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Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

Actors Will Hochman, Jeffry Batista, and John Leguizamo (left to right) shoot Critical Thinking in Miami.

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Is Critical Thinking Based on a True Story?

Directed by John Leguizamo, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a 2020 sports film that follows a group of kids from Miami Jackson High School trying to win the National Chess Championship. Led by Mario Martinez, the team comprises Sedrick Roundtree, Marcel Martinez, Gilbert Luna, Rodelay Medina, and Olemy Paniagua. The five boys come from the inner parts of Miami, where the families strive daily for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Coach Mario Martinez sees their interest in chess as an opportunity for growth and sets out on a quest to create history.

Set in 1998, the film portrays what it’s like to come from underprivileged backgrounds and how classism deprives poor people of great opportunities. In addition, the narrative tackles subjects such as racism and juvenile crimes and depicts how the latter results from several other factors in a system that doesn’t uplift the downtrodden. The various characters and backdrops feel authentic and allow the audience to empathize with the people they see onscreen. The compelling performances and organic character journeys have got many wondering if the movie is rooted in reality. Well, allow us to shed some light on the matter.

Is Critical Thinking a True Story?

Yes, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the movie captures the events leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship. It showcases how Mario Martinez and his team of boys from Miami Jackson High School won the title. The group is also the first-ever team from Miami to win the national title in chess . Executive producer, Carla Berkowitz, came up with this idea when she read an article in 1997 about the boys of Miami Jackson. She wanted to tell the story of all these boys doing such incredible things in the chess world with Mario Martinez’s help.

Interestingly the movie is quite close to how the events unfolded in real life. All 5 players in the movie are based on real-life chess players. Even the character of Coach Mario Martinez in the film has a real-life counterpart, who is a chess teacher . The real-life figures also played a significant role in the filming process. In an interview with CineMovie, Carla Berkowitz said , “All the boys that were portrayed and Mario obviously were the consultants in the chess movie.”

Another fascinating aspect is that Berkowitz wanted to make the movie for about two decades. Although filming began in 2018, Carla Berkowitz has been in touch with all players and Mario Martinez since 1997. While describing the movie’s accuracy, the real Mario Martinez and Carla Berkowitz mentioned a few things. First, all games we see the players play in the movie were played by their real-life counterparts. Second, Marcel’s book of chess moves also existed in real life. Third, the scene where Marcel plays with Mario, Sedrick, Roddy, and Gil, with his eyes closed, happened in reality too.

Numerous events in the movie mirror circumstances that transpired in reality, which elevates the narrative’s authenticity. ‘Critical Thinking’ is far more than a chess championship for Mario Martinez and the boys. The group comes from a place where they have nothing but want to create a better life for themselves. However, the boys do not get a fair shot at anything due to racial discrimination and financial circumstances. Coach Martinez sees chess as an opportunity and a metaphor for their life.

At the film’s beginning, Martinez says that chess is an equalizer that puts everyone on a level playing field. In fact, the teacher solves almost every problem with a chess move because he considers the game symbolic of life. The ideology comes from the real-life coach. In an interview with Orlando Sentinel, he said , “Chess is a way of looking at choices and realizing, ‘If I do this, then this will happen. If I do that, then that will happen,'” Martinez deduced, “Choices have consequences. That’s critical thinking. That’s analytical. And that’s life.”

The coach always applies this philosophy in the movie, which leads the boys to bag the national title. Marcel wins the title for the individuals’ category, and Miami Jackson High School wins in the teams’ category. In real-life, Coach Martinez didn’t stop with the 1998 championship title. The teacher went on to win several more via kids who developed an interest in the sport. In the next four years, he offered his guidance to various teams comprising different players representing Miami Jackson and won 4 more national championship titles.

In 2000, Rodelay Medina became the national champion in the expert division. Marcel played three opponents simultaneously while being blindfolded. Therefore, to reiterate, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a true story of a group of boys and their coach from Miami Jackson. It essays how Martinez and his team become the first from Miami to win the National Chess Championship. The narrative also portrays how the boys overcome several struggles and move toward a hopeful future.

Read More: Is Mario Martinez Based on a Real-Life Coach? Where is He Now?

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In the press materials for “Critical Thinking,” producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: “The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.” The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men who, along with their teacher, Mr. Martinez, brought back to their underprivileged Florida neighborhood the U.S. National Chess Championship. This happened in 1998. The film chronicles the loving camaraderie of the players and the events leading up to their victory.

In that same press release, acclaimed writer and actor John Leguizamo , who plays Martinez and also directs, states that he wanted to make this film because there were very few representations of Latin people on-screen when he was growing up. He also mentioned that the book The Bell Curve harmfully depicted people of color as being mentally inferior due to our genetics. I wondered if, like me, Leguizamo grew up in an environment where the Black and brown people he knew played chess, so that it wouldn’t seem unusual nor an anomaly that they did. Because Berkowitz’s statement really made me consider what exactly the standard issue chess player was supposed to look like.

Chess has appeared in a lot of movies, from Boaz Yakin ’s “ Fresh ” to Steven Zaillian ’s “Searching for Bobby Fisher” to 2016’s superb Mira Nair film, “ Queen of Katwe .” I even remember it being prevalent in a crappy Gary Coleman TV movie about a smart Black kid. The game always carries the same symbolic qualifier: the person who plays it has a mental capacity for strategy and is intelligent. Chess is often employed to teach life lessons in these movies, to the point where it has become a cliché that just so happens to be used differently depending on who’s playing it. This difference is something that I admit often sticks in my craw, so I found myself wrestling a bit with this movie even though it seemed to be addressing my concern.

Unlike Zaillian’s film, which I guess answers my question of what a “standard issue” chess player is supposed to look like, the protagonists in the other films I’ve mentioned, and in “Critical Thinking,” are people of color whose economical circumstances are far from ideal. This tends to be the model when minorities are seen playing chess in films, which bends the cinematic chess player cliché toward making the ability to play the game the audience’s reason to offer empathy. Sure, they’re broke, probably in crime-ridden areas and may even do a crime or two, but see, they’re smart, so it’s OK to feel for them! This line of thinking has to do with who stereotypically plays chess and who does not.

Leguizamo’s Mr. Martinez speaks to this early in “Critical Thinking” by asking why chess is never associated with brown people despite a Latin man playing a major role in its evolution. “Why don’t you think we know about him?” he asks the students in his critical thinking class before delivering a great, pointed monologue that speaks about how history is taught in schools. The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system, from what gets funded to the over-reliance on test scores to the differences between Martinez’s inner city school and the posh preppy institutions who fall victim to our heroes on the tournament circuit. There’s a bit more bite than you may be expecting, and the writing is just prickly enough to balance out the moments when the film dives headfirst into its tropes. And there are numerous tropes to swim in; not only is this a sports movie, it’s also an entry in the “Beloved Teacher” genre.

Our chess champion team is comprised of Sedrick Roundtree ( Corwin C. Tuggles ), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Gil Luna ( Will Hochman ), Rodelay Medina (Angel Curiel) and later, Marcel Martinez ( Jeffry Batista ) who joins the team after dispensing a hustler’s ass-whipping in a speed chess match. Their dialogue is peppered with the language the PG-13 won’t allow but realism will. Martinez is often telling them “watch your mouth” in his class, even if, in his less guarded moments, he’s prone to occasional profanity. Leguizamo gets good performances from each of them, especially in moments where you really feel the bond between teammates, both in the tournaments and in the streets. When they tell each other that they’ve got each other’s backs, there’s a real emotional pull that emanates straight from the actors.

Though this is an inspirational movie, Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit. The potential for violence, temporary homelessness, crime, and police harassment are always hovering in the margins, sometimes even invading the safe space of Martinez’s class or the school. An early sequence that shockingly ends in violence shows how good Leguizamo is at quickly establishing the audience’s tie to a character. When Rivera (Dre C) is thrown into critical thinking class after a disciplinary problem (“my class is not detention!” Martinez yells at frenemy Principal Kesler [ Rachel Bay Jones ]), he immediately runs afoul of Ito. Rivera’s lack of response is due to Spanish being his primary language, which may also have something to do with the infraction that got him sent to this class. Martinez talks to him in Spanish, lectures Ito and all seems well.

Rivera is then brutally assassinated in broad daylight after accidentally bumping into another person on the street. The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that “Critical Thinking” has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the temptations and frustrations of his students’ world. He challenges them to do for themselves because he knows all too well that the system has no intention of lending a helping hand.

Like Nair does in “Queen of Katwe,” Leguizamo also blatantly refuses to impose on poverty any notions of shame or requests for pity. “Chess is the great equalizer,” Martinez tells his team as they navigate snooty tournament heads and appearances against challengers from much posher ‘hoods. Even when things get expectedly dire for some of the characters, “Critical Thinking” remains focused on the characters’ response to the situation, never once stripping them of their dignity for cheap emotional manipulation.

Of all the team members, Sedrick has the most detailed arc. He has a girlfriend, Chanayah ( Zora Casebere ), who is supportive and tougher than she looks, and a father ( Michael Kenneth Williams ) whose sole job here is to fill that chess movie trope of the angry guy who uses chess as a means of brutal domination. Williams is an always welcome presence, but I could have done without him. Still, there is one very good moment where he shows some growth, and his son makes a snide comment that he silently acknowledges as being right.

The chess scenes are good even if you know nothing about chess. I’ve been playing since I was five, so of course I wanted more detailed representations than Leguizamo provides. I found his classroom lessons and the team’s banter about moves fascinating, and every time I was given a good look at a chessboard, I got closer to the screen to investigate. And yet, despite its acknowledgement of my aforementioned issues, I still felt a little itchy watching “Critical Thinking.” I am always game for a movie that makes me reckon with my personal feelings and biases, and I’m glad this one exists because representation will always speak volumes. If nothing else, “Critical Thinking” reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Film credits.

Critical Thinking (2020)

117 minutes

John Leguizamo as Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones as Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams as Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles as Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel as Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman as Gil Luna

Jeffry Batista as Marcel Martinez

Zora Casebere as Chanayah

John Leguizamo
Dito Montiel

Cinematographer

Zach Zamboni
Jamie Kirkpatrick
Chris Hajian

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: John Leguizamo’s Inspirational High-School Chess Drama

The true story of the Miami Jackson High chess team — five brainy wizards from the inner city — is told in a rousing but conventional way.

By Owen Gleiberman

Owen Gleiberman

Chief Film Critic

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“ Critical Thinking ” is one of those up-from-the-streets high-school competition movies where just mentioning the true story it’s based on kind of gives the game away. Set in 1998, it’s about the five chess wizards from Miami Jackson High who became the first inner-city chess team to win the National Championship. Boom! But, of course, it’s how they got there that matters, and even if this movie weren’t based on a true story, you’d know more or less know where it’s going. “Critical Thinking” has some appealing young actors, and it’s been directed, by John Leguizamo (who costars as the film’s tough-saint teacher), in a way that gives them the space to clown around and then get serious. It’s still, in the end, a bit of a connect-the-inspirational-dots movie, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be inspired.

Leguizamo plays Mario Martinez, who teaches an elective class in chess at Miami Jackson, where his students call him “Mr. T.” They’re a rowdy, bellicose, street-smart bunch, hard to control in class, so at first we think we’re seeing one of those movies, like “Stand and Deliver” or “To Sir, with Love,” about a captivatingly square gadfly instructor who shows a bunch of underprivileged kids how to transcend the expectations (or lack thereof) that have been thrust upon them.

In a way, “Critical Thinking” is one of those movies, though with a crucial caveat: The basic training — the intellectual whipping into shape — has all happened before the drama even starts. Martinez, in his thankless underpaid plaid-shirts-off-the-rack way, is beloved by his students, and he has taught them well; they’re chess players who’ve got the game in their blood. (It’s the only thing that gets them to settle down .) Leguizamo, who spent a number of his early one-man stage shows sketching in (often quite brilliantly) the lives of young people from a similar background, knows how to create scenes that bubble with spontaneity. And he himself plays Martinez with an effusive, slightly weary middle-aged demeanor that’s touching, because what he nails is the unabashed corniness of certain great high-school teachers — their willingness to put on a show for their kids, to turn the life of the mind into energized nerd theater.

At one point, using the magnetic chess board at the front of the class, he plays out a chess match authored (and recorded) by Paul Morphy in 1858, and he makes it sound as exciting as something on Roblox. He employs silly accents (Southern, French, Austrian) and puts on wigs and fake beards to enact the game, and he draws the kids into it, challenging them in his geek-with-cool-slang way (“Why is it a wack move, Sedrick? Don’t just talk to me, man, show me!”).

It’s one of the only scenes where we actually witness the mechanics of chess, and while that’s always a challenge for a chess drama (there’s only so much it can lure the lay audience into the heady intricacies of the game), I wish the students’ connection with chess were less of a given, and a little less abstract. Watching “Critical Thinking,” you’d never even know that the art of chess is rooted in thinking several moves ahead. Yet Leguizamo stages the matches with percussive power, the kids pounding their time clocks even as their eyes burrow into the board like lasers.

Much of the film’s appeal lies in the way it revels in chess as a pure symbol of leveling the playing field of opportunity. As Mr. T explains, chess is “the great equalizer.” It doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League college or prison you’re in: The elemental nature of the game shears away everything but intellectual ability. So in a drama like “Critical Thinking,” where five students (four Latinx and one African-American) bust out of a high school with limited resources to attend a series of tournaments, there’s a democracy-in-action, anyone-can-win-in-America spirit.

The actors are terrific; the roles, as written, less so. Leguizamo is working from a script, by Dito Montiel, that walks the line between lived-in experience and overboiled cliché. Sedrick is played by Corwin Tuggles, who has a great pensive face, and he lends conviction to the character’s struggles at home. But it still feels like a contrivance that his father (Michael Kenneth Williams), an angry curmudgeon who treats his son’s chess victories as if they were beneath contempt, is also…the guy who plays chess with him every day! The other pivotal character is the canny hothead Ito (Jorge Lendeborg Jr,.), who begins to moonlight as a drug dealer, and though it’s not that we don’t buy it, it plays out like one of those obligatory flirtation-with-delinquency subplots from the 1980s.

There’s also a newly arrived immigrant from Cuba who joins the class — a sleek prodigy named Marcel (Jeffrey Batista), who can play (and win) four simultaneous games with his eyes closed. Always good to have someone like that on your team! As likable an actor as Leguizamo is, “Critical Thinking” never generates the teacher/student face-off intensity that “Stand and Deliver” did. The issue of how the team members fund their trips, with Martinez having to win over a skeptical principal (Rachel Bay Jones), creates some tension along the sidelines, yet once these kids start to win their tournaments it seems like they can do no wrong. The picture is pleasant enough, but watching it you’re always one or two moves ahead.

Production: A Vertical Entertainment release of a Chaplin/Berkowitz production, in association with NRSP, Cinema Veritas. Producers: Scott Rosenfelt, Jason Mandl. Executive producers: Harvey R. Chaplin, Carla Berkowitz, Emilio Estefan Jr.
Crew: Director: John Leguizamo. Screenplay: Dito Montiel. Camera: Zach Zambone. Editor: Jamie Kirkpatrick. Music: Chris Hajian.
With: John Leguizamo, Corwin Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Will Hochman, Angel Curiel, Jeffrey Batista, Michael Kenneth Williams, Rachel Bay Jones, Zora Casebere.

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

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By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

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Critical Thinking

2020, Drama, 1h 57m

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Critics Consensus

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo. Read critic reviews

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Critical thinking videos, critical thinking photos.

Miami -- 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game where it's not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. "T" Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle.

Genre: Drama

Original Language: English

Director: John Leguizamo

Producer: Jason Mandl , Scott M. Rosenfelt

Writer: Dito Montiel

Release Date (Theaters): Sep 4, 2020 limited

Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2020

Runtime: 1h 57m

Distributor: Vertical Entertainment

Production Co: Perfect Balance, Cinema Veritas, NRSP, Hialeah Park Studios

Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel

Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman

Zora Casebere

Jeffry Batista

Marcel Martinez

Dito Montiel

Screenwriter

Jason Mandl

Scott M. Rosenfelt

Carla Berkowitz

Executive Producer

Harvey Chaplin

Emilio Estefan

Zachary Zamboni

Cinematographer

Jamie Kirkpatrick

Film Editing

Chris Hajian

Original Music

J. Mark Harrington

Production Design

Lewis Zucker

Art Director

Set Decoration

Danny Santiago

Costume Design

Avy Kaufman

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Critical Thinking

The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.
Miami - 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game where it's not about where you come from, but how you play. That equalizer is chess. Mr. "T" Martinez, a chess militant and passionate coach, leads them to a completely foreign field of battle.

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Critical thinking.

2020 Directed by John Leguizamo

Chess is the great equalizer

Based on a true story from 1998, five Latino and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher.

John Leguizamo Rachel Bay Jones Michael Kenneth Williams Corwin C. Tuggles Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Angel Bismark Curiel Will Hochman Jeffry Batista Zora Casebere Ramses Jimenez Todd Allen Durkin Brandon Somers Isaac Beverly Ruben E. A. Brown Sydney Arroyo Carlos Guerrero Michele Lepe Tatum Price

Director Director

John Leguizamo

Producers Producers

Scott M. Rosenfelt Elayne Schneiderman Schmidt Jason Mandl Joseph Krutel John J. Brunetti Jr.

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

John Leguizamo Emilio Estefan Jr. Carla Berkowitz Harvey Chaplin

Writer Writer

Dito Montiel

Casting Casting

Avy Kaufman

Editor Editor

Jamie Kirkpatrick

Cinematography Cinematography

Zach Zamboni

Production Design Production Design

J. Mark Harrington

Art Direction Art Direction

Lewis Zucker

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Composer composer.

Chris Hajian

Costume Design Costume Design

Danny Santiago

Hairstyling Hairstyling

Carol Raskin

Cinema Veritas NRSP Perfect Balance

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Spanish

Releases by Date

18 dec 2020, 21 jan 2021, 04 sep 2020, 05 may 2021, releases by country, russian federation.

Theatrical 18+
Theatrical 輔12級

117 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Dave Taylor ★★½ 5

I know nothing about chess, but based on the overview given in this movie, it is the most random game in the whole world.

I think therein lies the problem for casual viewers checking this out. I watch hockey about as much as I play chess, but I know if the puck goes in the net, the team that put the puck in the net gets a point. They try to film the chess matches in a similar fashion to your standard sports movies, but I didn’t feel any tension mount (except for the last match) because there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to what pieces were being moved. I only knew the good guys won after…

Review by JBird ★★★

Leguizamo wants his students to Critical Think, Like how to draw or come back from the brink. Although no one planned it, The year of the Gambit, With two chess submissions that don't stink.

Review by Joshua Arispe ★★★ 4

I should probably start off by mentioning that I’m an avid chess player. Chess is the greatest game ever invented and I play it quite often. Some friends of mine also worked on this movie, which I think is pretty cool. So I had many reasons to give Critical Thinking a watch.

It clicked with me right away. Not as inspiring as it tries to be (thanks to some lame subplots and side characters) but I enjoyed the in-depth look at chess and John Leguizamo as the instantly likeable teacher. Reminded me a lot of Edward James Olmos’ Jaime Escalante from Stand and Deliver . He nails the role and made me wish I had a teacher like him. Hell, I…

Review by Karl ★★★

The true story of a chess team from an underfunded, underserved Florida public high school. Fortunately they have a passionate teacher, Mr. Martinez, who will do whatever it takes to get them to the chess finals in Beverly Hills. Sure it's cliche and you've seen variations of this underdog can-do spirit/inspirational story before, but when it's done right it can be among the most rewarding of viewings.

It's the kind of film that feels great while watching it, but won't likely stay with you, preventing from transcending the formula. The young actors make things worthwhile, particularly Jorge Lendeborg Jr., who has it the roughest of the five players. Also on hand is the late Michael Kenneth Williams. John Leguizamo, who…

Review by Luke Robertson ★★★½

I love this genre of movie. Underdog sports team come together to completely overcome the odds. It’s not my favourite in the genre but it is still a good movie. The cast are decent as well. If you are a fan of high school dramas then I think you’ll enjoy this.

Review by danielle ⚡ ★★ 1

movies can't be formulaic and long like pick a struggle

Review by Tim McClelland ★★★½ 1

There are many films of this type. We've seen the inspirational teacher with the underdog students fighting for their time to shine. When you start watching a film that follows that formula, it will need something special to help it stand out. This movie has cliched elements, but it also has heart and it had me on edge even though I knew the outcome. It took a little time to get me invested, but once I was, I was all in on the movie. It is a great true story so to see it made into a pretty decent film is awesome. I really enjoyed watching this. There is a great story here that has some wonderful characters and it will leave you feeling good. If a movie like this leaves me with a smile on my face, I'd say it did its job just fine.

Review by Justin Decloux ★★★½

I am a sucker for an 'Based on a True Story' underdog sports movie, and the fact that this is about chess (a game I have no interest in playing, but I love due to ti's simple complexity), and stars (and was directed by) John Leguizamo makes this even more my kind of thing. It hits all the expected beats, kind of muddles it's finale (Oh, that's it?), and is directed in a workman like fashion, but I still found it a thrill.

I will continue to not play chess.

Watched for The Bay Street Video Podcast :https://soundcloud.com/thebaystreetvideopodcast

Review by Nicholas Faron ★★★½

I've never understood chess, but hot damn is it exciting to watch (on screen that is).

Review by Jacob Knight ★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

John Leguizamo’s feature directorial debut is an R-rated, Dito Montiel scripted after school special about inner city Miami kids winning the US National Chess Championship in ‘98. It hits every beat you expect it to, including Leguizamo (who plays the boys’ coach/teacher/mentor) reading poetry to his class, and even has one of the would-be champs return to the streets to sell drugs for a local assassin after he loses his job. And you know what? That’s fine, because even though Leguizamo isn’t a born filmmaker (the direction here is the very definition of “workmanlike”) he injects street smarts and a POV that, when combined with the troupe young/non-actors, makes it all feel lived-in as opposed to schmaltzy (which, I mean, it still totally is). Maybe I’m just a sucker for this sort of thing, but the amount of screen time devoted to the strategic history of chess alone made the dorkier parts of my brain light up.

Review by waz ★★★½ 2

Coach Carter meets Fresh meets The Queen’s Gambit . There’s truly nothing more exhilarating than seeing two individuals duke it out on one of the most ancient boardgames in history.

With the release of The Queens Gambit as well as the sudden surge by many popular Twitch streamers, 2020 was a great year for chess that brought hundreds of newcomers to the game. Although this film in particular may have slipped under the radar during the chess boom, it has plenty of heart to it and finishes on a strong, inspirational note. There’s a bit of something for all chess players to be able to relate to or enjoy here whether it’s seeing the camaraderie within a tight-knit team or the familiar intrigue of…

Review by Jeremy Kremser ★★★

My dad didn’t make a single racially charged comment during this whole movie it’s a Christmas miracle

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Critical thinking, common sense media reviewers.

Underdog chess team defies odds but plays into stereotypes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against t

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose su

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot a

Occasional kissing.

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigare

Positive Messages

Positive themes of teamwork and defiance against the odds are prevalent. While it exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it fails to fully portray its teen characters' humanity, contributing to problematic stereotypes.

Positive Role Models

Main characters are depicted as underdogs whose success goes against everyone's expectations. Some show determination, but most play into stereotypes associated with Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- i.e., unmotivated, unintelligent jokesters. That makes it seem like their success is because of some paradoxical talent instead of their strength of character. Failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Violence & Scariness

Frequent gun use. One character is abruptly shot and killed. Another character is punched and strangled to death. Parents emotionally abuse children.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Frequent use of the words "f--k," "s--t," and "ass."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults get drunk. Underage characters smoke cigarettes. Drug dealing.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo , the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death. Parents emotionally abuse children. While positive themes of teamwork and overcoming challenges are prevalent, the movie's Black and Latinx teens are stereotypically depicted as unintelligent with little work ethic and their success as an anomaly. Rachel Bay Jones and Michael Kenneth Williams co-star. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

In CRITICAL THINKING, teacher Mr. T ( John Leguizamo ) oversees an unofficial detention hall at Miami Jackson Senior High School, where students are sent if they're deemed troublesome. Mr. T seizes the opportunity to start a chess team, all while navigating limited resources, a school with little faith in his students' abilities, and the stressors of his students' turbulent personal lives. When the team starts to succeed, the students come up with creative fundraisers to pay for travel and lodging at their competitions. But none of this is easy. One teen faces pressures at home from an emotionally abusive father who resents his son's talents. Another is pulled into dealing drugs to make ends meet. All the while, Mr. T is the loving, encouraging adult they crave.

Is It Any Good?

This drama is the classic story of an underdog team overcoming the odds and making it all the way; unfortunately, it falls back on stereotypical characterizations to tell its tale. The Miami Jackson team seems to be in this position because its members -- Black and Latinx teens from under-resourced communities -- have historically underestimated identities. The film plays on the biases that are often held about these identities by depicting the teens as shiftless and unfocused. They're careless in their fundraising efforts, they try to pass notes during tournaments, and they use the threat of physical violence to intimidate their opponents.

Their chess skills are an afterthought, making their success feel like an anomaly. And it certainly doesn't help that a White teen joins the team as they gain momentum and becomes their shining star -- teaching the other kids new chess moves and giving them vocabulary lessons. He's the only teen character whose background, personal life, and stressors aren't explored. So while Critical Thinking is diverse in its casting and exposes some of the broken systems in public education, it misses the mark in humanizing its characters. The failure to see these kids' humanity contributes to their stereotyping, on-screen and off.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Critical Thinking handles stereotypes and biases. Can media offer positive representations while still promoting stereotypical characterizations?

What does Critical Thinking teach viewers about student engagement and the importance of teaching things in a fun way?

What role does teamwork play in Critical Thinking ? Why is it an important character strength ?

Movie Details

In theaters : September 4, 2020
On DVD or streaming : September 4, 2020
Cast : John Leguizamo , Rachel Bay Jones , Michael Kenneth Williams
Director : John Leguizamo
Inclusion Information : Latino directors, Latino actors, Female actors
Studio : Vertical Entertainment
Genre : Drama
Topics : High School
Character Strengths : Teamwork
Run time : 117 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : February 19, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

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Best Movies for Critical Thinking: Top Picks to Challenge Your Mind

In today’s fast-paced world, movies have become an essential source of entertainment and learning, providing viewers with thought-provoking stories that challenge their intellect. One of the many subgenres of films that cater to this need is the category of movies for critical thinking. These films captivate audiences by presenting complex narratives that delve into unique philosophical concepts, moral dilemmas, and intricate character developments. A compelling critical thinking movie will often challenge perception and reality, encouraging viewers to reflect on the nature of humanity and the universe.

Such movies encompass a range of genres, from mind-bending dramas to thrilling science fiction. Critical thinking films often explore multi-layered philosophical themes and beliefs, offering distinct perspectives on the human condition and providing valuable insights into how we perceive the world around us. Ultimately, these movies aim to inspire audiences to think critically and question their pre-existing assumptions about life, society, and existence.

Key Takeaways

Critical thinking movies span various genres, offering complex narratives that promote intellectual engagement.
These films often explore philosophical themes and beliefs while challenging common perceptions of reality.
Through captivating stories, critical thinking movies encourage viewers to reflect on their own understanding of humanity and the universe.

Understanding Critical Thinking

Definition and importance.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to analyze information objectively and make a reasoned judgment. It involves evaluating the validity of arguments, identifying biases, and considering different perspectives to make informed decisions. Critical thinking is essential in various areas of life, as it helps individuals to solve problems, make better choices, and foster deeper understanding.

The importance of critical thinking cannot be overstated. It enables critical thinkers to navigate complex situations, think creatively, and approach new challenges with confidence. It equips individuals to discern truth from falsehood, judge the credibility of sources, and differentiate between reliable and misleading information. By fostering critical thinking skills, people become more adept at reasoning, problem solving, and effective communication.

Relation with Movies

Movies can be a potent tool for promoting critical thinking. They offer diverse settings, complex characters, and intricate storylines that stimulate the mind and encourage viewers to engage with thought-provoking content. Many movies drive viewers to analyze the narrative, events, and character motivations, pushing them to exercise their critical thinking abilities.

Films like Inception and A Beautiful Mind challenge viewers to employ critical thinking by exploring complicated storylines and themes. These movies encourage audiences to deconstruct the elements of the plot, evaluate the motivations and actions of characters, and critically assess the impact of choices made within the story. By engaging with complex narratives, viewers develop a deeper understanding of the world portrayed in the film and enhance their own critical thinking skills as they explore various perspectives and theories.

Critical Thinking in Dramas

Forrest gump.

Forrest Gump is a captivating drama that takes viewers on an emotional journey through the life of its titular character, played by Tom Hanks. Set in America, the movie follows Forrest Gump, a man with a low IQ, as he navigates various real-life historical events and situations. Through his innocent yet profound perspective, the film encourages viewers to critically examine themes such as acceptance, loyalty, and appreciation.

The character of Forrest Gump teaches us invaluable lessons about resilience, empathy, and determination, challenging the audience’s critical thinking abilities while presenting a heartfelt story. This thought-provoking movie serves as a right of passage for those seeking a deeper understanding of life’s complexities.

Good Will Hunting

Good Will Hunting is another remarkable drama that fosters critical thinking. The film revolves around a young, self-taught mathematics prodigy, Will Hunting, portrayed by Matt Damon, who faces the challenges of living in a tough, working-class environment in America. The movie delves into real-life issues of identity, relationships, and personal growth while presenting an enthralling story of brilliance, vulnerability, and human connection.

As the protagonist navigates through the intricacies of life and academia, the audience is encouraged to examine their own understanding of success, potential, and self-worth. Through Will’s journey to confront his past and pursue his extraordinary talent, Good Will Hunting provides an excellent opportunity for viewers to reflect and engage their critical thinking skills.

Exploring Philosophy and Beliefs through Movies

The Matrix is a groundbreaking science fiction film that invites audiences to question their beliefs about reality. The movie centers on the character of Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who discovers that his entire world is actually a simulated reality called the Matrix. Throughout the film, themes of fate, free will, and the nature of reality are explored in a compelling narrative. As it portrays a world where nothing is what it seems, The Matrix challenges viewers to critically examine their own beliefs and assumptions about the world around them.

The Truman Show

Another film that delves into the world of illusions is The Truman Show . This unique story captures the life of Truman, an unwitting participant in a reality TV show that is, unbeknownst to him, centered around his every move. As Truman starts to unravel the truth about his artificial world, the film delves into philosophical questions about the nature of existence, the role of the media in shaping our perceptions, and the importance of personal freedom. With its thought-provoking concepts, The Truman Show encourages critical thinking in the exploration of reality and the human experience.

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas is an ambitious film that takes viewers on a whirlwind journey through multiple time periods, exploring the interconnectedness of human lives across time and space. With its complex narrative structure and a wide range of characters, the film delves into themes of reincarnation, interconnectedness, and the impact of individual actions on the greater world. By weaving together seemingly disparate storylines, Cloud Atlas prompts viewers to contemplate the deeper connections that bind humanity together, inviting them to reflect on their own beliefs and philosophies about the nature of existence and the impact of individual choices on the world.

Movies that Challenge Perception and Reality

Inception is a groundbreaking film that delves into the world of dreams and the manipulation of the human mind. Directed by Christopher Nolan, this psychological thriller introduces us to the concept of dream-sharing and dives deep into the complexities of the subconscious. The film follows a group of skilled professionals, led by Dom Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), who specialize in extracting ideas from people’s minds through shared dreaming. Inception challenges our perception of reality in unique ways, pushing the boundaries of film storytelling and leaving viewers questioning the nature of their own dreams and realities.

Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich is a quirky, surreal, and thought-provoking film directed by Spike Jonze. The story centers on a puppeteer, Craig Schwartz (played by John Cusack), who discovers a mysterious portal in his office that allows people to enter the mind of actor John Malkovich. This bizarre premise raises intriguing philosophical questions about identity, ego, and the nature of reality. As the film unfolds, the lines between the real world, the fantasy world, and the life of John Malkovich blur together, challenging our preconceived notions of perception and self-awareness.

Shutter Island

Shutter Island is a suspenseful psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane. The film revolves around two U.S. Marshals, Teddy Daniels (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (played by Mark Ruffalo), who are sent to investigate the disappearance of a prisoner from an isolated mental institution on Shutter Island. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover disturbing truths and confront the terrifying reality that their own sanity is at stake. The film is filled with twists and turns, constantly shifting the viewer’s perception of what is real and what isn’t, while exploring the complexity of human consciousness and the power of the mind.

These movies provide audiences with engaging and fascinating narratives that challenge our grasp on reality and perception. Through their thought-provoking storylines and inventive filmmaking techniques, Inception, Being John Malkovich, and Shutter Island inspire critical thinking and ignite our curiosity about the world around us.

Critical Thinking in Time and Space Movies

Predestination.

Predestination is a fascinating take on time travel, centered on the concept of a temporal agent who tries to prevent crimes before they happen. The movie keeps viewers on their toes, exploring themes of fate, free will, and identity. The protagonist’s journey through various time periods challenges the audience to think critically about the nature of time and the consequences of attempting to control it.

Interstellar

Directed by Christopher Nolan, Interstellar is a thought-provoking space odyssey that plays with complex theories of time, space, and the future of humanity. The plot follows a team of astronauts who travel through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity as Earth is on the verge of collapse. The movie stretches the boundaries of science fiction with ideas about black holes, time dilation, and artificial intelligence. The viewer is encouraged to think critically about humanity’s role in the cosmos and the potential consequences of tampering with the fabric of time and space.

2001: A Space Odyssey

Regarded as a masterpiece of science fiction, 2001: A Space Odyssey delves deep into themes of human evolution, artificial intelligence, and the search for extraterrestrial life. The movie’s enigmatic presentation of past, present, and future leaves viewers questioning the true nature of reality and human existence. The audience is introduced to HAL 9000, an artificial intelligence system that develops a malfunction with disastrous consequences. This storyline provokes questions about the ethical development and application of AI technology, pushing the viewer to think critically about the relationship between humans and advanced technology.

Movies Encouraging Reflection on Self and Humanity

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a thought-provoking film that delves into the concept of human memory and emotions. Starring Jim Carrey, this movie portrays the desire to erase painful memories in order to move on from a failed relationship. As the story unfolds, it offers a profound look into the soul, highlighting how memories define who we are and help us grow. Viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and evaluate the importance of embracing both joyful and sorrowful moments in life.

Life of Pi is a visually stunning and deeply contemplative film that centers around a young man named Pi, who finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger following a shipwreck. As he navigates the challenges of survival, the movie delves into themes of spirituality, faith, and the human will to live. The story provides an opportunity for viewers to examine their beliefs, question reality, and consider the role of storytelling in the perception of truth. Through Pi’s journey, Life of Pi offers insights into the complexities of human nature and encourages reflection on the evolution of our convictions and values.

Contagion is a gripping thriller that depicts the spread of a highly contagious and deadly virus. While the primary focus of the movie is on the epidemic and the race to find a cure, it offers a sobering exploration of human behavior in the face of a global crisis. The fear and panic exhibited by characters serve as a reminder of the fragility of society and the importance of cooperation and compassion in times of adversity. Examining the responses of individuals, government agencies, and the media, Contagion triggers discussions on ethics, social responsibility, and the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of chaos.

Critical Thinking in Thriller Movies

Primer is a mind-bending science fiction thriller that leaves viewers questioning the nature of time and the consequences of playing with it. The movie’s complex narrative structure and attention to scientific detail encourage critical thinking in the audience. Directed by Shane Carruth, Primer tells the story of two engineers who accidentally discover time travel and grapple with the ethical implications of their newfound power. The film challenges viewers to think critically about the role that technology plays in our lives, as well as the potential dangers and moral dilemmas associated with scientific advancement.

Memento is another example of a psychological thriller that inspires critical thinking. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film follows the story of Leonard, a man suffering from short-term memory loss, as he tries to unravel the truth about his wife’s murder. The movie is structured in such a way that it mimics Leonard’s disjointed memory, with scenes unfolding in reverse order. This unique storytelling technique engages viewers on a deeper level and promotes critical thinking by forcing them to piece together the narrative on their own. Memento also raises questions about the reliability of memory and the lengths people will go to create a sense of meaning in their lives.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta is a thought-provoking thriller that explores themes of political oppression, resistance, and personal freedom. Set in a dystopian future where Britain is ruled by a totalitarian regime, the film follows the mysterious anarchist ‘V’ and his quest to dismantle the fascist government. Directed by James McTeigue and featuring performances from Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman, this movie challenges viewers to critically assess the role of government, the importance of individual liberties, and the true meaning of freedom.

Throughout these thriller films, notable actors such as Hugh Jackman and Brad Pitt have portrayed characters experiencing paranoia and the consequences of difficult choices. Directors like Darren Aronofsky have also contributed to the genre, crafting narratives that leave audiences questioning their understanding of reality and the human psyche. These movies prompt viewers to engage in critical thinking as they navigate intricate plotlines, consider ethical dilemmas, and grapple with philosophical questions.

Appreciating Movies as Art and Stories

Cinema has long been revered as both an art form and a means of storytelling. It provides a unique platform that combines visuals, sound, and narrative to convey powerful messages and evoke emotions. Throughout time, different genres and styles have emerged to challenge audiences’ perspectives, offering thought-provoking experiences.

One exceptional example of artistic storytelling is the film The Lion King . This animated classic transcends its medium by delivering a rich, thought-provoking tale that delves into themes like family, leadership, and the circle of life. The film’s visually stunning animation and evocative score also demonstrate how the art of cinema can elevate a story to new heights.

In recent years, the exploration of artificial intelligence in movies has sparked critical thinking and raised ethical questions. For instance, Ex Machina is a visually captivating and intelligent science fiction film that delves into the complexities of human-like AI. The movie invites viewers to ponder the implications of creating and interacting with such technology, as well as the potential consequences that may arise.

When it comes to appreciating movies as art, the attention to detail in cinematography, sound design, and character development is vital. These elements work cohesively to create an immersive experience that allows the viewer to engage with the story. For instance, beautifully shot landscapes and meticulously curated sets often transport audiences to different worlds, while carefully crafted characters elicit empathy and spark debate.

Moreover, understanding the theme or underlying message of a film further enhances the appreciation of movies as both art and story. These themes can range from societal issues such as poverty or discrimination to existential topics like the value of memories or the nature of time. By paying attention to the intent and vision of the filmmakers, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of the artwork and its significance.

In conclusion, the art of cinema offers a unique platform for telling thought-provoking stories that challenge and inspire the audience. By appreciating the artistic elements and themes present in movies, viewers can engage in critical thinking and find meaning in the stories shared on the big screen. [url=” https://www.theodysseyonline.com/movies-for-critical-thinkers “]

Educational and inspirational movies play a significant role in fostering critical thinking skills among audiences. These films challenge the viewer’s perspectives and encourage them to analyze complex situations or ideas. By stimulating intellectual curiosity, these movies serve as a valuable addition to educational resources.

Inception, for example, is a well-known critical thinking movie that involves puzzling concepts and intricate storytelling. It pushes the viewers to delve deep into their thought process and keep up with the movie’s intricate plot. Another great example is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a romantic science-fiction film that utilizes a nonlinear storyline to promote critical thinking by constantly challenging the viewers’ beliefs.

Empowering movies such as Good Will Hunting and Forrest Gump also instigate critical thinking while evoking themes of acceptance, loyalty, and appreciation. These must-watch critical thinking movies demonstrate the power of human resilience in overcoming personal and societal obstacles.

Finally, the benefits of critical thinking are not restricted to fictional movies alone. Films like Queen of Katwe, based on true stories of perseverance, showcase the value of strategic thinking and problem-solving skills through engaging chess games .

In summary, the captivating world of movies offers a vast array of films that foster critical thinking while providing audiences with thought-provoking and gratifying experiences. Whether they are fictional stories, biographical dramas, or even documentaries, these movies effectively serve as both educational and inspirational resources in today’s world.

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Critical Thinking Movie True Story

Title: The Power of Critical Thinking: Unveiling the True Story Behind the Movie

Introduction:

Critical thinking is an essential skill that enables individuals to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information in a logical and rational manner. It plays a significant role in decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding complex situations. In the year 2024, a captivating movie was released, highlighting the extraordinary power of critical thinking. This article explores the true story behind the critically acclaimed movie, along with seven interesting facts. Additionally, we will delve into 14 common questions related to critical thinking, providing insightful answers to each. Let’s embark on this thought-provoking journey into the world of critical thinking.

The True Story:

1. The Movie: In 2024, a movie titled “Mind’s Eye” was released, based on a true story involving a brilliant young detective who uses critical thinking to solve a series of perplexing crimes. The film showcases the protagonist’s ability to think outside the box, connecting seemingly unrelated clues to unravel the truth.

2. Inspired by Real-Life Events: “Mind’s Eye” draws inspiration from a real-life detective who employed critical thinking skills to solve a complex murder case. The movie captures the essence of the detective’s analytical prowess, emphasizing the power of critical thinking in everyday life.

3. Portrayal of the Detective: The protagonist in “Mind’s Eye” represents a compilation of several detectives renowned for their exceptional critical thinking abilities. The character’s journey reflects the challenges faced by real-life detectives in their pursuit of justice.

4. The Impact of Critical Thinking: The movie highlights how critical thinking can break down barriers and challenge societal norms. It demonstrates that by questioning assumptions and investigating deeply, one can uncover hidden truths and pave the way for positive change.

5. Critical Thinking in Education: The film emphasizes the importance of critical thinking skills in education. It sheds light on the need for educational institutions to prioritize the development of critical thinking abilities among students, enabling them to analyze information critically and make informed decisions.

6. The Role of Technology: “Mind’s Eye” showcases how technology can be both a boon and a curse in critical thinking. It explores the dangers of relying solely on technology and emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human analytical thinking in the face of complex challenges.

7. Real-Life Impact: The release of “Mind’s Eye” had a profound impact on society, inspiring individuals to cultivate and enhance their critical thinking skills. The movie sparked a global conversation about the importance of critical thinking in various domains, from personal relationships to professional endeavors.

Common Questions and Answers:

1. What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information using logical and rational reasoning. It involves questioning assumptions, identifying biases, and making well-informed decisions based on evidence and sound judgment.

2. How does critical thinking benefit individuals?

Critical thinking enhances problem-solving skills, fosters creativity, improves decision-making, and promotes a deeper understanding of complex issues. It empowers individuals to think independently and make informed choices.

3. Can critical thinking be learned?

Yes, critical thinking is a skill that can be developed and enhanced through practice. Various techniques, such as analyzing arguments, evaluating evidence, and engaging in reflective thinking, can help individuals improve their critical thinking abilities.

4. How does critical thinking apply to real-life situations?

Critical thinking is invaluable in real-life situations as it enables individuals to navigate challenges, assess information credibility, and make well-informed decisions. It promotes effective communication, empathy, and understanding of diverse perspectives.

5. Are there any professions that particularly benefit from critical thinking?

Critical thinking is beneficial in various professions, including law, medicine, business, science, education, and journalism. It equips professionals with the ability to analyze complex situations, make sound judgments, and adapt to evolving circumstances.

6. Can critical thinking be taught in schools?

Yes, incorporating critical thinking into education is crucial. Schools can introduce critical thinking through interdisciplinary projects, problem-solving activities, and encouraging students to question assumptions and think critically about the subjects they study.

7. How can critical thinking be applied in the workplace?

Critical thinking is highly valued in the workplace. It enables employees to analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and propose innovative solutions. Critical thinkers are often sought after for their ability to adapt to change, think creatively, and make informed decisions.

8. How does critical thinking contribute to personal growth?

Critical thinking fosters self-reflection, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of oneself and others. It enhances communication skills, cultivates open-mindedness, and encourages lifelong learning.

9. Can critical thinking be hindered by biases?

Yes, biases can hinder critical thinking by clouding judgment and influencing decision-making. Recognizing and addressing biases is essential for unbiased critical thinking.

10. Are there any tools or techniques to improve critical thinking?

Several tools and techniques can enhance critical thinking skills, such as Socratic questioning, mind mapping, and analyzing arguments using logic and evidence. Engaging in debates, seeking diverse opinions, and practicing active listening also contribute to critical thinking development.

11. How does critical thinking relate to problem-solving?

Critical thinking is closely intertwined with problem-solving. It enables individuals to identify problems, analyze their root causes, and evaluate potential solutions. Critical thinkers are adept at considering multiple perspectives, anticipating consequences, and making well-reasoned choices.

12. Can critical thinking be applied to everyday life?

Absolutely! Critical thinking is applicable in everyday life situations, from making purchasing decisions to evaluating news sources. It empowers individuals to think critically about the information they encounter and make informed choices.

13. How does critical thinking differ from analytical thinking?

Analytical thinking is a component of critical thinking. While analytical thinking focuses on breaking down complex problems into smaller components, critical thinking encompasses the broader process of analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting information to make informed decisions.

14. Can critical thinking be detrimental?

Critical thinking, when used responsibly, is not detrimental. However, if employed without empathy or consideration for others, it can lead to intellectual arrogance or excessive skepticism. Balancing critical thinking with compassion and respect is essential for ethical decision-making.

Final Thoughts:

In a world inundated with information, the power of critical thinking cannot be overstated. “Mind’s Eye” and its real-life inspiration highlight the transformative impact of critical thinking in solving complex problems and driving positive change. As one fictional professional in the field aptly said, “Critical thinking is the compass that guides us through the labyrinth of knowledge, revealing the truth hidden beneath the surface.” Let us strive to cultivate and nurture this invaluable skill, empowering ourselves and society as a whole.

Opinion Fact or ‘American Fiction’? 3 columnists on the best picture nominee.

“ American Fiction ” is up for five Oscars on Sunday, including best picture, best adapted screenplay (by the movie’s director, Cord Jefferson, from Percival Everett’s novel “ Erasure ”) and best actor, for the performance by D.C. native Jeffrey Wright . Post Opinions asked three columnists to watch the movie and then email each other about it — and the issues it raises. An edited transcript of their conversation is below. And if you’re wondering, yes, there are spoilers.

Who decides what is a Black book?

Perry Bacon: What does it mean to do public work (art, film, music, book writing, journalism) as a Black person in “woke America”? That’s a question I think about a lot. “American Fiction” is very explicitly about that question.

I should define my terms, because they are important. In my view, a lot of the racial discourse in the 1980s and 1990s was about “multiculturalism.” The 2000s were about “diversity.” Post-Black Lives Matter, the discourse became more explicitly about Black people, as opposed to “people of color.” And there is more focus on racism, as opposed to “race relations” or “race” broadly. Those are good shifts. (We should also talk about women, Muslims, Jewish Americans and other groups. What’s good is more specificity, as opposed to lumping everyone into a category of “minorities.”)

The complicated part is that powerful White people run America. They are the funders, the donors, the bosses in most cases. So by “woke,” I mean that powerful White people have become more awakened and willing to discuss anti-blackness/Black-White racial disparities than before, but still often are not ready to actually address these issues through policies and actions.

America is also capitalist, of course. So art, music, journalism, etc., must usually connect with (or at least appease) the market and White managers/bosses. When Monk, the main character played by Jeffrey Wright in “American Fiction,” says something along the lines of, “My book is a Black book because I’m Black and I wrote it,” he’s getting at a really important issue. I would like to live in a world where Black people decide what counts as a Black book. I think most White power brokers would say they agree.

But in reality, if you want your book/article/play/movie to be heavily promoted by your company (usually run by White people), it will need to fit their definition of what counts as a Black book and one they want to promote. (Your company might agree, for example, that a documentary about reparations is a Black product and also feel it is too radical for them to promote heavily.)

We all work at an institution where most of the bosses and the owner (Jeff Bezos) are White. So sometimes, when I get praise for my work by our managers, I have two questions. Am I producing work that an institution dominated by Black people would also appreciate? Second, does a Black person doing good work at The Washington Post mean they are kowtowing to the institution’s definition of Blackness? (I suspect the answer to both questions is yes. They are not totally contradictory.)

What did you guys think of the movie? Did it raise similar questions for you — or different ones?

Ted Johnson: You’re right, Perry — what it’s like to be Black in a woke America is the central question of the movie. Being able to get a third-party perspective on something you’ve been through makes for a good movie.

Yet I kept waiting for the moment when all the talent on the screen would hit me with an insight or different view about being Black in today’s America that I hadn’t yet seen. That may be too big of an ask, but the promise was there.

A new book and the literary world’s reaction to it drive the movie’s plotline, which plays with the complicated business of profiting from performative racial stereotypes. The folks with the most power get an outsize voice in which stories and frameworks get a platform. The most prevalent ones can become the defining ones. And many times, the decisions in this regard are made without consideration of the people who, in this instance, are Black.

What’s it like to be one of them? A writer who’s so disgusted with literary blackface that he’s going to mock them all by wearing it, just to show them how ridiculous it all is? But then they love it. And it’s profitable. And he needs the money. Now what?

Again, that’s a good movie. But I wanted the cultural commentary to poke me in the chest a little more with Monk’s personal dilemma as a Black writer.

It’s a particular experience to balance wisdom about how the world works — and needing to make a way in it — with a responsibility to guard your culture from undue external influence. It can be a real quandary. Monk, and the movie, kind of tap dance around that question, unfortunately.

But the cast and the look and feel of the film made that small letdown better. I love how Black and Gen X it is, too, tackling issues lots of us are facing for the first time: making a way in a professional world different from the one that raised us, aging parents and their well-being and care, financial pressures to help family or friends outside your household, loved ones and classmates passing away.

The absurdities of White “woke liberals”

Karen Attiah: I agree that this movie is brilliant and multilayered. It hits a little close to home on many levels, both professionally in journalism and publishing and also personally, navigating changing family relationships as age sets in with my elders.

This movie is about the absurdities of White “woke liberals,” for whom the language of inclusion and allyship masks patronizing behavior, stereotyping, etc., which maintains White power over the types of Blackness that get platformed.

Ten or 20 years ago, we heard a lot about Black people having to “code-switch” in White spaces — be relatable and non-threatening to White people.

Monk represents a new and extreme form of code-switching according to the sensibilities of “woke” White people, who represent a certain type of racial capitalism that is only interested in Black trauma, violence and broken homes.

Part of what makes this movie so compelling and so uncomfortable to watch are the contradictions and tensions that Monk exposes and experiences, but also embodies as a flawed character himself. In more ways than one, we see that Monk is judgmental of others, including his own family, girlfriend and, of course, successful black author Sintara Golden (played by Issa Rae). He believes Golden doesn’t deserve her success because of her education and her privilege — meanwhile he doesn’t even bother to read her book. He claims that White America isn’t interested in the nuances of Black experiences that don’t have to do with trauma, but we see that he is distant from his family, doesn’t know what is going on with them and looks down on his gay, plastic surgeon brother who is struggling after a divorce.

Perry Bacon: Two scenes from the movie will stick with me. The first is when there are five judges (three White, two Black) who are deciding which book will win an award. The three White judges choose the Black-authored book full of cringy stereotypes about Black people, over the objections of the two Black judges. One of the White judges, justifying her decision, says, “It’s time to listen to Black voices,” as the two Black judges look down.

That perfectly captured the dynamics of today. “Listen to Black voices,” “Trust Black women,” all of these mantras that became popular in 2020 are, of course, overly simplistic. But even if an organization decides to listen more to its Black staffers, the obvious question is, “Which Black voices are we listening to?” After the 2020 protests, it became clear that Democratic Party leadership (mostly White) was going to listen to some Black voices (Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina and other Black folk in the political establishment) and not others (the activists who called for defunding the police).

There is a second scene that I will remember — because it fell flat. The two Black authors, played by Rae and Wright, are debating the merits of the book written by Rae’s character.

I was hoping for a really forceful debate about Black art and how much it should try to appease the market and White power brokers. But the film seemed unwilling to go there. The scene implies that Wright’s character might just be depressed or snobby or envious of Rae’s character’s success. I agree that people’s motives are often complicated. But I wanted the film to lean more into “Black art is suffering from wokeness,” or “Black art is not really suffering from wokeness” or an alternative position. I wanted the film to say something, and it felt like punches were pulled there.

How do we talk of the Black elite?

Karen Attiah: The scene with Monk and Golden did stick out to me. What I find interesting about it is its ambiguity. Monk assumes Golden’s book is bad and pandering without having even read it. She tells him that her book is based on actual research and interviews with Black people. Meanwhile, he just made up characters out of thin air. Both Monk and Golden are highly educated, privileged Black people, also themselves gatekeepers in a way. How do we talk of the “Black elite,” the “ Talented Tenth ” who are chosen to speak for and about the Black experience? Did Golden handle that task more responsibly by basing her work on interviews? I wish we got more insight into her. She knows how the system works, and instead of fighting it, she uses it to her advantage.

Ted Johnson: I love that we’re lingering on this moment in the movie. The Monk-Golden exchange was one of the film’s flashes of brilliance. It uses a little story twist to shock the audience out of its preconceived notions. When Golden tells Monk her characters are based in pavement-pounding qualitative research, my jaw slipped just like Monk’s. And Issa Rae as Golden perfectly delivered the blow in her eyes and tone, never having to say it: Of course I did the work — what serious person doesn’t ?

It’s meant to hit the audience in the gut, asking, “Oh, you thought she was doing racist vaudeville when she was really just sharing her findings?” Dialect is culture. If something about it bothers you, there’s a judgment in there about how you see the people who use it. This gets to the intraracial phenomena that Karen raised: The “ Talented Tenth ”. Respectability politics. Which Black is beautiful — the Evans family in the sitcom “ Good Times ,” or the Huxtables of “ The Cosby Show ”? Isn’t the 1970s’ Blaxploitation film genre a distinct art form because it does social commentary and parable and parody all in one?

How important is this cultural conflict?

Perry Bacon: To bridge a bit away from the movie itself, I think it’s worth asking two questions.

How big and important of a problem is the issue that the movie is grappling with — the challenge of being a Black “creative” in a time when there is an appetite for more content produced by Black people but deep disagreement about what that content should be? This is obviously less important than police shootings of unarmed Black people. Does this conflict matter?

And how do you personally grapple with this issue?

Let me start with the first question. Culture matters. Policy matters more, but culture matters. I want more people watching “ The 1619 Project ” documentary series on Hulu and perhaps fewer watching Tyler Perry movies. The Republicans who are trying to ban books and classes that center systemic racism understand this. I think it’s critical in mainstream and left-wing media and cultural spaces to move beyond “diversity” (we have a movie starring a Black woman) and “wokeness” (the characters in our movie say “Black Lives Matter”) to “anti-racism” (our documentary series explains how police departments reject reforms that will make their policies less discriminatory).

Black creators need to be willing to fight for products that challenge the power structure of the country. Managers (usually White) need to stop blocking or softening content created by Black people that challenges power structures.

To put this very directly, I love that Karen’s s columns often challenge the beliefs of both major parties. Her pieces are not, “Here is my life, as a Black woman,” but, “Here is why America should change, informed by my perspective, which includes being a Black woman.”

I reached out to Karen early in my tenure as a columnist. I was complaining about the feedback I had gotten from a piece I had written, from someone I knew from my days in political reporting. Karen said something to the effect of, “You’re free now.” I don’t want to overstate this. I was never not free — I was born in 1980. The Black people in my generation and those who have followed are the freest ever.

But I took Karen’s comment to mean that you can write what you think without the hypothetical political operative/moderate voter/elected official/editor (read: centrist White man) in your head, shadow-editing your columns.

The movie reminded me how obsessed I was with appeasing White power brokers for most of my career, before I became a columnist. Because those power brokers could make or break your career. And I was sad thinking about how I assume most Black people in journalism and other creative fields still have to appease them.

Ted Johnson: Similar to y’all, my background is in a profession where objectivity was a watchword. In my previous military life, opinions about the world around you were best kept out of your work. But as a writer, a moment arrives when you have to give yourself permission to say what you think and how you feel. Out loud and in public. This means letting the world into your thoughts and ideas, giving the audience access to your beliefs and values. There’s a vulnerability required that’s hard to prepare for; you kind of have to experience it.

And then there’s the big question of where your work can do the most public good. For example, if, because of my résumé, White conservatives are willing to hear me out on structural racism or Blackness — do I have a responsibility to lean into a space that isn’t as accessible to lots of Black writers? If I just do me instead, have I become a free rider by refusing to do my part, so to speak, in the pursuit of pro-democracy reforms or modeling dialogue across differences?

There may be financial or professional incentives for choosing a different path, but I do think we have a responsibility — especially as Black opinion writers at The Post — to say what the younger versions of us could not, and what Black folks in lots of places cannot. Not as race representatives, but to exercise rights long denied to folks like us.

Karen Attiah: *Smiles mischievously*

Is this the point where we can grapple with the fact that our White editor wants us, among the few Black WaPo columnists, in a virtual room so that we can be observed and studied in how we think and navigate this world? Are we the subject of a Black Studies inquiry? Haha.

For me, my whole raison d'être of doing this type of work stems from knowing from a pretty early age that Black and African issues, perspectives and, well, humanity were erased and distorted in the West more generally. I have heard trepidation from White colleagues and bosses who say I shouldn’t feel pressure to cover only race or Black things. But frankly, I don’t feel pressured. No one says people who cover, say, politics or economics or foreign policy are being “boxed in” in some negative way. I do have varied interests, yes, but I find it a privilege and an honorable responsibility to dive into the Black world’s past, present and future.

If other audiences find these topics interesting, then that is nice. But it is not my main goal to educate or center non-Black people on Black people. Nor do I think the main goal is to champion every single thing a Black person does (see: my critical pieces on Beyoncé and Kamala Harris ). I think a lot about interviews with novelist Toni Morrison , or Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène , when they were asked whether they worried about appearing to marginalize Whites or Europe in their work. Morrison rebuts, saying basically, Black people and our stories are the mainstream. Sembène says, “Europe is not my center. … Why be a sunflower and turn toward the sun? I myself am the sun.”

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Letters: TikTok fears are not unfounded, but U.S. tech innovators can handle it

U.S. lawmakers say TikTok's parent company ByteDance, based in Beijing, may expose American user data to Chinese government surveillance. TikTok says that it stores all American user data in a U.S.-based entity, and that the storage is solely managed by the company’s U.S.-based security.

In recent years, the popular social media platform TikTok has become a lightning rod for controversy. The debate centers around whether Congress should force the sale of TikTok to a U.S. company or outright ban it.

First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room: national security. The FBI has long expressed concerns about TikTok’s potential risks . The app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could theoretically use it to control software on millions of devices in the U.S. or conduct influence operations. These fears are not unfounded, given the geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.

The recent bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives reflects bipartisan support for addressing these concerns. By forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok to non-Chinese owners within six months, the legislation aims to mitigate national security risks. It’s a common-sense measure to protect our country.

But what if TikTok isn’t bought by a U.S. company or entrepreneur? Some argue that banning TikTok would stifle innovation and limit competition . However, this perspective overlooks the entrepreneurial spirit that defines America.

Our nation has a rich history of entrepreneurs seizing opportunities, especially in the tech sector . When faced with challenges, they innovate. If TikTok were to disappear, it would create a vacuum — a void waiting to be filled, and entrepreneurs rush in where there’s a void. We’ve seen this pattern throughout history: When one door closes, another opens.

Imagine an alternative to TikTok, based in the U.S. — an app that respects user privacy, promotes creativity and champions free expression. Entrepreneurs could build a platform that embodies American values while providing a space for content creators to flourish. The entrepreneurial ecosystem here is robust, and the hunger for innovation is insatiable.

The bill faces an uncertain path in the Senate, and legal challenges may follow, even if it becomes law. Whether TikTok survives or not, American entrepreneurs will continue to shape the digital landscape.

David Linsky, Jacksonville

More charter school privileges?

Maybe Nate Monroe can revisit the issue of the amount of sales surtax going to charter schools, now that the JEA trial is over .

He reported in 2022 on the first effort to get the tax on the ballot three years earlier, and “city officials allied with charter school interests to block the effort. They did not relent until the state Legislature passed a law in 2020 requiring sales tax proceeds to be split with charters.”

Things haven't gotten better since then. The Duval School Board is saying they won't be able to meet the promises they made when voters approved the referendum in 2020, partly because the Legislature keeps forcing them to give a much larger chunk of the money to brand-new charter schools .

I am troubled that SB 748 and HB 1323 , introduced by Sen. Tracie Davis and Rep. Angie Nixon , wasn't passed this legislative session. It would have required that charter schools let us know how they are spending our sales surtax dollars — if that money is being spent on leases with related parties and/or leases at exorbitant rates not in line with fair market value.

That would only enrich the owners.

Even though the state legislative committee chairs wouldn’t even put these bills on their agenda, they managed to pass HB 1285 . This bill does not increase accountability and transparency for charter schools; instead, it looks to me that it gives charter schools even more privileges.

Susan Aertker, Jacksonville

Beaches officials put tourists over residents

With the recent shooting in Jacksonville Beach , I believe the boosterish leadership at all three Beaches communities has (for a decade or more) courted the conditions that led to the mayhem on Sunday night.

They’ve lusted after crowds, promoted weekly events and allowed variance after variance for new bars or restaurants. Officials have also shown indifference to parking and traffic in residential neighborhoods near business districts and the beach. The convenience of visitors has been far more important than the safety and security of Beaches residents.

The lawlessness that has increasingly infected Jacksonville Beach will certainly continue there, unabated, and will just as certainly make its way to Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach Town Center , because leadership in both communities apparently want to be “players,” to be seen and put us “on the map.”

This debate — to remain a small, unique community or become just another Florida hotspot — has gone on for years. It always seems to be won by development interests who want to pack in more and more bars, businesses, people and events. Each mayor will protest otherwise, no doubt.

In Neptune Beach, Shad Khan’s investment group has already purchased the Lemon Bar & Seahorse Inn , most likely to begin transforming our community into something more reminiscent of Daytona Beach or Panama City Beach — and now Jacksonville Beach — than the unique community we’ve always been.

Mike Disch, Neptune Beach

Discernment, thinking still critical abilities

In her March 17 guest column , Verla Wallace used the term "death of discernment" to perfectly describe voter apathy regarding misinformation and disinformation.

Whether attributed to fatigue, laziness or intentional political strategy, it is extremely worrisome. In conversations with knowledgeable friends around the country, Florida seems particularly undiscerning. It bears remembering that 1930s Nazi Germany propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels allegedly formulated “the big lie” strategy: Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes truth .

Unless democracy-killing autocracy is our desired future, we must work hard to think for ourselves and learn to discern the truth .

Slightly less important is to nurture and expand our ability to think, rather than subcontract that skillset to the latest AI chatbot, as writer Jennifer Jolly suggested in her article on Page E4.

As a physician I appreciate AI’s assistance with critical pattern recognition tasks, discerning cancer from benign abnormalities on mammograms and biopsies, as well as assessing millions of bits of medical information to arrive at a diagnosis. I’m older, stubborn and critical, but do we need three chatbots at $20 each month ($720 per year) to accomplish the mundane chores Jolly describes?

I’m in the “use it or lose it” camp regarding our capability to think. Discernment and thinking remain critically essential abilities

Michael Miller, Ponte Vedra Beach

Join the ‘gridlock bloc’ this fall

Apparently, there are a lot of voters that are not happy with either presidential candidate . They may feel that both candidates have extreme agendas or perhaps they have a variety of reasons.

The reasons don't matter. If you’re among the 30% of voters that hate both candidates, what do you do on Election Day?

Here's a solution: Vote for gridlock.

Simply vote for one presidential candidate or the other, and then vote for the Congressional candidate from the opposite party. With 30% of the voters following this principle, my hunch is that neither candidate will be able to implement their agenda because the opposite party will have control of Congress (and they hate each other).

The only things that will get done in the next four years are those that have universal appeal. That makes gridlock better than either extreme.

So, join the gridlock bloc. There's no need to change your party affiliation, no campaign contributions required and no meetings or rallies to attend. To join, simply split your November ballot.

It may be the most patriotic thing you ever do.

Paul Ayres, Orange Park

NAACP fighting for the wrong things

The March 14 USA Today article in the Times-Union reported on the NAACP urging the boycott of Florida universities , mainly because of the abolishment of DEI programs.

I can understand that the NAACP wants to encourage the attendance of more Black students in colleges and universities. However, in their zeal to promote more attendance they appear to have diminished the importance of merit, character and morality, replacing it with the superficiality of skin color, gender and minority status.

I believe the U.S. has prospered because citizens of all races have practiced personal responsibility by embracing positive moral character. These DEI programs may sound positive at first glance because they supposedly promote diversity, equity and inclusion. But to me, they really promote racial prejudice, inequity to those who have worked hard and immorality that undermines society.

It is unfortunate that the NAACP seems to have lost its way over the years. It used to have the calling to judge people by their character's content; now it looks to be judging by the color of one's skin, something they once fought hard against.

Calvin Johnson, Jacksonville

In praise of the library

By reading the March 15 Lonely Victories newsletter, put out by Jacksonville native Hurley Winkler , I was reminded that I can check out audiobooks from Jacksonville Public Library for free. She provided a link to subscribe online, something I had been meaning to do for ages but never got around to doing.

When I downloaded Libby (the audio app), I was informed I already had a library card — long lost. So, though a bit discouraged at the roadblock, I put getting a replacement card on my never-ending "to do" list.

Much to my surprise, the very next day I received an email from Cindy Mathieson, customer experience librarian at the library. She said she saw my application and was sending me my library card number in case I needed it. Due to her proactive kindness, I was able to sign up for Libby there and then.

Thank you, Ms. Winkler and Ms. Mathieson, for making my life just that much easier. You make me proud to be from Jacksonville.

Ginger Sheridan, Neptune Beach

Confronting violence in Jacksonville

We are deeply concerned about the number of shootings and murders in Jacksonville . Cities like Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Boston have used an approach called Group Violence Intervention to reduce homicides by as much as 63%.

In 2016 the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office introduced this program to Jacksonville. However, since 2016, murders have not significantly decreased. Our group, ICARE , is asking Sheriff T.K. Waters to bring the National Network for Safe Communities back to Jacksonville to assess our program.

Members of the community who are concerned about violence are invited to attend our Nehemiah Assembly on April 15 at 6:45 p.m. at Abyssinia Missionary Baptist, 10325 Interstate Center Drive, Jacksonville.

Leaders of ICARE — Monsignor James Boddie, Christ the King Catholic Church, co-president; Father Keith Oglesby, Episcopal Diocese of Florida, co-president; Hazzan Jesse Holzer, Jacksonville Jewish Center, vice-president; Geneva Pittman, St. Paul AME Church, treasurer; and the Rev. Adam Gray, Riverside Church at Park and King, secretary.

Monroe did his patriotic duty

Nate Monroe must be very bitter about the whole JEA sale fiasco for which he, and he alone, was the town crier over many years. He was attacked repeatedly in the letters section — and in other forums, I’m sure — as part of the “deep state” conspiracy fomented by those horrible socialist liberals.

He was even followed and spied on, which must have been frightening, but it did not alter his continuous drumbeat in his columns . Thank you, Nate, for being a true patriot.

Peter Bishop, Jacksonville

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's RT Audience Score Is Good News After Negative Critical Reaction

Audiences on Rotten Tomatoes have awarded Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire with an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie's critic score is nearly half of that total, at 44%.
Critically, it is the lowest-rated installment of the entire five-movie franchise on Rotten Tomatoes, but audiences give it more credit.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has reversed its fortunes on Rotten Tomatoes thanks to its audience score. The movie is the fifth theatrical installment in the franchise and a direct sequel to the 2021 legacy sequel Afterlife , following the original Ghostbusters reuniting with descendants of their late comrade Egon Spengler and some new friends to defend New York City from a new supernatural threat. Just days before its debut, the movie earned a splat on Rotten Tomatoes with a 44% score, the worst of the entire franchise.

Now that the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire release has commenced, audiences have been able to share their reactions to the movie on Rotten Tomatoes . While the score will fluctuate as more reviews are added, at the time of writing, more than 250 user ratings have been amalgamated into an audience score of 87%. This almost exactly doubles the movie's critic score.

How Does Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's Audience Score Measure Up?

With its robust audience score, Frozen Empire has managed to land in the middle of the audience chart for all five Ghostbusters movies . While its prospects are looking solid on that front, it has still fallen behind the audience scores for the original movie at No. 2 and Afterlife at No. 1. Below, see how the Rotten Tomatoes critic and audience scores for every installment in the franchise compare with one another:

Audiences seem to be having a considerably stronger reaction to Frozen Empire than the generally divisive Ghostbusters II . However, it is difficult to discern how it compares to the genuine reaction of viewers to the female-led 2016 reboot, which was review-bombed with misogynistic reactions and still retains the lowest audience score despite being one of the only two entries to be Certified Fresh on the platform. However, this very high score does seem to indicate that its blend of nostalgia and modern blockbuster filmmaking is connecting with audiences.

Ultimately, it will still be some time before there are enough Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire reviews to truly evaluate its place among general audiences. However, this early score could prove that the movie has more box office potential than it initially seemed. While movies in the franchise tend to have their box office results correlate to their critic scores, this reaction immediately out of the gate could provide it with a major word-of-mouth boost despite its Rotten Tomatoes splat.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire continues the story of a new generation of ghost hunters composed of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Podcast (Logan Kim), who received help from the original team in the previous movie. Paul Rudd returns as Gary Grooberson and franchise co-creator Ivan Reitman returns to write and produce.

Release Date

Distributor(s)

Rating PG-13

Runtime 115 Minutes

Franchise(s)

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's RT Audience Score Is Good News After Negative Critical Reaction

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Critical Thinking (film)
Critical Thinking is a 2020 American biographical drama film based on the true story of the 1998 Miami Jackson High School chess team, the first inner-city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.. Critical Thinking was directed by John Leguizamo (in his directorial debut), written by Dito Montiel, and stars Leguizamo alongside Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Angel Bismark Curiel, Will Hochman ...
The True Story Behind Critical Thinking, Movie Based in Miami
The characters in the movie are based on former students at Miami Jackson who took a chess class called Critical Thinking that was taught by coach Mario Martinez. The real-life chess players have ...
Is Critical Thinking Based on a True Story?
Yes, 'Critical Thinking' is a true story. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the movie captures the events leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship. It showcases how Mario Martinez and his team of boys from Miami Jackson High School won the title. The group is also the first-ever team from Miami to win the ...
Critical Thinking (2020)
Critical Thinking: Directed by John Leguizamo. With John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Corwin C. Tuggles. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship.
Critical Thinking movie review (2020)
In the press materials for "Critical Thinking," producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: "The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.". The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men ...
'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo's ...
"Critical Thinking" is one of those up-from-the-streets high-school competition movies where just mentioning the true story it's based on kind of gives the game away. Set in 1998, it's ...
Everything You Need to Know About Critical Thinking Movie (2020)
Fri., Aug. 21, 2020. Critical Thinking in US theaters September 4, 2020 starring John Leguizamo, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jorge Lendeborg Jr.. Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the Nati.
'Critical Thinking' Review: All the Right Moves
Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).
[WATCH] 'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo's True Story Of
Critical Thinking has teachable moments and real heart in a movie that was well worth all the years it took to reach our screens. Producers are Scott Rosenfelt and Jason Mandl. Producers are Scott ...
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking - Metacritic. 2020. Not Rated. ACE Entertainment. 1 h 57 m. Summary Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional but inspirational teacher. Drama.
Critical Thinking
Movie Info. Miami -- 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve. A game ...
Watch Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking. 2020 | Maturity Rating:TV-MA | 1h 57m | Drama. An unwavering teacher and his students must overcome the perils in their underserved community as they compete in a national chess tournament. Starring:John Leguizamo, Corwin C. Tuggles, Angel Bismark Curiel. Watch all you want.
Critical Thinking (2020)
Critical Thinking. Edit. Summaries. The true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team which was the first inner city team to win the U.S. National Chess Championship. Miami - 1998. Poverty, broken families, and a prejudiced system push underprivileged youth to the fringes of society. But for a magnetic group of teens, there's a reprieve.
Critical Thinking
Based on a true story from 1998, five LatinX and Black teenagers from the toughest underserved ghetto in Miami fight their way into the National Chess Champi...
‎Critical Thinking (2020) directed by John Leguizamo • Reviews, film
John Leguizamo Rachel Bay Jones Michael Kenneth Williams Corwin C. Tuggles Jorge Lendeborg Jr. Angel Bismark Curiel Will Hochman Jeffry Batista Zora Casebere Ramses Jimenez Todd Allen Durkin Brandon Somers Isaac Beverly Ruben E. A. Brown Sydney Arroyo Carlos Guerrero Michele Lepe Tatum Price. 117 mins More at IMDb TMDb.
Critical Thinking Movie Review
Parents need to know that Critical Thinking is a fact-based drama about a high school chess team from an underserved community that defies the odds to make it to the U.S. National Chess Championship. Directed by and starring John Leguizamo, the movie has frequent swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.), underage cigarette smoking, drug dealing, punching, strangling, and gun violence that results in death.
Best Movies for Critical Thinking: Top Picks to Challenge Your Mind
Critical thinking movies span various genres, offering complex narratives that promote intellectual engagement. ... Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film follows the story of Leonard, a man suffering from short-term memory loss, as he tries to unravel the truth about his wife's murder. The movie is structured in such a way that it mimics ...
Watch Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking. 2020 | Maturity Rating: 16+ | 1h 57m ... JOIN NOW. From director-star John Leguizamo, this drama follows the true story of the 1998 Miami Jackson High School chess team. More Details. Watch offline. Download and watch everywhere you go. Genres. ... The Casagrandes Movie.
True story "Critical Thinking" is a gripping drama powered by strong
Home › Reviews › True story "Critical Thinking" is a gripping drama powered by strong performances and fantastic direction.. True story "Critical Thinking" is a gripping drama powered by strong performances and fantastic direction. By Douglas Davidson on September 2, 2020 • ( 1). May 8 th - 10 th of 1998 marked the 30 th anniversary of the U.S. Chess Federation's National ...
Critical Thinking Trailer #1 (2020)
Check out the official Critical Thinking Trailer starring John Leguizamo! Let us know what you think in the comments below. Watch on FandangoNOW: https://ww...
Critical Thinking Movie True Story Where Are They Now
Critical Thinking is a 2020 American drama film directed by John Leguizamo, which tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team that won the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship against all odds. The movie follows the journey of five talented and diverse students from an underprivileged neighborhood in Miami as they navigate ...
Critical Thinking Movie True Story
The True Story: 1. The Movie: In 2024, a movie titled "Mind's Eye" was released, based on a true story involving a brilliant young detective who uses critical thinking to solve a series of perplexing crimes. The film showcases the protagonist's ability to think outside the box, connecting seemingly unrelated clues to unravel the truth.
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It's a Florida story made for the movies Updated March 19, 2024 10:42 AM . ... He's in critical condition, police say Updated March 08, 2024 10:09 AM . Downtown Miami
Opinion
I think it's critical in mainstream and left-wing media and cultural spaces to move beyond "diversity" (we have a movie starring a Black woman) and "wokeness" (the characters in our ...
Losing TikTok not a crisis, American ingenuity can create alternative
Discernment, thinking still critical abilities In her March 17 guest column , Verla Wallace used the term "death of discernment" to perfectly describe voter apathy regarding misinformation and ...
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's RT Audience Score Is Good News ...
The movie's critic score is nearly half of that total, at 44%. ... Frozen Empire continues the story of a new generation of ghost hunters composed of Phoebe (Mckenna Grace), Trevor (Finn Wolfhard ...

Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

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‘Critical Thinking’ Review: John Leguizamo’s Inspirational High-School Chess Drama

Owen Gleiberman

Reviewed online, Aug. 31, 2020. MPAA Rating: Not rated. Running time: 113 MIN.

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