Lightning in a Bottle

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Lightning in a Bottle

PG-13

2004

1h 49m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

B.B. King and his trusty guitar, Lucille, headline a one-night-only celebration of the blues' 100th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Through careful song selection, the concert crafts a musical narrative beginning with the form's earliest blues guitar beginnings, then branches out to encompass the myriad styles it subsequently gave rise to. Old-school practitioners Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Dr. John mix it up with the likes of Macy Gray, Chuck D and Aerosmith.

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Critics Consensus

Lightning in a Bottle pays dazzling tribute to the blues by capturing its power and excitement through backstage interviews and performance footage.

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Richard Harrington

Washington Post

12/17/2004

The event's musical director, Steve Jordan, marvels at one point: 'Looks like y'all hired the phone book . . . just looked up "Blues" in the Yellow Pages.'

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Sean Daly

Washington Post

12/17/2004

Features a who's who of world-wise bluesmen (and women) and newbie practitioners.

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Bob Townsend

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

12/02/2004

B+

Gets its great groove from the humor and dignity of the true blues musicians it documents.

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Jason Gorber

Film Scouts

06/21/2007

A-

The filmmakers really have captured something quite spectacular with this one.

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Film Threat

12/06/2005

2.5/5

Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

03/28/2005

A-

It is as much a lesson in musical appreciation as it is a thrilling concert.

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Geke g

@RT40239519 08/08/2024

Remarkable. Groundbreaking

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Bahad j

@RT27093708 08/07/2024

The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish

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Munkhchimeg T

@RT64187897 08/02/2024

Recommended to the people who love music. Bery genuine movie

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Gnr E

@RT37822449 08/01/2024

This is just a masterpiece! People who love jazz should watch this

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03/06/2012

If you love the Blues, you MUST see this movie!

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05/31/2010

What an honour to see this film with Antoine Fuqua and a collection of the legends that were finally honoured. A wonderful night of blues.

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Antoine Fuqua

Director

Buddy Guy

Actor

Solomon Burke

Actor

Philip Shane

Film Editing

Steve Jordan

Original Music

Margaret Bodde

Producer

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Synopsis

B.B. King and his trusty guitar, Lucille, headline a one-night-only celebration of the blues' 100th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Through careful song selection, the concert crafts a musical narrative beginning with the form's earliest blues guitar beginnings, then branches out to encompass the myriad styles it subsequently gave rise to. Old-school practitioners Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Dr. John mix it up with the likes of Macy Gray, Chuck D and Aerosmith.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Producer: Margaret Bodde, Alex Gibney, Jack Gulick
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Vulcan Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $201.6K
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Surround

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