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How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

Play trailer 2:11 Poster for How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer Released Jun 28 1h 42m Documentary Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 100% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
HOW TO COME ALIVE with Norman Mailer explores the rollercoaster life of America's most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century, Norman Mailer. Propelled by his tremendous ego and contrarian spirit, Mailer's ceaseless visibility in the public eye lasted 6 decades, during which he had 6 tumultuous marriages, 9 beloved children, 11 bestsellers, 3 arrests, and 2 Pulitzer Prizes. Prophet, hedonist, violent criminal, literary outlaw, and social provocateur, Mailer's ideas about love, anger, fear, and courage cut to the core of human nature, are more relevant than ever today, and point to a prescription for waking ourselves up, shaking free of society's expectations, and coming alive as a people. The first project with full access to Mailer's family and their archive, the film unearths a treasure trove of intimate and never-before-seen footage, outtakes, audio recordings, and interviews from throughout his life. Mailer lays himself bare, foibles and all. As a lover, fighter, rabble-rouser, and perhaps the last true American public intellectual, he seeks most of all to become a bolder, better human being and encourages us to do the same -- to think adventurously, speak fearlessly, and care less about the response... or risk a doomed future.
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How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Gal Beckerman The Atlantic A need exists to find ways to productively depict the lives of deeply flawed and even morally repugnant artists. With this film, Zimbalist has done just that by embracing ambivalence. Jul 24, 2024 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Variety “How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer” holds surprises even for Mailer fans. Jul 16, 2024 Full Review Alissa Wilkinson New York Times Zimbalist hits on a great idea: arrange the film in terms of what Mailer's friends, enemies and acquaintances believe his "rules for coming alive" might be. Jul 1, 2024 Full Review Mark Demetrius FILMINK (Australia) ... gets better and better as it goes on. Rated: 18/20 Oct 15, 2024 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl How to Come Alive does a remarkable job capturing Mailer’s anarchic spirit... Rated: 7/10 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review James Verniere Boston Movie News This is biography in snippets. But Mailer remains a true 20th century literary giant. He was a throwback to a time when geniuses did not have or even want publicists. Rated: B+ Aug 16, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1) audience reviews
Susan C I have a great appreciation for this movie and everyone that was a part of it. Brilliantly done!!! Norman's family are lovely and very well spoken. Norman knew what the people needed, but his childhood beliefs controlled him in ways he didn't understand. We need our voice to be heard, but in a more alive captivating truthful fearless way. To get out of our own way and come alive we must go deeply into it. See you soon. Thanks for creating Jeff Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
How to Come Alive with Norman Mailer

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis HOW TO COME ALIVE with Norman Mailer explores the rollercoaster life of America's most controversial and bestselling author of the 20th Century, Norman Mailer. Propelled by his tremendous ego and contrarian spirit, Mailer's ceaseless visibility in the public eye lasted 6 decades, during which he had 6 tumultuous marriages, 9 beloved children, 11 bestsellers, 3 arrests, and 2 Pulitzer Prizes. Prophet, hedonist, violent criminal, literary outlaw, and social provocateur, Mailer's ideas about love, anger, fear, and courage cut to the core of human nature, are more relevant than ever today, and point to a prescription for waking ourselves up, shaking free of society's expectations, and coming alive as a people. The first project with full access to Mailer's family and their archive, the film unearths a treasure trove of intimate and never-before-seen footage, outtakes, audio recordings, and interviews from throughout his life. Mailer lays himself bare, foibles and all. As a lover, fighter, rabble-rouser, and perhaps the last true American public intellectual, he seeks most of all to become a bolder, better human being and encourages us to do the same -- to think adventurously, speak fearlessly, and care less about the response... or risk a doomed future.
Director
Jeff Zimbalist
Producer
Jeff Zimbalist, Victoria Marquette, Polina Dubik
Screenwriter
Jeff Zimbalist
Distributor
Zeitgeist Films
Production Co
All Rise Films
Genre
Documentary, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 3, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA)
$64.2K
Runtime
1h 42m
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