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Paterno, elevated by deft direction from Barry Levinson and a strong Al Pacino performance, presents a hard-hitting dramatization of a gut-wrenching real-life story.
All Critics (39) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (12)
Brilliant as ever, [Al] Pacino is the master trickster who manages to both demonize and humanize Paterno. Apr 19, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Brilliant as ever, [Al] Pacino is the master trickster who manages to both demonize and humanize Paterno.
Verne Gay
Mr. Levinson lays this out with considerable skill and energy. Apr 9, 2018 | Full Review…
Mr. Levinson lays this out with considerable skill and energy.
Mike Hale
It speaks to viewers with disparate reactions, but it also speaks to anyone who didn't dig into the scandal at the time by outlining what happens when we are too quick to defend the famous faces instead of those claiming to be victimized by them. Apr 9, 2018 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
It speaks to viewers with disparate reactions, but it also speaks to anyone who didn't dig into the scandal at the time by outlining what happens when we are too quick to defend the famous faces instead of those claiming to be victimized by them.
Ben Travers
Unfortunately, no amount of makeup or prosthetic noses can hold [Al] Pacino back for long, and his growl is so loud sometimes that it overpowers the vision of the wounded god Paterno became. Apr 9, 2018 | Full Review…
Unfortunately, no amount of makeup or prosthetic noses can hold [Al] Pacino back for long, and his growl is so loud sometimes that it overpowers the vision of the wounded god Paterno became.
Mekeisha Madden Toby
Al Pacino's Paterno is so convincing, and eerily lifelike it becomes necessary from time to time, to remember that this isn't the actual coach Apr 6, 2018 | Full Review…
Al Pacino's Paterno is so convincing, and eerily lifelike it becomes necessary from time to time, to remember that this isn't the actual coach
Dorothy Rabinowitz
Yes, it's interesting to watch Paterno's end as his family tries to rally around him, but there are too-few glimpses of Penn St. in his heyday, when he and others conveniently looked the other way. Apr 6, 2018 | Full Review…
Yes, it's interesting to watch Paterno's end as his family tries to rally around him, but there are too-few glimpses of Penn St. in his heyday, when he and others conveniently looked the other way.
Brian Lowry
Paterno attempts to say a lot of things about a lot of different subject matters... None of them are achieved particularly well. Nov 5, 2018 | Full Review…
Paterno attempts to say a lot of things about a lot of different subject matters... None of them are achieved particularly well.
Matt Ward
The movie takes on an interesting topic but narrows it too much that it misses why the story is interesting and important. Oct 29, 2018 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
The movie takes on an interesting topic but narrows it too much that it misses why the story is interesting and important.
Christopher James
I don't think that the film gives you a full perspective of what this sex scandal is, how [Paterno] was involved and how Sandusky was involved. Sep 7, 2018 | Full Review…
I don't think that the film gives you a full perspective of what this sex scandal is, how [Paterno] was involved and how Sandusky was involved.
Funmi Sunmonu
Pacino may collect awards for his thoughtful, moving performance, but he can't make the script a unified experience. Paterno is worth watching, but I'd rather see his next role. Apr 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Pacino may collect awards for his thoughtful, moving performance, but he can't make the script a unified experience. Paterno is worth watching, but I'd rather see his next role.
Tim Appelo
A well-acted and damning indictment of institutions and people far beyond the myopic title character. Apr 21, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
A well-acted and damning indictment of institutions and people far beyond the myopic title character.
Roger Moore
The Penn State sex-abuse scandal exposed complicity in college sports, but Barry Levinson's drama about the school's legendary football coach only skims the surface of the culture that allowed it happen Apr 20, 2018 | Full Review…
The Penn State sex-abuse scandal exposed complicity in college sports, but Barry Levinson's drama about the school's legendary football coach only skims the surface of the culture that allowed it happen
Kevin Ritchie
Child abuse, ethics and morality and idolatry are the major themes that run through Barry Levinson's movie Paterno. Framed through the Pulitizer Prize winning investigative work of Sara Ganim (Riley Keough) director Barry Levinson juggles all these themes and delivers a credible film dedicated to detailing the what did Penn State football coaching legends Joe Paterno know about the actions of serial child rapist Jerry Sandusky and when did he know it. Performances all around are excellent. Place Al Pacino's performance as one of his finest.
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