American Promise
P.O.V. | Release Date: October 18, 2013 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Village VoiceErnest HardyOct 24, 2013
The film ends on up notes, but its strength is that it's not really a feel-good movie, instead shining a light on both how far we have come in terms of race in America and how very far we still have to go. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranOct 24, 2013
Because the stories are so specific, and because they play out over such a long period of time, it is hard not to be fascinated by this intimate look at how particular families deal with the great parental challenge of shepherding their children through the all-important educational experience. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterDuane ByrgeOct 21, 2013
American Promise shows the emotional toll that each boy endures, not only from the image that their privileged peers have of minority males but, accordingly, their own lack of confidence. Read full review
75
Boston GlobePeter KeoughNov 21, 2013
The result is an extended home movie that is also a sociological experiment. Read full review
75
Washington PostStephanie MerryOct 31, 2013
The documentary is unwieldy, unfocused and frustrating at times... But the movie is also, somehow, dazzling. Read full review
75
The PlaylistKevin JagernauthOct 6, 2013
The documentary is often fascinating, even as it eschews any kind of traditional narrative. Read full review
70
VarietyGeoff BerkshireOct 21, 2013
American Promise succeeds in touching on a wealth of subjects without overreaching. Read full review
67
Christian Science MonitorPeter RainerOct 25, 2013
Despite the film’s intentions, Idris and Seun can’t really stand in for anybody but themselves. What they go through, as middle-class kids in a privileged school system, seems far less race-based than the filmmakers would have us believe. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubBen KenigsbergOct 16, 2013
Ultimately, American Promise seems split between a personal perspective and a broader one. It’s a bold experiment that’s also a textbook case of filmmakers being too close to their material. Read full review
63
New York PostFarran Smith NehmeOct 17, 2013
It’s a baggy movie, with some things (such as whether Idris taking Ritalin in high school improved his performance) unexplained, and it may appeal most to those raising kids themselves. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineEla BittencourtSep 15, 2013
The documentary's lack of a cohesive thesis may frustrate at times, but its power lies in its exposition of the mundane. Read full review
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