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Luce

2019

Julius Onah

Naomi Watts, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth ...

6.3

544

Drama It’s been ten years since Amy and Peter Edgar (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth) adopted their son from war-torn Eritrea, and they thought the worst was behind them. Luce Edgar (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) has become an all-star student beloved by his community in Arlington, Virginia. His African American teacher, Harriet Wilson (Octavia Spencer), believes he is a symbol of black excellence that sets a positive example for his peers. But when he is ... [+]

	Media	Author	Review
		Peter Debruge Variety	"What makes 'Luce' so ingeniously subversive as a piece of theater (...) is that it forces audiences who identify as progressive to confront their deepest fears about how that kind of trust can go wrong."
		Benjamin Lee The Guardian	"Tough, provocative thriller crackles with tension (...) 'Luce' doesn’t have the answers but it’ll force many of us to be asking more of the right questions (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Stephen Whitty Screendaily	"Anchored by standout performances by Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer and young Kelvin Harrison Jr., it’s a strong indie film about race, family and trust that should connect with fans of smart, provocative cinema"
		John DeFore The Hollywood Reporter	"However overstuffed and problematic, the film is a giant step up from Onah's recent 'The Cloverfield Paradox' (...) Though provocative enough to start some film-fest conversations, it's unconvincing on too many fronts to go far."
		Eric Kohn IndieWire	"[A] smart and sophisticated inquiry into race and class (...) The psychological warfare at work is often so enthralling that it excuses the unresolved aspects of the narrative."
		Ben Kenigsberg The New York Times	"To say that it unfolds like a play is both accurate and undersells how gorgeously it has been rendered for the screen (...) [Harrison] is the breakout of a uniformly excellent cast"
		Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"Seriously ambitious, scrappy and suspenseful (...) The mysterious, magnificent Harrison holds us in thrall, nailing every nuance (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"
		Tomris Laffly The Wrap	"This cumulatively unnerving psychodrama, where everyone harbors a deep secret, couldn’t be more relevant to today’s America (...) [Onah] showcases elegant filmmaking skills"
		Brian Tallerico rogerebert.com	"A deeply smart film about race and expectations (...) It reminded me of early Mamet work"
		Kambole Campbell Empire	"While it’s a shame that 'Luce' loses sight of the very topics that it brings up in service of cheap thrills, it’s a fascinating, entertaining puzzle all the same (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Edward Porter The Times	"In many respects, this is cleverly dramatised (with flashy plot twists), but as the film adds to its collection of worthy issues, its hero grows too remote and unknowable (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		Sarah McIntyre RTÉ	"The film's opaqueness is matched by its enthralling, thought-provoking nature that makes it entirely worth the journey (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

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Luce

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