X
- 2022
- R
- American International Pictures (AIP)
- 1 h 55 m
- 2022
- R
- American International Pictures (AIP)
- 1 h 55 m
Summary Celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) goes against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan in 1971. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse. Between an impassioned Japanese translator called Aileen (Minami) urging him to go and a much needed...
Directed By: Andrew Levitas
- 2022
- R
- American International Pictures (AIP)
- 1 h 55 m
- 2022
- R
- American International Pictures (AIP)
- 1 h 55 m
Minamata
55
7.8
Where to Watch
Summary Celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) goes against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan in 1971. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse. Between an impassioned Japanese translator called Aileen (Minami) urging him to go and a much needed...
Directed By: Andrew Levitas
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
55
50% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 16 Critic Reviews
55
50% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
50% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
In its dour and often depressing depiction of environmental struggle, 1970s-set true-life pollution drama Minimata would pair well with Todd Haynes’ Dark Waters.
As a film, Minamata is more than just a biopic, reflecting the important social impact of photography, although — as a slideshow of images from pollution disasters, oil spills, toxic waste poisoning and more are shown over the credits — one has to wonder what true change has been made.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 55 User Ratings
7.8
78% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
11% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
11% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 55 User Ratings
7.8
78% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
11% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
11% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Levitas’ unusually even-handed approach works to balance the film’s inspirational true story with its tragic real-world context, by refusing to overstate Smith’s personal heroics, while sensitively outlining the everyday heroism of the ordinary men and women most grievously affected.
Coupled with a few inspired moments and an earnestness that’s hard to dismiss, the film manages, just barely, to stand out from the rest.
The trouble starts with the script, which wobbles between an investigative thriller and a psychological study.
Director Andrew Levitas and his co-screenwriters dramatize a riveting story using a mass of groan-worthy genre clichés that ill-serve the truth they are trying to recreate.
The film isn’t a write-off – well-handled, it could have had the sober dramatic voltage of Todd Haynes’s Dark Waters, which relates a now-familiar story of corporate malfeasance in a different place and time. The problems are of style, focus and intent.
If you want a movie that will stop you in your tracks and question everything about, well, everything (without giving too much away) that will literally leave you speechless. Then this is the for movie for you. Johnny Depp deserves every possible award for his performance in this film. It's powerful.
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(Mauro Lanari)
Ecological quixotism is mocked by the movie itself on the end credits, or by those who keep themselves informed about environmentalism. It is the protagonist who reminds us of the need not for a simplistic and impromptu cure but for a "final solution" (Pere Ubu 1985: "Disturb only to announce the second coming of Christ!", and it's fascinating his consideration on photography, which would steal a slice of the soul not only of those who are framed but also of those who take the picture, until they reach a PTSD.
Report
Minamata is weak despite the good things that get out of its subject matter.
There are certain things that work, and many others that don't, which is a shame considering how much serious journalism needs to be vindicated in the era of ''fake news'' in social media.
Johnny Depp does a good job, especially in the characterization, and I guess these will be the kind of movies where we'll be seeing him considering he's banned from blockbusters right now.
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Production Company
Metalwork Pictures,
American International Pictures (AIP),
Golan Films,
Head Gear Films,
Infinitum Nihil,
Kreo Films FZ,
Metrol Technology
Release Date Feb 11, 2022
Duration 1 h 55 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Let Truth Be The Prejudice
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Golden Trailer Awards
• 2 Nominations
