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This So-Called Disaster

Play trailer Poster for This So-Called Disaster R Released Jan 24, 2003 1h 27m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 27 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In this documentary, filmmaker Michael Almereyda chronicles the San Francisco production of "The Late Henry Moss," a play written and directed by noted scribe Sam Shepard. The film explores Shepard's artistic inspirations as well as his working relationships with the play's cast, which includes stars such as Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and Nick Nolte. Much of the film is devoted to a detailed examination of the work that goes into readying a play for opening night.
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This So-Called Disaster

Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Boston Globe One of the finer peeks into the creative process of staging a play. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 18, 2004 Full Review Manohla Dargis Los Angeles Times In its vision of the push-and-pull of rehearsal and the revelation of how a play comes to breathing, snorting life onstage, Almereyda's video brings us close to the act of creation. Rated: 4/5 Jun 17, 2004 Full Review Moira MacDonald Seattle Times Ultimately, you leave This So-Called Disaster with renewed respect for Shepard, who comes off as a kind of quiet hero: a man of words, confronting his past with little fuss, and from it creating a legacy. Rated: 3/4 May 21, 2004 Full Review Robert W. Butler Kansas City Star Will appeal mostly to those who love theater and relish the opportunity to see a production being built, scene by scene. Rated: 3/4 Sep 10, 2004 Full Review David Noh Film Journal International Consistently engrossing, with nary a dull moment, and very enlightening on what is popularly called "the actor's process." Aug 8, 2004 Full Review Paul Sherman Boston Herald Rated: 3/4 Jun 18, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Geke g Creativity is splendid. Nice directing. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Very creative movie. The most liked is how to show characters’ emotions and their specific personalities. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Audience Member A movie every theatre person should watch. There is something gratifying in seeing how universal theatre is. Even mega-talented stars like Woody Harrelson and Sean Penn get frustrated with characters and lines, bad acts, not understanding a scene. In a film their performances are so prestigious, you see the take where they nailed it, but the work that went into it is never hinted at. And you can't feel the electricity like you can in a live show. Watching their processes, although it doesnt' dive deep enough into it, and seeing and hearing Sam Shepard talk about it all, is just a treat for a buff like me. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Brilliant movie all actors MUST see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member We are so very lucky to have such a great look into the private process of Sam Shepard directing a play. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member In this documentary about theater, I enjoyed the quality of language used by the director, the way Shepard told his story, Gammon's acting, the diversity of activities that go on during rehearsal, including those to memorize lines, and the music. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
This So-Called Disaster

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Almereyda

Director

T Bone Burnett

Self

James Gammon

Self

Woody Harrelson

Himself

Cheech Marin

Caesar

Anne Militello

Self

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This So-Called Disaster

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this documentary, filmmaker Michael Almereyda chronicles the San Francisco production of "The Late Henry Moss," a play written and directed by noted scribe Sam Shepard. The film explores Shepard's artistic inspirations as well as his working relationships with the play's cast, which includes stars such as Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and Nick Nolte. Much of the film is devoted to a detailed examination of the work that goes into readying a play for opening night.
Director
Michael Almereyda
Producer
Caroline Kaplan, Callum Greene, Anthony Katagas
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
Keep Your Head, IFC Productions
Rating
R (Strong Sexual Content|Disturbing Violent Images|Language|Drug Material)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 24, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 30, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$45.2K
Runtime
1h 27m