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SIDE BY SIDE (2012)Movie Reviews
Documentary about the past and future of filmmaking and the impact of digital filmmaking, including interviews with Hollywood masters. Cast:Keanu Reeves, Michael Ballhaus, Dion Beebe, Danny Boyle, James Cameron, Michael Chapman, Anne V. Coates, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, David Fincher, Greta Gerwig, Jim Jannard, Ellen Kuras, George Lucas, David Lynch, Anthony Dod Mantle, Donald McAlpine, Walter Murch, Christopher Nolan, Wally Pfister, Dick Pope, Tom Rothman, Joel Schumacher, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, Lars von Trier, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Bradford Young, Vilmos Zsigmond, Dennis Muren, Tim StipanDirector:Christopher KenneallyRelease Date:August 17, 2012DVD Release:February 5, 2013From:Tribeca FilmsLength:1 hr 38 min
FEBRUARY 5, 2013
Side by Side (2012), Excellent Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
Side by Side (2012) played in key cities to excellent reviews. • Wesley Morris wrote in the Boston Globe, "The pro-digital camp argues that there are no innovations left for film; meanwhile, the movies are at the dawn of a digital age. That enthusiasm is pretty contagious." • And Mark Olsen wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "...sharp, useful..." More Reviews Below...
Side by Side (2012) Positive Reviews (22 Reviews, reviews below)
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The evolution to digital is a sea change, but how does it affect the movies we see?... a meditation on the ways that art and technology flow into each other."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 104 words, 08/31/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "No true movie junkie is going to want to miss this.... asks many of our best directors where they stand in the digital revolution. Their answers might surprise you."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 94 words, 08/24/12
Scott Bowles, USA Today: MODERATE(cg) "...if you're someone who enjoys movies as, say, a two-hour escape, you may find this documentary on the death of film at digital's hands a bit too inside baseball."(See all of Scott Bowles's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 360 words, 08/31/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "For a film geek this movie is absolute heaven... Auteurists and gadget fetishists will be equally enraptured... Fascinating debates percolate in 'Side by Side'..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 892 words, 08/31/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "Film enthusiasts especially will appreciate this wonky but fascinating documentary... Keanu Reeves walks us through some crucial history and projection-room basics..."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 145 words, 08/31/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...sharp, useful... a handy overview of recent seismic changes occurring within the industry and unexpectedly essential viewing."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 283 words, 08/17/12
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...surprisingly accessible... an eye-opening, comprehensive look at the biggest technological revolution in Hollywood history."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 496 words, 08/31/12
Michelle Orange, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...examines the idea that changing formats means changing not just the way movies are made but watched, adjusting the essence of what looks and feels 'real.' "(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 08/22/12
KEY CITIES (7 Reviews)
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...trim, informative... Chris Kenneally assembles a gallery of stunning screen images and recruits a stupendous roster of filmmaking talent to weigh in."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 132 words, 11/09/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...worth watching for the incredible lineup of directors Reeves talks to.... The film lasts 99 minutes; it could have gone on twice as long and been just as fascinating."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 319 words, 09/28/12
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "The pro-digital camp argues that there are no innovations left for film; meanwhile, the movies are at the dawn of a digital age. That enthusiasm is pretty contagious."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 744 words, 08/22/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "Digital is the new go-to - for shooting, for effects, for editing, for projection.... displays the cold evidence of a simple truth: Digital is not the future. Digital is the now."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 531 words, 08/31/12
John Hartl, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a kind of eulogy for celluloid, beginning with some of the most famous images committed to film... But it's also a valuable history of digital milestones."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 219 words, 08/31/12
Stan Hall, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "Plenty of heavy-hitter filmmakers are interviewed, including James Cameron, Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Steven Soderbergh."(See all of Stan Hall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 75 words, 09/21/12
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...doesn't champion one medium over another. The movie simply states that the digital tide cannot be turned back... the future has arrived, like it or not."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 614 words, 09/21/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Michelle Orange, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...examines the idea that changing formats means changing not just the way movies are made but watched, adjusting the essence of what looks and feels 'real.' "(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 203 words, 08/22/12
Betsy Sherman, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a must-see for AV geeks and cinephiles... the drama arises from testimonies of those in the trenches who debate what's being gained and lost."(See all of Betsy Sherman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 08/16/12
Noel Murray, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "Keanu Reeves asks the right questions.... What's most valuable about 'Side By Side' is how comprehensive it is in documenting how the art form changed."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 494 words, 08/30/12
Bill Weber, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "A serviceable primer on the digital-celluloid divide in commercial cinema... in danger of being made obsolete by the next version of the RED camera..."(See all of Bill Weber's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 538 words, 08/13/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...a knowing look at the transition from celluloid to digital capture, development and projection... The situation is fascinating, and given an illuminating investigation here."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 164 words, 08/17/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "For a film geek this movie is absolute heaven... Auteurists and gadget fetishists will be equally enraptured... Fascinating debates percolate in 'Side by Side'..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 892 words, 08/31/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...sharp, useful... a handy overview of recent seismic changes occurring within the industry and unexpectedly essential viewing."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 283 words, 08/17/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Leslie Felperin, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "...examines the impact of digital technology on film... canvasses opinions from a truly impressive array of talents... intrinsically fascinating..."(See all of Leslie Felperin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 599 words, 02/15/12
Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter: EXCELLENT "...illuminating.... rarely do audience-friendly documentaries focus on the nuts and bolts, which is why Kenneally's intensive study feels both necessary and long overdue."(See all of Jordan Mintzer's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 735 words, 02/16/12
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...sharp, useful... a handy overview of recent seismic changes occurring within the industry and unexpectedly essential viewing."(See all of Mark Olsen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 283 words, 08/17/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: EXCELLENT "For a film geek this movie is absolute heaven... Auteurists and gadget fetishists will be equally enraptured... Fascinating debates percolate in 'Side by Side'..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 892 words, 08/31/12
John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...a knowing look at the transition from celluloid to digital capture, development and projection... The situation is fascinating, and given an illuminating investigation here."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 164 words, 08/17/12
9.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Side by Side (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 9.2 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.
Side by Side (2012) (22 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Side by Side (2012)'s reviews cover 35.5% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 8,097 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 368 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Side by Side (2012) Coverage, Volume & Length (22 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 7 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Side by Side (2012)'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 Side by Side (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Side by Side (2012) (22 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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