X
  • 1999
  • R
  • Twentieth Century Fox
  • 1 h 39 m
  • 1999
  • R
  • Twentieth Century Fox
  • 1 h 39 m

Summary Following an accidental shooting in a battered inner city high school, a disparate group of students hold the wounded police officer hostage. As media and public interest in the stand-off intensifies, the classmates unexpectedly band together to help themselves and their school. (20th Century)

Directed By: Craig Bolotin

Written By: Craig Bolotin

  • 1999
  • R
  • Twentieth Century Fox
  • 1 h 39 m
  • 1999
  • R
  • Twentieth Century Fox
  • 1 h 39 m

Light It Up

Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews
43
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
6.6
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary Following an accidental shooting in a battered inner city high school, a disparate group of students hold the wounded police officer hostage. As media and public interest in the stand-off intensifies, the classmates unexpectedly band together to help themselves and their school. (20th Century)

Directed By: Craig Bolotin

Written By: Craig Bolotin

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews
43
33% Positive
9 Reviews
44% Mixed
12 Reviews
22% Negative
6 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 27 Critic Reviews
43
33% Positive
9 Reviews
44% Mixed
12 Reviews
22% Negative
6 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
75
A tough little hostage thriller with crackling dialogue, surprising intelligence and an emotional wallop.
By Staff [Not Credited] FULL REVIEW
75
Heartbreaking and sometimes dazzlingly effective, the film still has flaws -- most of them in a too-often-maudlin script.
FULL REVIEW
60
Unexpectedly satisfying feel-good agitprop.
FULL REVIEW
50
The passionate and carnivalesque sense of politics reminded me at times of "Dog Day Afternoon," but despite the absence of cynicism this is a 90s story in every sense of the word
By Jonathan Rosenbaum FULL REVIEW
40
Benefits from affecting performances from a gifted cast headed by R&B heartthrob Usher Raymond.
By Rita Kempley FULL REVIEW
25
The story is irresponsible and the filmmaking is awful.
By David Sterritt FULL REVIEW
0
As an actor, Raymond is whiny and annoying, but not nearly so much as the film.
By Owen Gleiberman FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
6.6
40% Positive
2 Ratings
60% Mixed
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
6.6
40% Positive
2 Ratings
60% Mixed
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Edmonds Entertainment, Fox 2000 Pictures
Release Date Nov 10, 1999
Duration 1 h 39 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline In the biggest situation in your life, How Far will you go to resist it?
View All Details

Awards

Image Awards (NAACP)
• 3 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 1 Nomination
Political Film Society, USA
• 1 Nomination

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