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SOUND CITYMovie Reviews
Documentary about the San Fernando Valley recording studio, with interviews and performances by Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Nirvana, among others who recorded there. Cast:Vinny Appice, Joe Barresi, Brian Bell, Frank Black, Lindsey Buckingham, Mike Campbell, Tim Commerford, Kevin Cronin, Rivers Cuomo, Warren Demartini, Mick Fleetwood, John Fogerty, Neil Giraldo, Christopher Allen Goss, David GrohlDirector:Dave GrohlRelease Date:January 31, 2013DVD Release:March 12, 2013From:Variance FilmsLength:1 hr. 46 min.
Sound City opened in key cities to very good reviews. • Peter Howell wrote in the Toronto Star, "...a hugely affectionate tribute to the virtue of old-fashioned music making.... the passion of this project really pops right out of the groove." More Reviews Below...
Sound City Positive Reviews (19 Reviews, reviews below)
Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "The vintage footage fascinates, while music fans (read: everybody) will happily head-bob to the soundtrack, which ranges from 'Jessie's Girl' to 'Lithium.' "(See all of Mara Reinstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 124 words, 02/07/13
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...exhilarating.... In his directing debut, Dave Grohl shows the instincts of a real filmmaker. 'Sound City' hits you like a shot in the heart."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 454 words, 02/01/13
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (8 Reviews)
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...likable... a chronicle of the slow death of the studio.... The big draw is Paul McCartney... Mr. Grohl has put a lot of affection into this film, and it shows."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 01/31/13
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "High-spirited, emotional and funny.... The film's best stories cluster around the studio's most celebrated event, its central place in the formation of Fleetwood Mac."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 795 words, 02/01/13
John Anderson, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "...focuses on the small stories behind particular albums... works well when it dwells in the personal and musical. The catch is that the governing story is pretty thin..."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 321 words, 02/08/13
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a hugely affectionate tribute to the virtue of old-fashioned music making.... the passion of this project really pops right out of the groove."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 463 words, 02/01/13
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...exciting, sometimes illuminating... Tom Petty warmly and weirdly talks up the place. Petty is absent for the final all-star jam sessions; you might want to be, too."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 248 words, 01/30/13
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "There are some terrific stories here, but the doc is rambling and unfocused... Sure, Dave Grohl seems to be having a ball, but it feels awfully self-indulgent."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 240 words, 01/31/13
KEY CITIES (5 Reviews)
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a raucous yet sweetly romantic documentary.... The movie is a labor of love... affectionate, funny and toe-tapping, with a tail-kicking soundtrack."(See all of Michael O'Sullivan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 507 words, 02/15/13
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a music geek's dream, a rollicking look at a dumpy California studio where a lot of musicians found magic. It's also a bit of a mess, like all good rock and roll ought to be."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 598 words, 02/01/13
Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...small but intriguing.... Scores of musicians, producers and others are interviewed, including Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield and Trent Reznor."(See all of Walter Addiego's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 382 words, 02/01/13
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "Grohl's appreciation for the inhabitants of this dingy demimonde makes 'Sound City' an infectious and sincere Valentine to a rapidly disappearing art form."(See all of Howard Cohen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 779 words, 02/01/13
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...exciting, sometimes illuminating... Tom Petty warmly and weirdly talks up the place. Petty is absent for the final all-star jam sessions; you might want to be, too."(See all of Alan Scherstuhl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 248 words, 01/30/13
Sam Adams, AV Club: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Dave Grohl's tribute to the storied Southern California studio... a studio rat's wet dream... the film grows especially tiresome on the subject of analog authenticity..."(See all of Sam Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 193 words, 01/24/13
Ted Scheinman, Slant: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Grohl for the most part marshals his material with discipline -- bringing some voluble big-name interviewees along for the ride."(See all of Ted Scheinman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 01/30/13
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "There are some terrific stories here, but the doc is rambling and unfocused... Sure, Dave Grohl seems to be having a ball, but it feels awfully self-indulgent."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 240 words, 01/31/13
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...likable... a chronicle of the slow death of the studio.... The big draw is Paul McCartney... Mr. Grohl has put a lot of affection into this film, and it shows."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 01/31/13
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "High-spirited, emotional and funny.... The film's best stories cluster around the studio's most celebrated event, its central place in the formation of Fleetwood Mac."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 795 words, 02/01/13
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter: EXCELLENT "...terrifically entertaining.... Dave Grohl brings elements that can't be faked -- passion and heart -- to this lovingly assembled insider account..."(See all of David Rooney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 993 words, 01/22/13
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "High-spirited, emotional and funny.... The film's best stories cluster around the studio's most celebrated event, its central place in the formation of Fleetwood Mac."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 795 words, 02/01/13
Neil Genzlinger, New York Times: GOOD "...likable... a chronicle of the slow death of the studio.... The big draw is Paul McCartney... Mr. Grohl has put a lot of affection into this film, and it shows."(See all of Neil Genzlinger's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 512 words, 01/31/13
16.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Sound City's reviews are separated by an average 16.9 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.
Sound City (19 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Sound City's reviews cover 29.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 8,829 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 465 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Sound City Coverage, Volume & Length (19 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 68.2 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Sound City's reviews on average broke 68.2 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 Sound City's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Sound City (19 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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