Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Naomie Harris

A drama of four interconnecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia.

Flixster Users

33% liked it

2,844 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

23 critics

R, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Mark Webber

Release Date: March 6, 2009

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DVD Release Date: July 14, 2009

Stats: 433 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (433)


  • July 17, 2009
    Congratulations to Mark Webber for a decent directing debut. And he also deserves to be congratulated on his development of a fascinating movie character, that of Babo. However, the movie gets a bit lost. Some of the characters don't really add up to anything and at the end you'r...( read more)e wondering what were they trying to say throughout the movie and why they chose to offer it like that. The lives of everyone just seem to intersect to an ending that had nothing to do with the rest of the movie. A better deliverance would suffice. As to the rest of the movie elements, the performances were great, the chemistry between the characters splendid, and it had the right amount of tragedy poured into it.

    But it gets you lost quickly and it's tiring at points. It could have been greater but it wasn't.
  • August 6, 2008
    Ensemble drama clumsily works its way to a Big Message.
  • September 9, 2009
    This film proved better than I expected. It could stand to be about 20 minutes longer and would greatly benefit from giving Paul Dano more screen time.
  • August 18, 2009
    the ending has a good message, but 80% of the movie is just random, meaningless scenes.
  • July 21, 2009
    Add a review (optional)...
  • July 17, 2009
    very poignant tale on everyday people's every day struggles. touching without being preachy,
  • July 17, 2009
    oh my gosh i can't believe it
  • July 16, 2009
    Interesting maybe?...Too much of this type of thing is around today in my personal veiw from cop shows 'n drugs and poverty...There are many forms of poverty...the truth is I like to leave a movie feeling elated and inspired...I'd have to see it to totally decide...MichaelMichael
  • July 16, 2009
    Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Naomie Harris

    A drama of four interconnecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia.
  • July 14, 2009
    i had to walk on a rope bridge. It was very high, i was
    scared. i saw my frnd on the other side and called him out for help but there was no
    reply . i somehow managed and crossed the bridge. der i was shocked to
    see my frnd holding the end of the broken bridge...,sometimes we thi...( read more)nk why
    our frnd is quite when we call for help . he may not help you in crossing the bridge but
    he might be holding the broken bridge for you ... just trust your
    friends in every situations, bcoz they are your real asset. plz pass this msg
    to all your gud friends including me if u think i am ur gud friend and see how
    many friends will send the same msg back to u accepting u as his\her good friend

Critic Reviews


March 5, 2009
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Mark Weber's Explicit Ills has a tenderness that belies its fiery left-leaning political views about urban poverty and social injustice. full review

View more Explicit Ills reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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