NEW YORK (AP) — Prominent critics like Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times and Stephen Holden of The New York Times are quoted in ads for the movie “Antwone Fisher.” But some recent ads show that political and social leaders also give it a “thumbs-up.”

NAACP President Kweisi Mfume calls the movie, based on the true story of a sailor who overcame a difficult childhood in foster care, “Gripping, riveting and forceful.”

Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children’s Defense Fund, says: “‘Antwone Fisher’ is a compelling testament to the strength of spirit and resilience of a remarkable child.”

And Martin Luther King III says: “Antwone Fisher’ has the potential to be one of the greatest films of this era.”

Fox Searchlight marketing head Nancy Utley acknowledges the ads are an attempt at catching the attention of Academy Award voters; they’re scheduled to stop running as of Friday now that the Wednesday deadline for Oscar ballots has passed.

But Fox Searchlight may start running them again if “Antwone Fisher” earns any Oscar nominations Feb. 11. Utley said the company hopes for nominations for best picture, best actor (Derek Luke) and best director (Denzel Washington).

“Unfortunately, the critic thing has become a blur to people,” she said. “Literally every movie is using quotes, including ‘Kangaroo Jack.’ It becomes difficult when you have the real deal, when you have critical appeal, to get people to understand you’re different, and you really do have people loving this movie.”

Utley said the campaign was modeled after an approach Miramax has taken during awards season with ads for such movies as 2000’s “Chocolat,” which highlighted its theme of tolerance.

But Peter Rainer, chairman of the National Society of Film Critics, thinks Fox Searchlight used this tactic because “Antwone Fisher” has received mixed reviews since its December release, and has won no major critics’ group awards.

Rainer, who writes for New York magazine, predicted earlier this week that the ads would stop running once Oscar ballots were due.

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“I don’t think it’s just being aimed at the average reader who’s looking to see a movie. I think it’s very much aimed at the Academy Awards,” he said, pointing out that the ads appeared only in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the trade papers Variety and The Hollywood Reporter — highly visible space in publications Academy voters are sure to read during this busy awards season.

“I think they’ve made a very astute decision to circumvent the critic blurb mill and appeal to a higher calling,” Rainer said. “People will feel virtuous when they see this movie, that’s what that’s telling them: Do a good thing, see this movie.”

Jennifer Perry, executive director of the Children’s Action Network in Los Angeles, said Fox Searchlight asked her and others involved with children’s advocacy to watch the film and see how Fisher’s story could help kids in foster care.

She’s quoted in the ads as saying, “Because of his courage you can already hear the doors opening for these children.”

“There is a tremendous misconception about the half-million kids in foster care in this country,” said Perry, whose group was founded by members of the entertainment industry to raise awareness about kids awaiting adoption.

“Antwone’s tremendous courage and eventual triumph show people that’s what those kids are really like. If you give them a helping hand and a permanent home and the stability they need, there may be a half-million Antwones out there.”