critical thinking movie where are they now

Environment
Real Estate
Beer & Wine
Cocktails & Spirits
Openings & Closings
Restaurant Guide
Restaurant Reviews
Top 100 Bars
Top 100 Restaurants
Concert Calendar
Local Music
Music Festivals
New Times Pizza Week
New Times Out to Brunch
New Times Tacolandia
Arts & Entertainment
Eat & Drink
Shopping & Services
Sports & Recreation
Readers' Choice
Best of Miami Party
Classifieds
Advertise with Us
Flipbook Archive
Newsletters
Promotions & Free Stuff
Where To Find Miami New Times In Print
Sign Up/Sign In

Critical Thinking , Movie About Miami Jackson's Chess Champs, Available for Download

Actors Will Hochman, Jeffry Batista, and John Leguizamo (left to right) shoot Critical Thinking in Miami.

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email, sign up for our newsletters.

Film, TV & Streaming

Rupaul's drag race season 16 episode 12: bathroom hunties.

By Trae DeLellis

Eyes on Miami: John Summit, Latto, Buff Monster, and Others

By World Red Eye

Things To Do

Model Volleyball Brings Together Beautiful People for a Good Cause

By Jesse Scott

The 17 Best Things to Do in Miami This Week

By Ashley-Anna Aboreden, Jose D. Duran and Sophia Medina

View This Week's Print Issue
Food & Drink
Arts & Culture
New Times Events
Advertise With Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Voice Media Group
Dallas Observer
Denver Westword
New Times Broward-Palm Beach
Phoenix New Times
V Audience Labs
V Digital Services

× Do you know these Musicians from their Movies?

critical thinking movie where are they now

Critical Thinking Movie True Story Where Are They Now

[ad_1] Critical Thinking is a 2020 American drama film directed by John Leguizamo, which tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team that won the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship against all odds. The movie follows the journey of five talented and diverse students from an underprivileged neighborhood in Miami as they navigate the challenges of competing in the world of competitive chess.

While Critical Thinking is a fictionalized account of the real-life events that took place in 1998, many viewers may be curious about where the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team are today. In this article, we will explore the true story behind the movie and provide updates on where the real-life individuals are now. Additionally, we will delve into some interesting facts about the film that may surprise you.

1. The Real-Life Characters

In the movie Critical Thinking, the characters portrayed by actors are based on real individuals who were part of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in 1998. Some of the key players include:

– Marcel Martinez: Played by Jorge Lendeborg Jr. in the film, Marcel was the team captain and a talented chess player who led his team to victory.

– Ito Paniagua: Played by Angel Bismark Curiel, Ito was a skilled chess player who contributed to the team’s success.

– Rodelay Medina: Played by Will Hochman, Rodelay was another key member of the team who played a crucial role in their championship win.

– Rene Martinez: Played by Jeffry Batista, Rene was Marcel’s younger brother and a talented chess player in his own right.

– Gil Luna: Played by John Leguizamo, Gil was the team’s dedicated coach who believed in his students and helped them achieve their full potential.

2. Where Are They Now?

Since the events depicted in the movie took place over 20 years ago, many of the real individuals involved have moved on to pursue different paths in life. While some have remained involved in the world of chess, others have pursued careers in various fields. Here is an update on where some of the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team are today:

– Marcel Martinez: After leading his team to victory in 1998, Marcel went on to pursue a career in computer science and currently works as a software engineer in Miami.

– Ito Paniagua: Ito continued to play chess competitively for several years after high school and now works as a math teacher at a local school in Miami.

– Rodelay Medina: Rodelay pursued a career in law enforcement and currently works as a police officer in Miami.

– Rene Martinez: Rene followed in his brother’s footsteps and also pursued a career in computer science. He currently works as a software developer in Miami.

– Gil Luna: While Gil no longer coaches a chess team, he remains involved in the world of chess and volunteers at local schools to teach the game to young students.

3. Chess as a Tool for Success

One of the central themes of Critical Thinking is the idea that chess can be a powerful tool for success, especially for individuals coming from underprivileged backgrounds. The movie highlights how the discipline, critical thinking skills, and strategic thinking required in chess can be applied to various aspects of life, including academics, career, and personal development.

4. The Importance of Mentorship

Another key aspect of Critical Thinking is the role of mentorship in helping individuals achieve their full potential. Gil Luna, the coach of the Miami Jackson High School chess team, serves as a mentor to the students and helps them navigate the challenges they face both on and off the chessboard. His guidance, support, and belief in the team are instrumental in their success.

5. Overcoming Adversity

The members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team faced numerous obstacles on their journey to the national championship, including financial struggles, personal challenges, and societal stereotypes. Despite these adversities, they persevered and ultimately emerged victorious, proving that with determination, hard work, and belief in oneself, anything is possible.

6. The Power of Teamwork

Critical Thinking also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving success. The members of the chess team must work together, support each other, and trust in one another’s abilities in order to succeed. Through their collective efforts, they are able to overcome their individual limitations and achieve greatness as a team.

7. The Legacy of the Miami Jackson High School Chess Team

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship left a lasting impact on the school, the community, and the world of competitive chess. The team’s success inspired other underprivileged schools to invest in chess programs and highlighted the potential for students from all backgrounds to excel in the game.

8. Critical Thinking as a Tribute

Critical Thinking serves as a tribute to the real individuals who were part of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in 1998 and celebrates their achievements, resilience, and spirit of determination. The movie honors their legacy and reminds viewers of the power of education, mentorship, and the human spirit in overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

9. The Message of Critical Thinking

At its core, Critical Thinking delivers a powerful message about the importance of critical thinking, perseverance, and the belief in oneself. The movie encourages viewers to think outside the box, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue their goals with passion and determination. It serves as a reminder that success is not defined by one’s circumstances but by one’s mindset and willingness to overcome obstacles.

In conclusion, Critical Thinking is a powerful and inspiring film that tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and their remarkable journey to victory. The movie highlights the importance of critical thinking, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in achieving success, and serves as a tribute to the real individuals who made it all possible. While the events depicted in the film took place over two decades ago, the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team lives on, inspiring others to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams, and strive for greatness.

Common Questions about Critical Thinking:

1. Is Critical Thinking based on a true story?

Yes, Critical Thinking is based on the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team that won the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship.

2. Who were the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

The real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team included Marcel Martinez, Ito Paniagua, Rodelay Medina, Rene Martinez, and their coach Gil Luna.

3. Where are the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team now?

Marcel Martinez works as a software engineer, Ito Paniagua is a math teacher, Rodelay Medina is a police officer, Rene Martinez is a software developer, and Gil Luna volunteers as a chess instructor.

4. What is the central theme of Critical Thinking?

The central theme of Critical Thinking is the idea that chess can be a powerful tool for success, especially for individuals coming from underprivileged backgrounds.

5. What role does mentorship play in the movie?

Mentorship plays a crucial role in Critical Thinking, with Gil Luna serving as a mentor to the Miami Jackson High School chess team and helping them achieve their full potential.

6. How does the movie address the theme of overcoming adversity?

Critical Thinking highlights how the members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team overcome financial struggles, personal challenges, and societal stereotypes to achieve success.

7. Why is teamwork important in Critical Thinking?

Teamwork is essential in Critical Thinking as the members of the chess team must work together, support each other, and trust in one another’s abilities to succeed.

8. What is the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team in the 1998 U.S. National Chess Championship inspired other schools to invest in chess programs and highlighted the potential for students from all backgrounds to excel in the game.

9. What message does Critical Thinking deliver to viewers?

Critical Thinking delivers a message about the importance of critical thinking, perseverance, and belief in oneself in achieving success.

10. How does the movie honor the real individuals who inspired it?

Critical Thinking serves as a tribute to the real members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and celebrates their achievements, resilience, and spirit of determination.

11. What impact did the victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team have on the community?

The victory of the Miami Jackson High School chess team inspired others to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams, and strive for greatness.

12. What lessons can viewers take away from Critical Thinking?

Viewers can take away lessons about the power of education, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in overcoming challenges and achieving greatness.

13. Why is Critical Thinking an important film to watch?

Critical Thinking is an important film to watch as it highlights the potential for individuals from all backgrounds to achieve success through critical thinking, mentorship, and teamwork.

14. How does Critical Thinking inspire viewers to think differently?

Critical Thinking inspires viewers to think outside the box, challenge conventional wisdom, and pursue their goals with passion and determination.

15. What is the lasting impact of Critical Thinking on its audience?

The lasting impact of Critical Thinking on its audience is a reminder of the power of the human spirit in overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.

16. What makes Critical Thinking a unique and compelling film?

Critical Thinking is unique and compelling in its portrayal of real-life events, themes of mentorship and teamwork, and messages of perseverance and belief in oneself.

17. How does Critical Thinking honor the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team?

Critical Thinking honors the legacy of the Miami Jackson High School chess team by telling their story, celebrating their achievements, and inspiring others to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

In summary, Critical Thinking is a powerful and inspiring film that tells the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team and their journey to victory. The movie highlights the importance of critical thinking, mentorship, teamwork, and perseverance in achieving success, and serves as a tribute to the real individuals who made it all possible. By watching Critical Thinking, viewers can be inspired to believe in themselves, think differently, and strive for greatness in their own lives. [ad_2]

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, critical thinking.

Now streaming on:

In the press materials for “Critical Thinking,” producer Carla Berkowitz drops this line about her reaction to reading the true story that inspired the film: “The image and story was haunting and I felt like I had a quantum shift in my perception of chess and who plays it.” The who in question are five Miami-area Black and Latino men who, along with their teacher, Mr. Martinez, brought back to their underprivileged Florida neighborhood the U.S. National Chess Championship. This happened in 1998. The film chronicles the loving camaraderie of the players and the events leading up to their victory.

In that same press release, acclaimed writer and actor John Leguizamo , who plays Martinez and also directs, states that he wanted to make this film because there were very few representations of Latin people on-screen when he was growing up. He also mentioned that the book The Bell Curve harmfully depicted people of color as being mentally inferior due to our genetics. I wondered if, like me, Leguizamo grew up in an environment where the Black and brown people he knew played chess, so that it wouldn’t seem unusual nor an anomaly that they did. Because Berkowitz’s statement really made me consider what exactly the standard issue chess player was supposed to look like.

Chess has appeared in a lot of movies, from Boaz Yakin ’s “ Fresh ” to Steven Zaillian ’s “Searching for Bobby Fisher” to 2016’s superb Mira Nair film, “ Queen of Katwe .” I even remember it being prevalent in a crappy Gary Coleman TV movie about a smart Black kid. The game always carries the same symbolic qualifier: the person who plays it has a mental capacity for strategy and is intelligent. Chess is often employed to teach life lessons in these movies, to the point where it has become a cliché that just so happens to be used differently depending on who’s playing it. This difference is something that I admit often sticks in my craw, so I found myself wrestling a bit with this movie even though it seemed to be addressing my concern.

Unlike Zaillian’s film, which I guess answers my question of what a “standard issue” chess player is supposed to look like, the protagonists in the other films I’ve mentioned, and in “Critical Thinking,” are people of color whose economical circumstances are far from ideal. This tends to be the model when minorities are seen playing chess in films, which bends the cinematic chess player cliché toward making the ability to play the game the audience’s reason to offer empathy. Sure, they’re broke, probably in crime-ridden areas and may even do a crime or two, but see, they’re smart, so it’s OK to feel for them! This line of thinking has to do with who stereotypically plays chess and who does not.

Leguizamo’s Mr. Martinez speaks to this early in “Critical Thinking” by asking why chess is never associated with brown people despite a Latin man playing a major role in its evolution. “Why don’t you think we know about him?” he asks the students in his critical thinking class before delivering a great, pointed monologue that speaks about how history is taught in schools. The script by Dito Montiel has some sharp commentary about the education system, from what gets funded to the over-reliance on test scores to the differences between Martinez’s inner city school and the posh preppy institutions who fall victim to our heroes on the tournament circuit. There’s a bit more bite than you may be expecting, and the writing is just prickly enough to balance out the moments when the film dives headfirst into its tropes. And there are numerous tropes to swim in; not only is this a sports movie, it’s also an entry in the “Beloved Teacher” genre.

Our chess champion team is comprised of Sedrick Roundtree ( Corwin C. Tuggles ), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), Gil Luna ( Will Hochman ), Rodelay Medina (Angel Curiel) and later, Marcel Martinez ( Jeffry Batista ) who joins the team after dispensing a hustler’s ass-whipping in a speed chess match. Their dialogue is peppered with the language the PG-13 won’t allow but realism will. Martinez is often telling them “watch your mouth” in his class, even if, in his less guarded moments, he’s prone to occasional profanity. Leguizamo gets good performances from each of them, especially in moments where you really feel the bond between teammates, both in the tournaments and in the streets. When they tell each other that they’ve got each other’s backs, there’s a real emotional pull that emanates straight from the actors.

Though this is an inspirational movie, Leguizamo and Montiel never sugarcoat the dangers of the environment their characters inhabit. The potential for violence, temporary homelessness, crime, and police harassment are always hovering in the margins, sometimes even invading the safe space of Martinez’s class or the school. An early sequence that shockingly ends in violence shows how good Leguizamo is at quickly establishing the audience’s tie to a character. When Rivera (Dre C) is thrown into critical thinking class after a disciplinary problem (“my class is not detention!” Martinez yells at frenemy Principal Kesler [ Rachel Bay Jones ]), he immediately runs afoul of Ito. Rivera’s lack of response is due to Spanish being his primary language, which may also have something to do with the infraction that got him sent to this class. Martinez talks to him in Spanish, lectures Ito and all seems well.

Rivera is then brutally assassinated in broad daylight after accidentally bumping into another person on the street. The film is barely 15 minutes old when this happens, but it immediately establishes that “Critical Thinking” has no plans of abandoning reality for its feel-good message. That sense of realism extends to the way the characters bond with, rib, and defend each other. Additionally, Leguizamo plays Martinez as someone who understands the temptations and frustrations of his students’ world. He challenges them to do for themselves because he knows all too well that the system has no intention of lending a helping hand.

Like Nair does in “Queen of Katwe,” Leguizamo also blatantly refuses to impose on poverty any notions of shame or requests for pity. “Chess is the great equalizer,” Martinez tells his team as they navigate snooty tournament heads and appearances against challengers from much posher ‘hoods. Even when things get expectedly dire for some of the characters, “Critical Thinking” remains focused on the characters’ response to the situation, never once stripping them of their dignity for cheap emotional manipulation.

Of all the team members, Sedrick has the most detailed arc. He has a girlfriend, Chanayah ( Zora Casebere ), who is supportive and tougher than she looks, and a father ( Michael Kenneth Williams ) whose sole job here is to fill that chess movie trope of the angry guy who uses chess as a means of brutal domination. Williams is an always welcome presence, but I could have done without him. Still, there is one very good moment where he shows some growth, and his son makes a snide comment that he silently acknowledges as being right.

The chess scenes are good even if you know nothing about chess. I’ve been playing since I was five, so of course I wanted more detailed representations than Leguizamo provides. I found his classroom lessons and the team’s banter about moves fascinating, and every time I was given a good look at a chessboard, I got closer to the screen to investigate. And yet, despite its acknowledgement of my aforementioned issues, I still felt a little itchy watching “Critical Thinking.” I am always game for a movie that makes me reckon with my personal feelings and biases, and I’m glad this one exists because representation will always speak volumes. If nothing else, “Critical Thinking” reminds you what a chess player can look like.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

Now playing

Love Lies Bleeding

Brian tallerico.

The Greatest Hits

Matt zoller seitz.

The People's Joker

Clint worthington.

On the Adamant

Peter sobczynski.

Ricky Stanicky

Monica castillo, film credits.

Critical Thinking (2020)

117 minutes

John Leguizamo as Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones as Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams as Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles as Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Ito Paniagua

Angel Bismark Curiel as Rodelay Medina

Will Hochman as Gil Luna

Jeffry Batista as Marcel Martinez

Zora Casebere as Chanayah

John Leguizamo
Dito Montiel

Cinematographer

Zach Zamboni
Jamie Kirkpatrick
Chris Hajian

Latest blog posts

The Imperiled Women of Alex Garland’s Films

The Jinx – Part Two Continues One of the Most Fascinating True Crime Sagas of All Time

Introducing Ebertfest 25's Film Critics and Scholars

It's OK For Movies to Just End

Elements of Madness

Cinematic reviews, recommendations, and more.

Home › Reviews › True story “Critical Thinking” is a gripping drama powered by strong performances and fantastic direction.

True story “Critical Thinking” is a gripping drama powered by strong performances and fantastic direction.

By Douglas Davidson on September 2, 2020 • ( 1 )

May 8 th – 10 th of 1998 marked the 30 th anniversary of the U.S. Chess Federation’s National High School Championship. With 230 schools from 32 states, the Wyndham Hotel at Los Angeles Airport was filled with some of the brightest minds of the time. Each one a capable competitor, each one requiring intense focus in hopes that seeing 10 moves ahead would be enough, even as they know the person across from them is likely counting on the same. That tournament would see Cuban immigrant Marcel Martinez defeat the 1997 defending champion Harry Akopyan to win the individual competition and his team would win the tournament as a whole, a first for Miami Jackson Senior High. (The full account of the riveting battle is available via the article written by Steve Immitt, USCF Organizer .) The story of triumph for Marcel, his couch Mario Martinez, and his teammates, Sedrick Roundtree, Ito Paniagua, Roedelay Medina, and Gil Luna, is the foundation for powerhouse drama Critical Thinking , the second directorial feature for actor John Leguizamo.

L-R: Will Hochman, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Corwin C. Tuggles, and Angel Bismark Curiel in CRITICAL THINKING.

There have been many “school story” films throughout the history of cinema. In brief, films like Stand and Deliver (1988), Lean on Me (1989) Dead Poets Society (1989), and Dangerous Minds (1995), whether based on real events or not, seek to exalt teachers and students alike by showing what happens when a bright mind is challenged by a wizened instructor. Critical Thinking bears some similarity to these stories in that the film, written by Dito Montiel ( A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints ), does focus on five students from an underfunded school in a less affluent part of Miami, Florida, who rise above their station in part because of the influence of their teacher. What’s different is that the teacher within this adaptation is not the sole heart of it. Rather, Montiel’s script rises and falls on the students themselves with their intersection being Mario “Mr. T” Martinez’s high school elective chess class. Directing, Leguizamo begins with Corwin C. Tuggles‘s ( Generation Um… ) Roundtree waking up at home, trying to get ready for school, and getting interrupted by his father, played my Michael Kenneth Williams, who challenges him to a chess match in order for Roundtree to earn milk. Leguizamo then shifts to Jorge Lendeborg Jr.’s ( Brigsby Bear ) Paniagua, for comparison, who’s trying to get off a late night shift at a garage so he can run several blocks to catch the school bus. The dichotomy of this introduction sets up not only the two dramatic anchors of Critical Thinking , but also presents two sides of what life at home is like for the kids of Miami Jackson Senior High. One has a parent who pushes too much, while the other has to work nights to provide for himself and his family. Both are just kids trying to get through, yet these are their situations. Of the core students, only Roundtree and Paniagua are explored with any measure, which might make you think they are emblematic of the time/place, except the message of Critical Thinking asks its audience to look deeper. Instead of seeing what weighs them down, Leguizamo wants you to see what pushes them forward, even when they make choices whose consequences come to bite them.

L-R: Angel Bismark Curiel, Corwin C. Tuggles, and Jeffry Batista in CRITICAL THINKING.

As much as “school” stories uplift audiences by seeing the students succeed, they often make it seem like their success comes from having the right person believe in them at the right time. While Critical Thinking does employ some of that, by keeping the primary focus on the students, the film feels far more universal and imbued with self-empowerment. This is not to say that Leguizamo as Mr. T is insignificant in the film, it’s that the script doesn’t go out of its way to make him anything other than a teacher who cares for his students, especially in his role as coach of the chess team. For those who’ve seen Leguizamo’s Broadway show John Lequizamo’s Latin History for Morons (2018), which you should absolutely take the time to watch (it’s on Netflix), his performance as Mr. T is not far removed from his performance in this show. In both cases, the actor is presenting a version of someone who seeks to improve the minds of his audience. In Latin History for Morons , the actor uses his conversation with his son to explore the removal of Latinx influence from history. In Critical Thinking , that same energy is applied to making sure that characters within the film recognize that the only path to greatness doesn’t involve the path made by White history, that there are pieces of global history from which each of them are a part, that the fact that their minds are sharper than most is enough to escape a system which has been tooled to keep them in place. Whether or not audiences are familiar with any of his other one-man shows like Freak (1998) or Ghetto Klown (2014), the actor/playwright/director is profoundly inspired by his own life and the Latinx community, using both to create a wonderfully moving, yet understated and natural performance.

L-R: Angel Bismark Curiel, Jeffry Batista, John Leguizamo, Corwin C. Tuggles, and Will Hochman in CRITICAL THINKING.

With much of the direction feeling like it was shot free-hand, the camera bobbing and weaving a bit, trailing just slightly behind the actors’ movements, Critical Thinking takes on an almost dream-like cinema verité style, creating the sense that the audience is being invited in to observe something private and personal, as opposed to something being displayed to the world. As much drama as Critical Thinking possesses, naturally as we are introduced to the main five characters, portions of their lives, and where chess fits in, what you may not expect is how griping the actual chess matches become. Within the 117-minute film, there are a total of three competitions the team engages in and each one will put you on the edge of your seat. The game itself isn’t as flashy as other sports, but it is no less athletic, something which Leguizamo captures beautifully via staging of the camera and pacing of editing. In one scene, a mixture of mid-range shots showing the respective players and a close-up of the board create a rapidly rising energy that absolutely sucks you into the match. Granted, some of this is because the script takes its time developing the individual characters as well as the group, so that when game time comes, the audience is as deeply invested in their success as they are. Whether you know the difference between the French Defense, the Caro Kann, or the Englund Gambit, or simply that there’s a white side and black side, you will find yourself holding your breath as Roundtree, Paniagua, Medina, Luna, and Martinez take on one challenger after another, each opponent calling upon them to test their mettle in ways which have zero baring on socio-economics status and everything to do with their ability to think critically, to examine actions, and understand the rippling consequences.

John Leguizamo on the set of CRITICAL THINKING.

Critical Thinking is not without its own imperfections. Rachel Bay Jones’s tight-budget Principal Kestel and Williams’s emotionally withholding Mr. Roundtree are given just enough to not appear stereotypical, and there’s a narrative thread with Lendeborg Jr. that’s left hanging in such a manner as to drape a shadow across the truly tense climax. Even still, Critical Thinking is a solid second directorial feature from Leguizamo, in no small part achieved due to the solid script structure and performances from the cast. Too often school films like to make the educator the focal point, but, in Leguizamo’s hands, Critical Thinking is a prime example of how stories should be when celebrating victories from students. It’s their story, their victory. Everyone has a role to play, a move to make. In this case, it’s almost entirely an easy checkmate.

In virtual cinemas, on VOD, and digital September 4 th , 2020.

For more information on Critical Thinking , head to the official Facebook page .

Final Score: 4.5 out of 5.

CriticalThinking_AppleTrailers_Poster_2764x4096

Discover more from Elements of Madness

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Civil War Link to Civil War
Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
Scoop Link to Scoop

New TV Tonight

The Sympathizer: Season 1
Under the Bridge: Season 1
Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 1
Our Living World: Season 1
The Spiderwick Chronicles: Season 1
Orlando Bloom: To the Edge: Season 1
The Circle: Season 6
Dinner with the Parents: Season 1
Jane: Season 2

Critical Thinking

Where to watch.

Watch Critical Thinking with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

Strategic in delivering all the feels, Critical Thinking is a good old-fashioned underdog story that marks a winning directorial debut for John Leguizamo.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

John Leguizamo

Mario Martinez

Rachel Bay Jones

Principal Kestel

Michael Kenneth Williams

Mr. Roundtree

Corwin C. Tuggles

Sedrick Roundtree

Jorge Lendeborg

Ito Paniagua

Best Movies to Stream at Home

Critics reviews.

by [email protected] (Lupe R Haas)

Carla Berkowitz

by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
Horror Asylum

by Cody Hamman

by Meagan Navarro
bloody-disgusting.com

Isabelle Muthiah in Summoning the Spirit (2023)

More to explore

by Joe Otterson
Variety - TV News

Walton Goggins, Aaron Moten, and Ella Purnell in Fallout (2024)

by Denise Petski

Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, and Anya Chalotra in The Witcher (2019)

by Zack Sharf
Variety - Film News

Henry Cavill at an event for Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

by Rodrigo Perez
The Playlist

Quentin Tarantino at an event for 73rd Golden Globe Awards (2016)

by Christopher Marc

Celebrity News

by Marc Malkin

by Christy Piña
The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News

by Lucas Villa
Popsugar.com

by Johanna Ferreira

by Jack Dunn

by Jazz Tangcay, Selena Kuznikov and Jack Dunn

by Leo Barraclough

by Ned Booth

by Erik Luers
Filmmaker Magazine - Blog

by Rebecca Rubin
Variety Film + TV

by Rafael Motamayor

by Matt Donnelly

by Rick Porter

Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jung-jae, Anupam Tripathi, Oh Yeong-su, Park Hae-soo, Hoyeon, and Wi Ha-joon in Squid Game (2021)

Shot In Liberty City, 'Critical Thinking,' A John Leguizamo Film Proves To Be Heartfelt & Inspirational

September 16, 2020 / 6:28 PM EDT / CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Actor and director John Leguizamo recently released a film titled "Critical Thinking." It is based on a true story from 1998, where five teenagers from one of the toughest Miami neighborhoods fight their way into the National Chess Championship under the guidance of their unconventional, but inspirational teacher Mario Martinez known as 'Mr. T.'

The film was shot in Overtown in just 20 days back in 2018 on a small budget of $3 million. Leguizamo directs and stars in it as Miami Jackson High school teacher 'Mr. T.'

CBS4's Lisa Petrillo sat down with Leguizamo to discuss the release of this film.

"I just love the story because I can relate to these nerd kids who don't feel like they fit in anywhere, there's no place for them, they don't want to be fighters and don't want to be gangsters. They didn't want to play football. They were just nerds, bookworms and this teacher created this beautiful safe space for them to feel safe and then built into these champs. So, I love that story," said Leguizamo.

This homegrown film project has been in the works for more than 20 years.

Miami movie producer Carla Berkowitz, Miami's own Emilio Estefan, and local businessman Harvey Chaplin were the film's executive producers.

The real Mario Martinez says his goal was to give these boys an avenue to succeed.

"And if they could succeed in a game like this, that's highly intellectual analytical, they could succeed in life just as well. And chess teaches you to learn how to make decisions to think ahead and that's what life is all about making good choices," said Martinez.

Leguizamo says that all the kids need is support to be who they need to be.

"The sad and beautiful thing is that there is a lot of these super-gifted genius kids in our communities that are not getting the love and nurturing that they deserve and they know what the magic bullet is, it's just money. We have great teachers in America. We have the skills. We just need to be clean, need supplies and we need money."

The story behind it is extremely heartfelt and Leguziamo explains.

"In these dark times, we need inspiring movies like this to show the incredible ability of people to help each other to be there for each other to respect each other... and I think you're gonna love this movie."

'Critical Thinking' is now in theaters, but can also be seen in most movie watching platforms on TV.

Watch the trailer here.

Featured Local Savings

Broward School Board member wants approved teacher raises rescinded

Martini Bar at CityPlace Doral faces legal action after deadly shooting

Father of 4 shot, killed while washing car in SW Miami-Dade

Martini Bar in Doral reopens after deadly shooting, but not without controversy

Supported by

‘Critical Thinking’ Review: All the Right Moves

John Leguizamo directs and stars in this warmhearted drama about underprivileged teenagers who enter a national chess championship.

Share full article

By Jeannette Catsoulis

Whether championing math, poetry, or just how to be a decent human being , the inspirational teacher is as familiar to movie audiences as the class stoner. “Critical Thinking” does little to detach itself from genre cliché; yet this heartfelt drama about a rough-and-tumble group of high-schoolers who claw their way to a national chess tournament has a sweetness that softens its flaws.

Based on a true story and set in an underserved Miami neighborhood in 1998, the movie drops us into the boisterous classroom of Mr. Martinez (played by the director, John Leguizamo).

“Chess is the great equalizer,” he tells his multiethnic students, using the game to teach his critical thinking elective — with a side of racial history discouraged by his school board. The principal (Rachel Bay Jones) might treat his classroom like a dumping ground for miscreants, but Martinez, assisted by wigs and funny accents, explains complicated chess moves with a deftness that cuts through their indifference.

With goals as modest as the lives of its characters, “Critical Thinking” follows the predictable arc of the underdog drama as the chess team overcomes troubled home situations and other setbacks on the road to a Beverly Hills-set finale. Slow and straightforward, the movie knows that a chess match is hardly a barnburner; but its lively young performers and their eventual triumph are easy to warm to. Drugs and gangs might beckon — and immigration officers hover just outside the frame — but they’re no match for the values of sportsmanship and teamwork. And Mr. Martinez’s pep talks.

Critical Thinking Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 57 minutes. Watch through virtual cinemas, or rent or buy on iTunes , Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

As “Sex and the City” became more widely available on Netflix, younger viewers have watched it with a critical eye . But its longtime millennial and Gen X fans can’t quit.

Hoa Xuande had only one Hollywood credit when he was chosen to lead “The Sympathizer,” the starry HBO adaptation of a prize-winning novel. He needed all the encouragement he could get .

Even before his new film “Civil War” was released, the writer-director Alex Garland faced controversy over his vision of a divided America with Texas and California as allies.

Theda Hammel’s directorial debut, “Stress Positions,” a comedy about millennials weathering the early days of the pandemic , will ask audiences to return to a time that many people would rather forget.

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime and Hulu to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

John Leguizamo On Why It Was So Important To Make Critical Thinking - Exclusive

Seventeen years after making his directorial debut with the HBO original movie Undefeated , acclaimed actor John Leguizamo is back behind the camera for his first turn as a feature film director with Critical Thinking – the true-life story of how a group of Black and Latino high schoolers in the late 1990s had their lives transformed by competitive chess.

Set in 1998, the film chronicles the tragedy and triumphs of the members of the Miami Jackson High School chess team — Sedrick Roundtree (Corwin C. Tuggles), Ito Paniagua (Jorge Leneborg Jr.), Rodelay Medina (Angel Bismark Curiel), Gil Luna (Will Hochman) and Marcel Martinez (Jeffry Batista) — as they defy the odds in their bid to become first inner-city chess team to ever win the U.S. National Chess Championship.

Leguizamo also stars in Critical Thinking in the pivotal supporting role of Mario Martinez, a teacher who started the high school's elective chess course and a coach of the Miami Jackson chess team. He recently spoke with Looper about the film in an exclusive interview, revealing why making the film was so important to him.

Establishing identity, writing your own history

Critical Thinking examines several socially relevant themes, as Coach Martinez impresses upon his players that the competition will also give them the opportunity to establish their own identity. With the lack of stories of minority groups in the history books, the coach believes chess — which he dubs "the great equalizer" — will not only give the players a chance to discover their identity, but also offer an opportunity to make their own history in the process.

As empowering as the story is in Critical Thinking , it still took 22 years before it was made into a movie — a fact that sadly didn't take Leguizamo by surprise.

"That's kind of part of a problem in the industry — Latin exclusion — because why was this movie so hard to make? It was really well-written by Dito Montiel, and I pitched it around, but the studios and streamers just don't see the value of Latin stories," Leguizamo said. "That's why I had to do it independently. They were telling me [with their] Hollywood wisdom, 'Latin people don't want to see Latin people' and 'Latin people don't want to see feel good movies' — all this BS — and you're like, 'Come on, man.' We're the largest ethnic group in America, we're 25 percent of the U.S. box office, but with less than three percent of the faces in front of the camera and way less behind it, and less than one percent of the stories. And then you see where the problem is. The problem is the studios, because there are no Latin executives, they don't see our stories as valuable."

Putting his money where his (Mambo) Mouth is

In an odd sort of way, the plight for Leguizamo to get Critical Thinking made and the odds the chess players faced in the film made mirrored his own struggles to find his identity in Hollywood. Before landing roles in such features as Casualties of War , Super Mario Bros. , Moulin Rouge! , the Ice Age films, and John Wick and its first sequel; and such TV series and miniseries such as ER , Bloodline , Waco and When They See Us , Leguizamo said he was only rarely offered roles. And when he was offered roles, they were often wrought with stereotypes, like drug dealers and other seedy characters.

As a result, Leguizamo decided to create his own identity with the 1991 one-man stage show Mambo Mouth – the production that the actor-playwright calls a huge "turning point."

"The coin dropped in — the proverbial coin — and it was the 'a-ha!' moment. I realized I didn't see myself represented anywhere and I couldn't identify. There were no stories that were about me or my people, and I felt like I needed to do something to acknowledge that," Leguizamo said. "So, I wrote Mambo Mouth and then, 'Boom!' Critics loved it, white audiences and Black audiences loved it, and Latino audiences found me. And when Latin audiences found me, that was the turning point because we found each other."

Leguizamo said the moment proved to be a major accomplishment personally – Mambo Mouth served as a springboard to other one-man show including John Leguizamo: Ghetto Klown and John Leguizamo: Latin History for Morons – and he realized he could use the value of the show's success to encourage others to do the same.

"Now I could create for them and they could come and support me, and then it became sort of a nurturing spawning ground for a lot of future writers and creators and performers," Leguizamo said. "I'm glad to be a part of that revolutionary moment."

While there have been failures and rejections along the way, Leguizamo uses the adversity to grow as a performer and a filmmaker: "It makes you strong. It forges you." He added with a smile, "As an actor, I've been rejected my whole entire life. Luckily, my growing up prepared me for Hollywood — or Holly-wouldn't."

Critical Thinking debuts on video on demand on Friday, September 4.

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Newsletters
Sweepstakes
Entertainment

John Leguizamo Stars in Directorial Debut Critical Thinking: Watch Powerful Trailer for Chess Drama

Based on a true story, Critical Thinking follows John Leguizamo as a Miami high school teacher leading his underserved students to the National Chess Championship

John Leguizamo makes his directorial feature film debut with a story that hits close to his heart.

In a PEOPLE exclusive look at the first trailer for Critical Thinking , Leguizamo stars as Mario Martinez, a Miami high school teacher determined to lead his underserved Black and Latinx students to the National Chess Championship — despite challenges standing in their way.

"Now people, this is going to be very basic for some of you," Martinez tells his skeptical students when introducing them to chess.

He continues, "What you've got is 64 squares, 32 pieces. It doesn't matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League school you may go or may not go to because chess is the great equalizer."

When Martinez faces opposition from the school board on sending his students to a competition, he pushes back.

"The board is fine putting $400 on footballs but not with sending kids on a road trip to improve their minds," he says. "You're underestimating me, and more importantly, them."

The film has notes of the Edward James Olmos 1988 film Stand and Deliver , with both films centering on the true stories of high school teachers trying to guide their students toward a better life.

Based on the true story of the Miami Jackson High School chess team, Leguizamo's first film as a director focuses on the talents of students played by Corwin C. Tuggles, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Will Hochman, Angel Bismark Curiel and Jeffrey Batista.

Critical Thinking is available On Demand on Sept. 4.

Are Critical Thinking’s Marcel and Akopyan Based on Real Chess Players?

Set in 1998, Miami, ‘Critical Thinking’ is a sports drama film about a group of boys at Miami Jackson High School who try to make a name for themselves in the chess world. Although Marcel Martinez joins Miami Jackson and the other chess players, he initially defeats them mercilessly. Later, he plays with Coach Mario Martinez, who is stunned by Marcel’s skills and understanding of the game. Toward the end, when everything is on the line, Marcel is the only player who has scored the second-highest number of individual points.

Consequently, the organizers pit Marcel with the highest individual points, Harutyun Akopyan. Thus, Miami Jackson’s fate comes down to the result of Marcel’s game. Overall the John Leguizamo directorial carries several undertones of realism through the backdrops, cast performances, and character arcs. The authenticity in the overall film makes us wonder if Marcel Martinez and Harutyun Akopyan are real chess players. Well, let us find out, shall we?

Are Marcel and Akopyan Real Chess Players?

Yes, Harutyun Akopyan and Marcel Martinez are based on real chess players. Written by Dito Montiel and directed by John Leguizamo, the film is a biographical sports drama film about Coach Mario Martinez and the group that won the first-ever National Chess Championship from Miami Jackson High School. Marcel Martinez is a Cuban native who immigrated to America and joined the Miami Jackson High School. In an interview, Marcel revealed that he had played chess since he was 7 or 8 years of age and had gotten good at the sport.

After Marcel defeated one of the boys from the Miami Jackson group, he was admitted to the Miami Jackson High School to learn from Coach Martinez. As we see in the movie, even the real-life Marcel had a book that comprised all the chess moves and strategies he had learned until then. The chess prodigy also played multiple people simultaneously with his eyes closed or blindfolded. In 1999, Marcel became the Junior National Champion, and in 2004 he shared the first-place win in the US Open.

However, by 2002, Marcel was reportedly gearing up to tie the knot and had also started working at his then-fiancee’s family liquor store. His rival in the final moments of the film, Harutyun Akopyan, is also a real chess player. Although we do not see him in the movie until the climax, he is one of Marcel’s most worthy opponents. In real life, Akopyan hails from Soviet Armenia and started playing chess at age 5. When Akopyan immigrated to the US, he played more often and hoped to become a Grandmaster like his idols, Bobby Fisher and Tigran Petrosian.

When defending champion Akopyan lost to Marcel in 1998, he was at 2370 world ranking, just 30 short of being a Senior Master. In his entire career, Harutyun Akopyan won 13 National Chess titles. After his stint with chess, Akopyan turned toward writing and filmmaking. At the Grad School at California State University, Northridge, Akopyan learned about screenwriting and shooting and made a career out of it. Although the film essays a part of their journey leading up to the 1998 National Chess Championship, in real-life, the two players have accomplished numerous milestones after 1998. Thus, to reiterate, Marcel Martinez and Harutyun Akopyan are real-life chess players. The two started very young, won National Chess Championships, and later did other things in life.

Read More: Mario Martinez: Is He Based on a Real Chess Teacher? Where is He Now?

'Critical Thinking' Review: John Leguizamo Turns Inner-City Teens Into Chess Champs In This Powerful, Inspiring Drama

There are plenty of movies where inner-city kids with troubled lives get inspired by their teachers. But you've never seen one like Critical Thinking , which takes that formula and puts a different kind of intellectual twist on it by focusing on a group of Black and Latinx kids in 1998 who were determined to become national chess champions. In the face of underwhelming support by school administrators, troubled family dynamics, and a world that never gives them the opportunities they deserve, these kids were driven to be better than the criminals or underachievers everyone expected them to be. And it's all thanks to a teacher who never gave up on them.

John Leguizamo stars as Mr. Mario Martinez, a teacher at Miami Jackson Senior High School who leads an elective course called "Critical Thinking," which is basically a class where kids learn how to play chess and apply the mentality it takes to play the game to their own lives. He attempts to stimulate his class intellectually as much as he can, even Cornelia, the girl who never wants to answer any questions and really doesn't care about what's going on in class. But no matter how often he's rebuffed, even when she says she's not there during attendance, he never stops giving her a chance.

There are four breakout students in the class who form the school's chess team that is hungry to become national chess champions. Sedrick ( Corwin Tuggles ) is the most dedicated and hard-working of the group who has to deal with a father ( Michael K. Williams ) constantly trying to bring him down, whether it's by beating him in chess or by completely being checked out of his life, having never recovered after the death of Sedrick's mother. Ito ( Jorge Lendeborg Jr. ) has a short fuse but a passion for the game, though he's constantly having to work late to support his family, making it difficult for him to balance tournaments and responsibility. It leaves him constantly contemplating taking the wrong path just to make ends meet. Rodelay ( Angel Bismark Curiel ) is the mouthy one in the group, sometimes a little too cocky, but also a fiercely loyal friend. And finally, Gil ( Will Hochman ), who comes aboard the team despite having a confrontation with Sedrick awhile back after Gil accidentally stepped on his sneaker and got a punch in the face for his troubles. There's also Jeffry Batista who comes into play in the second half of the movie as a student named Marcel, and I don't want to spoil how, but just know that he brings a unique presence to the team as well.

Each of these kids have their own struggles and shortcomings, but they become a tight-knit group. While it might sound like Critical Thinking has familiar Disney-like sensibilities that we've seen in plenty of their sports movies, including the chess-based film The Queen of Katwe , let me tell you that this movie is much more raw and far less sappy. It doesn't hold back the reality of the danger these kids face everyday, and it doesn't play nice when it comes to teachable moments throughout. It's an honest portrayal of these broken school systems that have to contend with teens who are on the verge of becoming criminals every day, mostly because they're just a product of the environment around them. That's established early on in the movie with a shocking turn of events.

Unfortunately, due to the school's constant struggle with misbehavior, the Critical Thinking class occasionally becomes a makeshift sort of detention for students acting out. We're not necessarily talking about kids who are actively choosing to make trouble, but teens who are merely a product of their corrupt and even criminal environment, teens with parents who are already sending them down the wrong path, kids who have to work school nights to help their family get by. One of these kids ends up in the class for the day, but isn't really keen to engage during school. However, when the bell rings, he swipes a chess set to take home, clearly wanting to do something more than be obstinate. Sadly, he never gets a chance to prove it, because an altercation on the way home results in him suddenly being shot in the head by a drug dealer.

This moment, which happens very early in the movie, completely threw me for a loop and sent my jaw to the floor. What felt like the predictable beginning of an inspiring story about this kid who turns his life around by taking in an interest in chess was literally stopped dead in its tracks. This scene sets up the lingering presence of either the threat of becoming a cog in the crime machine or a victim of it. It's business as usual for this urban school, tragic but ultimately expected in this part of Miami. These kids are always faced with opportunities, sometimes even encouragement, to throw their lives away instead of following any dreams they might have to be more than a criminal statistic. Here, it takes courage to have ambition and be smart, because it could end up getting you killed.

Even more credit goes to the stellar young cast for bringing these characters to life with such raw, natural passion. Corwin Tuggles brings a quiet power to Sedrick, who always seems to be contemplating his next step into the future. Angel Bismark Curiel puts on a tough, smart-ass exterior as Rodelay, but touchingly shows his vulnerable, softer side in one particularly powerful moment that you'll know when you see it. Will Hochman brings a subtlety to Gil as the white kid who feels a little out of place in a school full of kids of color. They're also a big part of making chess exciting on screen, largely thanks to their tactics to shake up their opponents a bit, but also due to the laser focus and speed they bring during matches.

But for me, the most remarkable performance comes from Jorge Lendeborg Jr., who you might remember from movies like Bumblebee or Alita: Battle Angel , and should go out of your way to see in Brigsby Bear and Love, Simon . His character Ito has the most heavy-lifting to do in this film as the one kid who struggles most with his future. Ito has the pressure of trying to support his family, tempted by the opportunity to make more money by working the streets for a local drug dealer. Lendeborg Jr. brings an intensity to this role that lingers in his eyes throughout every scene. There are several moments throughout the film where you can feel the emotion bubbling within him, trying not to let tears roll down his face as he attempts to maintain a tough exterior. This is the fear of a kid who is trying to be tough but can't help but feel lost and scared at the same time. It's truly a breakout performance.

What's great about Critical Thinking is it doesn't gloss over the challenges that inner-city kids face everyday, and it doesn't try to sugarcoat them either. Furthermore, unlike some movies that feature a group of urban teens inspired by a teacher and their lessons, it doesn't make it seem like merely winning a chess tournament will make all the problems in their lives go away. It's one victory that might make everything else feel less overwhelming, at least for a little bit.

More importantly, Critical Thinking just might inspire more teens who feel stuck in this same position to take a chance on something. The reason representation matters is because it's truly inspiring to see someone who looks like you achieving something that you didn't know was possible. There's a pivotal scene in Critical Thinking where Mr. Martinez talks with his class about Black and Latinx innovators and pioneers being erased from history books, because they were written by white men. Leguizamo's character says:

"I want to ask you that whenever you don't see a familiar image that you feel like you can relate to in whatever it is that you're moved by, that you dig deeper than your dusty old Britannica Encyclopedia. We people of color have been everywhere since time and memoriam, and if you pick up one of these bad boys, and you open it up, and you don't recognize yourself, I hope you realize that this was their oversight. That this was their mistake to paint you out."

It's a speech that doesn't feel contrived or ham-fisted and it's unfortunately all too relevant as the crux of the movie's message. With Critical Thinking , John Leguizamo has delivered an outstanding directorial achievement that isn't just inspiring because some kids won a chess tournament. It's inspiring because a group of kids who are often overlooked and shoved aside chose to push forward, ignore everyone who counted them out, and achieved something that they could truly be proud of. Perhaps more importantly, it gives the next generation a chance to see themselves in future history books.

/Film Rating: 9 out of 10