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Zigzag

EMAILPRINTZig Zag Productions Inc.

Zigzag reviews
58
6.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 2 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: David S. Goyer
Landon J. Napoleon (novel)

Directed by: David S. Goyer

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 14, 2002
DVD: July 9, 2002

Running Time: 101 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for strong language and sexual content, elements of drugs and violence

Starring Sam Jones III, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, Natasha Lyonne, Wesley Snipes, Sherman Augustus, Luke Goss, and Michael Greyeyes

This crime thriller centers on a boy with a photographic memory and his social worker as they struggle to return a large sum of stolen cash.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Variety Joe Leydon

Evidencing savvy visual flair and compelling storytelling skill, Goyer infuses heart and vigor into material that could have come off as overly familiar at best, sappily improbable at worst.

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80

Film Threat Merle Bertrand

ZigZag rests heavily on Jones III's sensational turn as the lead character. Capable of drawing empathy without pity from an audience, his ZigZag is the unlikely constant in a world swirling with change and intrigue.

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75

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

The greatest strength of this modest production is Jones. ZigZag's autism is mild, meaning his symptoms are subtle, and the 19-year-old novice is completely convincing.

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70

TV Guide Ken Fox

For all its crime-story elements, this richly colored, beautifully shot film is really a story of the friendship between Singer and the kid he calls ZigZag, a relationship made all the more poignant by the fact that Singer is very sick.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

ZigZag is also richly cinematic. Los Angeles locales have been chosen with a keen eye to freshness and pungent atmosphere, and they have been masterfully photographed by James L. Carter with a notably effective play of dark and light.

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50

LA Weekly John Dentino

A great ensemble cast can't lift this heartfelt enterprise out of the familiar.

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50

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Kid-pulp screenwriter Goyer (Dark City, Blade I and II) manages some mature textures but his movie never surmounts its manipulative ideas.

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50

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Might have been richer and more observant if it were less densely plotted. The characters would resonate more if there were fewer of them, and if they were not pushed through so many contrived dramatic incidents.

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50

New York Post Megan Lehmann

The character of ZigZag is not sufficiently developed to support a film constructed around him.

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40

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

Either a put-on or a straight shooter; that you can't tell the difference underscores its small but ultimately overwhelming flaws.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Alan S. gave it a 7:
ZigZag_was based on a true story, and the film does in fact reek of authenticities lesser films wouldn’t bother with: Lewis’ full-body shaking when he’s processing strong emotions, his boss’ utter political incorrectness (calling Lewis “Ricky Retardo” and the black investigating officer “Sherlock Homie”) you wonder if mainstream films would dare depict, and an unexpected ending that is both completely plausible and not insufferably clever. The truth is in the details, and director Goyer’s eye for the little things should earn ZigZag a good deal of praise. It’s a modest, unglamorous film, with a great soundtrack I may add, filled with compelling performances that were coaxed out of his actors for a fraction of their usual asking fees.

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