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In Search of Mozart (2006)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 32
Fresh: 26 | Rotten: 6

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 2

No consensus yet.

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 1,323

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Movie Info

Filmmaker Phil Grabsky speaks with the most celebrated orchestras and musicians on the planet to explore the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the first-ever feature-length documentary about the 18th century composer. Over eight works by Mozart are presented chronologically in order to draw distinct parallels between the composer's music and his remarkable life. Lovingly crafted and never weighed down by history, Grabsky's film is designed to be enjoyed by classical-music enthusiasts as well as the casual fan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Unrated, 2 hr. 8 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

Directed By: Phil Grabsky

Written By: Phil Grabsky

In Theaters: May 18, 2007 Wide

On DVD: Apr 12, 2005

Microcinema

In Search of Mozart Trailer & Photos

Cast

Critic Reviews for In Search of Mozart

All Critics (32) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (6) | DVD (4)

This thorough and insightful 2006 documentary presents a more rounded and compelling view of the high-spirited genius.

September 28, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

More rewarding musically than cinematically.

August 4, 2007 Comment

Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

Top Critic

Educational, but not exactly inspiring.

July 20, 2007 Full Review Source: New York Daily News

| Comment

Elizabeth Weitzman

New York Daily News

Top Critic

Setting the record straight literally and figuratively, In Search of Mozart is an adamantly linear, myth-busting stride through a prodigiously talented life.

July 20, 2007 Comment

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Top Critic

Long before the midway point, the sheer volume of verbiage becomes oppressive and repetitive.

July 3, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

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Joe Leydon

Variety

Top Critic

Phil Grabsky's eloquent documentary In Search of Mozart seems certain to delight music lovers yet also engages the attention of one woefully lacking in knowledge and appreciation of classical music.

May 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

Perhaps the neatest thing about Phil Grabsky's In Search of Mozart is that after watching it for more than two hours your first impulse is to rush to the Internet and download a slew of Mozart recordings.

March 31, 2011 Full Review Source: Kansas City Star

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Robert W. Butler

Kansas City Star

Filmmaker Phil Grabsky has done the world an enormous favour by painstakingly and lovingly crafting a musical portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that is worthy of the subject matter.

December 31, 2009 Full Review Source: JWR

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S. James Wegg

JWR

Invigorating celebration of the great composer's life and music.

December 27, 2009 Full Review Source: IdentityTheory

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Phil Hall

IdentityTheory

wisely keeps us anchored (and fascinated) with the human side of his subject

December 2, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Signals

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Jules Brenner

Cinema Signals

There's nothing particularly innovative about the film, but it does what a two-hour documentary can.

April 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix

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Jeffrey Gantz

Boston Phoenix

Dry, repetitive and didactic.

October 26, 2007 Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)

St. Paul Pioneer Press

The film effectively usurps the images left by Milos Forman's artful yet not entirely factually accurate Amadeus.

September 28, 2007 Full Review Source: Seattle Times

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Moira MacDonald

Seattle Times

Filmed with affection, taste, warmth and, yes, truth.

September 27, 2007 Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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R. M. Campbell

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Doesn't exhibit the imagination of some of Tony Palmer's films on musicians, [but] Grabsky is certainly to be congratulated on his dedication, sensitivity and good taste.

July 30, 2007 Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion

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Frank Swietek

One Guy's Opinion

Lacks anything new to say but provides a primer of sorts for those unfamiliar with classical music.

July 24, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

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Eric Monder

Film Journal International

The documentary lacks some of the emotional impact you would get from a dramatic interpretation, but it makes up for that with the music.

July 22, 2007 Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com

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Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone

TheMovieChicks.com

The film's soul is the musicians whose love for Mozart's compositions is as vibrant as their desire to share it.

July 20, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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Maitland McDonagh

TV Guide's Movie Guide

The amount of detail further enhances our understanding of both the genius and the man.

July 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Raven Snook

Time Out

My body voted (about) two-to-one against, with my ears being outvoted by my mind and my eyes.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: Internet Reviews

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Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

Excellent introduction to the life and career of the world's greatest composer who enjoyed an uneasy relationship with his aristocratic patrons.

July 18, 2007 Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews

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Louis Proyect

rec.arts.movies.reviews

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Audience Reviews for In Search of Mozart

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Everything composed by Mozart is worth hearing; and everything about him is worth reading and watching. Unfortunately, the film-maker is burdened by an agenda, as he seeks to demystify the man (as the final frames before the credits clearly demonstrate). Mozart's Masonic connections are reduced to a mere footnote...

July 29, 2007