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William Eggleston in the Real World
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Baker
    100
    Filmmaker Michael Almereyda gives the most persuasive possible account of the upswing in Eggleston's critical standing.
  2. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Scott Foundas
    90
    Almereyda has crafted an uncannily revealing portrait of a major American artist at work, all the more remarkable for the deceptive casualness with which it unfolds, as if Almereyda had just shown up.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    90
    An elegantly discursive examination of one of the great modern photographers, a surprisingly intimate portrait of an elusive, laconic man.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Ed Halter
    80
    Subtle, elegant documentary.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Janet Maslin
    80
    Mr. Eggleston proves the polished granddaddy who, early on, recognized beauty in a garish wasteland. In this accomplished look at a storied career, he instructs - without words - how to see all that is hauntingly familiar.
  6. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    75
    Refreshingly offbeat documentary.
  7. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    75
    Eggleston doesn't speak much, and when he does, it's usually a mutter, forcing Almereyda to use subtitles. Fortunately, Eggleston's photographs come across loud and clear.
  8. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Mark Feeney
    75
    The documentary is elliptical, with a slow, drifty rhythm. It presents an up-close but impersonal view of Eggleston.
  9. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    70
    The result isn't particularly mesmerizing, but it does offer a well-rounded portrait that will be of particular interest to photography lovers.
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    70
    Without slavishly imitating the photographer's distinctive style, Almereyda also manages to connect his own images to all that's "Egglestonian" in the photographer's world.
  11. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    50
    The trouble with artists making documentaries about other artists is that art tends to get in the way.
  12. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    40
    Almost utterly defeated by its subject's sardonic stonewalling.
  13. Variety
    Reviewed by: Ronnie Scheib
    40
    Despite Almereyda's strong following in arthouse circles, William Eggleston in the Real World --which requires patient if not repeat viewing -- will probably not venture far into it.
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User Reviews

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User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. ChadS.
    6
    On film, using the same long takes of William Eggleston at work, on his feet with a camera in tow, shooting life, the viewer can imagine that a blow-by-blow account of the artistic process could make for compelling viewing. But "William Eggleston in the Real World" is shot on video tape. For photography neophytes(such as myself), we wait patiently for the narrator to explain his importance in the art world. If Eggleston is a humble man(he seems to hate the word "artist" as did the filmmaker John Ford), "William Eggleston in the Real World" is definitely not his cup of tea. Thankfully, there are the photographs. This original but slightly off-putting documentary shows us why in most biopics, we rarely see the artist at work. Snapping pictures is not dramatic, and it takes the mystery out of the finished product.… Full Review »
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