Great World of Sound

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Great World of Sound

R

2007

1h 46m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Martin (Pat Healy) is unemployed and living with his girlfriend (Rebecca Mader). He takes a job as a "producer" with the low-budget record label Great World of Sound, run by the smooth-talking Shank (John Baker). Martin and his partner, Clarence (Kene Holiday), travel around the south auditioning singers in what is essentially a scam to bilk money from marginally gifted dreamers. Martin must confront reality when he falls for Gloria (Tricia Paoluccio), a young woman with true talent.

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Critics Consensus

The Great World Of Sound is a charming and unassuming film, thanks to breakthrough performances from Pat Healy and Kene Holiday.

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Amy Nicholson

I.E. Weekly

Craig Zobel's soul-crushing docudrama slums in the real rags-to-rags tragedy of the lowest rung of the music industry.

Rated: B-

Feb 22, 2008

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Zobel ultimately comes down on the side of the suckers, whose need to make music -- even bad music -- gives them an unimpeachable dignity

Jan 11, 2008

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

A confident, sure-handed exercise focusing on the American Dream, turned nightmare.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 26, 2007

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Zobel has crafted a winner here - a promising debut film that heralds the arrival of a thrilling new talent.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 6, 2019

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Christian Toto

Washington Times

Great World of Sound is a corrosive antidote to "American Idol."

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 9, 2008

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Chris Hewitt

St. Paul Pioneer Press

The film's agenda becomes clear so early that the middle hour or so seems to be marking time until we get to the end.

Jan 11, 2008

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Audience Member

Ok comedy - but the fake auditions go on a bit too long. Once one finds out that most of the musicians were real people who actually thought they were auditioning for music producers, it gives the whole film a bit more of a mean-spirited feel.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Kene Holiday is terrific in this masterpiece of a film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

US Indie about scam to con money off people selling them studio time to record their own songs, low budget affair, bit repetitive and ultimately not sure if it could have been a shorter film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

It stars me. What else do you need to know? Okay, one more thing: it's awesome. Honest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

The debut feature of "Compliance" director Craig Zobel is an enjoyable little indie concerning the moral dilemma of taking an unethical job in these grim economic times. Pat Healy and Kene Holliday are great as two "record producers" whose job is to sign up musicians under the false pretence that they will launch their career.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

The lone film I went out of my way to see at the Vancouver Film Festival, Great World of Sound is mocumentary about a money scam as told by two salesmen who are oblivious to the fact that it is a scam. What is the scam? A fake record company has open auditions to naive musicians in various smalltowns in the the south. The salesmen then ask the superstar hopefuls for a financial investment to show their "commitment" to making it. This commitment is in the 3000 dollar range. As funny as this film was, particularly Keene Holiday as Clarence, an incredibly enthusiastic and sheisty salesmen with a mean mout to boot, it takes a serious turn when Martin finally admits to himself what they're doing when taking an audition from the first talented, and very beautiful, hopeful they've met. When it's all said and done, this movie is about taking one last shot at that dream of being someone, and then realizing it will never happen.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Craig Zobel

Director

John Baker

Shank

Michael Harding

Fred

Pat Healy

Martin

Rebecca Mader

Pam

Tricia Paoluccio

Gloria

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Synopsis

Martin (Pat Healy) is unemployed and living with his girlfriend (Rebecca Mader). He takes a job as a "producer" with the low-budget record label Great World of Sound, run by the smooth-talking Shank (John Baker). Martin and his partner, Clarence (Kene Holiday), travel around the south auditioning singers in what is essentially a scam to bilk money from marginally gifted dreamers. Martin must confront reality when he falls for Gloria (Tricia Paoluccio), a young woman with true talent.

Director: Craig Zobel
Producer: Craig Zobel, Richard A. Wright, David Gordon Green, Melissa Palmer
Screenwriter: Craig Zobel, George Smith
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Plum Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.6K
Runtime: 1h 46m

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