Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
PORTRAIT OF WALLYMovie Reviews
Documentary about the Egon Schiele painting at the center of an intense legal battle between an Austrian museum and the Jewish family from whom the Nazis stole it in 1939. Cast:Morley Safer, Michael B. Mukasey, Robert Morgenthau, Sharon Cohen Levin, Ori Z. Soltes, Jane Kallir, Tom. L. Freudenheim, David D'Arcy, Bonnie Goldblatt, Elizabeth LeopoldDirector:Andrew SheaRelease Date:May 11, 2012DVD Release: TBD From:7th ArtLength:1 hr 30 min
Portrait of Wally, Very Good Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
Portrait of Wally played in key cities to very good reviews. • Moira Macdonald wrote in the Seattle Times, "...intriguing... It's a fascinating story, even as Andrew Shea's film sometimes tells it in a slightly convoluted way." • And John Anderson wrote in Daily Variety, "...helmer Andrew Shea finds a lot of ugly stuff..." More Reviews Below...
Portrait of Wally Positive Reviews (17 Reviews, reviews below)
Portrait of Wally has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (7 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "The scandal and the tenacious efforts to recover the painting are absorbing.... puts property issues over other nuances of the affair, not least the art itself and the artist."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 279 words, 05/11/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...fascinating.... By showing how difficult and problematic righting a wrong can turn out to be, 'Portrait of Wally' does itself proud."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 07/20/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...works like a suspense drama... churns through a lot of history, a welter of anti-Semitism and a host of richly ambiguous characters in the art and museum world."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 407 words, 06/15/12
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a well-arranged if rather drawn-out parade of talking heads... what prevents it from being more is the absence of the dissenting voices of its 'villains'..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 249 words, 05/09/12
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an account of greed, betrayal, culpability and self-serving moral relativism... finds its most menacing intrigue in the high-stakes, multimillion-dollar art world of New York."(See all of Geoff Pevere's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 558 words, 01/04/13
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...engrossing.... Andrew Shea doesn't tart up his story, instead relating events through the direct, uncluttered presentation of talking heads and archival footage..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 01/03/13
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Lavanya Ramanathan, Washington Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...makes the disheartening case that rarely is the act of restitution so straightforward.... it's still hugely insightful to watch this art crime play out."(See all of Lavanya Ramanathan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 493 words, 08/03/12
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...the material's not so rich and complex that the documentary doesn't feel padded at 90 minutes.... What's most vexing about 'Portrait of Wally' is its lack of nuance."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 06/29/12
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a well-arranged if rather drawn-out parade of talking heads... what prevents it from being more is the absence of the dissenting voices of its 'villains'..."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 249 words, 05/09/12
Miles Howard, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "Unfortunately, its human dimensions are buried under an analysis of legal red tape.... 'Wally' sputters to an unremarkable conclusion."(See all of Miles Howard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 159 words, 06/21/12
Sam Adams, AV Club: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells a gripping story... lays bare the territorial skirmishes between cultural institutions and individual collectors..."(See all of Sam Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 465 words, 05/10/12
Cynthia Fuchs, Pop Matters: EXCELLENT(cg) "...looking at wealthy people dressed up and posing for photos with the painting and each other, the resolution is less odd than foreseeable."(See all of Cynthia Fuchs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 968 words, 05/14/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "...engrossing.... Andrew Shea doesn't tart up his story, instead relating events through the direct, uncluttered presentation of talking heads and archival footage..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 01/03/13
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...unusual... the filmmakers deserve credit for maintaining moral urgency in the face of knotty subject matter."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 191 words, 02/01/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "The scandal and the tenacious efforts to recover the painting are absorbing.... puts property issues over other nuances of the affair, not least the art itself and the artist."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 279 words, 05/11/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...fascinating.... By showing how difficult and problematic righting a wrong can turn out to be, 'Portrait of Wally' does itself proud."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 07/20/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: VERY GOOD "It's about cultural skulduggery, political sleaze, institutional hypocrisy and the virtues of persistence.... helmer Andrew Shea finds a lot of ugly stuff..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 773 words, 04/28/12
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "A blow-by-blow account of an art-world scandal with far-reaching implications... offers an engaging narrative and high-profile subject... clear-eyed..."(See all of John DeFore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 441 words, 04/28/12
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...fascinating.... By showing how difficult and problematic righting a wrong can turn out to be, 'Portrait of Wally' does itself proud."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 636 words, 07/20/12
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "The scandal and the tenacious efforts to recover the painting are absorbing.... puts property issues over other nuances of the affair, not least the art itself and the artist."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 279 words, 05/11/12
16.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Portrait of Wally's reviews are separated by an average 16.0 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.
Portrait of Wally (17 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Portrait of Wally's reviews cover 14.8% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 8,234 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 484 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 48 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Portrait of Wally's reviews on average broke 48 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 Portrait of Wally's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Portrait of Wally (17 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
