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Benjamin Smoke

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Benjamin Smoke reviews
71
10.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 1 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Documentary

Written by: Jem Cohen
Peter Sillen

Directed by: Jem Cohen
Peter Sillen

Release Date:
Theatrical: July 21, 2000
DVD: January 21, 2003

Running Time: 72 minutes, BW / Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: Not rated

Starring Benjamin Dickerson, Patti Smith, Tim Campion, Brian Halloran, and Coleman Lewis

A documentary which examines the life of the HIV-positive leader of the Atlanta band Smoke.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Village Voice Amy Taubin

As ethereal, moving, and uncompromising as its subject.

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88

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

It's the hypnotic long-form music video Smoke never got to make.

80

The New York Times Dana Stevens

The film has a richer, more various visual texture than most documentaries, combining still photographs, black-and-white video and Super-8 film, sometimes with wild sound or none at all.

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80

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

There's such a rawness, purity and even mystical force to everything Benjamin says or sings, that anything else would seem extraneous and detracting from the impact of a man who has lived his life with absolutely no holds barred.

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75

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

It feels as though we're on a journey with Benjamin, who proves to be a wryly funny, passionate and complex traveling companion.

70

TV Guide Ken Fox

Make sure you catch this spooky and strangely moving portrait of this highly unusual artist while you can.

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70

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Poignant portrait.

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58

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

As a portrait of a man barely qualifying for a cinematic portrait, Benjamin Smoke is a trifle, but when Sillen and Cohen turn their cameras on the weedy, workaday, hellhole America that Benjamin calls home, the movie comes alive.

50

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Rather morbid.

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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