Burt's Buzz

2013

1h 28m

Documentary

List

79%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

48%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

The life of Burt Shavitz, the original owner of Burt's Bees.

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Audience Member

Quite a nice curiosity, rather than a deep and revealing documentary. Raises plenty of big questions about the man and the business, but answers mainly superficial ones.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

Burt's Buzz is the Bees Knees !

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Full review at WordsonFilms.com While the film does seem to lack a certain focused perspective and may even be a tad overfond of Burt and his idiosyncrasies, there is something quietly charming, intriguing, and thoroughly watchable about Burt's Buzz. Like it's star, this single-subject documentary takes a slow and ambling approach to things and also seems hesitant to say all that it could. Still, it remains entertaining, memorable, and thought-provoking all the same. And while the film does not leave it's audiences with the sort of concentrated emotions or crystal clear viewpoints that some other documentaries do, it does contain some some truly bizarre and even some rather touching moments that are sure to stick with them long after the credits roll.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

I enjoy bios of weird individuals. Rock-a-fire Explosion, Marwencol, Beauty is Embarrassing, et al. I'd throw Burt's Buzz right in that mix. Admittedly, there are some facets to the story left unexplored perhaps to the film's detriment, but I'm not sure I'd mess with a woman willing to use sexual harassment as leverage in contract negotiations.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Burt is a lot more boring than I expected. His life story is alright, but I kinda feel bad for him. Loved his Skype conversation with his dog, though. Watched on Netflix at home, September 21, 2015.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

interesting story of a man who just wanted to sell honey. "a good day is when no one shows up...and you don't have to go anywhere.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Jody Shapiro

Director

Burt Shavitz

Actor

Jean Du Toit

Executive Producer

Phyllis Laing

Executive Producer

Isabella Rossellini

Executive Producer

Jody Shapiro

Producer

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Kate Taylor

Globe and Mail

In its tight focus on the man, and its leisurely pace, the film creates an intriguing portrait of a figure caught between the Sixties and the present, and the self and the image.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 13, 2014

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Shavitz is undoubtedly an intriguing fellow, but "Burt's Buzz" never quite finds what makes him tick.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 12, 2014

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Linda Barnard

Toronto Star

Shapiro (How to Start Your Own Country) lets the story play out in a meandering fashion that echoes Shavitz's approach to life.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 12, 2014

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

An informative, amusing portrait of a simple man subjected to the machinery of global fame.

Rated: B

Sep 21, 2020

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Stephen Saito

Moveable Fest

Shapiro's film finds a way to flourish without ever feeling ordinary, taking a page from its subject who despite extolling the virtues of a simple life leads one that's satisfyingly complex and quite deserving of the big screen treatment.

Nov 30, 2018

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Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

Sellout? Tool? Dupe? Better to just get to know the real Burt than to judge.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 31, 2015

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Synopsis

The life of Burt Shavitz, the original owner of Burt's Bees.

Director: Jody Shapiro
Producer: Jean Du Toit, Phyllis Laing, Isabella Rossellini
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 28m