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AHEAD OF TIMEMovie Reviews
Biographical documentary about 97 year-old journalist, author and humanitarian Ruth Gruber, who became the world's youngest PhD at the age of 20. Cast:Ruth Gruber, Louisa Herz Leopold, Dava Sobel, Lee Taylor, Harold M. IckesDirector:Robert RichmanRelease Date:September 10, 2010DVD Release:April 26, 2011From:Vitagraph FilmsLength:1 hr 13 min
Ahead of Time played in limited release to very good reviews. • Tom Horgen wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "...a great documentary, flawed only by its hesitation to stir the pot." • And Stephanie Merry wrote in the Washington Post, "...offers a rare glimpse at something of an anomaly: a successful person whose grand ambitions didn't preclude her kindness." More Reviews Below...
Ahead of Time Positive Reviews (12 Reviews, reviews below)
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...straightforward chronicle takes us through Gruber's extraordinary career, which most notably found her aiding thousands of Jewish refugees during and after World War II."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 114 words, 09/10/10
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...deftly recounts the career highlights -- and what highlights they are! -- of pioneering journalist, humanitarian and feminist Ruth Gruber... a fleet and fitting tribute."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 09/24/10
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...does a bang-up job with rare archival footage and new vérité interviews, even allowing for Gruber's acquaintances and their descendants to grill the still-sharp nonagenarian."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 09/08/10
KEY CITIES (4 Reviews)
Stephanie Merry, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...inspiring... offers a rare glimpse at something of an anomaly: a successful person whose grand ambitions didn't preclude her kindness."(See all of Stephanie Merry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 482 words, 11/19/10
Tom Horgen, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an elegant portrait of a woman who never stopped making history.... a great documentary, flawed only by its hesitation to stir the pot."(See all of Tom Horgen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 183 words, 11/19/10
Tom Russo, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "SometThe film's greatest strength is the infectious charm it captures in its interviews with Gruber, who in her late 90s is as sharp as we'd all like to be now..."(See all of Tom Russo's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 421 words, 11/19/10
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "Even in her mid-90s, you get the feeling that Ruth Gruber could hop on a boat right now and show CNN how war coverage is done."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 358 words, 11/26/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...does a bang-up job with rare archival footage and new vérité interviews, even allowing for Gruber's acquaintances and their descendants to grill the still-sharp nonagenarian."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 221 words, 09/08/10
Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "Richman films Ruth Gruber poring over her faded notebook from the 1944 voyage, wherein are transcribed testimonies that would reveal the truth about Nazi atrocities."(See all of Betsy Sherman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 169 words, 11/18/10
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...casually entertaining... appears to deem the act of existing as a determined woman in an illustrious era Ruth Gruber's most noteworthy accomplishment."(See all of Joseph Jon Lanthier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 728 words, 09/06/10
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...deftly recounts the career highlights -- and what highlights they are! -- of pioneering journalist, humanitarian and feminist Ruth Gruber... a fleet and fitting tribute."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 09/24/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Alissa Simon, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "...debuting director Bob Richman (a noted indie cameraman) compellingly blends a plethora of choice archival materials and contempo footage."(See all of Alissa Simon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 09/13/09
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...deftly recounts the career highlights -- and what highlights they are! -- of pioneering journalist, humanitarian and feminist Ruth Gruber... a fleet and fitting tribute."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 206 words, 09/24/10
5.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Ahead of Time's reviews are separated by an average 5.5 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Ahead of Time (12 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Ahead of Time's reviews cover 12.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 3,739 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 312 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Ahead of Time Coverage, Volume & Length (12 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 11 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Ahead of Time's reviews on average broke 11 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Ahead of Time's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Ahead of Time (12 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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