76
Metascore
6 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- Every story here has heart, soul and grit.
- 88RogerEbert.comRogerEbert.comThe bodies of the competitors are photographed to emphasize their strength, their power, and their unquestionable beauty; classical Greek-style statues modeled after the athletes frame the chapters of the film.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin CrustLos Angeles TimesKevin CrustFor anyone missing this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, postponed to March, Rising Phoenix is a fitting bridge for one night, resoundingly demonstrating that an athlete is an athlete. You will never watch the games in the same way.
- 75Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreFor a fairly generic sports documentary, Rising Phoenix still manages a few thrills, some moving moments and a lot of sports action.
- 60The GuardianLeslie FelperinThe GuardianLeslie FelperinThe film would have been more effective if its relentlessly uplifting score didn’t keep figuratively prodding the viewer in the chest, telling us to feel moved, dammit. Likewise, the editing is annoyingly frenetic at times, and you long for a more measured approach that would allow you to appreciate the athletes’ skills, instead of seeing their prowess chopped up into tiny snippets of footage.
- 50The New York TimesNatalia WinkelmanThe New York TimesNatalia WinkelmanBy avoiding complexity, Rising Phoenix preserves its inspiring mood, but offers only a platform for champions who already dominate the arena.