The Central Park Five
The Central Park Five Image
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Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 9 Ratings

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    Nov 30, 2012
    91
    What we do see, among much else that is damning, are archival NYPD videotapes of the boys being interrogated by detectives who press them to implicate one another in exchange for a leniency that never materialized.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    Nov 29, 2012
    80
    It projects equal parts fury and despair as it reveals how a particular group of individuals was caught in the unforgiving gears of the criminal justice system.
  3. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: David Denby
    Dec 3, 2012
    80
    Central Park is at first discomforting, then enraging, then illuminating.
  4. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    Nov 21, 2012
    50
    Ultimately fails to make its case that five teenagers were sent to jail for a crime they didn't commit solely because of institutional racism.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. LamontRaymond
    9
    I was fortunate to screen this heartbreaking film with one of the directors and two of the CP 5 - three really excellent people. In lieu of writing a full review, I'd just like to urge everyone who reads this to say only one when when placed into custody - "lawyer." By doing so, it's not like pleading the 5th - no fact-finder or judge is going to presume you're guilty of anything. These kids were absolutely bullied, but we can't assume that our government is run by angels, as Alexis de Tocqueville suggested - we have to protect ourselves. So if you feel you've been wrongly detained - don't say more than that single word - lawyer - until you've had a chance to discuss your situation with your legal representative, whether he or she is someone you or your family finds, or the court appoints to you. This is NOT the same as not cooperating with a police investigation when you're not in custody. But when YOUR freedom is at stake, don't hang yourself with your own words. The admissions by these boys - which were coerced - overwhelmed the jury and directly led to their jail sentences. I'm so sorry it happened that way. Again, when you're Mirandized, listen to the words, close your mouth, and ask for a lawyer.… Collapse
  2. MarcDoyle
    8
    It's an excellent movie in a long line of wrongful-incarceration films. I was pretty floored by the composure of these young guys in the face of the corruption they faced. The prosecutors - who have built careers on these cases - should truly be ashamed of themselves for not pursuing some very obvious exculpatory evidence and for not questioning the "bad facts" that they were confronted with. Hopefully the city and state of NY will be writing some fairly sizable checks to these men in the coming years once the civil case is wrapped up. There has to be a punitive element to such bad behavior.… Expand
  3. sid12
    7
    nice movie
  4. cinemaquote
    6
    i am a documental buff. i read a couple reviews of this great investigative piece. it remained so: a sum-up of chronological facts that make up a very powerful story. but the docu lacks broll, images, archive stock... so many images of the iconic 80s are part of the story of these 5 kids and couldve definitely added force and rhythm to this very interesting investigation but... alas, the filmmakers stick to the story as if in a sociology class. great film, anyway.… Expand

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