65
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 83Portland OregonianShawn LevyPortland OregonianShawn LevyAn up-close, engaging and ultimately moving look at Telfair's family, his final high-school season and his decision to forsake college for the NBA.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenThe Hollywood ReporterMichael RechtshaffenA highly satisfying documentary tracking the hoop dreams of basketball bright light Sebastian Telfair as he made that rare leap from high school all-star to NBA draft pick.
- Behind the cheering and popping flashbulbs of Through the Fire lurks another, much darker movie, one that questions the relationship between sneaker manufacturers and financially deprived kids with exceptional talent.
- 75New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsSuperb, ultimately exhilarating account of Coney Island basketball phenom Sebastian Telfair's senior year at Lincoln High.
- 75Boston GlobeWesley MorrisBoston GlobeWesley MorrisIt's hard to blame Telfair for letting his celebrity go to his head. If I were on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the 12th grade, there'd be no living with me either.
- 70VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibUpbeat Urbanworld documentary prizewinner, full of strong personalities and crisply edited court action.
- 70Village VoiceVillage VoiceIt's slickly shot and structured like a Bruckheimer sports weepie, but director Jonathan Hock also shows the image-production of Telfair as star.
- 63TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghIt's a pleasure to see the articulate, disciplined Telfair succeed where so many other young men have failed, but ultimately his path to success is so smoothly upbeat that there isn't much urgency to it.
- 50The A.V. ClubScott TobiasThe A.V. ClubScott TobiasThrough The Fire posits Telfair's good fortune as the belated fulfillment of Jamal's dreams and his family's desire to leave the projects, but it rarely gives a thought to the many thousands of gifted inner-city ballers who devote their lives to a goal that never materializes.
- 50New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoFails to show indignation that rich white guys are trying to get even richer at the expense of a naive black kid from the ghetto.