Examined Life

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Examined Life

2009

1h 27m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Some of today's most-influential thinkers discuss their thoughts.

Critics Consensus

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

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Patrick Peters

Empire Magazine

The ones that work, Cornel West and Peter Singer for example, are intriguing and compelling but they don't all hang together so effortlessly.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2009

Full Review

Dave Calhoun

Time Out

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.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2009

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

Never dull, but it will make your head hurt.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2009

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

An unusual and compelling documentary featuring eight thinkers musing on philosophical matters as they walk in creative places.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 25, 2010

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

For those interested in seeing philosophers on the screen, this engaging movie offers the opportunity to see eight of them walking the streets.

Nov 27, 2009

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Jon Fortgang

Film4

A fascinating introduction to the big issues in modern philosophy, presented with a pleasantly light touch.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 20, 2009

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justin w

2019; largely lackluster

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Unexamined life is not worth living. Plato.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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antti p

Some healthy food for thought in 10 minute snack size portions.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Word but thought provoking. Should be watched!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

It works at moments but some parts were weaker. Cornel West is really good here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

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..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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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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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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