It’s hard not to get a little misty during this one. It wields a startling power.

| Oct 26, 2024

Has just about everything you could possibly want from a feature documentary.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 26, 2020

The epitome of what a good sports documentary should be.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 31, 2019

There can be power and comfort in cliché, and let's get this one out of the way: it's not about winning or losing, but how you play the game.

| Aug 30, 2018

"Feel-good movie of the year" is rarely a label that applies to documentaries. Yet, the Oscar-nominated Undefeated, which follows one season of an impoverished inner-city Memphis high school football team, may turn out to be exactly that.

| Jun 22, 2018

Undefeated is as magnificent as its subject.

| Sep 18, 2017

I admit, I was not enthusiastic about reviewing another sports film, let alone football. Now I can say that I understand why people see football as a religion -- in a good way.

| Jun 30, 2017

The true heart of the film is jovial, red-haired coach Bill. Not having had a father, he passionately gives every fiber of his soul to helping these African American boys, who are also missing fathers.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 1, 2016

if you find yourself reaching for the Kleenex during the film's final emotionally charged minutes, you most definitely won't be alone.

| Original Score: A | Jun 2, 2013

[E]xtraordinary in how it turns upside-down the typical feel-good, triumph-of-the-underdogs tropes of the subgenre...

| Nov 15, 2012

A reminder of the power of good in a world where most people get too caught up in superficial matters. A wonderful documentary that will point life's purpose in the right direction.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 10, 2012

Undefeated is far more interested in the resilience of the human spirit than one hundred yards of green turf.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 27, 2012

Undefeated is all heart. Even those who couldn't care less about American Football will find this an affecting story about a man who really gives one hell of a damn.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 6, 2012

It's an affecting and encouraging story.

| Aug 5, 2012

Even if you have no interest in American football this is a compelling and inspirational story that brings a tear to the eye.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 3, 2012

All eyes are on the ball, while the future screams from the sidelines.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 2, 2012

Undefeated works the whole macho-sentimental template so vigorously and well it's practically a reflexive response to cry foul, but you'd have to find heroic reserves of cynicism not to care at all about the precarious fortunes of these unformed bruisers.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 2, 2012

A watchable movie, no question. But perhaps best filed under guilty pleasures.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 2, 2012

Can take its place proudly alongside the best in the genre.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 2, 2012

Gripping, well made and genuinely inspirational documentary that packs a powerful emotional punch, even if some of the scenes seem suspiciously contrived for maximum tear-jerking purposes.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 1, 2012