Janis: Little Girl Blue

Name: Janis: Little Girl Blue
Genre: Biography, Music, Documentary
Released: November 27, 2015
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Cat Power

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

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Janis: Little Girl Blue

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: November 27, 2015 | Not Rated

Starring: Cat Power

Summary: Janis Joplin was one of the world’s most influential rock icons and a goddess of sound, but there was actually far more to her than that. She inspired a generation, breaking new ground for the female rock singers who followed. Through turbulent love affairs and addiction, one constant remained: she was committed to her music above all untilJanis Joplin was one of the world’s most influential rock icons and a goddess of sound, but there was actually far more to her than that. She inspired a generation, breaking new ground for the female rock singers who followed. Through turbulent love affairs and addiction, one constant remained: she was committed to her music above all until her heartbreaking death at the age of 27. Janis serves as the narrator for her own life story through letters she wrote to her family, friends and lovers. Chan Marshall (Cat Power) lends her raspy southern voice to the film reading Janis’ achingly intimate letters. Amy Berg strips away Janis’ rock and roll persona to reveal the gentle, trusting, sensitive, but powerful woman behind the legend. [Venice]… Expand

Director: Amy Berg

Genre(s): Biography, Music, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Leah Greenblatt

Dec 3, 2015

The portrait that emerges is one of a brash, talented girl who grew up an outcast in her small Texas town. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 24, 2015

A terrific film, not as moving or damning as this year’s Amy Winehouse expose, but a warm piece of cinematic scholarship. Read full review

David Edelstein

Nov 30, 2015

The unexpected element is a series of letters (some never before heard) Joplin wrote to her family back home in Port Arthur, Texas, read by Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) in a voice that captures the cadences of Joplin’s speech without being an imitation. The letters are heartbreaking in their own way. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Nov 22, 2015

It grounds us so effectively in Joplin's emotional realm as to partially rekindle the social transcendence that her voice must have represented for its owner. Read full review

Peter Hartlaub

Dec 3, 2015

The documentary “Amy” left viewers feeling a little shame, as if the audience and society was an accessory in Winehouse’s death. Janis: Little Girl Blue is a more clinical treatment, with more complicated messages. Read full review

Lorraine Ali

Dec 3, 2015

From this pastiche Joplin emerges as we've never seen her before, articulate, ambitious, torn between her wild self and her desperate need for stability. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Nov 24, 2015

As the film heaps all its sadnesses on us, the rest of Joplin languishes unexamined. Read full review

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User Reviews

talisencrw

Jul 28, 2016

This was solid and very enjoyable. My lady and I are huge classic rock and blues aficionados, and we tend to especially enjoy biopics of great musicians, so when I found out this was out, it was a natural accompaniment with a big bottle of Chilean red wine for a date night indoors. GreatlyThis was solid and very enjoyable. My lady and I are huge classic rock and blues aficionados, and we tend to especially enjoy biopics of great musicians, so when I found out this was out, it was a natural accompaniment with a big bottle of Chilean red wine for a date night indoors. Greatly talented yet ill-starred musicians that are quickly catapulted to superstardom only to die in hideous and tragic circumstances are particularly fascinating--and Janis Joplin certainly fits the bill.

I'm not sure I've seen any other of Amy Berg's works, but this was very well thought out and made. I haven't seen any other films about Janis, but in seeing this I can't see how any other could be any more definitive.

Now to see the recent ones on Chet Baker, Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix...… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

foxgrove

Apr 1, 2016

An informative and engrossing documentary about an iconic figure who I actually didn't know very much about. Although generally her style of singing is not to everyone's taste, her talent is succinctly pointed out by a contributor who states that 'she was a much better singer than either sheAn informative and engrossing documentary about an iconic figure who I actually didn't know very much about. Although generally her style of singing is not to everyone's taste, her talent is succinctly pointed out by a contributor who states that 'she was a much better singer than either she (Janis) or the public realised'.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

May 3, 2016

Starring Janis Joplin (archive footage) and narrated by Cat Power (Okay, what kind of stage name is that?), this documentary about a rocking icon named Janis Joplin is a blast to the past to learn the history of music when she was alive.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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