Akilla's Escape
critic Reviews
, 79% Certified Fresh Tomatometer Score- Akilla's Escape occasionally loses sight of its strongest assets, but solid acting and a smart story make this a neo-noir worth watching.
- , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreWhelan BarzeyTime Out
It’s an uneven puzzle: eye-catching but not entirely convincing when put together.
Read full article - , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreLeslie FelperinFinancial Times
The editing and cinematography are heavily stylised, which can make the film feel like a flighty distended music video at times, but Williams and Mpumlwana’s alert, compelling performances keep things grounded in grit.
Read full article - , Rotten Tomatometer ScorePhil HoadGuardian
It’s all not quite enough to get Officer’s film to live up to its pretensions, which are also present in the overlong opening credits discoursing on Jamaican history and corruption; themes hinted at later but which never entirely bloom.
Read full article - , Rotten Tomatometer ScoreOdie HendersonRogerEbert.com
Akilla's Escape is undone by its own lack of faith in the viewer, opting to explicitly tell rather than rely on its fine actors to show us who their characters are.
Read full article - , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreMelissa VincentGlobe and Mail
Akilla's Escape recasts the monolithic narrative of gang involvement as one that rejects a trope of Black peril in order to tell a multi-dimensional story of resilience...
Read full article - , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreMichael RechtshaffenLos Angeles Times
Although the constant shifts between contemporary Toronto and '90s New York can at times cause confusion, the film remains firmly rooted in Williams' quietly powerful, laser-focused performance.
Read full article - , Rotten Tomatometer ScoreEdward PorterSunday Times (UK)
Williams is a strong presence, but the story’s elements — past and present — blur together in a monotonous whole.
Read full article - , Rotten Tomatometer ScoreJosh ParhamNext Best Picture
The themes explored lack nuance, the storytelling doesn't craft an engaging pace, and the performances are near-universally bland.
Read full article - , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreFilipe FreitasAlways Good Movies
The final moments are not quite convincing, denoting fragilities in the execution, but the director's formidably hopeful message sticks in our minds.
Read full article - , Fresh Tomatometer ScoreChris KnightNational Post
What at first appears to be mere flashbacks to Akilla's formative years gradual takes on the heft and structure of a separate storyline, one that both informs but also reflects the present-day plot.
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