Luce

Name: Luce
Genre: Drama
Released: August 2, 2019
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Andrea Bang, Astro, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Marsha Stephanie Blake, Naomi Watts

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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Luce

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Movie Details & Credits

Neon | Release Date: August 2, 2019 | R

Starring: Andrea Bang, Astro, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Marsha Stephanie Blake, Naomi Watts, Noah Gaynor, Norbert Leo Butz, Octavia Spencer, Omar Brunson, Tim Roth

Summary: An all-star high school athlete and accomplished debater, Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is a poster boy for the new American Dream. As are his parents (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth), who adopted him from a war-torn country a decade earlier. When Luce’s teacher (Octavia Spencer) makes a shocking discovery in his locker, Luce’s stellar reputation isAn all-star high school athlete and accomplished debater, Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is a poster boy for the new American Dream. As are his parents (Naomi Watts and Tim Roth), who adopted him from a war-torn country a decade earlier. When Luce’s teacher (Octavia Spencer) makes a shocking discovery in his locker, Luce’s stellar reputation is called into question. But is he really at fault, or is Ms. Wilson preying on dangerous stereotypes?… Expand

Director: Julius Onah

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

100

The Playlist Jordan Ruimy

Feb 4, 2019

Luce is a dangerous minefield and simply crackles with the kind of distressing pressure that is beginning to define America in every conversation we have about race, marginalization, social strata, woke politics and even marriage. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Feb 1, 2019

The film is sleek and shadowy, benefiting from the fact Onah chose to shoot on celluloid and driven by stellar performances across the board. Read full review

Sarah-Tai Black

Aug 7, 2019

In truth, there is not much this film does not cover; every minute of Luce is saturated with the organicism of its sharp lines of inquiry and its actors here are at their best in their handling of their given materials. Read full review

Stephen Whitty

Feb 1, 2019

Anchored by standout performances by Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer and young Kelvin Harrison Jr., it’s a strong indie film about race, family and trust that should connect with fans of smart, provocative cinema. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Aug 5, 2019

No one gets off easy here, and no one quite gets answers, either; maybe that’s the point. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Aug 1, 2019

The narrative, framed as a psychological mystery, labors under more layers of significance than it can handle without falling into contrivance and argumentation. Still, the dramatic core is strong, an exceptional young man struggling to find, and become, whoever he really is. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Odie Henderson

Aug 2, 2019

Luce is the worst kind of provocateur; it tosses out all manner of outrageous ideas and then, like those pathetic dudes on Twitter, it yells out “DEBATE ME!” As soon as you accept the challenge, the film folds like cheap origami. And this film has a lot to toss at you. Read full review

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User Reviews

francesha

Sep 7, 2019

The most important American film of the decade. Run to see it, it will shake you to the core

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

aydge89

Nov 1, 2019

A real shame this one has flown under the radar. It's a great script and well acted. Very thought provoking. This is a movie that embraces the ambiguities and complexities of 2019 and doesn't offer easy answers. Easily the best movie of 2019 so far.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Aug 11, 2019

A riveting psychological thriller filled with endless twists and turns that leaves audiences guessing right up until the very end. What's more important, though, is that the film forces us to face some incendiary questions about race, redemption, privacy, trust, perception and prejudice, allA riveting psychological thriller filled with endless twists and turns that leaves audiences guessing right up until the very end. What's more important, though, is that the film forces us to face some incendiary questions about race, redemption, privacy, trust, perception and prejudice, all the while showing us that things may not be as simple or clear cut as they seem. The picture's superb script, fine film editing and excellent ensemble cast (most notably Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts and Kelvin Harrison Jr.) make for one of the best offerings of 2019, a release that sincerely deserves serious consideration come awards season.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

PurpleCrayon4U

Oct 24, 2019

EVERYTHING HAS A HIDDEN MEANING .. Everyone has a hidden agenda. The characters portrayed are not who they appear to be. LUCE is a good film, worthy of your time. LUCE is not OSCAR material under any category, but the performances are above average. At the conclusion of LUCE, you willEVERYTHING HAS A HIDDEN MEANING .. Everyone has a hidden agenda. The characters portrayed are not who they appear to be. LUCE is a good film, worthy of your time. LUCE is not OSCAR material under any category, but the performances are above average. At the conclusion of LUCE, you will understand that EVERYONE LIES and EVERYTHING IS A LIE.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

amheretojudge

Aug 27, 2019

Not for a single moment does the film turns into a preaching-to-the-choir tone, and that is its biggest achievement.

Luce Onah's political film isn't exactly political. If anything it is a thriller. And that's what I loved the most about the film than any other theme or twist or trick itNot for a single moment does the film turns into a preaching-to-the-choir tone, and that is its biggest achievement.

Luce

Onah's political film isn't exactly political. If anything it is a thriller. And that's what I loved the most about the film than any other theme or twist or trick it showcases. The co-writer and director Juilius Onah and the play by J.C. Lee- who also co-wrote the screenplay- from which it is adapted, eventually has a political film to endorse about. But that's as far as it would go. The debates, the ideologies or the profound theories are definitely circling around these sensitive subjects, but for the most part of the film, it is all a distraction. The actual heart of these arguments lie on the arrogance of these incredibly smart character on not bowing down to each other's theories.

And from this spirals out a tug-of-war where step after step both of them (Octavia Spencer and Kelvin Harrison Jr.) are trying to outsmart each other. I cannot help myself but compare these throbbing philosophical and provoking arguments to Christopher Nolan's The Prestige and its take on fame, art and sacrifice. Spence and Harrison Jr. from the very beginning are tangled into unfathomable circumstances giving them an excuse of a specific perspective that acts as a double edged sword for both of them.

Their denial isn't what's lagging or stretching this juicy case but is what's making it fun, entertaining and engaging. And this is the brilliance of the narration, What could have easily comes off as a pretentious or tedious detour, is instead smoothly spicing up this political drama. Tim Roth and Naomi Watts too are integrating the performance scale to a whole new level. Just watch them all sit in a room and greet each other, in the last act of the film, the tension cuts across their ability to harness a single good intention in this meeting where they gather to talk about Luce.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LamontRaymond

Aug 3, 2019

The acting is good - especially Tim Roth and Octavia Spencer - but the story falls apart in the end. It's one big tease. I'm getting tired of this kind of movie.... can't recommend it.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

lovelylt

Feb 8, 2020

What a disturbing movie!! Coming from an Asian woman’s perspective, I give this movie 0 stars for its complete degradation of an Asian woman. Not only does it show how men can get away with rape but how Asian women can’t do anything about it. Completely and utterly appalled by thisWhat a disturbing movie!! Coming from an Asian woman’s perspective, I give this movie 0 stars for its complete degradation of an Asian woman. Not only does it show how men can get away with rape but how Asian women can’t do anything about it. Completely and utterly appalled by this disgusting sexist movie. It leaves you in a very uncomfortable place and this is the kind of harmful **** that needs to disappear for good on the big screen!!! Do not watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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