The Public

Critics Consensus

Its intentions are sometimes easier to appreciate than its execution, but The Public remains an earnest and reasonably engaging social advocacy drama.

66%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 96

79%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 224

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Movie Info

An act of civil disobedience turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.

Cast & Crew

Alec Baldwin
Detective Bill Ramstead
Emilio Estevez
Stuart Goodson
Jena Malone
Myra
Taylor Schilling
Angela
Christian Slater
Josh Davis
Gabrielle Union
Rebecca Parks
Jeffrey Wright
Anderson
Jacob Vargas
Ernesto
Emilio Estevez
Director
Emilio Estevez
Screenwriter
Lisa Niedenthal
Producer
Alex Lebovici
Producer
Steve Ponce
Producer
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News & Interviews for The Public

TV Premiere Dates 2020
Shazam! Is Certified Fresh
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Critic Reviews for The Public

  • It's heart is in the right place in many ways, but it just outlines everything so clearly in red marker that it doesn't let you discovers things for yourself. Still, it's an estimable effort in some ways.

    September 15, 2020 | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

  • That everything ends on a weird happy-clappy high is indicative of a scattershot project that could have done with less ambition, more focus.

    February 24, 2020 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Kevin Maher

    Times (UK)

  • The Public presents a heartening story of triumph of good over evil, but sadly lacks the gravitas one would usually expect from these types of stories.

    February 21, 2020 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Linda Marric

    The Jewish Chronicle

  • It's all a bit old-fashioned and earnest but with US civil liberties under attack, it's a timely celebration of humanity.

    February 19, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

    Metro (UK)

  • It is a film with its heart in the right place, but the dialogue and characterisation are both plonkingly unconvincing.

    February 19, 2020 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian

  • Making a feature that pleads the cause of the homeless is a laudable achievement, so it's all the more unfortunate that Estevez is unable to eliminate some of the obvious flaws in an otherwise compelling, and timely, drama.

    August 2, 2019 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    David Stratton

    The Australian
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