Tsotsi
Miramax Films | Release Date: February 24, 2006
7.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
33
Mixed:
6
Negative:
2
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
10
slobodanAug 9, 2008
Outstanding movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
MarcK.Feb 24, 2006
I'd have to say my feelings are similar to what was said by the ReelViews critic...and I would also make this a 7.5 rating if I were allowed to do that here. It's still early, but this has a great chance to be in my best 10 film I'd have to say my feelings are similar to what was said by the ReelViews critic...and I would also make this a 7.5 rating if I were allowed to do that here. It's still early, but this has a great chance to be in my best 10 film list (US Releases) for 2006. Definitely deserves it's Oscar nomination, and definitely deserves a look-see.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
JoyH.Mar 3, 2006
An excellent film with flawless acting. It definitely leaves an audience speechless. Tsotsi opens our eyes to a world so unlike our own that we can't help but be changed and moved. This film deserves an Oscar!
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
thewisekingMay 16, 2006
a tale of redemption well rendered. on the surface a very simple story which lingers in the mind long afterward. it avoids the usual hollywood cliches and makes no effort to blame the miscreants behavior on the usual/obvious suspects; a tale of redemption well rendered. on the surface a very simple story which lingers in the mind long afterward. it avoids the usual hollywood cliches and makes no effort to blame the miscreants behavior on the usual/obvious suspects; racism, poverty etc. it is a deeper film, more psychological.we do NOT excuse the Tsotsi for his actions, we are just given more information. great score and cinematography, and considering the competition certainly the best foreign film in the running that year.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
MDawgSep 8, 2006
It has been a month since I've seen the movie and I'm still thinking about the powerful ending. Great movie. Gritty yet poignant.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
PatC.Aug 29, 2007
A very compelling descent into South Africa's crime scene. Some elements are left hanging, and the ending is more a reaffirmation of incompleteness than of the endearing human qualities alluded to. Still a worthwhile film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
JaredG.Mar 6, 2006
Nothing like City of God. In fact, its better. If you dont think that it deals with true South African issue, you are not looking deep enough.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
KathrynL.Apr 10, 2006
Tsotsi is a well acted. stirring and beautiful. I strongly reccommend this film although it is very much like the "hood" movies that we saw saturate theaters in the early 90. If you weren't interested then you won't be now. And if Tsotsi is a well acted. stirring and beautiful. I strongly reccommend this film although it is very much like the "hood" movies that we saw saturate theaters in the early 90. If you weren't interested then you won't be now. And if you didn't understand it then you won't understand it now. Is Tsotsi sintemental? Sure. But so was John Stienbeck, and who would deny him?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JaneanP.Apr 14, 2006
Worse than Crash; between this and Joyeux Noel, I've lost faith in any Oscar nominee being worth watching.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
MarkB.Apr 4, 2006
In the first few minutes of this overrated, not-so-hotsy South African character study, the nameless title character ("Tsotsi" means thug) and his criminal cohorts ask each other what each is going to do tonight. It's difficult to tell In the first few minutes of this overrated, not-so-hotsy South African character study, the nameless title character ("Tsotsi" means thug) and his criminal cohorts ask each other what each is going to do tonight. It's difficult to tell whether this is an indirect lift from the most famous line in Paddy Chayefsky's Marty, but if it is, it certainly wouldn't be this film's ONLY derivative element. Tsotsi might think that it's more powerful, insightful and moving than it is, but despite a compelling, persuasive lead performance by Presley Chweneyagae in the title role and direction by Gavin Hood (adapting Athol Fugard's novel) that comes off partially as Fernando Meirelles Lite, this comes off as watchable but fundamentally bogus sentimental hogwash that the USA's own Damon Runyon was doing in the 1920s and 30s, and it was hardly original when he was trafficking in it. (I mean, when's the last time YOU saw a movie that literally kicked a dog to gain unwarranted sympathy for one of the characters?) The film attempts to depict the way that Tsotsi, upon discovering the infant son of one of his robbery victims, Becomes A Better Person, but instead it comes off as the most ethically questionable watering-down of the criminality of a reprehensible, antisocial individual since Kevin Bacon's turn in The Woodsman. The fact that the movie's "hero" shows some humanity in caring for the baby simply doesn't cut much ice with me; in the current Thank You For Smoking, we see that the slimeball Big Tobacco lobbyist played by Aaron Eckhardt truly loves his son, but that doesn't make him any LESS of a slimeball. (The difference between the two films in this area is that Thank You's writer-director Jason Reitman is fully aware of this and isn't trying to convince anybody otherwise.) On the other hand, young mother Miriam (Terry Pheto) really IS genuinely admirable and heroic; when forced by Tsotsi to breastfeed the baby, she also voluntarily bathes and shelters him, even though he's not hers and she could be endangering her life and that of her son by not keeping her distance from Tsotsi. (Talk about living by the Biblical admonition of going two miles when being forced to travel one!) And it must be freely admitted that the baby himself, even by the incredibly broad standards of tiny babies with enormously expressive brown eyes and wearing light-blue jumpers, is so overwhelmingly adorable that in his presence even Richard Speck would most likely turn into Dr. Spock; Hood's dozens of closeups of the tot are a probable reason that so many people ARE visibly affected by this film. What's less understandable is why the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences absurdly chose this as Best Foreign Film of 2005 over the infiniterly more challenging and original Paradise Now, especially after displaying such insight and wisdom last year in choosing the provocative and moving drama The Sea Inside over the shopworn inspirational saga The Chorus, which was as hokey as this is. I can only guess that too many voters, allowing political pressure to get to them, misinterpreted Paradise Now as a justification of Palestinian terrorist suicide bombings (which it most definitely is NOT; it's too conveniently forgotten that a central character CHANGES HIS MIND about participating in the attack and spends a substantial part of the movie trying to prevent it) and went for the nice, safe choice. When Crash topped Brokeback Mountain for the big prize, I initially doubted that it was the result of right-wing hostility toward the so-called "gay cowboy" movie, but now...well, I'm not so sure.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
RobertI.Dec 2, 2007
Leaves you with a knot in your stomach, for the situation, the people, the grinding poverty, and cruelty of a large segment of human life. affecting performances bring it to life.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
DanielSJan 4, 2007
Beautifully crafted and well-acted film about a thug's redemptiom in the shanty towns of South Africa. Some may find this story as glossing over the brutality of the characters' actions, and providing an improbable transformation, Beautifully crafted and well-acted film about a thug's redemptiom in the shanty towns of South Africa. Some may find this story as glossing over the brutality of the characters' actions, and providing an improbable transformation, but they're missing the finest and subtlest points of the film. It's clear from the on-set this is set in a violent harsh world, and it's captured in breathtaking shots by superb cinematography, editing and direction. This is a compelling film of a young man who needs a moment of humanity to affect him and his future.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
MichaelL.Mar 14, 2006
Good directing/cinematography. acting was decent. Wasn't completely convinced that the main character was that bad initially. Why he kept the baby is beyond me. Though there are some points in the movie that give good portrayals of Good directing/cinematography. acting was decent. Wasn't completely convinced that the main character was that bad initially. Why he kept the baby is beyond me. Though there are some points in the movie that give good portrayals of conflicting morals and actions, I can't say this movie is one of the best foreign films ever. It is also very anti-climactic which gives a criminal like me less to look forward to.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
SusanL.May 25, 2006
I took my kids , 11 and 14 to see it. There was just enough of a sense of the poverty and rage as to teach not too much to overwhelm.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
7
nutterjrMay 1, 2011
Although there is plenty to praise about, the excess emotional involvement of the thug from the slums of JoBurg leaves a strong Hollywood aftertaste in the mouth.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
aryanruleMar 1, 2011
Stretched out, nice idea but poor realisation. Main character great, book is much better. It took me 3 days to watch it properly so thats one of the reasons for only 6 points.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
All_ButTrU4Oct 9, 2022
This south african crime drama doesn't tell a new story. A villains redemption through healing childhood trauma isn't new but is made more compelling in this iteration by it's performances. Never allowing itself to become too dark thisThis south african crime drama doesn't tell a new story. A villains redemption through healing childhood trauma isn't new but is made more compelling in this iteration by it's performances. Never allowing itself to become too dark this meditation on violence and its consequences aims not to excuse it's protagonist but to give the audience insight into criminality. The desperation that pervades the south african criminal underbelly. It does so swiftly and without an agenda creating for a fascinating story of accountability.… Expand
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8
geewahJan 24, 2021
A movie that expolres the criminal and violent side of South Africa. The tale of redemption is a bit of a stretch though.
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