The Public | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

Name: The Public
Released: 2019-4-5
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Emilio Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater

The Public

PG-13
2h 0m
2019

66%

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In "The Public" an unusually bitter Arctic blast has made its way to downtown Cincinnati and the front doors of the public library where the action of the film takes place. At odds with library officials over how to handle the extreme weather event, some homeless patrons turn the building into a shelter for the night by staging an "Occupy" sit in. What begins as an act of civil disobedience becomes a stand-off with police and a rush-to-judgment media constantly speculating about what's really happening. This David versus Goliath story tackles some of our nation's most challenging issues, homelessness and mental illness and sets the drama inside one of the last bastions of democracy-in-action: your public library.

Director:

Emilio Estevez

Producer:

Lisa Niedenthal, Emilio Estevez, Alex Lebovici, Steve Ponce

Writer:

Emilio Estevez

Cast:

Alec Baldwin, Emilio Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater, Che 'Rhymefest' Smith, Gabrielle Union, Jacob Vargas, Michael K. Williams, Jeffrey Wright

Rotten Tomatoes® Score

TOMATOMETER®

66%

Critics Consensus: Its intentions are sometimes easier to appreciate than its execution, but The Public remains an earnest and reasonably engaging social advocacy drama.

Reviews

Ready Steady Cut

M.N. Miller

When you combine The Public’s penchant for cheap sentiment and its social advocacy message, you get the equivalent of cinematic social conscience fluffernutter that is spread too thin.

August 18, 2022

FULL REVIEW

NME (New Musical Express)

Greg Wetherall

Emilio Estevez tackles blinkered bureaucrats in this high-minded social advocacy drama.

June 14, 2021

FULL REVIEW

World Socialist Web Site

Joanne Laurier

Somewhat light-hearted in its tone, The Publicis clearly a labor of love for its extraordinary cast.

February 10, 2021

FULL REVIEW