Control Room
Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
view
per page
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    100
    A riveting new documentary about the Arab-run Al Jazeera network, reminds us that news programming can vary so widely from place to place that journalistic myths of "objectivity" and "impartiality" seem more naive than ever.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Steven Rea
    100
    It's strong stuff.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Curiel
    100
    One of the year’s most significant films.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    100
    About the search for common ground, among journalists on all sides of the conflict and, through them, between viewers in America and the Arab world. Only within that common ground, Noujaim believes, can something like a workable, personal truth be found.
  5. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Rick Kisonak
    100
    Here's the sliver of hope: In contrast to everything we've been told, the people who run Al Jazeera turn out to be decent and level headed.
  6. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Tim Merrill
    90
    In the end, the greatest achievement of Control Room may be to simply remind us, as Americans, that in this age of mega-corporate U.S. news media there are other perspectives on world events besides those of Fox, CNN, MSNBC-ABCBS and whoever else feeds us our information.
  7. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    90
    A surprising, puzzling and in many ways brilliant work.
  8. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marjorie Baumgarten
    89
    Perception is key and Control Room should be required viewing for anyone within reach of a TV signal.
  9. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    88
    Control Room may not seem all that compelling 10 years down the road. But right now, at this very moment, it is essential, imperative viewing.
  10. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    88
    Control Room ends by acknowledging that independence, accuracy and even truth itself may be illusory.
  11. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    83
    Control Room is even more effective in showing the dilemma of the people who make up Al-Jazeera. In a sense, these are "our" Arabs, in that they're Western-educated, conduct their business in English and seem to believe in the basic American principles.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. [Anonymous]
    1
    A very bias movie favoring Al Jazeera, a known supporter of terrorism. It is a shame that we have to commit so many good soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines to defend other nations from their own criminals. What a waste of Great Americans. God Bless America!… Full Review »
  2. ThomasR.
    0
    Why is it that Al-Jazeera acts as the voice of Islamist terrorists, broadcasting their messages, their decapitation tapes, their threats, and their hate speech? Do you think a legitimate news service would ever dream of doing such a thing? I think there should be an investigation into exactly how this network gets the "inside scoop" from these individuals. They seem to be the "minister of information" for Islamic terror. As far as the movie goes, I was extremely unimpressed. Not nearly as good as her last film. Not at all even-handed. I wouldn't call it a documentary as much as puff piece. Don't bother with this film.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »