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No consensus yet.
All Critics (12) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (6)
Before it turns slack and sentimental, "Power," Sidney Lumet's foray into the world of political consultants, crackles with a kind of moral static. Jan 4, 2018 | Full Review…
Before it turns slack and sentimental, "Power," Sidney Lumet's foray into the world of political consultants, crackles with a kind of moral static.
Paul Attanasio
There is little of the gratuitous hysteria that usually mars Lumet's work, and David Himmelstein's busy script keeps things moving, though at the price of losing track of a couple of significant subplots. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
There is little of the gratuitous hysteria that usually mars Lumet's work, and David Himmelstein's busy script keeps things moving, though at the price of losing track of a couple of significant subplots.
Dave Kehr
The movie seems to be asking us to walk out of the theater shaking our heads in disillusionment, but I was more puzzled than disillusioned. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
The movie seems to be asking us to walk out of the theater shaking our heads in disillusionment, but I was more puzzled than disillusioned.
Roger Ebert
A misfire satire that preaches against slick political practices by high-powered political consultants. Apr 29, 2011 | Rating: C | Full Review…
A misfire satire that preaches against slick political practices by high-powered political consultants.
Dennis Schwartz
Gere is a revelation Feb 7, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Gere is a revelation
Clint Morris
Presents a provocative glimpse of the important role media experts play in the political process today. Sep 1, 2002 | Full Review…
Presents a provocative glimpse of the important role media experts play in the political process today.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
In an earlier review I mentioned that corruption on the police force is a theme Lumet beats to death, but in Power he gets to beat up the media too, just as he did in Network. But as Roger Ebert says, "Network had a plot, and Power does not." The film seems to explore several issues that, in 2010, we now accept as commonplace. We realize - or at least should realize - that we basically vote on politicians based on the efficacy of their media consultants. In all honesty, I can't remember if I knew this in 1986, so I don't know if Lumet is exploring new ground. Also, I don't think Power is structurally sound. It seems awfully episodic and stagey. I normally don't blame a film for this, but the piling on of scene upon scene with stagnant shots and relatively stagnant dialogue affects the film's pace. Finally, Lumet gives little clues as to who the bad guy is. In Find Me Guilty, the prosecutor has a whiny, petulant moment, and I immediately knew he was going to lose. In Power, Washington's character is introduced associating with an Arab, and in Hollywood, Arabs equal "bad" and "oil." Yes, Power is more than a little bit racist. On the bright side, it was great seeing Denzel Washington saying "fuck."
Super Reviewer
I really enjoyed this movie. Excellent actors and a great storyline. That's what I look for in a movie :)
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