Man Down
Lionsgate Premiere | Release Date: December 2, 2016 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
28
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
7
Negative:
11
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
Total FilmJames MottramApr 9, 2017
LaBeouf is committed, and it’s fun seeing him go toe-to-toe with Gary Oldman (as his boss). But amid Montiel’s jigsaw-like structure lurk some generic revelations. Disappointing. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael PhillipsDec 1, 2016
LaBeouf's quivering instability creates the impression that his performance is constantly buffering on us. He's never dull — he is, in fact, a compelling actor in any circumstance — but the material ends up cheapening the experiences of so many real-life veterans, which surely was not the filmmakers' intention. Read full review
42
The PlaylistJessica KiangDec 12, 2016
It starts out less not-good than it ends up, to be fair, and for the majority of its running time, it’s engaging enough. Its chief issue in these parts seems to be that the director isn’t super sure if he’s making an action thriller with apocalyptic overtones, a family drama, or a character portrait/performance showcase, so the tone is all over the place. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsAllen SalkinOct 6, 2020
For all of its effort to make an important point about the unseen casualties of war, Man Down is a taxing exercise for the viewer. Read full review
40
EmpireIan FreerMar 27, 2017
Featuring strong work from LaBeouf, Man Down is a fascinating example of how a powerful performance and good intentions can be derailed by a misguided concept and flawed execution. Read full review
40
Arizona RepublicKerry LengelDec 1, 2016
I can give the filmmakers — director Dito Montiel and screenwriter Adam G. Simon — the benefit of the doubt on good intentions, but their approach doesn’t tug at the heartstrings so much as it pistol-whips the audience with its grandiose and (ineptly) manipulative storytelling. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenNov 30, 2016
Forgotten or subject to overkill as they are here, veterans still get the shaft. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineKenji FujishimaNov 28, 2016
Dito Montiel's silly plot machinations waste a solid performance from Shia LaBeouf. Read full review
33
Entertainment WeeklyDarren FranichDec 7, 2016
Director Dito Montiel splinter’s the film’s story on multiple tracks, in a truly shameless and incredibly obvious effort to protect a Big Twist. Read full review
33
IndieWireDavid EhrlichDec 1, 2016
If [LaBeouf's] ultimately powerless to make this film worth watching, his performance is a strong reminder that his work should never be taken for granted. Read full review
33
The A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyNov 30, 2016
The low-wattage, high-concept psychological drama Man Down is too misbegotten to be rescued by Shia LaBeouf’s Method lead performance; in fact, the most interesting thing about it is his masochistic commitment to the film. Read full review
25
Movie NationRoger MooreDec 8, 2016
Big moments drown in a soundmix of sappy muzak. Good actors are wasted, left and right. Classic Montiel. Read full review
25
RogerEbert.comBrian TallericoDec 2, 2016
Man Down is a bad film, but it’s made even worse by the taste it will leave in your mouth regarding its silly handling of a very serious issue. Read full review
25
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperDec 1, 2016
Sometimes we talk about seeing a performance so real, so believable, so authentic, it takes our breath away. Then there’s Shia LaBeouf’s work in Man Down. Read full review
25
St. Louis Post-DispatchCalvin WilsonDec 1, 2016
The best that can be said for this film is that it’s short. Read full review
25
The Seattle TimesSoren AndersenNov 30, 2016
Offering only an atmosphere of deepening gloom and a premise of utter hopelessness, Man Down is like movie antimatter: It repels interest. Read full review
20
The TelegraphTim RobeyApr 4, 2017
The last scenes aren’t just bungled, they’re hideously sentimental – insults to both viewer intelligence and the touted gravity of the subject matter. Read full review
20
The New York TimesGlenn KennyDec 1, 2016
Mr. Montiel may have had honorable intentions in creating this movie. But what he made is neither a viable work of art nor an effective call to action. It’s a sadistic and ghoulish spectacle. Read full review
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