privateer astroturf organizations like DFER and Students First, and the shameless publicity provided by MSNBC/NBC Education Nation won’t be able to overcome these terrible reviews (and bad word of mouth as well).
As of 5;30 pm today, it is getting a 18% “Splat” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 11% from top critics, meaning eight out of nine reviews are bad.. If you’ve seen the film, please add your User review on that website as well. Here are some excerpts from the critics:
AP review “Fails to make the grade”: “Theaters should install glow-in-the-dark versions of those old clunking classroom clocks so viewers can count the agonizing minutes ticking by as they watch the movie.”
NPR review: “Too-Easy Way Out”” "something less honorable...propaganda piece with blame on its mind."
Hollywood Reporter review: “pedestrian & insultingly tendentious…condescending... dumbed-down agenda film… Given the disingenuous way in which this lumbering movie pushes obvious buttons and manipulates the audience’s emotional investment while conveniently skimming the issues, it’s a mystery how some of these names got roped in.”
Variety review: "disingenuous pot-stirrer...taking public for dummies...cardboard characterizations..."
2 comments:
Yet another slam by Lisa Featherstone for Dissent Magazine.
http://dissentmagazine.org/online.php?id=631#.UGMleL28OIM.facebook
Here's a great one from a West Coast PTA parent
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=10547#more
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