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Examined Life

Play trailer Poster for Examined Life 2009 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Some of today's most-influential thinkers discuss their thoughts.

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Examined Life

Examined Life

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Critics Consensus

With Examined Life, Director Astra Taylor has turned a seemingly weighty subject into a fascinating documentary.

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Critics Reviews

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Patrick Peters Empire Magazine Nov 20, 2009
3/5
The ones that work, Cornel West and Peter Singer for example, are intriguing and compelling but they don't all hang together so effortlessly. Go to Full Review Dave Calhoun Time Out Nov 20, 2009
3/5
You can't help but feel that director Astra Taylor fails at her own challenge of making an academic subject come truly alive as cinema. Go to Full Review Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Nov 20, 2009
3/5
Never dull, but it will make your head hurt. Go to Full Review Rebecca Turner Screen Slate Aug 19, 2026
Actually, everyone’s sweat, glittering brilliantly in low-resolution. Go to Full Review Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Feb 25, 2010
3/5
An unusual and compelling documentary featuring eight thinkers musing on philosophical matters as they walk in creative places. Go to Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) Nov 27, 2009
For those interested in seeing philosophers on the screen, this engaging movie offers the opportunity to see eight of them walking the streets. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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justin w @astromartin84 Apr 11, 2019 2019; largely lackluster See more Jun 11, 2013 Unexamined life is not worth living. Plato. See more antti p @anqqa Apr 21, 2013 Some healthy food for thought in 10 minute snack size portions. See more Mar 27, 2013 Word but thought provoking. Should be watched! See more Feb 27, 2013 It works at moments but some parts were weaker. Cornel West is really good here. See more Jan 10, 2013 Excellent primer to 'Thinking' . Covers a broad range of real world challenges and provides insight on how to define those in our mental models ...highly recommended watching for anyone interested in learning to think and be curious about the world.. See more Read all reviews
Examined Life

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Cast & Crew

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Astra Taylor

Director

Kwame Anthony Appiah

Actor

Judith Butler

Actor

Michael Hardt

Actor

Martha Nussbaum

Actor

Avital Ronell

Actor

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Examined Life

Examined Life (2008) Examined Life (2008) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Some of today's most-influential thinkers discuss their thoughts.
Director
Astra Taylor
Producer
Bill Imperial, Lea Marin
Screenwriter
Astra Taylor
Distributor
Zeitgeist
Production Co
Sphinx Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 25, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$120.6K
Runtime
1h 27m
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