77
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- The toxic paranoia poisoning American life is on display in 3 ½ Minutes, Ten Bullets, a fine and timely documentary about the 2012 killing of black youth Jordan Davis.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterDuane ByrgeThe Hollywood ReporterDuane ByrgeIt’s sobering and heart-wrenching.
- 88New York PostKyle SmithNew York PostKyle SmithDirector Marc Silver expertly interweaves the courtroom drama and its larger social and human connotations.
- 88Slant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneSlant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneA barbed inquiry into this particular notion of "self-defense," enabled by the quotidian racism state and perpetuated de jure by the state.
- Davis’s parents have called for stricter gun control laws in the wake of their son’s death. Silver has provided them with a powerful tool for their cause in this shocking, moving and relatively unbiased account of the tragedy.
- 70VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveySilver (“Who is Dayani Cristal?”) keeps the focus outside the courtroom primarily on Davis’ parents, who see prosecution as their only hope of some closure in losing their only child. Their grief, bafflement and attempt to maintain some hope in the justice system lends 3 1/2 Minutes considerable poignancy.
- 70Village VoiceDanny KingVillage VoiceDanny KingSilver's empathy often produces moments of emotional catharsis.
- 70The DissolveMike D'AngeloThe DissolveMike D'AngeloThe movie’s only real drawback is that its singleminded approach sometimes omits crucial information.
- 70The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergAt the time of a fervent national debate on race and justice, part of what is impressive about 3 ½ Minutes is the cool temperature at which it is often served.
- Marc Silver’s documentary is mostly hands-off in terms of gun politics. There’s no voiceover other than the Greek chorus of talk radio, as footage from the trial is used to document the case. Mixed in are interviews with Davis’ friends and family, plus recorded phone calls from Dunn while he was awaiting a verdict.