Its best moments portray the monumental difficulties faced by the Palestinian population in Gaza.

| Feb 26, 2021

"Perfunctory visuals and sludgy storytelling."

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 6, 2019

"The Idol" leaves a lot to be desired and a documentary-style format may have served Assaf's journey better. This isn't to say that it's a bad film, but it is ultimately underwhelming.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Aug 22, 2018

It is a small film, perhaps with great aspirations. [Full review in Spanish]

| Jan 29, 2018

This may be another talent-show rags-to-riches tale -- but the feelgood pay-off feels more well-earned.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2017

Ehab Assal's mesmerisingly restless camera and a gaggle of spirited performances ensure there's never dull moment before the final bow.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 1, 2017

[The film is] a victory that transcends its formulaic shackles in powerful, life-affirming fashion.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 6, 2016

Directed by the twice Oscar-nominated Hany Abu-Assad, it is remarkable for dancing deftly between politics and melodrama without coming down heavily on either side.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 10, 2016

The Idol is a disappointingly run-of-the-mill biopic about a man who was anything but.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 28, 2016

The director offers a compelling look into the Arab world, including the struggle for survival in a landscape scarred by decades of fighting.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 9, 2016

Abu-Assad deftly intercuts authentic footage with reconstruction as the tension builds to the grand final. But, for all its feel-good appeal, this is less substantial than his earlier outings.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 14, 2016

A real crowdpleaser of a film.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 14, 2016

Tawfeek Barhom, in the central role, is an intense and magnetic presence.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 14, 2016

Idol is a frequently moving and inspirational story, which despite succumbing to an air of clichd sentiment at times, is really a must-see. The performances from all concerned are unsurpassable.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 12, 2016

If ever there was a movie tailor-made to provide subtitle-reading training for the tween and teen kids of left-leaning parents, this is it.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 11, 2016

If you're a fan of the classic streets-to-stardom formula, this is a solid rendition.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2016

There's certainly enough here to make The Idol worth seeing - most especially in its largely terrific first half.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 15, 2016

Obviously anyone can see where this going, but director Abu-Assad wisely makes the journey fascinating by factoring in cultural and political considerations.

| Original Score: B+ | Jun 24, 2016

Critics of reality television might need to grit their teeth while enjoying this inspirational coming-of-age drama.

| Jun 17, 2016

Mohammad Assaf's (Tawfeek Barhom) quest to become the next Arab Idol plays out much in the same manner as the routine biographical backstory segment one expects to find on the talent contest just prior to a contestant taking to the stage.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 17, 2016