Killer of Sheep (1978)

The film is one of cinema's greatest evocations of everyday life, capturing quotidian details of children at play, a man’s emotional withdrawal, and the insidious effects of poverty in Watts. It singles out the resonant use of songs that enhance scenes, such as Dinah Washington’s “This Bitter Earth” during a dance and slaughterhouse work.

The critic celebrates the long-overdue theatrical re-release of Burnett's landmark film as a homecoming for an essential work of American independent cinema. He highlights its quiet, observational power in depicting everyday Black life in Watts without sentimentality or agenda.

Turan marvels at the film's enduring power three decades later, praising the naturalness of its episodic structure and indelible moments such as the slow-dance scene set to Dinah Washington.

The critic calls Killer of Sheep a 1977 masterpiece that offers an unpretentious, matter-of-fact yet totemic vision of Black life in Watts, distinct from more commercial portrayals. He singles out its poetic rhythm, humanist essence, and the restored soundtrack's closing use of Dinah Washington's 'Unforgettable' for particular praise in the Criterion 4K edition.

The critic calls it a brilliant low-budget masterpiece of unforced, vernacular movie-making and a hidden gem. The free-wheeling cinematography, improvised dialogue and serendipitous scenes are singled out for praise.

Brody calls the restored film a stunning revelation and one of cinema's great debuts, highlighting its exquisite use of lived music and the mercurial emotional depth it evokes from everyday particulars.

Dargis hails the film as an American masterpiece, commending Burnett's visual compositions that evoke photographers like Helen Levitt and Robert Frank along with its neo-realist authenticity.

The critic recommends it as an example of combining contemplation and authenticity, praising the documentary naturalism, non-actor cast and potent black-and-white photography with a transcendent soundtrack.

The critic hails Charles Burnett's debut as one of the least known great modern American movies and a masterpiece of black independent cinema. It singles out the film's fractured images and melancholy poetry as especially resonant and relevant.

Ebert praises the film's poetic observation of ordinary daily life in a Watts family, noting its portrayal of quiet nobility amid poverty and the central role of its carefully chosen music.

The review praises the restored film's striking black-and-white photography and authentic, often funny dialogue that rings true to working-class life. It notes the episodic, plotless structure effectively captures poignant everyday incidents while acknowledging some amateurish acting.

The critic hails the restored 1977 film as a profound, lyrical masterpiece that overturns expectations of 1970s Black American cinema by depicting ordinary life with warmth, humanity and dignity rather than cliché or polemic. It singles out the small, observed vignettes, the eclectic soundtrack evoking historical struggle, and the moving dance scene to Dinah Washington's 'This Bitter Earth' as emblematic of its meditative, uplifting power.

The review praises Charles Burnett’s 1978 film as a masterful, unsentimental slice-of-life portrait of working-class Black America in Watts that avoids melodrama and captures human performances and children’s private worlds with precision. It highlights the film’s documentary-like power, minimalism reminiscent of Bresson, and Altman-esque naturalism, calling it a true classic now more accessible via the new Criterion 4K edition.