Promises
Cowboy Pictures | Release Date: March 15, 2002 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
80
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
1
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Boston GlobeLoren King
Beautifully crafted and brutally honest. Read full review
100
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Extraordinary. Read full review
91
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
Superb, Oscar-nominated documentary. Read full review
88
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Promises may want to unite the audience in humanitarian emotions, but it's more useful as a prod to examine what these children are learning from their schools, their leaders, and their media. Read full review
88
New York PostMegan Turner
Polarized world views from the mouths of babes -- unfortunately does little to mitigate this depressing image, but much to humanize both sides. Read full review
80
New Times (L.A.)Gregory Weinkauf
Despite its lively tone and brisk editing, the project's sad epilogue -- shot two years later -- suggests that Abraham and Mohammed will be duking it out on the world's dime for some time to come. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderTed Shen
Timely and informative. Read full review
80
The New York TimesJulie Salamon
Demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful, subjective filmmaking. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Promises takes a simple idea and just about breaks your heart with it. Read full review
80
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
"I knew the children here had something to say," Goldberg says in voiceover early in the film. That statement may sound slightly maudlin, but the film that follows is anything but. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
Proves too sincere to exploit its subjects and too honest to manipulate its audience. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldMarta Barber
The impact of Promises comes from the openness of the children. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
The filmmakers caught the kids arguing their cases like adversaries on "Judge Judy," sticking to phrases they've memorized or absorbed only too well. Read full review
70
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
An earnest, roughshod document, it serves as a workable primer for the region's recent history, and would make a terrific 10th-grade learning tool. Read full review
70
VarietyDavid Rooney
Provides deeply humanistic insight into the complexities of the Middle East conflict that political analysis or front-line news coverage often lacks. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineStephen Miller
Insightful, Oscar-nominated documentary. Read full review
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