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

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.'

Dec 17, 2004

Full Review

Sean Daly

Washington Post

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

Dec 17, 2004

Full Review

Bob Townsend

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

Rated: B+

Dec 2, 2004

Full Review

Jason Gorber

Film Scouts

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

Rated: A-

Jun 21, 2007

Full Review

Film Threat

Rated: 2.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

Full Review

Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

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

Rated: A-

Mar 28, 2005

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Geke g

Remarkable. Groundbreaking

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/24

Full Review

Bahad j

The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/24

Full Review

Munkhchimeg T

Recommended to the people who love music. Bery genuine movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/24

Full Review

Gnr E

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/24

Full Review

Christopher S

The professional film critics cited below who diss this movie reveal their musical illiteracy. They should sit down and shut up. From a music scholar and player: this is a masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

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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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