Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

2008

1h 10m

Documentary

Romance

List

100%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

Multitalented musician Arthur Russell leaves Iowa, follows Allen Ginsberg from San Francisco to New York and launches a career that reaches its heyday in the 1980s.

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Audience Member

I'm always wary of these congratulatory documentaries on eccentric figures, but Wild Combination contains 80 minutes of the most finely paced and beautifully put together material I've ever seen in a music documentary. The filmmakers managed to make a film with the same enigmatic and mysterious qualities of its subject. By splicing in bootleg videos of Russell performances, the film shows us how out of place and special Russell was in this world.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

Straightforward biodoc.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

this guy makes some of the most contemporary music. one of the many musicians I hold the highest regard for.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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Audience Member

A not bad Doco about a Intriguing Genius of a person. Doesnt outstay its welcome like alot of docos. Leaves you wanting to have Arthur as your soundtrack.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

I really appreciate that someone like Matt Wolf did went on and made a documentary of Russell. Loved every bit of it and it got me to know Russell's avantgarde music even more. I am always in search of the dance culture in the early New York and Chicago. This was just another great indepth of a part of that time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

A humbling portrait of a brilliant artist that continues to inspire both musicians and fans.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Matt Wolf

Director

Philip Glass

Actor

Steven Hall

Actor

Matt Wolf

Writer

Philip Aarons

Executive Producer

Shelley Fox Aarons

Executive Producer

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Melissa Anderson

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

It's the perfect image for a man whose vivid music appeared to be fighting its way into sharper focus.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 31, 2008

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Nathan Lee

New York Times

A tender, fascinating documentary by Matt Wolf, will delight the cult and instantly convert new members.

Rated: 4.5/5

Sep 26, 2008

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PJ Nabarro

Patrick Nabarro

The poignancy of Russell's orthodox Iowan upbringing, counterbalanced with the bohemianism of his latter New York lifestyle, makes for a fascinating contrast.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 21, 2020

Full Review

Mark Keizer

Boxoffice Magazine

With tenderness, [director Matt] Wolf convinces us that had Russell not died 16 years ago, he(TM)d be one of the culture's most fascinating and intellectually rewarding musical creatures.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 26, 2008

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Synopsis

Multitalented musician Arthur Russell leaves Iowa, follows Allen Ginsberg from San Francisco to New York and launches a career that reaches its heyday in the 1980s.

Director: Matt Wolf
Producer: Philip Aarons, Shelley Fox Aarons
Screenwriter: Matt Wolf
Production Co: Polari Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 2017
Runtime: 1h 10m

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