--- title: "The Pass: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-pass/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-pass" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Pass (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 11 reviews: 8 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics come away admiring The Pass, and almost every review lands in the same place: Russell Tovey. His performance as Jason, a closeted footballer who moves from innocence to fear and loneliness, is called nuanced, layered, vulnerable and exposed, and several reviewers credit him with making a difficult, sometimes cruel man touching. Arinzé Kene is praised alongside him for matching his presence, and a few critics single out the writing as sharp, witty and gripping. The reservations cluster around the film’s origins as a play. Again and again the word is stagey: static staging, a chamber-piece feel, dialogue that occasionally sounds forced. Eye for Film adds that the small scale and moments of melodrama hold it back, and The Wrap calls it modest. The spread is narrow, with no outright negatives; Den of Geek is the warmest, calling it urgent and raw. ## Little White Lies — Tom Williams Rating 3/4/4. 8 December 2016. The critic calls the film refreshing, nuanced and urgently worthwhile, despite some forced dialogue. They praise Russell Tovey’s nuanced portrayal of a closeted footballer under pressure. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-pass) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2016. Freer finds the drama compelling despite its static, stagey feel. He singles out Russell Tovey’s layered performance and the sharp writing for giving the intimate story depth. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pass-review/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2016. O'Sullivan finds the film a wrenching, sharply observed look at betrayals and the cost of protecting a public image. She singles out Russell Tovey's performance as sublime and praises Arinzé Kene for matching his magnetic presence. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-pass-film-review-some-fancy-footwork-over-the-beautiful-game-s-awkward-truths-a3416491.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2016. Bradshaw finds the drama ambitious and insightful, though its stage origins sometimes show. He particularly praises Russell Tovey’s performance as his character moves from innocence to fear and loneliness. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/dec/08/the-pass-review-ambitious-and-insightful-drama-about-gay-footballers) ## Variety — Catherine Bray Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 March 2016. Festival review. Bray finds the film absorbing and theatrically constrained, but says its tense chamber-piece approach works. She especially praises Russell Tovey’s knockout performance as a closeted soccer player. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/film/festivals/the-pass-review-1201731539/) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 16 March 2016. The page identifies this as Fionnuala Halligan’s review of Ben A. Williams’s 2016 film. The paywall hides the verdict and any specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-pass-review/5101585.article) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 December 2016. The critic calls the film urgent, raw, unmissable, and a real achievement. He singles out Russell Tovey’s performance and the compelling chemistry between the two leads. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-pass-review/) ## The Skinny — Philip Concannon Rating ★★★★. 17 March 2016. Festival review. Concannon finds the film sharp and emotionally rich, though it never quite overcomes its staginess. He singles out Russell Tovey’s vulnerable, knockout performance and the play’s witty, gripping writing. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/festivals/uk-festivals/film/bfi-flare-the-pass) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). The critic calls the film poignant and provocative despite flaws, finding its portrayal of repression uncomfortably realistic. They praise Russell Tovey and Arinzé Kene’s lead performances, especially their nuanced portrayals of Jason and Ade. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/pass-film-review-1898947) ## Eye for Film — Owen Van Spall Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2016. The critic finds the film largely effective, though its small scale and occasional melodrama hold it back. They single out the powerful performances by Russell Tovey and Arinzé Kene for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-pass-2016-film-review-by-owen-van-spall) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2016. Festival review. The critic finds the film modest but focused and skillful, while noting that it remains stagey. Tovey’s emotionally exposed performance is singled out for making Jason’s plight touching despite his cruelty. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-pass-review-russell-tovey/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-pass.md