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THE WOODMANSMovie Reviews
Biographical documentary about photographer Francesca Woodman, who committed suicide at age 22 in 1981. Cast:Betty Woodman, George Woodman, Charles WoodmanDirector:C. Scott WillisRelease Date:January 19, 2011DVD Release:March 22, 2011From:Lorber FilmsLength:1 hr. 22 min.
The Woodmans played in key cities to very good reviews. • Emanuel Levy wrote for Cinema 24/7, "...intriguing and poignant... deals with such sensitive and provocative issues as intergenerational strife, the nature and power of creativity, creativity and suicide..." • And Ann Hornaday wrote in the Washington Post, "...the compelling, if slightly disturbing, story of a family coming to grips with love, ego, resentment and loss." More Reviews Below...
The Woodmans Positive Reviews (15 Reviews, reviews below)
The Woodmans has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...study of an artistic clan whose comfortable life was shattered by the suicide of its youngest member asks profound questions to which there really are no answers."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 750 words, 01/19/11
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a fascinating glimpse into the emotions and art of a New York family whose bright star committed suicide 30 years ago at age 22."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 112 words, 01/21/11
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...beautifully shot... blends Francesca's work -- photos, videos and passages from her diary -- with interviews.... Willis provides no easy answers and points no fingers..."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 198 words, 01/21/11
Logan Hill, New York Magazine: EXCELLENT "...seductive narrative lays out Woodman's epigrammatic journals, photographs, and videos as clues in a self-murder mystery.... wrenching..."(See all of Logan Hill's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 112 words, 04/19/10
Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "All four members of the Woodman family are artists.... discreetly frames the personal and professional dynamics inside a family of driven artists."(See all of Bill Stamets's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 283 words, 02/11/11
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...probing, nonjudgmental documentary on the complex responses of the titular family of artists to the suicide and posthumous acclaim of photographer daughter Francesca."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 118 words, 04/21/10
KEY CITIES (4 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...sensitive, absorbing... the compelling, if slightly disturbing, story of a family coming to grips with love, ego, resentment and loss."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 428 words, 04/01/11
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "David Lang's quietly percussive score deserves mention. It expertly complements a film of superficial calm that has so much turbulence within."(See all of Mark Feeney's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 444 words, 06/08/11
Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "It's impossible to listen to Francesca's parents, deadly serious about art as a higher calling, without feeling both saddened and disturbed."(See all of Walter Addiego's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 142 words, 11/18/11
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a thoughtful documentary directed by C. Scott Willis... attempts to piece together both Woodman's brief life and her legacy 30 years after her death."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 316 words, 02/25/11
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (3 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice: VERY GOOD "...probing, nonjudgmental documentary on the complex responses of the titular family of artists to the suicide and posthumous acclaim of photographer daughter Francesca."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 118 words, 04/21/10
Noel Murray, AV Club: VERY GOOD(cg) "...an existential mystery... a soundtrack full of moody vibes, interviews shot in tight close-ups, and the floating words from Francesca's diaries..."(See all of Noel Murray's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 340 words, 01/20/11
Diego Costa, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "Woodman's work packs the conceptual gravitas of a Magritte, the impeccable mise-en-scène of Alain Resnais and the grainy queerness of Sadie Benning."(See all of Diego Costa's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 422 words, 01/18/11
HIGHBROW PRESS (1 Review)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...study of an artistic clan whose comfortable life was shattered by the suicide of its youngest member asks profound questions to which there really are no answers."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 750 words, 01/19/11
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
John Anderson, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "Delicately constructed, marvelous to look at and poignantly elegiac... a heartbreaker and a big wet kiss to anyone who owns the work of Francesca Woodman."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 429 words, 04/30/10
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter: OUTSTANDING "...one of the most affecting art-themed documentaries in recent years.... Willis' elegiac debut feature is an inspiring portrait of working artists, fragile and resilient."(See all of Sheri Linden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 01/19/11
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: EXCELLENT(cg) "...intriguing and poignant... deals with such sensitive and provocative issues as intergenerational strife, the nature and power of creativity, creativity and suicide..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 246 words, 01/19/11
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...study of an artistic clan whose comfortable life was shattered by the suicide of its youngest member asks profound questions to which there really are no answers."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 750 words, 01/19/11
8.5 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Woodmans's reviews are separated by an average 8.5 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 Woodmans (15 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Woodmans's reviews cover 15.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 4,951 words involume (average is 20,172 words). Length:The film's reviews average 330 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Woodmans Coverage, Volume & Length (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 22 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Woodmans's reviews on average broke 22 days 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 Woodmans's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Woodmans (15 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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