Poster for Lightning in a Bottle

Lightning in a Bottle

2004, Documentary, 1h 49m

62 Reviews 1,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Lightning in a Bottle pays dazzling tribute to the blues by capturing its power and excitement through backstage interviews and performance footage. Read critic reviews

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Lightning in a Bottle Photos

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Movie Info

B.B. King and his trusty guitar, Lucille, headline a one-night-only celebration of the blues' 100th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Through careful song selection, the concert crafts a musical narrative beginning with the form's earliest blues guitar beginnings, then branches out to encompass the myriad styles it subsequently gave rise to. Old-school practitioners Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Dr. John mix it up with the likes of Macy Gray, Chuck D and Aerosmith.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
  • Genre:
    Documentary
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Antoine Fuqua
  • Producer:
    Margaret Bodde, Alex Gibney, Jack Gulick
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $201.6K
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Sony Pictures Classics
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SR, Surround

Cast & Crew

Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
Antoine Fuqua
Antoine Fuqua
Director
Philip Shane
Philip Shane
Film Editing
Steve Jordan
Steve Jordan
Original Music
Margaret Bodde
Margaret Bodde
Producer
Alex Gibney
Alex Gibney
Producer
Jack Gulick
Jack Gulick
Producer
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Critic Reviews for Lightning in a Bottle

All Critics (62) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (54) | Rotten (8)
Full Review… Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Full Review… Peter Travers Rolling Stone Full Review… Richard Harrington Washington Post Full Review… Sean Daly Washington Post Full Review… Roger Moore Orlando Sentinel Full Review… Howard Cohen Miami Herald Full Review… Jason Gorber Film Scouts Full Review… Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com Full Review… Jeffrey Bruner Des Moines Register Full Review… David Cornelius eFilmCritic.com Full Review… Jeff Vice Deseret News (Salt Lake City) Full Review… Sean P. Means Salt Lake Tribune
View All Critic Reviews (62)

Audience Reviews for Lightning in a Bottle

  • May 31, 2010
    What an honour to see this film with Antoine Fuqua and a collection of the legends that were finally honoured. A wonderful night of blues.
    John B Super Reviewer
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