Code Black

Name: Code Black
Genre: Drama, Documentary
Released: June 20, 2014
Duration: 78 min
Rating: 77

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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6.3

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6.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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Code Black

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Movie Details & Credits

Long Shot Factory | Release Date: June 20, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: In his vivid and thought-provoking filmmaking debut, physician Ryan McGarry gives us unprecedented access to America’s busiest Emergency Department. Amidst real life-and-death situations, McGarry follows a dedicated team of charismatic, young doctors-in-training as they wrestle openly with both their ideals and with the realities of savingIn his vivid and thought-provoking filmmaking debut, physician Ryan McGarry gives us unprecedented access to America’s busiest Emergency Department. Amidst real life-and-death situations, McGarry follows a dedicated team of charismatic, young doctors-in-training as they wrestle openly with both their ideals and with the realities of saving lives in a complex and overburdened system. Their training ground and source of inspiration is “C-Booth,” Los Angeles County Hospital’s legendary trauma bay, the birthplace of Emergency Medicine, where “more people have died and more people have been saved than in any other square footage in the United States.” Code Black offers a tense, doctor’s-eye view, right into the heart of the healthcare debate – bringing us face to face with America’s only 24/7 safety net.… Expand

Director: Ryan McGarry

Genre(s): Drama, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 78 min

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Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jun 19, 2014

Slicing through the fat of policy debates to the visceral rush of critical care, the narrative combines existential worries... and blood-and-guts immediacy with a seamlessness that made me want to high-five the editor, Joshua Altman. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Jun 19, 2014

What sets Code Black apart is that the filmmaker is himself a physician. His extraordinary access to life-and-death moments and his illuminating perspective on the medical system make for a powerful viewing experience. Read full review

Mark Olsen

Jun 26, 2014

McGarry has created something that feels personal, vital and revelatory, allowing the rest of us behind the curtain. Read full review

Ernest Hardy

Jun 17, 2014

What will pull viewers in is the empathy of the healthcare workers who battle to retain their idealism in the face of staggering obstacles. Read full review

Peter Keough

Jul 31, 2014

Code Black shows the passion, frustration, and skill of those who work to heal despite the system, but it remains in the dark about why that system is broken and how it can be fixed. Read full review

McClatchy-Tribune News Service Roger Moore

Jul 29, 2014

McGarry, with this slick, invigorating film, whose action is set to a pulsating James Lavino musical score, has broadened a national debate that anti-healthcare reform folks have narrowed via the courts and political demonization. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Jun 17, 2014

Resident turned filmmaker Ryan McGarry sometimes displays shrewd instincts for hardheaded vérité — there’s compelling stuff here, even if you shear away his occasional stabs at issues of bureaucratic overcrowding and corporate cost-cutting at the expense of intimacy. Read full review

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User Reviews

Tvgirl

Nov 12, 2015

Love the constant action. Compelling to watch. I enjoy medical shows and this keeps my attention throughout. I'm a fan of Gray's Anatomy and ER SO THIS WILL BE ADDED TO MY LIST OF FAVORITE SHOWS

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Silentfoster

Jul 7, 2014

I completely disagree with most of the critics that believe that this documentary is compelling or remotely deep in any sense. I felt that the director dedicated 90 minutes to create a "yearbook" of his residence and his friends. The film was the cinematographic equivalent to the physician'sI completely disagree with most of the critics that believe that this documentary is compelling or remotely deep in any sense. I felt that the director dedicated 90 minutes to create a "yearbook" of his residence and his friends. The film was the cinematographic equivalent to the physician's facebook newsfeed. There was little critical social commentary, and when there was, it sounded old, repetitive, empty. Too much idealization of the ER physician. I would like to see a follow up in 5 years and see how many of these altruist doctors are actually doing any altruistic work.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

mooreme1

Dec 29, 2015

Excellent series! Medical terminology and resulting diagnoses/treatment researched to be plausible. Emotional attachments/baggage, extreme ER situations are actually a probability. Exceptional actions are questionable, but in totality are within the realm of possibility. Please continueExcellent series! Medical terminology and resulting diagnoses/treatment researched to be plausible. Emotional attachments/baggage, extreme ER situations are actually a probability. Exceptional actions are questionable, but in totality are within the realm of possibility. Please continue this series!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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