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A bleak, but heartbreaking coming-of-age tale that resonates with truth.
All Critics (88) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (85) | Rotten (3) | DVD (6)
Using mostly unknown and first-time actors, Loach spins a passable coming-of-age tale, which should please his fans and provides a diversion for the rest of us. Aug 7, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Using mostly unknown and first-time actors, Loach spins a passable coming-of-age tale, which should please his fans and provides a diversion for the rest of us.
Bill Muller
Despite this film's title, don't expect something light and fluffy. Jun 27, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Despite this film's title, don't expect something light and fluffy.
Jeff Strickler
From its gripping immediacy to its strong cast of unknowns, Sweet Sixteen feels almost like a documentary. Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty keep an evenhanded focus on harsh truths, and avoid melodrama and grandstanding. Jun 27, 2003 | Rating: B+
From its gripping immediacy to its strong cast of unknowns, Sweet Sixteen feels almost like a documentary. Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty keep an evenhanded focus on harsh truths, and avoid melodrama and grandstanding.
Bruce Westbrook
There's a profane but strangely tender rawness to this sometimes brutal movie, anchored by Compston's remarkably assured debut performance. Jun 20, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
There's a profane but strangely tender rawness to this sometimes brutal movie, anchored by Compston's remarkably assured debut performance.
Rene Rodriguez
A raw movie, but it relies on the natural appeal of its main character and the skill with which Loach creates a thoroughly believable environment. Jun 20, 2003 | Rating: B+
A raw movie, but it relies on the natural appeal of its main character and the skill with which Loach creates a thoroughly believable environment.
Robert Denerstein
The film is so alive, the performances so urgent and convincing, that it's as if Loach had just discovered the subject matter. Jun 13, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
The film is so alive, the performances so urgent and convincing, that it's as if Loach had just discovered the subject matter.
John Hartl
Loach has fashioned an achingly true portrait of a young man's despairing attempts to better his life, but coming up against social obstructions both visible and invisible. Feb 3, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Loach has fashioned an achingly true portrait of a young man's despairing attempts to better his life, but coming up against social obstructions both visible and invisible.
PJ Nabarro
...a better-than-average slice-of-life kitchen-sink drama that benefits substantially from Compston's star-making performance. Jan 18, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
...a better-than-average slice-of-life kitchen-sink drama that benefits substantially from Compston's star-making performance.
David Nusair
Under Loach's deft hand, it feels indisputably real ... An undeniable downer, but hellaciously well acted, brimming with compassion, and relevant in a way that doesn't chafe. Jan 21, 2005 | Full Review…
Under Loach's deft hand, it feels indisputably real ... An undeniable downer, but hellaciously well acted, brimming with compassion, and relevant in a way that doesn't chafe.
Andrew Wright
Hollywood has manufactured a number of coming of age films of varying quality, yet it's difficult to think of one that tops this powerful character study Dec 11, 2004 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Hollywood has manufactured a number of coming of age films of varying quality, yet it's difficult to think of one that tops this powerful character study
John A. Nesbit
You want Liam to succeed. You want a happy ending. You want to try to understand the heavy Scottish accents without reading the subtitles mercifully provided by Loach. Apr 30, 2004 | Full Review…
You want Liam to succeed. You want a happy ending. You want to try to understand the heavy Scottish accents without reading the subtitles mercifully provided by Loach.
Matt Kelemen
Another fine Loach film that refuses to sentimentalize the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Compston is a real find. Jan 30, 2004 | Rating: 82/100 | Full Review…
Another fine Loach film that refuses to sentimentalize the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Compston is a real find.
Dan Jardine
Sweet Sixteen. Sounds like a chick flick (nothing wrong if you like that genre; it's just that I'm not into that kind of movies in general). Now, the title itself is enough to prompt me to click on 'NOT INTERESTED'. (Off topic, but Shakespeare didn't know shit when he coined "What's in name?") But when it came as a recommendation from one of the friends here (by mvieaddict, to be specific), & the review (which I fortunately didn't read fully. She's given away how it ends. I know it's predictable, but still.) mentioned that it's a crime related movie, I was inclined to check it out. And having just watched it, I'm glad I did. It's not 'American History X', but it's close to that. It's relatively realistic & way better than most of the crime dramas I've recently seen. It has some truly great intense moments. It's not a tearjerker, but the way the relations are portrayed is quite touching. It made me care for the protagonist even after knowing that what he's doing is quite unethical. That's where the movie scored for me, because generally I don't get that kind of a feeling for such characters (or the characters I can't relate to). It takes a sneak peek into the life of a boy who wants to lead a sound life with his mom who's currently serving time in jail. But that's not not quite easy. He resorts to crime to make his dreams come true. And pieces start falling in their place for him. But alas... well, you already know what kind of ending you're supposed to expect with this type of movies. I'd not give away what exactly it is, just in case (yep, of late, I've decided not to give out big spoilers as far as possible). The actors were all new faces to me, but everyone performed well. The movie wouldn't have been so effective otherwise. Surely recommended. EDIT: Just because someone asked, I felt I should clarify it once & for all. I mentioned 'American History X' because the movie reminded me of it while watching it. There's not much resemblance between the two. When I said "it's close to that," I meant in terms of greatness, & not plot-wise. So there.
Super Reviewer
Ken Loach's movies are known for their intensity of showing the society differences of the British class. I saw that in Bread & Roses, Carla's song and AE fond kiss, but Sweet Sixteen was more dramatic and emotional. Here the director portrayed some sad lives going into violence and crime and the way he presented the bad situations of these people were just memorable. Liam the lead character, a 15 year old boy who life had treated very hard, was selling heroine cigarettes on the street, who he had stolen from his mother's boyfriend. Liam's older sister Chantelle, who hated her mother,for being a heroine junkie and in prison was a very touching part of the story.The mother, for whom all the effort was done for her to keep her straight, got a nice house from Liam ,which he bought of drugs money.But when she got out prison she remained the disappointment she always was, and gave this movie a dramatic ending.
Such a dark movie but it's good and the acting is good for amateurs.
Tragic tale of a boy trying to pull himself and his family out of a grim world but struggling not to get sucked back. Stinging indictment of a class of society whose only goal is survival and morals are cheap. The ending will blow you away.
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