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THE ENGLISH SURGEONMovie Reviews
Documentary about British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who turned the run down remains of a Ukrainian hospital into a working surgery center. Cast:Henry Marsh, Igor Kurilets, Marian DolishnyDirector:Geoffrey SmithRelease Date:July 24, 2009DVD Release:November 3, 2009From:BungalowLength:1 hr 33 min
NOVEMBER 3, 2009
The English Surgeon, Very Good Reviews, Mixed (Doc) Limited
The English Surgeon played in limited release to very good reviews that at the same time were mixed. • Liam Lacey wrote in the Toronto Globe & Mail, "Harrowing both physically and emotionally, but also filled with humour and deep insight..." • And John Anderson wrote in Daily Variety, "...both horrible and very funny. It's also deeply touching, resonant and even sentimental, in its affirmation of human goodness." More Reviews Below...
The English Surgeon Positive Reviews (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...an emotional narrative made all the more moving for the filmmaker's restraint.... When it comes to the surgery itself, though, the camera is in the middle of it."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 771 words, 07/31/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "Smith seems intent on turning Marsh into a folk hero. That's fine, I suppose, although it would have been informative to take a closer look at Ukraine's medical nightmare -- its causes and its prognosis."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 215 words, 07/24/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The operating room footage is spectacularly stomach-churning but calmly matter-of-fact... Exceptionally well-crafted... I can't imagine anyone seeing it dispassionately."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 406 words, 07/24/09
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "...superb... Heroes are often inscrutable, so who knows why he does what he does? All I know is the happiest sight of my week was a man with the top of his head sawed off."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 284 words, 07/27/09
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "Brain surgery, he says, is like Russian roulette with two guns: One gun is the disease; the other is the treatment, which can permanently harm a patient."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 574 words, 07/24/09
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "By focusing on Marsh without any real personal or structural insight, the effect is to prioritize the humanitarian over the far more interesting problem: the system."(See all of Vadim Rizov's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 224 words, 07/22/09
Glenn Sumi, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "In a world of life-and-death decisions, actions speak louder than words. In fact, sometimes there are no words to describe the tragedies and joys of life. You just go on, and do what you can to help."(See all of Glenn Sumi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 354 words, 06/04/09
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an agonizing experience... few will leave unaffected... there's a tendency to want to laugh, before you realize that nothing is funny, that nothing is even close to funny."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 357 words, 08/14/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Vadim Rizov, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "By focusing on Marsh without any real personal or structural insight, the effect is to prioritize the humanitarian over the far more interesting problem: the system."(See all of Vadim Rizov's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 224 words, 07/22/09
Glenn Sumi, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "In a world of life-and-death decisions, actions speak louder than words. In fact, sometimes there are no words to describe the tragedies and joys of life. You just go on, and do what you can to help."(See all of Glenn Sumi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 354 words, 06/04/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...an emotional narrative made all the more moving for the filmmaker's restraint.... When it comes to the surgery itself, though, the camera is in the middle of it."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 771 words, 07/31/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "...both horrible and very funny. It's also deeply touching, resonant and even sentimental, in its affirmation of human goodness."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 04/28/08
Lewis Beale, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "Stirring, heartwarming documentary about English neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who donates his time bringing modern medicine to the Ukraine."(See all of Lewis Beale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 07/21/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...an emotional narrative made all the more moving for the filmmaker's restraint.... When it comes to the surgery itself, though, the camera is in the middle of it."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 771 words, 07/31/09
23.4 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The English Surgeon's reviews are separated by an average 23.4 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.
The English Surgeon (14 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The English Surgeon's reviews cover 16.3% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 5,712 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 408 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The English Surgeon Coverage, Volume & Length (14 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 36.1 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The English Surgeon's reviews on average broke 36.1 hours before 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 The English Surgeon's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The English Surgeon (14 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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