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Waking Life (2001)

tomatometer

80

Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 140
Fresh: 112 | Rotten: 28

The talky, animated Waking Life is a unique, cerebral experience.

81

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 32
Fresh: 26 | Rotten: 6

The talky, animated Waking Life is a unique, cerebral experience.

audience

86

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 56,891

My Rating

Movie Info

Richard Linklater returned to the semi-improvised approach and philosophical themes of his debut feature Slacker while embracing a new and groundbreaking visual technology in his sixth feature film, Waking Life. Linklater and cameraman Tommy Pallotta shot the film on location in Austin, TX, using digital video equipment. Linklater and digital animator Bob Sabiston then used newly developed computer software to transform the images through a process called "interpolated rotoscoping"; the result

May 7, 2002

$2.1M

Fox Searchlight

All Critics (146) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (115) | Rotten (29) | DVD (22)

This inventive animated film, which takes Linklater back to his roots in Austin and Slacker, represents a summation of all the philosophical concerns that have defined him as spokesperson for Gen-X.

October 31, 2006 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

For a movie heralded as the cutting edge of visual innovation, Waking Life is disappointingly dull in every other respect.

November 6, 2002 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | Comment (1)
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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If there was ever a film that made ontological exploration fun, this is it.

January 22, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
New York Magazine
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Exhilarating, transporting, funny and haunting -- and at times maddeningly heady or narcotically logy -- Waking Life doesn't compare to any other movie experience I've ever had.

December 5, 2001 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment
Salon.com
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Truly a one-of -a-kind movie.

November 9, 2001 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

To paraphrase the enduring title of a new-wave album, it is pure pop for dream people.

November 2, 2001 Full Review Source: Denver Post | Comment
Denver Post
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a commercial ripoff designed to confuse art-house patrons

February 13, 2011 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews | Comment

Love-it-or-hate-it film best for older teens.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

A far-out-man poetry slam, art exhibit and imaginative philosophical discourse all at once drifts gently down a stream of consciousness until merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, "Waking Life" is but a dream. Who says existential fiction must be dreary?

November 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com | Comment
Suite101.com

Form and content fit perfectly: even if the highbrow babbling gets a bit much, the hypnotic animation means that there is always something to watch, like characters suddenly dissolving into smoke or spectacles expanding.

September 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comments (2)

A true independent film that uses animation techniques to their utmost.

July 24, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
eFilmCritic.com

The question comes up often in life: What's your favorite movie? Since October 2001, the answer has been easy and one I shoot back reflexively almost before someone's finished the question: "Waking Life."

October 2, 2006 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | Comment
Arizona Daily Star

The novelty of the much-lauded animation style wears off about halfway through, with the end result a film that's more interminable than anything else.

July 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comment
Reel Film Reviews

The endless philosophising is a bit sophomoric and more jokes would help, but this is one of a kind that grows more absorbing the longer it runs.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

It is not the best film of the year, nor is it likely to be one that I purchase and watch often. Still, it is something that should be seen by everyone and experienced by any diehard film lover.

October 1, 2005 Full Review Source: Zertinet Movies | Comment
Zertinet Movies

I applaud Linklater for [directing] such an interesting ride. But it suffers from a lack of sensistivity to its audience...

January 15, 2005 Full Review Source: Looking Closer | Comment (1)
Looking Closer

Linklater's most visually distinctive movie, with exquisitely detailed renderings ... that are at the same time unstable, floaty, in a way perfect for a dreamed reality.

January 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Blogcritics.org | Comment
Blogcritics.org

It reminded me of college.

June 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | Comment

This audacious movie may put some people to sleep; for others, it'll be a wakeup call on the possibilities of screen storytelling

February 24, 2004 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Waking Life

Basically an animated sequel to Linklater's debut (Slacker). Very impressive.

October 27, 2011
Graham Jones

Super Reviewer

Boy, now this is a polarizing film. I wouldn't blame or argue with someone if they were to dismiss this film as boring, pretentious, intellectual bullshit. In many ways, that is true. I realize this is not a film for everyone, but I think everyone should still see it anyway. It is good to exercise the brain and

August 3, 2006
cosmo313
Chris Weber

Super Reviewer

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