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LIMELIGHT (2011)Movie Reviews
Documentary about the rise and fall of Peter Gatien, owner of legendary New York City clubs Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium and Club USA. Cast:Peter Gatien, Moby, Michael Alig, Benjamin BrafmanDirector:Billy CorbenRelease Date:September 23, 2011DVD Release:January 24, 2012From:MagnoliaLength:1 hr 32 min
Limelight (2011) played in limited release to moderate reviews. • Linda Barnard wrote in the Toronto Star, "...an entertaining spin around Manhattan by night but we're left with unanswered questions about Peter Gatien, the mastermind behind it all." • And Seth Colter Walls wrote in the Village Voice and LA Weekly, "...works better as an unofficial history of an Old New York than it does as the definitive portrait of Gatien..." More Reviews Below...
Limelight (2011) has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (9 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as a trippy, trifling memorial to a time before its eponymous club was a mini-mall and rave culture a woozy memory, 'Limelight' delivers the messed-up goods."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 287 words, 09/23/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...employs a lot of flash to recall the wild nights... Transporting as it is, this doc leaves a bad taste in your mouth, if just for the ill will it drudges up."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 119 words, 09/23/11
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...wildly one-sided.... If all you know about Peter Gatien going in to 'Limelight' is that he is a nightclub owner with legal issues, that's about all you'll know coming out."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 11/11/11
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "...tries -- and fails miserably -- to rehabilitate the reputation of Peter Gatien, the oft-described 'nightclub king' of Manhattan in the waning years of the 20th century."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 258 words, 09/23/11
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...an entertaining spin around Manhattan by night but we're left with unanswered questions about Peter Gatien, the mastermind behind it all."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 547 words, 09/23/11
Seth Colter Walls, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...works better as an unofficial history of an Old New York than it does as the definitive portrait of Peter Gatien, who likes to tell his story -- perhaps the only thing he has left."(See all of Seth Colter Walls's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 470 words, 09/21/11
Stephen Cole, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "Peter Gatien's story is worth telling. Which makes it all the more unfortunate that director Billy Corben presents it in such a methodical fashion..."(See all of Stephen Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 460 words, 09/23/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Caught somewhere between a time capsule of Manhattan club-scene wackiness and a legal procedural... a mess that offers an intriguing look at 1990s New York City..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 172 words, 09/22/11
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...highly entertaining.... Depending on your age, 'Limelight' could make you nostalgic for those bad old days -- and sort of glad you'll never be able to relive them."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 409 words, 10/14/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Seth Colter Walls, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...works better as an unofficial history of an Old New York than it does as the definitive portrait of Peter Gatien, who likes to tell his story -- perhaps the only thing he has left."(See all of Seth Colter Walls's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 470 words, 09/21/11
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: VERY GOOD(cg) "Corben's style is caffeinated and a little rough around the edges, but he's a tenacious journalist, and his yen for sensationalism gives 'Limelight' an irresistible tabloid pop."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 381 words, 09/22/11
Eric Henderson, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...focuses far too much on the club's downfall and not nearly enough on what attracted its denizens there in the first place, managing only to preach to the choir..."(See all of Eric Henderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 09/18/11
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Caught somewhere between a time capsule of Manhattan club-scene wackiness and a legal procedural... a mess that offers an intriguing look at 1990s New York City..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 172 words, 09/22/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as a trippy, trifling memorial to a time before its eponymous club was a mini-mall and rave culture a woozy memory, 'Limelight' delivers the messed-up goods."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 287 words, 09/23/11
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...wildly one-sided.... If all you know about Peter Gatien going in to 'Limelight' is that he is a nightclub owner with legal issues, that's about all you'll know coming out."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 11/11/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: MODERATE "If you're in the family, you might be interested. Otherwise, helmer Billy Corben's candy-hued docu is a fairly wobbly walk down a Memory Lane..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 633 words, 09/23/11
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: FAIR "...wildly one-sided.... If all you know about Peter Gatien going in to 'Limelight' is that he is a nightclub owner with legal issues, that's about all you'll know coming out."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 237 words, 11/11/11
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...as a trippy, trifling memorial to a time before its eponymous club was a mini-mall and rave culture a woozy memory, 'Limelight' delivers the messed-up goods."(See all of Jeannette Catsoulis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 287 words, 09/23/11
11.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Limelight (2011)'s reviews are separated by an average 11.5 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.
Limelight (2011) (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Limelight (2011)'s reviews cover 15.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 5,634 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 402 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 7 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Limelight (2011)'s reviews on average broke 7 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 Limelight (2011)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Limelight (2011) (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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