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Critical Thinking

  • 20202020
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
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.
Play trailer2:05
2 Videos
22 Photos
  • Drama

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Leguizamo
  • Writer
    • Dito Montiel
  • Stars
    • John Leguizamo
    • Rachel Bay Jones
    • Michael Kenneth Williams
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Leguizamo
  • Writer
    • Dito Montiel
  • Stars
    • John Leguizamo
    • Rachel Bay Jones
    • Michael Kenneth Williams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:05
    Official Trailer
    Critical Thinking
    Trailer 2:05
    Critical Thinking

    Photos22

    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    Critical Thinking (2020)
    Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)
    John Leguizamo in Critical Thinking (2020)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Mr. Martinezas Mr. Martinez
    Rachel Bay Jones
    Rachel Bay Jones
    • Principal Kestelas Principal Kestel
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Mr. Roundtreeas Mr. Roundtree
    Corwin C. Tuggles
    Corwin C. Tuggles
    • Sedrick Roundtreeas Sedrick Roundtree
    Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
    Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
    • Oelmy 'Ito' Paniaguaas Oelmy 'Ito' Paniagua
    • (as Jorge Lendeborg)
    Angel Bismark Curiel
    • Rodelay Medinaas Rodelay Medina
    Jeffry Batista
    Jeffry Batista
    • Marcel Martinezas Marcel Martinez
    Will Hochman
    Will Hochman
    • Gil Lunaas Gil Luna
    Zora Casebere
    Zora Casebere
    • Chanayahas Chanayah
    Ramses Jimenez
    Ramses Jimenez
    • Andreas Andre
    Isaac Beverly
    Isaac Beverly
    • Pickleas Pickle
    Todd Allen Durkin
    Todd Allen Durkin
    • Detective Ransoneas Detective Ransone
    Dave Baez
    Dave Baez
    • Detective Vargasas Detective Vargas
    Dre C.
    • Michael Riveraas Michael Rivera
    Sydney Arroyo
    • Corneliaas Cornelia
    Mike Benitez
    Mike Benitez
    • Jitney Driveras Jitney Driver
    Kizra Deon
    Kizra Deon
    • Lawandaas Lawanda
    John Manzelli
    John Manzelli
    • Snooty Manas Snooty Man
    • Director
      • John Leguizamo
    • Writer
      • Dito Montiel
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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.
    • city
    • miami florida
    • chess
    • chess game
    • chess player
    • 11 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Chess is the great equalizer
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on the true story of Miami Jackson High School chess team's win of the U.S. Chess Federation's National High School Chess Championships in 1998 under the leadership of Cuban-American social studies teacher Mario Martinez (played by Leguizamo).
    • Goofs
      While in the class, Martinez tells the students that chess was "modernized by a Spanish named Maura", when Maura (who was actually a Puerto-Rican) in fact did not modernized chess but instead created one of the hundreds of lesser known chess variants which he called "Modern Chess".
    • Quotes

      Mr. Martinez: All right, now, people, this is gonna be very basic for some of you, but for the fish, or the newbies as I like to call you, this is gonna be eye opening because what you've got is 64 squares, 32 pieces, it doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League school you may go or you may not go to, what prison you hopefully never set foot in, because chess is the great equalizer.

    • Crazy credits
      Over the credits, there are interviews with the real people who the movie is based on.
    • Soundtracks
      What Would You Do
      Written by Timothy McNealy

      Performed by Timothy McNealy

      Published by Afrika Kuruvilla Kurian, BMI

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    John Leguizamo has directed a gem of a film
    John Leguizamo is already a legendary character actor too many times type cast in Latinx shady criminal roles, but he has shown so much more over the years. In this film in which he stars, produces and directs he shows the depth of his talent.

    This is a real feel good film. It shows a true life story of triumph over adversity in a non-saccharin manner. The story telling avoids cliché and sentimentality. It does not dwell on the darkness of these young people's lives apart from when needed.

    A truly remarkable film.
    helpful•10
    3
    • johnalewis-45894
    • Oct 18, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 4, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Eleştirel Düşünme
    • Filming locations
      • Miami, Florida, USA
    • Production companies
      • Critical thinking
      • Cinema Veritas
      • Hialeah Park Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $20,322
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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