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Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.
All Critics (50) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (46) | Rotten (4) | DVD (4)
Like many of the 400-odd movies Roger Corman has produced and/or directed, Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel has a title that sizzles over content that merely simmers.
The results are solid and educative.
Alex Stapleton's lively, engrossing and enlightening documentary about a career that can be described as surprising on multiple counts.
The movie delivers a compelling argument for appreciating the filmmaker as a major artist who's both largely responsible for many mainstream Hollywood cinema trends while somehow remaining superior to them.
To fresh eyes, Corman's World may feel more like a meal; to the rest of us, it's merely a glance at the menu.
The funniest thing about Corman -- it's a joke he's in on -- is the disparity between the movies he makes and the precise, polite, almost scholarly demeanor he projects.
First time feature director Alex Stapleton does an admirable job educating her viewers on the man who seemingly launched a thousand faces.
Surprisingly, there's a very sour tone to "Corman's World" that undercuts a lot of the attempts to look back at Roger Corman's films with a laugh and a nostalgic gleam.
[I]f it doesn't offer anything new to our understanding of Corman, as filmmaker, producer, or person, it nicely encapsulates his legacy...
At one point in this joyful documentary, Jack Nicholson discusses the countless cheapies produced by Roger Corman and cracks, "By mistake, he actually made a good picture every once in a while."
Along the way this documentary interviews the likes of Nicholson, Ron Howard and (of course) Corman himself. Add some scarce footage and you've got a winner that is sure to please die-hard fans as well as newbies.
Almost any documentary on Roger Corman would be fascinating, and Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel, directed by Alex Stapleton, is certainly that.
Roger Corman is the king of low budget cinema. He is responsible for exposing film fans to many of the industry's most legendary names such as Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson and Ron Howard. This is a must see documentary for cinema fans, even if you're not a fan of Corman's, just give it a shot because I think he's one of the most important figure in cinema. The film features great interview with the actors that have worked with him, directors that he's helped across the way and other directors that have been influenced by Corman's work. This is a well crafted documentary that is among the finest that I've seen in quite some time. The film takes a look at his cinematic legacy and his unique style in entertaining audiences. His films are a wonderful and his knack to entertain viewers is something special. As a fan of his work, I really enjoyed the film, and I think anyone that is interested in a forgotten part of film history might so too. The film is very entertaining and insightful and will definitely enjoy this documentary. If you enjoy documentaries, this is one worth seeing. The subject is very interesting, and is one that deserves more exposure. Over the course of his career, Roger Corman has made over 400 films ranging from a variety of genres. He is able to thrill audiences looking for something ridiculous and fun, with barely any budgets for his pictures. He is one of the few in the industry that understands that you can pull off something really good with some basic ideas. He also exposed us and launched the careers of some film legends, if you really want to watch a well made documentary about a great film icon, then this is for you.
Super Reviewer
I'm so glad a documentary like this exists. It perfectly represents the brilliance of Corman's passion, in that he never gives up and makes movies for the sheer joy of it. By tackling films with low budgets, he always comes out on top. Best of all, his films were the starting blocks for many huge talents such as Jack Nicholson. When Nicholson talks, you feel nothing but love and respect, when he breaks down into tears it's truly an open and beautiful moment of a man who usually keeps his cool. In other areas we get anecdotes of just how cheaply Corman makes his movies and how he has inspired many directors since. Most interesting of all is when it talks about Corman's more serious projects such as The Intruder. It is certainly a celebration of Corman and his finest achievements, though I wish it had gone into more detail as to why he hasn't directed in over 20 years, and covered more of his recent outputs as producer. You have to see this if you love film, and you'll certainly have plenty to stick on your watchlist.
Entertaining and informative. I loved all the clips from Corman's works, yet he is so prolific that this still only scratches the surface. It is interesting that the makers of this doc included quotes from those who have worked with Corman saying that the Academy doesn't award the sort of movies he makes (even though they are extremely popular) and then during the making of this doc Corman was honored with the lifetime achievement Oscar in 2009. The man has had a major influence in giving so many actors, writers and directors their start in Hollywood. It is obvious that all the stars who speak about their start in Corman's pictures love him. In a surprisingly heartfelt moment Jack Nicholson is even brought to tears. Corman has produced independently for decades, distributed several foreign language Oscar winners, and had to reinvent his company a number of times when drive-ins began disappearing, home video took over the market, and big budget blockbusters stole the type of genre flicks in which he used to specialize. Important for getting a fuller view of filmmaking history!
"Some men dream of conquering the world. Roger Corman created his own." A documentary on DIY producer/director Roger Corman and his alternative approach to making movies in Hollywood.
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