Explicit Ills

Name: Explicit Ills
Director: Mark Webber
Released: 2008

Synopsis

The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia

70
The Hollywood Reporter
Webber's way with his young cast is as unforced as the movie itself, which easily could have been overwrought and maudlin but is instead oddly affirming.
67
Entertainment Weekly
Webber has a knack for bringing out actors at their showiest, but he palms off too much first-draft sketchiness as ''ambiguity.''
63
Philadelphia Inquirer
There's a lot of rambling and shambling going on in these overlapping stories, often to the point where Explicit Ills no longer feels like it has a point.
60
Film Threat
As a look at the disenfranchised of America, Explicit Ills could use some work. As a debut, however, it's quite promising. I'm looking forward to seeing what Webber comes up with next.
60
Village Voice
A tender ensemble slice of inner-city Philly life.
60
New York Daily News
The lack of subtlety indicates that this is a first film, but the passion and insights are strong enough to make you wonder what he'll (Webber) do next.
50
The New York Times
It's a beautiful message: surely there's no arguing with "Hey, hey, ho, ho, poverty has got to go!" But there is much to argue with, and much to regret, about a film whose director thinks he needs to drop an anvil on our heads when art would suffice.
40
Los Angeles Times
Undone by a deadly twofer: lack of trust in characterization coupled with single-minded faith in spelled-out messages.