Synopsis
On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.
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Cast
- UsherLester Dewitt
- Vanessa WilliamsAudrey McDonald
- Forest WhitakerOfficer Dante Jackson
- Rosario DawsonStephanie Williams
- Robert Ri'chardZacharias 'Ziggy' Malone
- Judd NelsonKen Knowles
- Fredro StarrRodney J. Templeton
- Sara GilbertLynn Sabatini
- Clifton Collins Jr.Robert 'Rivers' Tremont
- Glynn TurmanPrincipal Allan Armstrong
Recommendations
- 75
Baltimore Sun
Much of Light It Up has a familiar feel. But there are enough redeeming insights to make the time you spend at this school worthwhile. - 75
Philadelphia Inquirer
Heartbreaking and sometimes dazzlingly effective, the film still has flaws -- most of them in a too-often-maudlin script. - 63
Chicago Sun-Times
If I can't quite recommend the movie, it's because so much of the plot is on autopilot. The dialogue spells out too much that doesn't need to be said. - 60
Film.com
Look to the cast as the best reason to see this film. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
It's a bit of 60s idealism wedged in what basically looks like a hip-hop music video. - 50
Dallas Observer
The real find-- is Rosario Dawson, who has appeared to good effect in previous smaller roles ("Kids," "He Got Game") and just about walks off with the movie. - 40
The New York Times
Turns out to be a pretentiously righteous drama that drowns any claim to serious attention in a sea of superficial characters. - 40
Slate
Singer Usher Raymond earns praise as the leader of the group, but the rest of the cast goes largely unnoticed.
