The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete

Name: The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete
Genre: Drama
Released: October 11, 2013
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Dizon, Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson

2013

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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The Inevitable Defeat Of Mister And Pete

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: October 11, 2013 | R

Starring: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Mackie, Ethan Dizon, Jeffrey Wright, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Skylan Brooks

Summary: After their mothers are taken away by the authorities, two inner city youths are left to fend for themselves over the summer.

Director: George Tillman Jr

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

Sara Stewart

Oct 11, 2013

Though it boasts an eye-catching roster of supporting performances — Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Mackie — most of the running time is spent with Mister (Skylan Brooks) and Pete (Ethan Dizon), and both child actors hold your attention impressively. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Oct 10, 2013

Under the direction of George Tillman Jr., these two young performers exercise remarkable restraint, never milking the material for unearned tears. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Oct 10, 2013

It is an imperfect film about this imperfect world. But if "Mister & Pete" doesn't make you rethink the social safety net that fails these kids, and so many others like them, book some time with a cardiologist. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Oct 10, 2013

A rough and rough around the edges tale of children growing up on the mean streets of the wrong side of Brooklyn. It’s a coming of age story of a self-absorbed, downtrodden punk with a dream who learns about the love that comes with responsibility. Read full review

Sam Adams

Oct 8, 2013

Like its title, Inevitable Defeat is simultaneously gritty and overstuffed, feeling more like the product of first-time screenwriter Michael Starrbury than veteran director George Tillman Jr., though that’s not always for the worse. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Oct 8, 2013

While not without its touching moments, "Mister and Pete" is inevitably defeated by its own good intentions. Read full review

David Rooney

Aug 23, 2013

The real defeat in this ambling fairy tale of hardship, abandonment and resilience is that two potentially winning central characters -- and the tender young actors who play them -- are let down by a programmed screenplay that’s short on narrative muscle. Read full review

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User Reviews

LeZee

Nov 23, 2016

Between the parent's absence and the child protective service, the struggle lies!

This is a wonderful film, but not the first time I'm seeing. I mean there's a similar film called 'Children of Invention' about two Chinese-American kids. So this film tells the similar story about two kidsBetween the parent's absence and the child protective service, the struggle lies!

This is a wonderful film, but not the first time I'm seeing. I mean there's a similar film called 'Children of Invention' about two Chinese-American kids. So this film tells the similar story about two kids whose parents were drug addicts. After they were taken by the cops, the two boys try to live by themselves, struggling to feed and hiding all day and night long from the authorities. But how long this thing can go and with a little message, the story comes to an end.

I won't say it was better than the other title I mentioned, but surely well developed than that. Still, I did not like the conclusion. There are some flawed parts like the shopkeeper trying to avenge in front of the cops. Yet the overall film was kind of realistic. That approach is what I liked from this. The two lead kids were brilliant. The entire film revolves around them, basically the camera never takes off the lens from them.

At some point it gets emotional, but the negativity was actually telling the truth. I mean the child welfare is to protect them, but not in this film, any film around the world, they are portrayed like they are the child snatchers. Like a boogeyman. That must change which is in the hands of the organisation to alter their approach to handling such situation. Definitely it is a must see film, despite a few defects. The theme was strong with drugs and sex references, so I think it is not suitable for the kids, despite two kids in the lead. But I think it would work if they were supervised by their parents.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ponderflix

Jan 22, 2015

Mister is a boy in his early teens with problems at school and bigger problems at home. He’s failed the school year and someone has written something rude about his mum in the boy’s toilet which won’t rub off. At home his mother Gloria is too strung out to keep enough food in the house andMister is a boy in his early teens with problems at school and bigger problems at home. He’s failed the school year and someone has written something rude about his mum in the boy’s toilet which won’t rub off. At home his mother Gloria is too strung out to keep enough food in the house and his annoying younger neighbour Pete is playing on his Playstation. Mister and Pete’s summer goes from rough to very bloody rough when Gloria is arrested during a raid on their tower block. Their summer holiday now consists of trying to scrape together enough food to survive and avoiding the police who will deliver them to child protection services and the dreaded Riverview boy’s home if they catch them.

There are some very good performances to admire, not least from Skylan Brooks as Mister who shows an impressive range on his debut, alternating between angry resentment, vulnerability and desperation. The film works best in the scenes between Mister and Pete, finding glimmers of happiness amongst the grim realities of surviving the poverty and various villains that inhabit their world. At times the grimness of their situation and the range of baddies they have to contend with seem a bit heavy-handed, but the touches of wit and humanity balance it out and stop it from being dragged under by its own weight.

There are a few mis-steps, but on the whole this is a success. Full of nicely observed details and performances – well worth a watch.

Full review at ponderflix on wordpress.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Oct 12, 2013

Two boys (Skylan Brooks & Ethan Dizon) are abandoned by their junkie ho mothers to fend for themselves on the rough side of Brooklyn. The story is relentlessly bleak and there are weak spots in the writing. That said, the performances of these two newcomers are sweet, touching and amazinglyTwo boys (Skylan Brooks & Ethan Dizon) are abandoned by their junkie ho mothers to fend for themselves on the rough side of Brooklyn. The story is relentlessly bleak and there are weak spots in the writing. That said, the performances of these two newcomers are sweet, touching and amazingly accomplished. The supporting cast includes some impressive names (Jennifer Hudson, Anthony Mackie) and director George Tillman Jr. manages to mine the drama without resorting to too much melo. While this film is dark and dismal, the pluck of this duo and the simple brilliance of the two actors is affecting.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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