The Garden 2008

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: This intricate and compelling documentary paints a saddening portrait of American politics. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: The Garden does a fine job of promoting the power of grassroots advocacy; in almost all other respects, however, this is nonfiction filmmaking that's nearly as dull as dirt. Read more

Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: Justice and Corruption and Profit are abstractions, and film is so ill suited to deal with abstractions. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It's tempting to call The Garden a story of innocence and experience, of evil corrupting paradise, but that would be doing a disservice to the fascinating complexities of a classic Los Angeles conflict and an excellent doc that does them full justice. Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: Scott Hamilton Kennedy's plucky, powerful storytelling makes this a worthwhile experience. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: [Director] Hamilton captures the heart-wrenching devastation done in the name of profit, as citizens mourn. Incredibly effecting. Read more

Kyle Smith, New York Post: The Garden is an especially fatuous documentary, nominated for an Oscar this year, about a community garden in South Central LA where Latino farmers have been allowed to grow food on somebody else's land. Read more

Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: A documentary about fighting city hall, the empty promises of politicians, backroom deals, small victories over the Man and the cost paid by a handful of farmers who endured all of the above. Imagine if John Steinbeck rewrote the script for <Chinatown.</e Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: It becomes clear that a more thorough, objective and serious journalistic approach was required once the story delves into the intricacies of the property's murky history. Read more

Philip Kennicott, Washington Post: A good documentary leaves the viewer wanting more. A problematic one leaves the viewer needing more. Read more