Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997)
Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 23
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 8.3/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 1,751
Movie Info
This documentary profiles poet/performance artist Bob Flanagan, who was born with cystic fibrosis. Flanagan explains, with engaging humor, how his obsession with controlled, self-inflicted pain has helped him to deal with his uncontrollable suffering. His philosophy forces one to look at sado-masochism with fresh eyes. The film includes explicit scenes of genital self-mutilation. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
Nov 7, 1997 Wide
Sep 23, 2003
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Kirby Dick
interviewer -
-
Kathe Burkhart
interviewer -
-
Rita Valencia
interviewer -
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (28) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (2) | DVD (9)
This bold, intense, and uncompromising expose of S&M takes audiences to places thay have not been before; in moments, it's tough to watch but quite rewarding at the end.
Top CriticFlanagan and Rose prove to be an exceptionally creative and intelligent couple who were able to turn their obsessions into art, albeit of a highly specialized kind and involving at times an overwhelmingly brutal exhibitionism.
There's never quite been a movie like Sick, which isn't interesting enough, alas, to make its repellent and morbid episodes bearable.
One of the most agonizing films I have ever seen.
Does a remarkable thing in presenting extreme, sometimes revolting material and simultaneously making us like and admire Flanagan.
One of the most unlikely inspirational films ever made.
The film is sad and funny and flat-out fascinating.
The title alone of Kirby Dick's alleged documentary Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist practically screams: "This is not your standard biopic!"
gut-wrenching
It contains language and depicts sexual acts that most will find appalling and intolerable, and this fact overshadows any enticing human element the film tries to extend.
Under the shackles, the film implies, is an unbroken human spirit triumphantly determined to not only stay alive, but actually enjoy himself while doing so.
For those willing to endure its more harrowing moments, Kirby Dick's documentary about Los Angeles artist Bob Flanagan is a touching and rewarding look at a charismatic and defiant man.
One of the funniest, most disturbing and poignant explorations of human nature ever made.
Whatever you want to call Sick, it's anything but a piece of exploitative voyeurism, by turns sombre, hilarious, wince-inducing and inspiring.
The story is uplifting, strangely enough, because Bob was able to live with the constant pain and discomforts of the disease by finding his own identity...
An exploration of sickness of the body and sickness of the mind on several profound levels.
An entirely engrossing (but not incredibly artistic) documentary.
Audience Reviews for Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist
Super Reviewer
Also worth noting is how impeccable director Kirby Dick is when it comes to picking subjects for his documentaries. This was his first international hit, and it is quite clear why it was so hailed, especially in the era before the internet where self-documented extreme masochistic acts were not a google search away or conveniently categorized on BMEzine..
Super Reviewer
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist yet.
What's Hot On RT
John Goodman's Best Movies
Woody Allen in San Francisco
Naomi Watts stars as Princess Di
Pictures from a zombie nation
Fresh Links
Featured
Movie: ID: 17568 Title: Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist Release Date: 1997-11-07 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 6 Status: 1
Family Movie Mistakes
Even the best family entertainment experiences a few blunders now and then...
The Looks of Johnny Depp
To celebrate the star's birthday, BuzzSugar looks at the many faces of Johnny Depp.
10 Egregious Product Placements
Rolling Stone wonders if The Internship goes too far... then provides 10 examples of movies that did.
10 Bad Movies That Look Great
Sometimes even terrible movies can be beautiful; here are 10 of them, from HitFix.
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
Featured on RT
- Total Recall: John Goodman's Best Movies 1
- In Pictures: Zombie Nation! 0
- Video Interviews with Cast & Crew of Monsters University 0
- Digital Multiplex: 21 & Over, Quartet, and More 3
- RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Jack the Giant Slayer and Quartet 23
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Man of Steel Sets June Record 109
- Weekly Ketchup: Man of Steel Sequel In the Works 200
Top Headlines
-
Has Brad Pitt Ever Made a Successful Blockbuster?
0
-
Pacific Rim Set Visit Report
0
-
Shailene Woodley Cut from Amazing Spider-Man 2
0
-
Star Wars Casting Breakdown Reportedly Leaks
0
-
Universal Picks Up Dumb and Dumber To
0
-
Sam Taylor-Johnson Directing Fifty Shades of Grey
0
-
The Logan's Run Remake Has a New Writer
0
Foreign Titles
- Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (DE)
- Sick - The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (UK)
