82
Metascore
18 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- Guided by stark intertitles and a poetic narration written by scholar Tobi Haslett, the film takes a micro and macro view of the ‘60s as a flashpoint for blatant disregard of American––especially impoverished Black American––social needs.
- 91IndieWireSusannah GruderIndieWireSusannah Gruder[A] transfixing and troubling archival documentary.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeThe Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeAll elements of this arresting documentary work together to push an urgent thesis: What we are attuned to hearing, to seeing and to thinking about the U.S. and what the country can and cannot afford to do is by design. It’s better to realize that now before it’s too late.
- 90The New York TimesGlenn KennyThe New York TimesGlenn KennyThis is not an objective film. It is a polemic, a work of activism, a challenge to the viewer.
- 88ObserverOliver JonesObserverOliver JonesAn equally dreamlike and urgent act of radical archiving, Sierra Pettengill’s Riotsville, USA traces the origin of America’s militarized dismantling of social justice movements to a specific time and place.
- 85TheWrapRonda Racha PenriceTheWrapRonda Racha PenriceIn bold contrast to the flashier, more emotionally-charged documentaries of late, Riotsville, USA takes an approach more reminiscent of the PBS of old, or even C-SPAN, in the trust it places in the footage to tell the story.
- 80SlashfilmChris EvangelistaSlashfilmChris EvangelistaAgain and again, the bleak truth is driven home: this is the society America built. One where helpful solutions are ignored as unrealistic, and violent action reigns supreme. Riotsville is a dream; a nightmare. It's a movie backlot that doubles as a boot stomping on anyone who dares to dissent.
- 80Screen DailyTim GriersonScreen DailyTim GriersonAlthough Sierra Pettengill’s film will perhaps be most notable for its inclusion of startling scenes from Riotsvilles, model towns built by the US Army to train for actual riots, there’s much here to consider about the American worship of law enforcement and demonisation of dissent.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreIt’s a dry yet fascinating film that covers a lot of ground between the riots, the creation of the Riotsvilles and the convention where its training was unleashed on first Miami and Miami Beach, and later on Chicago.
- 25The PlaylistWarren CantrellThe PlaylistWarren CantrellSomewhat ironically, like the social unrest that underpins much of the footage featured in Riotsville, U.S.A., the documentary is well-intentioned yet hampered by a lack of direction, clearly defined goals, and the support of a larger, established apparatus to lend it legitimacy.