More important than the technical precision of the actors' turns is the rapport they all share--which ultimately lends this story of a family its authentic, immediate poignancy.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 14, 2007

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 9, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 10, 2005

| Original Score: 65/100 | Dec 8, 2001

It couldn't possibly work without a transcendent central performance. Harper gives us that, and more.

Full Review | Apr 26, 2001

It's hard not to give it bonus points for avoiding prison movie clichs and for taking a long, unblinking look at the complex dynamics of one American family.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 20, 2001

A testament to the tenacity of the family, particularly the African American family.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 20, 2001

Feels dreadfully slow and often inert.

| Apr 20, 2001

A spare and moving study of regret and redemption, marked with chilling truths about a life behind bars.

Full Review | Apr 20, 2001

Contains some effective performances, not least from Hill Harper as Alex, the hero.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 20, 2001

Powerfully depicts the flowering of spiritual redemption within a young man who has every reason to give in to despair.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 20, 2001

Harper ... turns in a powerful, nuanced performance and alone makes The Visit worth your time.

| Apr 20, 2001

At its best when considering measures of masculinity and dread of not living up to them.

| Apr 20, 2001

It backs up its earnest quality with a minimum of sentimentality and a cast-full of straightforward, moving performances.

| Apr 19, 2001

The very strong performances in this low-budget film deserve a better narrative structure to strut their stuff.

Full Review | Apr 19, 2001

A better venue for The Visit might be PBS or HBO, where its method-y intimacy would feel less forced.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Apr 19, 2001

Good acting abounds.

Full Review | Apr 16, 2001

Too bad it's swamped by good intentions.

| Apr 16, 2001

Overloaded with extra characters, tangled story lines, dance numbers, fantasies and flashbacks.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 16, 2001

There are some good performances and the material speaks to some powerful issues.

| Apr 16, 2001