Steel City
Truly Indie | Release Date: May 25, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
67
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews
Positive:
12
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
Steel City could have used more rhythmic drive, but if Jun keeps weaving together characters this compelling, he could be a major film artist in the making. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterJames Greenberg
The only misstep Jun makes, and it's hard to fault him given the budget, is the mediocre and at times heavy-handed use of music. Still, it's an unqualified success from the heartland. Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
A quietly, somberly effective American indie drama. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleJustin Berton
Steel City makes a valiant attempt to add some new tweaks to the genre best described as life-sucks-growing-up-in-a-mill-town. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
Steel City may be the only movie released this year that's so observant you can hear what the characters AREN'T saying. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
One of the most hopeful movies I've seen recently--not just for its humane, realistic story line, but in its very being. Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
For the most part, they live life convincingly, in a refreshingly inward-looking, well-made film that's smart enough to stay small, and leave the car crashes to the big summer action movies. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJoshua Katzman
Jun, a downstate native, has an ear for plainspoken dialogue and neither glamorizes nor patronizes his characters. Read full review
70
New York Magazine (Vulture)David Edelstein
It has vivid characters, a strong sense of place, and a free-floating hopelessness that never precludes the possibility of meaningful action. Read full review
70
VarietyDavid Rooney
Its honest, unshowy performances and textured depiction of life in a working-class community in a nowhere Southern Illinois town make this modest indie feature an affecting experience. Read full review
70
The New York TimesNeil Genzlinger
Mostly Mr. Jun's script is sharp, and Laurie Metcalf, James McDaniel, America Ferrera and Raymond J. Barry in supporting roles help keep the tale mesmerizing, in a small-scale sort of way. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
A shaky but promising debut, Brian Jun's downbeat family drama is likely to make you feel a whole lot better about your own life. Read full review
60
Film ThreatPete Vonder Haar
The movie's strength is in the performances. And they're enough to make Steel City worth a look. Read full review
50
Village VoiceAaron Hillis
Whatever Steel City lacks in oomph or even originality, it at least breaks even with its working-class authenticity and unexpectedly well-rounded ensemble. Read full review
50
New York PostLou Lumenick
Excellent performances by a good cast and a fairly authentic look at working-class struggles go only so far. Read full review
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