The Lottery
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Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: In a country where 58% of African American 4th graders are functionally illiterate, The Lottery uncovers the failures of the traditional public school system and reveals that hundreds of thousands of parents attempt to flee the system every year. The Lottery follows four of these families from Harlem and the Bronx who have entered their children in a charter school lottery. Out of thousands of hopefuls, only a small minority will win the chance of a better future. (Variance Film)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    100
    The documentary shows the stranglehold that the teachers union has on politicians, particularly Democratic politicians. The arrogance and ignorance of some of these politicians is galling.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    80
    With fierce arguments, often drawn on partisan lines, raging across the country, The Lottery will be of vital interest to anyone interested in the topic, especially the parents of young children.
  3. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Eric Hynes
    60
    Director Madeleine Sackler favors an agenda of advocacy over complexity, making The Lottery an effective, if unapologetically one-sided, piece of agitprop.
  4. Variety
    Reviewed by: John Anderson
    30
    Advocacy to the point of propaganda.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. OscarPicks2010
    8
    This already Oscar contender documentary hits hard on the public/charter education problems of Harlem. Combining facts and parents' emotions, Madeleine Sackler was able to pull off a gripping documentary about our childrens' future. At times the feature becomes bias and unbalanced, but The Lottery was good enough for the Oscar semifinalist list.… Expand

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