It's a heart wrenching tale of a few brave souls who take it upon themselves to step deep into this world ... and do what they can to prevent further tragedy from happening.

| Original Score: A+ | Aug 3, 2020

A one-woman peace squad, [Ameena Matthews] burns up the screen whenever she's on it.

| Feb 28, 2020

The Interrupters makes the case that if you want less killing, you need, not more guns, but more neighbors.

| Sep 16, 2019

This is essential, issue-based documentary filmmaking without the usual ham-fisted histrionics.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 5, 2019

Ironically, the power of Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz's incredible documentary is the fact that it's unmediated.

| Jan 9, 2019

The cameras are allowed access to places and moments that are so shocking in their vulnerability that it's a wonder the filmmakers were allowed to shoot there in the first place.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 28, 2017

Moving, heartbreaking yet intensely hopeful, The Interrupters is a world-class feat of journalism and documentary craft.

| Aug 15, 2017

...the task is so immense that may wonder whether the appropriate metaphor for their work is "better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" or "you can't empty the ocean with a tea cup."

| Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 19, 2016

The film feels weirdly hands-off and remote, as if glimpsed from a distance.

Full Review | May 3, 2015

For about $1,000 every two weeks, these people try to make a concrete, palpable change in a community that fights them at every turn. What's amazing is not whether or not they're effective; what's amazing is that they even try at all.

| Original Score: A- | Jun 22, 2013

If the lack of progress in Chicago is upsetting, the reassurance of James' unparalleled talent is inspiring. He is not just one of the United States' most vital and humane filmmakers, but one of the world's.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jul 5, 2012

It's lazy critical shorthand to point out that good documentaries often feature better characterizations than even the best fiction films, but The Interrupters certainly justifies such a clich.

| Original Score: 72/100 | Jun 11, 2012

The cameras take us where few people dare go.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Feb 26, 2012

The revelations and examples of this positive influence seeping into the skin of the city creates enormous cinematic and community excitement.

| Original Score: A- | Feb 26, 2012

Much like the director's seminal doc, this is a richly-drawn slice of real life that's weaved with the finesse of a fine Hollywood drama.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 25, 2012

Present[s] a gratifyingly non-cynical take on the troubles facing the species, uplifting without being cloying.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Dec 14, 2011

Though formally conventional, it carries a powerful message about the reality of life in the inner city and the struggles of thise who live there to break the cycle of violence.

| Original Score: B | Dec 9, 2011

Reality movie-making at a high point.

| Original Score: B | Dec 9, 2011

Ameena Matthews, Cobe Williams and Eddie Bocanegra used to instigate Chicago street violence. Now they live for nipping it in the bud, block by treacherous block.

| Original Score: A- | Dec 8, 2011

The courage, determination and intelligence of these violence interrupters is inspiring, but even more inspiring are the people trying so hard to overcome this plague of violence and live decent lives.

| Original Score: A | Dec 3, 2011