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Explicit Ills

R Released Mar 6, 2009 1h 27m Drama List
54% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Various lives intersect within urban Philadelphia in unpredictable and dramatic ways. Babo (Francisco Burgos), a young asthmatic boy, resides with his mom (Rosario Dawson) in a rough part of town, and their quirky neighbor Demitri (Martin Cepeda) is intent on improving his life by posing as a smart kid. Elsewhere in the city, Jill (Naomie Harris) is having a marital crisis and must contend with her teen son, who has become obsessed with bodybuilding.
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Explicit Ills

Explicit Ills

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Critics Consensus

Though its politics can be heavy-handed at times, Mark Webber's directorial debut is sincere and well-acted.

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Critics Reviews

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Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com This gentle, lovely and consistently surprising survey of life in a Philadelphia inner-city neighborhood that's gradually succumbing to gentrification marks the writing and directing debut of 28-year-old actor Mark Webber. Dec 17, 2021 Full Review Robert Abele Los Angeles Times A movie that too often feels comprised of arty public service announcements can only be considered a lost opportunity. Rated: 2/5 Mar 20, 2009 Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 13, 2009 Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture There is nothing worse than heavy-handedness when it comes to a political film and Explicit Ills, produced by Jim Jarmusch, is ham-fisted in its own subtle way. Rated: 1.5/5 Aug 5, 2020 Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures suffers from a simultaneous affliction of overwriting and underwriting Rated: 1.5/5 Mar 2, 2011 Full Review Bill Gibron Filmcritic.com all social smoke and mirrors. Rated: 2.5/5 Jul 8, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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c v An erratic film that shows the dangers of drugs and the universal struggle of poverty in the United States. I get why the drug dealer and the painter were in the film, but honestly if they had less screen time, I believe this would have been a better film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a great ensemble cast, especially the boy who play Babo. The concept for a great movie is there, it just is executed poorly. Some of the most fantastic camera work I have seen in a movie though, hats of to Rosario for a very deep part. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/11/19 Full Review Audience Member I don't really like giving one star votes but there was nothing fresh about this story and it couldn't hold my attention. I'm a fan of Rosario Dawson and she's why I watched it but she was only part of a vignette so it just wasn't enough to save it. I watched most of it but didn't finish it, unless there was some sort of amazing ending (which I doubt) this one was just boring to me...kind of on the same lines as those cigarette commercials that went on for a while as a public safety announcement that show mortality in a way that's not really effective. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member I don't really like giving one star votes but there was nothing fresh about this story and it couldn't hold my attention. I'm a fan of Rosario Dawson and she's why I watched it but she was only part of a vignette so it just wasn't enough to save it. I watched most of it but didn't finish it, unless there was some sort of amazing ending (which I doubt) this one was just boring to me...kind of on the same lines as those cigarette commercials that went on for a while as a public safety announcement that show mortality in a way that's not really effective. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Ensemble drama clumsily works its way to a Big Message Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member another lost review flixta! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Explicit Ills

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Various lives intersect within urban Philadelphia in unpredictable and dramatic ways. Babo (Francisco Burgos), a young asthmatic boy, resides with his mom (Rosario Dawson) in a rough part of town, and their quirky neighbor Demitri (Martin Cepeda) is intent on improving his life by posing as a smart kid. Elsewhere in the city, Jill (Naomie Harris) is having a marital crisis and must contend with her teen son, who has become obsessed with bodybuilding.
Director
Mark Webber
Producer
Liz Destro
Screenwriter
Mark Webber
Distributor
Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc.
Production Co
Mangusta Productions
Rating
R (Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$28.6K
Runtime
1h 27m
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