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Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

Play trailer Poster for Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell 2008 1h 10m Documentary Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
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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Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Melissa Anderson Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (23) audience reviews
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 Full Review Audience Member Straightforward biodoc. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

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
Ben Howe, Kyle Martin, Matt Wolf
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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