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The Interrupters

  • 20112011
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Interrupters (2011)
A year in the life of a Chicago non-profit whose mission is to work to resolve issues of conflict and violence.
Play trailer2:28
1 Video
7 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Crime
A year in the life of a city grappling with urban violence.A year in the life of a city grappling with urban violence.A year in the life of a city grappling with urban violence.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Steve James
  • Writer
    • Alex Kotlowitz(New York Times magazine article)
  • Stars
    • Tio Hardiman
    • Ameena Matthews
    • Toya Batey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steve James
  • Writer
    • Alex Kotlowitz(New York Times magazine article)
  • Stars
    • Tio Hardiman
    • Ameena Matthews
    • Toya Batey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 72Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 10 wins & 17 nominations

    Videos1

    The Interrupters
    Trailer 2:28
    The Interrupters

    Photos7

    The Interrupters (2011)
    The Interrupters (2011)
    The Interrupters (2011)
    The Interrupters (2011)
    The Interrupters (2011)
    The Interrupters (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tio Hardiman
    • Selfas Self
    Ameena Matthews
    • Selfas Self
    Toya Batey
    • Selfas Self
    Cobe Williams
    • Selfas Self
    Gary Slutkin
    • Selfas Self
    Earl Sawyer
    • Selfas Self
    Bud Oliver
    • Selfas Self
    Kenneth Oliver
    • Selfas Self
    Caprysha Anderson
    • Selfas Self
    Sheikh Rasheed
    • Selfas Self
    Alfreda Williams
    • Selfas Self
    Mildred Jones
    • Selfas Self
    Mildred Williams
    • Selfas Self
    Lillian 'Madea' Smith
    • Selfas Self
    Rashida
    • Selfas Self
    Malcolm Malik
    • Selfas Self
    Bob Jackson
    • Selfas Self
    Anjanette Albert
    • Selfas Self
    • Director
      • Steve James
    • Writer
      • Alex Kotlowitz(New York Times magazine article)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film is Steve James' sixth feature length collaboration with his long-time filmmaking home, the non-profit Chicago production studio Kartemquin Films, and is also his fifth feature to screen at the Sundance Film Festival.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.12 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      We Came To Party
      Written by Brendon Dallas a.k.a. Money Flip

      Performed by Money Flip featuring Punch G and Ace Da God

      Courtesy of HollaScreem Records

    User reviews17

    Review
    Top review
    An engaging and moving film even if it overplays sentiment at times and lacks a little bit of edge
    This film takes a year-long look at the work of a group of volunteers trying to reduce murders and violence in inner-city areas of Chicago. They do this by intervening wherever possible, trying to mediate on the streets between those reading to kill over as little as $5 or a perceived slight, cool the anger before it spills over into bloodshed. The majority of the volunteers have a background in the gangs themselves, have served jail time but were able to get out while they still have their lives. The film follows three of the volunteers during a year where the profile of the Chicago murder rate is raised to the national level.

    From the director of Hoop Dreams, this film gets right down onto the streets of Chicago and, while the volunteers are dealing with people ready to kill, the camera is right there too – getting good access and surprisingly natural footage from everyone involved. For the most part it is the capturing of this world that makes the film engaging because while many people (particularly on the internet!) would like to pretend they live in tough situations and are ready to turn to violence over nothing, the majority in the western world are not and certainly for me, I appreciated an insight into the world of those who are ready to pick up a knife and stab someone because of a slight on their family. The camera captures a real natural air when situations are at their most flammable and also in the one-on-one chats, but it doesn't quite manage it when there is a group. Sometimes when break-throughs are being made with groups, it does feel a little uncomfortable and I got the sense that the camera was becoming a little bit of an intrusion.

    Likewise, although it isn't overdone, the film also uses sentimental music a bit too often over the top of insights or breakthroughs – and it did annoy me a little bit because none of it actually needed this music. None of these things are bad though, just a little negative in terms of impact. This is covered by how good the chosen subjects are – in particular Ameena and Cobe. To my external ears they occasionally sound uncomfortable or odd or even a bit too much like they are saying platitudes and hyperbole, but yet they work and generally their words and attitudes make an impact – even if they don't always make a lasting impact on a person's life (although the goal is always to get through the immediate threat of violence). James makes good use of them and in Ameena he finds someone likable, charming, intelligent and empathetic – she doesn't just "say" what she is doing and feeling, she lives it and it comes out in every word; wisely she is the heart of the film.

    Overall The Interrupters is not a perfect film because it does occasionally overdo the sentimentality and gives the subject a sense of worthiness that they may deserve but that the film doesn't benefit from. It also doesn't have much of a sharp investigatory edge, a little of which it could have done with a little bit of, but otherwise the film is engaging and moving thanks to the ground-level access and the force of the personality and bravery of the volunteers focused on.
    helpful•1
    4
    • bob the moo
    • Jan 25, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 2011 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Steve James Project
    • Filming locations
      • Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Kartemquin Films
      • Rise Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $282,448
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,920
      • Jul 31, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $286,457
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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