Mr. Fish: Cartooning From the Deep End

2017

1h 10m

Documentary

List

88%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

100%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

A controversial political cartoonist tries to provide for his family while remaining true to his creativity in a world where the commercial value of satiric humor is waning.

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Prime Video

Rent Mr. Fish: Cartooning From the Deep End on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Booth's conflicted forays into "straight jobs..." deftly illustrate the classic struggle between art and commerce - and one man's uncompromising campaign to tell his truth.

Dec 5, 2018

Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

The art speaks for itself. We should listen.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

Variety

Brisk and ingratiating, with some brief animated sequences adding color, this is an easy watch despite the frequently incendiary nature of its subject's barbed images.

May 2, 2018

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 29: Doc Talk Part 2: Of Fathers and Sons / Mr. Fish: Cartooning from the Deep End / Who is Arthur Chu? / Billboard Boys / John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection

Rated: 55/100

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

the film is one that is important as it underlines how freedom of speech can be removed and can be hurt when artists are muzzled.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 14, 2020

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Mr. Fish: Cartooning From The Deep End is a documentary that's worthy of the subject it profiles.

Dec 23, 2018

Full Review

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Audience Member

Great intro to this genius and fierce artist. Mr Fish is an American treasure. His art is a knockout and he takes his job in society so seriously. Glad to know he exists and works. And thanks to the filmmaker!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

From filmmaker Pablo Bryant, this feature length film is a portrait of brilliant and sometimes acerbic satirical cartoonist Mr. Fish who, while providing the world with fierce satire, must also reckon with his identity as a laborer who has to help provide for himself and his family. The film, like the artist, has a heart and is full of compassionate humanity, but doesn't shy away from the more difficult sides of the struggles and self-involvement required to generate ideas in cartoon form and put them out for public consumption. Mr. Fish himself is a clear-eyed and cutting voice speaking out against institutions that strip away authentic human connection through commodification and for the benefits of shareholders. Rather, through his art he seeks to inspire people to have conversations that, through critical thinking and responsible participation in community, bring people toward each other in recognition of common interests. Mr. Bryant is a skillful filmmaker who spent roughly five years with Mr. Fish and his family, documenting the warm relationships between them and taking note of the struggles that come from an artist who is often willfully defiant of commodifying his skill for a more socially acceptable market. This means his family had to make sacrifices and the filmmaker paints a complex and relatable portrait of this working-class situation. Because of this specificity in the subject matter and editing, anyone who views the film can identify with the anarchistic artist and also his responsible, bemused (and often burdened with responsibility) wife. Mr. Bryant balances the message of the artist and the themes of the film in a relatively short run time. The humor in the storytelling, self-awareness of the characters and the editing of the film make it a very enjoyable experience. If you can, go see it live with Pablo Bryant and Mr. Fish giving a Q&A after the film. Much has happened since the completion of the story and Mr. Fish's continued development is important context for viewing in 2019. In the intervening years since the completion of the film, Mr. Fish has begin teaching university classes more frequently and has changed his approach to his cartooning as a result. I, for one, was heartened and moved as an audience member.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Entertaining documentary about a political cartoonist with a thoughtful exploration of freedom of speech

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the best hours you'll spend with a one hour documentary. Nice balance between the Artist, his process, the business and his support network.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mr. Fish (Dwayne Booth) is clearly one of the most talented political cartoonists in the world. This film perfectly captures the life and struggles of an artist who refuses to compromise no matter the cost. Fascinating story, amazing artist, and controversial subject matter will have you riveted to this movie -- and rooting for Mr. Fish. Highly recommend!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent movie! Would definitely see again. Hope it comes out in blu-ray or dvd.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Pablo Bryant

Director

Tom Brady

Executive Producer

Pablo Bryant

Producer

Ted Collins

Producer

Steven Bernstein

Music

Adam Lichtenstein

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Synopsis

A controversial political cartoonist tries to provide for his family while remaining true to his creativity in a world where the commercial value of satiric humor is waning.

Director: Pablo Bryant
Producer: Pablo Bryant, Ted Collins
Genre: Documentary
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2019
Runtime: 1h 10m

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