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AMERICAN GRINDHOUSEMovie Reviews
Documentary about the history of exploitation films in America, including several subgenres. Cast:Allison Anders, John Landis, Herschell Gordon LewisDirector:Elijah DrennerRelease Date:February 4, 2011DVD Release:July 26, 2011From:Lorber FilmsLength:1 hr. 20 min.
JULY 26, 2011
American Grindhouse, Good (Not Great) Reviews (Doc) NYC
American Grindhouse played in New York City to good not great reviews. • Joe Leydon wrote in Daily Variety, "...a sprawling but amusing CliffsNotes-like history of various disreputable subgenres -- everything from nudie cuties to sci-fi cheapies, blaxploitation melodramas to blood-soaked splatter pics -- that define exploitation cinema." More Reviews Below...
American Grindhouse Positive Reviews (7 Reviews, reviews below)
American Grindhouse has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (3 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: MODERATE "Exploitation 101... In its academic approach, 'American Grindhouse is like sex ed: the lecture gets tedious, but it's worth sitting through for the pictures."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 273 words, 02/04/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Overlong but chock-full of humor, mayhem, sex, gore... director Elijah Drenner's movie is the equivalent of a stroll through cinema's id. The only thing missing is more schlocky scenes of guys in ape suits."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 138 words, 02/04/11
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice: GOOD "Nitpicky enough to please film-history nerds but lively in a way that should tickle the merely curious... deftly traces the lineage of cheapjack, self-distributed cinematic slop to the enduring indie boom."(See all of Mark Holcomb's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 02/02/11
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Stan Hall, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "Elijah Drenner's slick documentary has an impressive lineup of interviewees, loads of lurid vintage film clips and deep exploration of subgenres."(See all of Stan Hall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 102 words, 09/10/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (2 Reviews)
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice: GOOD "Nitpicky enough to please film-history nerds but lively in a way that should tickle the merely curious... deftly traces the lineage of cheapjack, self-distributed cinematic slop to the enduring indie boom."(See all of Mark Holcomb's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 02/02/11
Chuck Bowen, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...a fine introduction for those unfamiliar with the genre mutations covered, but you begin to notice compelling thematic threads that are mostly ignored for the sake of either maintaining a cheery tone, a sleek narrative, or both."(See all of Chuck Bowen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,078 words, 02/01/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (1 Review)
Mike Hale, New York Times: MODERATE "Exploitation 101... In its academic approach, 'American Grindhouse is like sex ed: the lecture gets tedious, but it's worth sitting through for the pictures."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 273 words, 02/04/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: GOOD "...a sprawling but amusing CliffsNotes-like history of various disreputable subgenres -- everything from nudie cuties to sci-fi cheapies, blaxploitation melodramas to blood-soaked splatter pics -- that define exploitation cinema."(See all of Joe Leydon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 03/31/10
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "If the feast of film clips included here doesn't have you rushing to the video store in search of women-in-prison flicks or the Nazis-vs.-Jesus film 'The Tormentors,' you have nothing but your good taste to blame."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 416 words, 03/12/10
Mike Hale, New York Times: MODERATE "Exploitation 101... In its academic approach, 'American Grindhouse is like sex ed: the lecture gets tedious, but it's worth sitting through for the pictures."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 273 words, 02/04/11
12.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
American Grindhouse's reviews are separated by an average 12.6 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.
American Grindhouse (7 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:American Grindhouse's reviews cover 8.3% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 2,779 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 397 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
American Grindhouse Coverage, Volume & Length (7 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 49 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
American Grindhouse's reviews on average broke 49 days before 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 American Grindhouse's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
American Grindhouse (7 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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