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HEAD GAMES (2012)Movie Reviews
Documentary about the concussion crisis in American sports, including cutting-edge science as well as first-hand accounts of injury from athletes, coaches, and parents. Cast:Bob Costas, Chris Nowinski, Keith Primeau, Cindy Parlow ConeDirector:Steve JamesRelease Date:September 21, 2012DVD Release:January 8, 2013From:Variance FilmsRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 31 min
JANUARY 8, 2013
Head Games (2012), Very Good Reviews, Mixed (Doc) Limited
Head Games (2012) played in limited release to very good reviews that at the same time were mixed. • Scott Tobias wrote for the AV Club, "...incisive... particularly devastating when it shifts from the NFL and NHL, where brutality and headshots are a given, to girls' soccer and under-14 football leagues..." More Reviews Below...
Head Games (2012) Positive Reviews (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Roger Ebert, RogerEbert.com: VERY GOOD(cg) "The problem is head concussions.... How many concussions are too many? 'One,' says a neurologist in the film. Especially if it's your child.... a sobering lesson."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 09/26/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (9 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...troubling... alternately sobering and terrifying... gains credibility and power from compassion for athletes and respect for their accomplishments."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 379 words, 09/21/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a complex, determined look at one of the most pernicious problems facing organized sports on all levels... this is more than your standard problem documentary."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 781 words, 09/21/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "It's a vital subject. Yet certain stylistic grooves threaten to become ruts for director James, and they keep the film from being extraordinary itself."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 420 words, 09/28/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "The problem is head concussions.... How many concussions are too many? 'One,' says a neurologist in the film. Especially if it's your child.... a sobering lesson."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 09/26/12
Michael Nordine, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "While 'Head Games' does feature a number of articulate and consistently intelligent talking-head interviews, it's ultimately not a satisfying advocacy doc."(See all of Michael Nordine's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 242 words, 09/26/12
Adam Litovitz, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "Though it might seem from the outset to be relevant only for rigorous athletes and their kin, the film also packs a deceptive dramatic punch."(See all of Adam Litovitz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 590 words, 09/21/12
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Nothing about this movie adds new elements to the doc genre, but the data is devastating and Chris Nowinski's an impressive character."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 245 words, 09/20/12
KEY CITIES (0 Reviews)
Head Games (2012) has not been reviewed in Key Cities
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Michael Nordine, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "While 'Head Games' does feature a number of articulate and consistently intelligent talking-head interviews, it's ultimately not a satisfying advocacy doc."(See all of Michael Nordine's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 242 words, 09/26/12
Jake Mulligan, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...all it takes is a few moments with the next generation to see the gravity of the problem.... before the games can change, we need to."(See all of Jake Mulligan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 168 words, 10/04/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "...incisive... particularly devastating when it shifts from the NFL and NHL, where brutality and headshots are a given, to girls' soccer and under-14 football leagues..."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 467 words, 09/20/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "...players risk their health and their very lives in futures hard to imagine when they're eight or 12 or 24. 'Head Games' means to change those futures..."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,585 words, 10/15/12
Jesse Cataldo, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...while it serves as a valuable primer on an increasingly relevant subject, it never pushes beyond the deluge of facts into telling an effectively rendered story."(See all of Jesse Cataldo's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 593 words, 09/16/12
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Nothing about this movie adds new elements to the doc genre, but the data is devastating and Chris Nowinski's an impressive character."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 245 words, 09/20/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...troubling... alternately sobering and terrifying... gains credibility and power from compassion for athletes and respect for their accomplishments."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 379 words, 09/21/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a complex, determined look at one of the most pernicious problems facing organized sports on all levels... this is more than your standard problem documentary."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 781 words, 09/21/12
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...wrenching... 'Head Games' makes the powerful argument that blows to the head, once considered something to simply shrug off, have fateful consequences."(See all of Frank Scheck's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 353 words, 09/20/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a complex, determined look at one of the most pernicious problems facing organized sports on all levels... this is more than your standard problem documentary."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 781 words, 09/21/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "...troubling... alternately sobering and terrifying... gains credibility and power from compassion for athletes and respect for their accomplishments."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 379 words, 09/21/12
21.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Head Games (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 21.6 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.
Head Games (2012) (15 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Head Games (2012)'s reviews cover 16.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 7,143 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 476 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Head Games (2012) Coverage, Volume & Length (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 65.3 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Head Games (2012)'s reviews on average broke 65.3 hours 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 Head Games (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Head Games (2012) (15 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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