Preview: Lottery (2010)

Synopsis:

This documentary focuses squarely on the weaknesses in the education system and its failure to provide a proper education to all as a lottery is held to determine who will be allows to attend charter schools while the remainder will be stuck in crumbling and poorly-performing public schools.

• Poster: C

Review:

What the tumbling items in the poster this child is reaching for are a mystery, but that is not the reason this poster fails. The choice of colors, from the background and text selections to the little girl's outfit, clash dramatically and allow the eye to dismiss the poster quickly as a misguided effort and not a work of art or an advertising piece.

• Trailer: C+

Review:

While the documentary Waiting for "Superman" focuses nearly on the same subject, this one seems to focus entirely on the tragic circumtsances surrounding black families, a noble subject to be sure. Yet, the focus solely on the lottery itself is a poor one and the trailer does not have the sense of urgency that Waiting's trailer possessed.

Oscar Prospects:

With two docs built around the same concept, the one that does the most pervasive reporting will be the victor. By trailers alone, this won't be the contender.

Release Date:

• Coming Soon

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (May 30, 2010) Original