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Absolute Wilson

Play trailer Poster for Absolute Wilson 2006 1h 45m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Musicians David Byrne and Philip Glass, opera singer Jessye Norman and critic John Simon are among those who discuss theatrical innovator Robert Wilson's life and work. Wilson is one of the creative minds behind such works as "Einstein on the Beach," "The Black Rider" and "Deafman Glance."

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Absolute Wilson

Absolute Wilson

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Critics Consensus

Absolute Wilson is an excellent introduction to the artist Robert Wilson, even if it can't quite capture the spirit of his work.

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Critics Reviews

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Misha Berson Seattle Times 02/09/2007
2.5/4
It's difficult for the uninitiated to glean from this film a real sense of Wilson's oeuvre, or its influence on the zeitgeist. Go to Full Review
Peter Marks Washington Post 01/26/2007
Does a good basic job of recapitulating the highs and lows of a career filled with restless energy and an outsize drive to achieve. Go to Full Review
Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 01/12/2007
2/4
As a piece of entertainment, there's no getting around the fact that the film rises or falls on the degree to which the clips from Wilson's productions grab the viewer's attention and the ideas they embody arrest the mind. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/14/2007
B
A good introduction to those unfamiliar with the artist, while it should also be pleasing to his fans. Go to Full Review
Michael McDonagh culturevulture.net 03/12/2007
Yet Otto-Bernstein's clips, though well-chosen, never convey what seeing Wilson live is like...Her book is much more stimulating. Go to Full Review
David Noh Film Journal International 03/01/2007
One comes away from this documentary fully satisfied and yet wanting even more, a testament to the skill of the filmmakers and the utter fascination of their subject. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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10/18/2014 could have been a lot more thorough and included a lot more cuts from major productions. but still completely absorbing. See more 11/20/2011 Robert Wilson is a fascinating director, and this captures a lot of what makes him interesting. It is a meaty documentary for a majority of it, but the final act seems to just end, which felt weird because the first part was so strong. If you want to see some really intriguing theater work, watch this documentary. See more 10/13/2008 I watched this on television the other day and thought it was very interesting as i know little about Robert Wilson, i admit i found it fascinating and a very detailed documentary, also images and film clips from his earlier works to later ones are a plus and which made me have more of a understanding who he was and how he delivered his influence in the theater. All up great watch. See more 04/08/2008 Fascinating look at a man who came from the repressed mid-century community of Waco, Texas, overcame a crippling stutter, a cold mother, and his own misplaced need for his father's approval to become a completely free, utterly one-of-a-kind creative Bodhisattva. The insight that this film brings into his creative process, his triumphs, his disappointments (the L.A. Olympic committee commissioned then cancelled an epic work that took years and millions to produce), and his insightful work with people whose life experiences are "different" (i.e., deaf, autistic, mentally-challenged) is remarkable. Recommended as inspiration for anyone working in the Arts. See more 12/17/2007 a very well done witty documentary about a strange guy. what more can you ask for. See more 09/19/2007 I always have been a fan of Robert Wilson's art. But this movie shows how the artist emerged as what he is today against all odds of growing up in Waco, TX where rodeos and football were/are more important than the arts. An inspiring movie to follow your heart in doing what you love and wish to explore and not be confined by what others expect. See more Read all reviews
Absolute Wilson

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Movie Info

Synopsis Musicians David Byrne and Philip Glass, opera singer Jessye Norman and critic John Simon are among those who discuss theatrical innovator Robert Wilson's life and work. Wilson is one of the creative minds behind such works as "Einstein on the Beach," "The Black Rider" and "Deafman Glance."
Director
Katharina Otto-Bernstein
Producer
Katharina Otto-Bernstein
Screenwriter
Katharina Otto-Bernstein
Distributor
New Yorker Films
Production Co
Film Manufacturers
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$65.8K
Runtime
1h 45m
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