Wattstax (re-released)
Wattstax (re-released) Image
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 7 Ratings

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  • Summary: This documentary contains selections from a non-stop 7-hour musical event celebrating the seventh annual Watts Summer Festival, held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on August 20, 1972.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Bill White
    100
    Commentary from shockingly outspoken Watts residents on topics ranging from revolution to infidelity are a vital part of the documentary.
  2. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    80
    Now an invaluable time capsule, the film has to transcend its own conceptual messiness.
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    75
    I wish I could say that Wattstax was an ecstatic soul celebration, but most of the performances, while enjoyable, fall short of memorable.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    75
    Wattstax is a disorienting and ironic moviegoing experience. It's a film about the curative powers of rhythm-and-blues music that sets out to frustrate your sense of rhythm in its insistence on the blues.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. [Anonymous]
    6
    Too many musical performances chopped in half, too much street talk, interspersed by early Richard Prior comedy made it worth the price of admission. Musically disappointing because of lack of full performances, eg: Albert King was alloted about 60 secs. live footage while Little Milton's primitive (which wasn't even performed at Wattstax at all) music video was nice for the first minute but we didn't need all 4 minutes of it. Film is kind of a frustrating hodgepodge to sit through, although the sound quality overall is excellent and perfectly synchronized.… Expand
  2. [Anonymous]
    6
    Too many musical performances chopped in half, too much street talk, interspersed by early Richard Prior comedy made it worth the price of admission. Musically disappointing because of lack of full performances, eg: Albert King was alloted about 60 secs. live footage while Little Milton's primitive (which wasn't even performed at Wattstax at all) music video was nice for the first minute but we didn't need all 4 minutes of it. Film is kind of a frustrating hodgepodge to sit through, although the sound quality overall is excellent and perfectly synchronized.… Expand

See all 6 User Reviews

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