Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet Reviews
Film Journal International
There are survivor tales, and then there is Jason Becker's, utterly jaw-dropping in its inspiration.
Top CriticMusic-centric doc offers an undepressing look at Lou Gehrig's disease.
[Becker] comes across as a warm, funny man blessed with a devoted family and friends.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
The film says frustratingly little about how everything is managed financially, but the perseverance by all concerned is beautiful to see.
Full Review
| Original Score: 5/5
Jesse Vile's inspiring heartbreaker of a documentary is cleaved into two well-judged halves: We see Becker continuing on, robbed of speech and movement, yet undiminshed in his musical creativity.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Jesse Vile's expertly measured, emotional look at the life of a guitar prodigy cut down by ALS ...
What gets you is the smile, which first lights up his face, and then the room, reflected by everyone else who is in it.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3.5/4
Radio Times
Rivals Julian Schnabel's 2007 film The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly in its portrayal of human courage and fortitude.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Observer [UK]
Becker's story is both tragic and inspiring, and his music, with which I was previously unacquainted, is exciting and impressive.
Irish Times
Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet pays hearty tribute to Paganini-playing shredders and offers up a blueprint for dedicated care in the home and community.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
This is London
It is impossible not to be moved and to feel that, despite all the horrible things that happen, there's something decent about humans after all.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Daily Express
A moving, funny and uplifting documentary about a one-time guitar prodigy, Jason Becker, struck down a horrendous degenerative disease, ALS.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Little White Lies
A poignant subversion of your boilerplate rockumentary.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Guardian [UK]
Justifiably celebratory and respectful, and it reaches out beyond the rock fanbase.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Financial Times
The true tale of a rock guitar wizard struck down, yet miraculously not struck dumb, by motor neurone disease.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
We never sense Becker's frustration or the forces that drive him, but we can still marvel at his dogged endurance.
Full Review
| Original Score: 3/5
Empire Magazine
An intense, emotional ride. Uplifting and inspiring.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Total Film
Jesse Vile's moving documentary can't go wrong with such an inspiring, funny and genuinely nice guy taking the spotlight he deserves.
Full Review
| Original Score: 4/5
Slant Magazine
Jesse Vile's film, despite its best intentions, is merely a serviceable extension of his own fandom.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2/4
The story that remains is intriguing without being transporting - the facts are all there but the emotion is largely lost in translation.
Full Review
| Original Score: 2.5/4
