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Unreasonable Man, An
IFC Films / Red Envelope Entertainment


9.4

based on 24 reviews
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based on 5 votes
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MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, and Howard Zinn

With the help of exciting graphics, rare archival footage and over forty on-camera interviews conducted over the past two years, An Unreasonable Man traces the life and career of Ralph Nader, one of the most unique, important, and controversial political figures of the past half century. (Two Left Legs, LLC)

GENRE(S):	Documentary
DIRECTED BY:	Henriette Mantel Steve Skrovan
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: June 12, 2007 Theatrical: January 31, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	122 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

Nominated, Grand Jury Prize (Documentary), 2006 Sundance Film Festival

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...

100

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Nader became famous as a "consumer advocate," but as the thrilling first hour of An Unreasonable Man makes clear, that humdrum bureaucratic term didn't do justice to his courage, his vision.

100

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

Through it all Nader, as ruefully funny as ever, comments on his adventures.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

The film begins like a Frank Capra movie--pure-hearted idealist takes on corporate fat cats against impossible odds and triumphs--but ends like a Shakespearean tragedy.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

Skrovan swears that during two years of filming, Nader's only demand was, "Make sure you talk to people who oppose me."

Village Voice Jim Ridley

If the film shows that few men are as unreasonable as Ralph Nader, it also shows that few have so succeeded in shaping their world: His legacy of progressive legislation will affect generations to come.

Film Threat Michael Ferraro

It's a nice refresher course to remind us how hard Nader has fought for everyday citizens, ultimately saving hundreds of lives in the long run.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

An entertaining tour of this endearing, infuriating absolutist's life and legacy, guided by talking heads more pro than con, prominent among them the former Nader's Raiders who split over their leader's disastrous insistence that there was no difference worth talking about between Democrats and Republicans, yet retain enormous affection for his wit, integrity and incorruptible sense of mission.

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

Nader haters may not be mollified, but An Unreasonable Man, like its subject itself, is a one-stop civics lesson no one should miss.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Mantel and Skrovan's documentary astutely reminds us of why we need the world's Naders. It's a reasonable movie about an often admirably unreasonable man.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

A worthy and compelling look at a unique and essentially American figure.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Those who love Nader will appreciate the respect and attention given his career. Yet others, even those for whom the mere sight of Nader's face is enough to cause a spike in blood pressure, will appreciate the film's evenhanded elucidation of Nader's faults.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

States straight off that the man's legacy has been tarnished in most of the liberal world's eyes by his being the spoiler of the 2000 presidential election. "It will be engraved on his tombstone," says his friend Phil Donahue.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

The ‘"unreasonable man" himself is interviewed, too, and he comes across as patient, articulate, and maddeningly uncompromising.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Naive or wicked, idealist or egomaniac: Nothing in Ralph Nader's character is agreed upon by everyone in this fascinating biography - with one exception. And the title says it all.

New York Post Kyle Smith

So why does the Democratic Party hate him so much? The answer, as this valuable (if blatantly pro-Nader) documentary makes clear, is hypocrisy.

Premiere Scott Warren

It may most aptly sum up the who the hell Ralph Nader is and why he insists on creating such a ruckus.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust

Though the second half contains the fireworks, it's the film's first hour that is ultimately most memorable. Mantel and Skrovan do a commendable job in covering a lot of territory, mixing pertinent and entertaining archival footage with interviews.

New York Magazine David Edelstein

What makes An Unreasonable Man so compelling is its perfectly fluid line. Simply put, the private Nader and the public Nader are the same: There are no contradictions with which to grapple, no byways to explore.

The Hollywood Reporter Sura Wood

Editors Alexis Provost and Beth Gallagher cut back and forth between the talking heads so deftly that you have the illusion that Nader is answering his critics in real time in a very lively debate.

Variety Dennis Harvey

A basically admiring if critical portrait, documentary by Henriette Mantel and Stephen Skrovan (strangely, both standup comics and TV comedy writer-producers) finds more than enough absorbing material to hold interest through nearly three-hour runtime.

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

May indeed induce dizziness, sweating and hot-and-cold flashes among politically minded leftists.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Irony and unwavering idealism are bound up in this lengthy but instantly engaging and informative documentary.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Its ideological leanings are evident and unsurprising, but more screen time for Mr. Nader's pre-2000 (or pre-post-2000) adversaries would have made a richer film.

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

The film contends admiringly, and convincingly, that Ralph Nader's authentic sense of outrage is the reason he persists when he can't prevail.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jon gave it a10:
The directors obviously like Ralph Nader, and so do I. They are fair to those who dislike or hate him, but Ralph comes across as the more reasonable (actually) both in argument and presentation. Ralph is witty and humorous, talks substance and issues, does not descend to invective and ad hominem, and this is pretty much true of his defenders. It's not true of his opponents. They come across as humorless fanatics. Although it's two hours long, I remained engaged and interested throughout. Excellent photography, use of archival film, and editing. Should be seen by all who considiser themselves a citizen.

[Anonymous] gave it a7:
A good, at times fascinating, documentary about a bad man. It is well made and flows very well from point to point. It contains crucial background information that most people would not know and it has some priceless interviews. It could use a little more about Bush's stance on Nadar, but all in all, it is a honorable 2007 documentary worth seeing if you have a political mind. 7.4

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Unreasonable Man, An IFC Films / Red Envelope Entertainment

Unreasonable Man, An
IFC Films / Red Envelope Entertainment