Lila & Eve 2015

Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: Davis (who was an executive producer on the film) gives a strong performance, as if she were acting in one of those many prestige projects lighting up her resume. It's a noble try, but this dreck is beyond saving. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: A ludicrous revenge thriller that should have been called, "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot." Read more

Peter Debruge, Variety: Davis is the reason this movie stands to be something more than a straight-to-oblivion telepic. We feel her pain, and we want to see justice done. Read more

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, AV Club: Lila & Eve turns on a third-act plot twist that viewers will be able to guess within the first 10 minutes, but which the movie insists on foreshadowing so incessantly that the reveal becomes redundant. Read more

Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly: Alas, even a promising premise and a fine actress like Davis can't save an increasingly ludicrous plot. Justice may be served, but screenwriting logic? Not so much. Read more

Leslie Felperin, Hollywood Reporter: It's an instant camp classic, especially because it takes itself so adorably seriously. Read more

Michael Rechtshaffen, Los Angeles Times: A standard-issue female vigilante thriller that's skillfully elevated by the performances of leads Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez. Read more

Katherine Pushkar, New York Daily News: What is vital is Davis' wrenching performance as a mother who's done everything right, but remains powerless to keep her children safe. Then there's Lopez, dialing up slow-burning weariness into a crackling heat, and reminding you why you like her. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: "Lila and Eve" deteriorates into a tawdry shoot-'em-up whose screenplay takes an ill-advised surreal twist that propels the movie deep into the ozone. Read more

Molly Eichel, Philadelphia Inquirer: A mid-point twist is particularly ridiculous, and in an attempt to reconcile this turning point, the final act of the movie becomes a mess. Read more

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times: Davis' portrayal of a mother's pain, moving from hopelessness and despair to revenge and regret, gives the picture its impressive power. Read more

Inkoo Kang, TheWrap: In a just world, this deeply compassionate and politically relevant revenge fantasy would do for Viola Davis what last year's Alzheimer's odyssey did for Julianne Moore: deliver a long overdue Oscar to one of the finest actresses of her generation. Read more

Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice: It's an actors' piece rather than an action flick, and Davis finds new, moving nuance in the film's familiar beats. Read more

Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: Davis ends up a wasted resource. She does her best to elevate the material, but the story fails to live up to her considerable talents. Read more