X
  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • Arthouse Films
  • 1 h 26 m
  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • Arthouse Films
  • 1 h 26 m

Summary The Cool School is the story of American art in the 1950s and '60s, LA's coming of age, and a distinctive, fraternal group of headstrong talents. The renowned Ferus Art Gallery groomed certain members of the LA art scene from a loose band of idealistic beatniks into a coterie of competitive, often-brilliant artists. What was lost and gai...

Directed By: Morgan Neville

Written By: Kristine Mckenna, Morgan Neville

  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • Arthouse Films
  • 1 h 26 m
  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • Arthouse Films
  • 1 h 26 m

The Cool School

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 9 Critic Reviews
68
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary The Cool School is the story of American art in the 1950s and '60s, LA's coming of age, and a distinctive, fraternal group of headstrong talents. The renowned Ferus Art Gallery groomed certain members of the LA art scene from a loose band of idealistic beatniks into a coterie of competitive, often-brilliant artists. What was lost and gai...

Directed By: Morgan Neville

Written By: Kristine Mckenna, Morgan Neville

Where to Watch

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 9 Critic Reviews
68
78% Positive
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 9 Critic Reviews
68
78% Positive
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
The rare footage of '50s and '60s L.A. alone is a treasure; the City of Angels has rarely looked so hip. Bonus: cool music from the likes of Charles Mingus and the Velvet Underground.
By Lisa Schwarzbaum FULL REVIEW
75
Happily, many of the figures spoken about throughout the film are still with us -- Neville is even able to reproduce Patricia Foure's famous group photo with most of its original subjects.
By Ken Fox FULL REVIEW
70
All told, and well told, this is essential history.
FULL REVIEW
70
What The Cool School does so well, through its color accents and black-and-white photography, through the kinetic music that propels Jeff Bridges' narration by and the unorthodox attitude that reflects the artists themselves, is impart a sense of discovery.
FULL REVIEW
70
Documentarian Morgan Neville has fashioned a spirited riposte to the groundless cliche that Los Angeles is a cultural wasteland.
By Sheri Linden FULL REVIEW
60
The Cool School, is, well, cool, but it’s also fairly parochial.
By Manohla Dargis FULL REVIEW
60
The cultural cock-strutting gets to be a bit much, but Neville handily captures the excitement of an art scene percolating, breaking wide open, and finally burning itself out.
By J.R. Jones FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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Details

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Production Company Tremolo Productions
Release Date Mar 28, 2008
Duration 1 h 26 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
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Awards

Los Angeles Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

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