Cesar Chavez

PG-13

Released Mar 28, 2014

1h 41m

Biography

History

Drama

List

39%

72 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Famed labor organizer and civil-rights activist Cesar Chavez (Michael Peña) is torn between his duty to his family and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers.

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Critics Consensus

Too in awe of its subject's great works to present him as a human being, Cesar Chávez settles for trite hagiography.

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Ashley Eddington H

I appreciated this forgotten or little know part of American history. I knew bits and pieces of the story but this sheds light on the harrowing journey that Cesar Chavez and his family were willing to take to give rights to poor immigrants who were suffering and pave the way for millions of future migrant workers to have better lives. The acting was superb. I am going to have my children watch this so they better appreciate the story behind who picks the produce that ends up on their plates. And so they can appreciate the power of organizing for a cause that is just.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/22

Full Review

isla s

This is an interesting story - one I wasn't familiar with and so I enjoyed it from a historical perspective, although it is understandably frustrating, not least because of the hatred and discrimination there still is for non-whites in the US (and elsewhere). The cast do a good job - its an ok watch. I liked that Cesar was clearly against using violence, it shows who the real criminals are, in my view. It seemed to me a bit of a TV film sort of a film - not a big, hyped up Hollywood kind of a film but certainly not a bad film either. The script isn't bad and it makes for a thoughtful watch, even though it is perhaps a little bland. I would recommend this film overall, yes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

incredibly difficult to follow and dreadfully slow at times not up to the quality it should be

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/08/20

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Audience Member

Pena and Vargas were very good in this. Everyone else should of been recast. Everyone were not believable for the roles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An honest, raw view of an important figure in our country's history. Strong performances by Dawson and Ferrera. Interesting sub plot line on gender dynamics. Overall the movie is well worth it. Don't believe the (anti) hype!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a decent movie about Cesar Chavez with good performances from the entire cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Diego Luna

Director

Michael Peña

Cesar Chavez

America Ferrera

Helen Chavez

Rosario Dawson

Dolores Huerta

John Malkovich

Bogdanovitch

Eli Vargas

Fernando

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Critics Consensus: Noah is a Fresh Take on an Old Tale

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

It should have been made 40 years ago, but this biopic about the Mexican-American leader who spearheaded the fight for farmworkers' rights couldn't be more timely.

Rated: B+

Apr 4, 2014

Full Review

Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine/Vulture

Cesar Chavez makes for a fine history lesson, but as drama, it leaves something to be desired.

Mar 28, 2014

Full Review

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Michael Pea brings a centered, beckoning beauty to the title character that manages to speak to Chvez nonviolent approach without becoming hagiographic.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 28, 2014

Full Review

Aaron Peterson

The Hollywood Outsider

Even in a film failing to reach the lofty achievements of its namesake, there is still much to learn and enjoy here.

Rated: 5.5/10

Oct 12, 2018

Full Review

Megan Basham

WORLD

Though well-acted, Diego Luna's hagiographic film never manages to shine a meager beam.

Apr 10, 2018

Full Review

Kiko Martinez

San Antonio Current

Loses an opportunity to dig deeper inside the man and, instead, follows biopic convention.

Rated: C

Jan 26, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Famed labor organizer and civil-rights activist Cesar Chavez (Michael Peña) is torn between his duty to his family and his commitment to securing a living wage for farm workers.

Director: Diego Luna
Producer: Emilio Azcarraga Jean, Haim Saban, Jeff Skoll, Jonathan King, Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith, Gael García Bernal, Julian Levin, Rebecca O'Brien
Screenwriter: Keir Pearson, Timothy J. Sexton
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Canana Films
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.6M
Runtime: 1h 41m

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