It’s remarkable how Simien keeps his film moving at such a breakneck pace, each line a reference to or a commentary on pressing sociological concerns that are rarely spoken about this openly.

| Sep 13, 2022

Despite the chances not taken in terms of storytelling and filmmaking, there are also plenty of reasons to be excited about Dear White People. Simien took what started out as a crowd-funded film and turned it into a pop culture phenomenon.

| Jan 22, 2021

...the film explores how two members of the same race can have vastly different experiences depending on how dark their skin is, as well as why certain people can say and act one way, but not others.

| Mar 31, 2020

... an incisive look at not only how smart, ambitious people of all different skin tones and experiences talk about race in America, but also what's behind those words.

| Sep 21, 2017

But as great as the message is, and as hilarious as it is at times, Dear White People struggles as a full-length film.

| Original Score: B- | Sep 1, 2017

A brilliant piece of writing from a very thoughtful and humorous director.

| Mar 21, 2017

A dagger-sharp satire, a film filled end-to-end with tiny sticks of dynamite, each lit carefully with a gleeful smirk.

| Jun 18, 2016

Dear White People is less than the sum of its very polished parts -- a first feature that's just impressive enough to be frustrating.

| Jul 16, 2015

Although the tone is uneven, there are plenty of sharp one-liners ... and snappy cineliterate swipes at everyone from Tyler Perry to Robert Altman.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 12, 2015

As enjoyable and refreshing as it is, there's a certain bite lacking in the delivery.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 10, 2015

Here's a film that refreshingly acknowledges various elephants in cinema's crowded living room: racism, the interracial sex taboo and class war.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 9, 2015

There's a lot in this prickly, snappily written feature debut that's as invigorating as early Spike Lee.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 9, 2015

Do the right thing - take a break from summer spectacle to check out this assured and eloquent indie.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 6, 2015

Dear White People has its share of provocations about race but complex reality has overtaken its vision at a worrying speed.

| Jul 2, 2015

The best moments get to the heart of Simien's thesis that what is supposed to be post-racial America isn't all that much different from what came before.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 5, 2015

A timely and important look at black identity and how it's informed by by stereotypes in the media

| Jan 5, 2015

Where it scores big is its wealth of ideas-visual, emotional, cultural-and its deep well of bitter, voice-of-experience rage

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 5, 2015

Even as the jokes cut deep, Dear White People doesn't hesitate to get real.

| Original Score: A- | Jan 5, 2015

Screenplay is tight, funny, smart and insightful, and [the] direction has just enough indie feel without becoming too self-conscious or preachy.

Full Review | Jan 5, 2015

Welcome to the head-spinning gamesmanship of the Obama era - and to the most elegantly candid comedy of racial tension since Spike Lee burst onto the scene 30 years ago.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 12, 2014