71
Metascore
11 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The New York TimesNeil GenzlingerThe New York TimesNeil GenzlingerA documentary about the unending mess that is the Atlantic Yards project, is unabashedly slanted and as a result will probably be dismissed by those it portrays unflatteringly. That's unfortunate, because this film should be discouraging and dismaying for people on all sides of the project, for what it says about oversize expectations and missed opportunities.
- 85NPRMark JenkinsNPRMark JenkinsThe Empire State's eminent domain laws are unusually loose, but most of the rest of this story is pertinent far beyond New York. Change a few names and add the next credit bubble, and a Brooklyn-style Battle could be headed to a neighborhood near you.
- 83The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayMost viewers should find the documentary Battle For Brooklyn gripping and provocative, no matter their opinions about eminent domain, historic preservation, or public dollars going to support private development.
- 80Time OutS. James SnyderTime OutS. James SnyderBattle offers both a sobering portrait of personal revolt (notably through activist Daniel Goldstein, whose eviction fight landed in the State Supreme Court) and a searing case study of a community dismantled by racial and economic tensions. Alas, it's not much of a battle; more like "Requiem for Brooklyn."
- 80New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierA gripping documentary about how unnecesary real estate development can change the soul of New York, brings us inside the lives it touches.
- 70SalonAndrew O'HehirSalonAndrew O'HehirTells the story of a love affair and a new family, and reminds us that even billionaires are not omnipotent.
- 50Slant MagazineAndrew SchenkerSlant MagazineAndrew SchenkerBattle for Brooklyn brings up larger quandaries about urban development which it doesn't begin to address.
- 50Village VoiceVillage VoiceBattle for Brooklyn provides a useful primer on the opposition to Atlantic Yards, but figures who might have made more compelling documentary subjects than the always on-message Goldstein crowd the sidelines.
- 50New York PostLou LumenickNew York PostLou LumenickUnfortunately for the film, it's clear from the outset this is a totally one-sided battle that well-connected developer Bruce Ratner is fated to win.