Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERSMovie Reviews
Documentary about Daniel Ellsberg's personal journey, from proponent of the Vietnam War to vehement critic against it. Cast:Daniel Ellsberg, Patricia Ellsberg, Egil Krogh, Hedrick Smith, Tony RussoDirector:Judith Ehrlich, Rick GoldsmithRelease Date:September 16, 2009DVD Release:July 20, 2010From:First RunLength:1 hr 32 min
JULY 20, 2010
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Very Good Reviews (Doc) Key Cities
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers played in key cities to very good reviews. • John Hartl wrote in the Seattle Times, "If you lived through it, you'll be fascinated. If not, it still does a skillful job of creating a convincing and even suspenseful narrative from this history." • And Joe Williams wrote in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "...an exciting cloak-and-dagger thriller." More Reviews Below...
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Positive Reviews (25 Reviews, reviews below)
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers 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 (10 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...detailed, clearly told and persuasive... Many viewers will come away with a depressing sense of history repeating itself..."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 09/16/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a skillful, well-made film, although, since Ellsberg is the narrator, it doesn't probe him very deeply. We see his version of himself."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 641 words, 03/25/10
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: GOOD "...it is the audio from the infamous Nixon tapes, in which the then-president rails in monstrous fashion against Ellsberg, that supplies the film's most chilling moments."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 220 words, 09/25/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "The most exciting thriller I've seen in a while contains nary a car chase and doesn't feature Will Smith.... as powerful as anything Hollywood can throw at us."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 301 words, 09/16/09
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: EXCELLENT "...offers one revelatory interview after another mixed with reenactments (animated) that have fun with the caper-movie aspect and build real suspense."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 197 words, 09/14/09
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "Those who lived through the Vietnam War era, and paid attention, will find this documentary short on revelation but long on poignant reminders."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 589 words, 02/19/10
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...a professional job, standing above the crowd of politico documentaries that proliferate like kudzu over arthouse screens."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 232 words, 09/16/09
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Ellsberg is a powerful witness to government malfeasance. But the movie lacks a strong emotional core and may leave you cold."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 312 words, 02/18/10
KEY CITIES (10 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...pulses with the suspense and momentum of a sleek thriller... just happens to revolve around one of the most crucial chapters in recent American history."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 445 words, 02/12/10
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "In another time and culture, a story on this scale would deserve an opera.... a superb documentary by Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith..."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 673 words, 04/23/10
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "For those who know the story, 'Most Dangerous Man' puts it in fresh perspective. If you don't, there's probably not a better way to discover it."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 501 words, 04/23/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...gripping... for those who lived through the turmoil of Vietnam, and for the generations that have come since, the film is an important document in its own right."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 344 words, 04/02/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The movie has been nominated for a 2010 Oscar for best feature documentary, but it plays like a solid suspense thriller when it's not stooping to cheesy touches..."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 02/12/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...clear, concise, crisply paced and thoroughly researched.... a riveting history of one man's mission to expose the misdeeds of five U.S. presidents..."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 386 words, 04/09/10
John Hartl, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "If you lived through it, you'll be fascinated. If not, it still does a skillful job of creating a convincing and even suspenseful narrative from this history."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 411 words, 03/12/10
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: VERY GOOD(cg) "...tells Ellsberg's story in earnest and passingly engaging form... There's reality and depth here, but a chill, too, that the filmmaking never quite manages to melt."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 194 words, 04/02/10
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The collision of the personal and the political makes this Oscar-nominated documentary extraordinarily poignant.... an exciting cloak-and-dagger thriller."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 326 words, 04/02/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "...a professional job, standing above the crowd of politico documentaries that proliferate like kudzu over arthouse screens."(See all of Nick Pinkerton's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 232 words, 09/16/09
Gerald Peary, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...important, sometimes dramatically thrilling... the movie reaches its exciting heart with Ellsberg's late-'60s conversion to pacifism..."(See all of Gerald Peary's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 631 words, 02/11/10
Susan G. Cole, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Ellsberg is a powerful witness to government malfeasance. But the movie lacks a strong emotional core and may leave you cold."(See all of Susan G. Cole's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 312 words, 02/18/10
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper: EXCELLENT "It's a history lesson, to be sure, but the film's eloquent, personable, and still-sharp namesake makes it go down smooth.... informative, absorbing, even a bit thrilling..."(See all of Tricia Olszewski's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 386 words, 02/11/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Mike Hale, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...detailed, clearly told and persuasive... Many viewers will come away with a depressing sense of history repeating itself..."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 09/16/09
David Denby, New Yorker: GOOD "...dramatizes a kind of secular spiritual journey -- from warrior to anti-warrior, from analyst to activist, from patriot to 'traitor.' "(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 517 words, 08/31/09
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...it is the audio from the infamous Nixon tapes, in which the then-president rails in monstrous fashion against Ellsberg, that supplies the film's most chilling moments."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 220 words, 09/25/09
Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...it is the audio from the infamous Nixon tapes, in which the then-president rails in monstrous fashion against Ellsberg, that supplies the film's most chilling moments."(See all of Gary Goldstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 220 words, 09/25/09
Mike Hale, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...detailed, clearly told and persuasive... Many viewers will come away with a depressing sense of history repeating itself..."(See all of Mike Hale's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 09/16/09
12.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers's reviews are separated by an average 12.5 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.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (25 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers's reviews cover 22.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 10,906 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 436 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Coverage, Volume & Length (25 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 92 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers's reviews on average broke 92 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 The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers (25 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...
