Off the Black
THINKFilm | Release Date: December 8, 2006 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
62
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
6
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
L.A. WeeklyTim Grierson
Off the Black gradually establishes its own peculiar cranky rhythm, fighting to resist the usual male-bonding sentimentality. But despite some nice touches, this is the sort of too-precious indie film that gives its characters unnecessary quirks. Read full review
60
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
I think the movie is so restrained, and holds back so much on conventional plot and characterization, that its emotional impact is severely blunted. Nolte is excellent, I suppose, but we've seen this damaged-American-dude shtick from him before. Read full review
60
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
The leads are good, and Timothy Hutton is memorably off-putting as the pitcher's disengaged dad. But having created the aching umpire, Ponsoldt occupies him with some fairly shopworn situations. Read full review
58
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
Playing a cantankerous, beer-swigging human wreck of a man for the umpteenth time, Nolte is very good but very familiar. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Nolte almost makes it work. Read full review
50
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Writer-director James Ponsoldt's film treats big subjects -- loneliness, coming-of-age and father-son relationships -- with such half-baked conviction, it's a wonder the screen doesn't redden with embarrassment. Which makes it all the more gratifying to watch Nolte pulverize the dramatic banality around him. Read full review
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