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Story: Documentary about Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, a biochemist who is embroiled in a battle with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to approve clinical trials for his cancer-fighting drug. Cast:Joe Barton, Stanislaw Burzynski, Dr. David A. KesslerDirector:Eric MerolaOpened:June 4, 2010On DVD:August 4, 2010Length:1 hr. 48 min.
Burzynski played in New York City and Los Angeles to poor reviews. • Jeannette Catsoulis wrote in the New York Times, "Plain, plodding and relentlessly expositive... tries to wrestle medical clarity from a snarl of science and human suffering.... a documentary as visually arid as it is topically fertile." • And Kevin Thomas wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "[Filmmaker Eric] Merola unleashes a barrage of information, including much testimony from grateful patients..." More Reviews Below...
Burzynski Positive Reviews (6 Reviews, click on headers for reviews)
Burzynski has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (5 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: WEAK "Plain, plodding and relentlessly expositive... tries to wrestle medical clarity from a snarl of science and human suffering.... a documentary as visually arid as it is topically fertile."(Read the full review...) 277 words, 06/04/10
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "[Filmmaker Eric] Merola unleashes a barrage of information, including much testimony from grateful patients... the film makes the case that big pharmacy holds the FDA in its thrall, that the National Cancer Institute perversely refused to follow Burzynski's protocols in its clinical trials and seemingly has violated Burzynski's long-held patents."(Read the full review...) 274 words, 06/04/10
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: POOR(cg) "...dull, dull, dull, even for an infomercial."(Read the full review...) 153 words, 06/04/10
Ella Taylor, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...violates every basic rule of ethical filmmaking: Merola interviews only Burzynski's supporters, produces no patient records other than the doctor's own, and offers no credible proof of the drug's success... Who's the bigger charlatan -- Burzynski or Merola -- and why is this conspiratorial rubbish being released into theaters?"(Read the full review...) 214 words, 06/02/10
KEY CITIES (0 Reviews)
Burzynski has not been reviewed in Key Cities
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (2 Reviews)
Ella Taylor, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...violates every basic rule of ethical filmmaking: Merola interviews only Burzynski's supporters, produces no patient records other than the doctor's own, and offers no credible proof of the drug's success... Who's the bigger charlatan -- Burzynski or Merola -- and why is this conspiratorial rubbish being released into theaters?"(Read the full review...) 214 words, 06/02/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: WEAK "Plain, plodding and relentlessly expositive... tries to wrestle medical clarity from a snarl of science and human suffering.... a documentary as visually arid as it is topically fertile."(Read the full review...) 277 words, 06/04/10
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "[Filmmaker Eric] Merola unleashes a barrage of information, including much testimony from grateful patients... the film makes the case that big pharmacy holds the FDA in its thrall, that the National Cancer Institute perversely refused to follow Burzynski's protocols in its clinical trials and seemingly has violated Burzynski's long-held patents."(Read the full review...) 274 words, 06/04/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Ronnie Scheib, Daily Variety: MODERATE "...documentary concerns Stanislaw Burzynski, the controversial doctor who purportedly developed a significant breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.... Despite its infotainment look, 'Burzynski' ultimately proves convincing."(Read the full review...) 533 words, 06/03/10
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "[Filmmaker Eric] Merola unleashes a barrage of information, including much testimony from grateful patients... the film makes the case that big pharmacy holds the FDA in its thrall, that the National Cancer Institute perversely refused to follow Burzynski's protocols in its clinical trials and seemingly has violated Burzynski's long-held patents."(Read the full review...) 274 words, 06/04/10
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: WEAK "Plain, plodding and relentlessly expositive... tries to wrestle medical clarity from a snarl of science and human suffering.... a documentary as visually arid as it is topically fertile."(Read the full review...) 277 words, 06/04/10
34.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Burzynski's reviews are separated by an average 34.5 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.
Burzynski (6 reviews, roll over dots for each review)
Coverage:Burzynski's reviews cover 8.0% of potential readers (average is 67.3%). Volume:The film's reviews total 1,666 words involume (average is 19,770 words). Length:The film's reviews average 278 words in length (the norm is 509 words).
Burzynski Coverage, Volume & Length (6 Reviews, click on headers for reviews)
Reviews Broke 8.5 Hours Before Release (Norm is 0.0 Release)
Burzynski's reviews on average broke 8.5 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 0.0 hours after. 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 Burzynski's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
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