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  • 2021
  • Magnolia Pictures
  • 1 h 34 m
  • 2021
  • Magnolia Pictures
  • 1 h 34 m

Summary Citizen Ashe is the story of sports legend and social activist Arthur Ashe. Known to most by his stellar sports career - Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open winner and the first black player to be selected for the US Davis Cup Team - this film uncovers Ashe’s personal evolution; how his activism grew and embraced not only the Civil Ri...

Directed By: Rex Miller, Sam Pollard

Written By: T.J. Volgare

  • 2021
  • Magnolia Pictures
  • 1 h 34 m
  • 2021
  • Magnolia Pictures
  • 1 h 34 m

Citizen Ashe

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
74
User Score Mixed or Average Based on 5 User Ratings
4.0
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary Citizen Ashe is the story of sports legend and social activist Arthur Ashe. Known to most by his stellar sports career - Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open winner and the first black player to be selected for the US Davis Cup Team - this film uncovers Ashe’s personal evolution; how his activism grew and embraced not only the Civil Ri...

Directed By: Rex Miller, Sam Pollard

Written By: T.J. Volgare

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
74
90% Positive
9 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

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

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
74
90% Positive
9 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Sep 16, 2021
"Citizen Ashe” is a fascinating portrait that weaves together his on- and off-court life seamlessly.
By Tambay Obenson FULL REVIEW
80
Dec 9, 2021
Ultimately, if Miller and Pollard don’t paint a particularly warts-and-all portrait of Ashe, they don’t set him up as some sort of saint either: just a certain man of a certain era with an amazing talent. It’s a fitting tribute.
By Gary Goldstein FULL REVIEW
80
Dec 2, 2021
Ashe’s story certainly has moments of great drama and high tension, but, as a sports figure, he inspired decidedly undramatic sobriquets like “the gentle warrior.” This documentary shows you a truer, sharper picture.
By Manohla Dargis FULL REVIEW
75
Sep 16, 2021
At its best — when the flow of voices, archival clips (co-director Pollard being a master at the textural impact of found footage), and nicely blended-in recreations made to look archival, is thematically strongest — "Citizen Ashe" becomes a documentary about how experience becomes voice becomes action.
By Robert Abele FULL REVIEW
75
Sep 16, 2021
The filmmaking is not as distinctive as what Pollard achieved with “MLK/FBI.” Perhaps that’s because this is not a confrontational piece. It follows Ashe’s lead of cool, calm and collected. Yet sometimes it needed more oomph to reflect what Ashe was concerned about; racism and equity. He might have been mild-mannered, but he was not shy. This documentary is so agreeable; it can quickly fade away from memory.
FULL REVIEW
63
Nov 26, 2021
Although Citizen Ashe covers the highlights of a life and career that has drifted from the public consciousness in the nearly 30 years since his death, it doesn’t get all that close to its subject.
By Roger Moore FULL REVIEW
60
Dec 9, 2021
The issues involved here might have been discussed a little more extensively and the provenance and context of the TV interview archive material could have been labelled more clearly. But this is a decent film.
By Peter Bradshaw FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 5 User Ratings
4.0
20% Positive
1 Rating
40% Mixed
2 Ratings
40% Negative
2 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 5 User Ratings
4.0
20% Positive
1 Rating
40% Mixed
2 Ratings
40% Negative
2 Ratings

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

Details

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Production Company Rexpix Media, Artemis Rising Foundation, CNN Films, Dogwoof, Get Lifted Film Company, HBO Max, Stick Figure Productions
Release Date Dec 3, 2021
Duration 1 h 34 m
Genres
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Awards

FOCAL International Awards
• 2 Nominations
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Grierson Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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