September 11
Empire Pictures Inc. | Release Date: July 18, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
5
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
An often brilliant, always revelatory, deeply interesting omnibus film. Read full review
80
The New RepublicStanley Kauffmann
Obviously the variety that was bound to result was part of Brigand's plan. The astonishment is that almost all of the assemblage is fascinating, very little is poor, and one segment is superb. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
They vary enormously in style, quality, and ideas, but the best of them -- by Gitai, Chahine, and Iñárritu, among others -- pack an enormous emotional and intellectual punch. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Some segments are anti-American, but to concentrate on that is to miss the variety, depth of opinion, and fierceness of the emotions that drive each director. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerD. Parvaz
Overall, the film contains personal and political stories, as well as the macrocosm and the microcosm of chaos, rage, sadness and confusion. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
9/11 was a savage and heartless crime, and after the symbolism and the history and the imagery and the analysis, that is a point that must be made. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
The results are not monumental, but they are a variety of sober responses to the tragedy that help place the event in a global context. Some of the films may be, as has been suggested, anti-American in tone, but none come anywhere near defending the attacks. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
The filmmakers' attempts come to terms with a recent catastrophe of indeterminate meaning but global consequences are often fascinating. Read full review
70
VarietyDeborah Young
A sober, thought-provoking response to a tragedy of worldwide import and a much better film than one might expect from the pre-release publicity. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
An ungainly, intermittently harrowing omnibus filled with moments of piercing sorrow and rage. Read full review
70
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Until filmmakers get a little distance, maybe they'd be better off ignoring such projects. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
They're all instructive and interesting in one way or another, and they're indispensable viewing for residents of isolationist, or at least isolated, countries such as this one. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
In the most shocking contribution to this self-conscious but fascinating sampling of art challenged by life, Mexico's Alejandro González Iñárritu (''Amores Perros'') makes a horrifying suspense story. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
As a whole, September 11 never reaches any conclusions or ready insights. But as a collection of moments, the film often soars. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Taken as a whole, the film says, "We grieve too, but like this, and this, and this." Read full review
60
The New York TimesDave Kehr
Most impressive, and the only segment that dares to criticize the terrorists directly, is Mr. Imamura's contribution, the last part of the film. Read full review
60
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
The films, both narrative and nonfictional, range from the engagingly elliptical...to the simple-minded... to the cloying and incomprehensible. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesManohla Dargis
It's no surprise that Imamura has directed the best film in September 11, which is doubtless why the producer saved it for last. Read full review
50
Washington PostStephen Hunter
Of the pieces, two are first-rate, a few more are amusing or provocative, and the rest are actively annoying. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
The results are mixed. Many of the films are too long, and even worse, the collection as a whole doesn't come to grips with the human scale of the tragedy. Read full review
30
Village VoiceDennis Lim
It's hard to say if this devastating, nakedly exploitative work has a larger point beyond the evocation and infliction of trauma. A repeat viewing might clear that up, but it's an experience I'd rather not relive -- and one that I cannot in good faith recommend to anyone. Read full review
30
Washington PostDesson Thomson
A crashing letdown. Read full review
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