Pavarotti

Name: Pavarotti
Genre: Biography, Music, Documentary
Released: June 7, 2019
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 66
Cast: Bono, Clive James, José Carreras, Kofi Annan, Luciano Pavarotti

2019

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Ratings

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Pavarotti (First Look Teaser Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

CBS Films | Release Date: June 7, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Bono, Clive James, José Carreras, Kofi Annan, Luciano Pavarotti, Nelson Mandela, Nicoletta Mantovani, Phil Donahue, Pl, Princess Diana, Spike Lee, Stevie Wonder, Zubin Mehta

Summary: Created from a combination of Luciano Pavarotti's genre-redefining performances and granted access to never-before-seen footage, the film will give audiences around the world a stunningly intimate portrait of the most beloved opera singer of all time.

Director: Ron Howard

Genre(s): Biography, Music, Documentary

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 114 min

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Critic Reviews

Kenneth Turan

Jun 6, 2019

A warm, emotional and completely involving film about the celebrated tenor. Read full review

Todd Gilchrist

Jun 3, 2019

Howard’s film is a love letter to the icon, but ultimately Pavarotti is a more of a celebration of the individual behind that façade and a reminder that it’s as much his humanity as his talent that made him a star. Read full review

Steve Davis

Jun 18, 2019

This love letter dedicated to opera’s biggest rock star, the larger-than-life Luciano Pavarotti, achieves something most documentaries about the deceased rarely do: It brings a man back to glorious life. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

May 29, 2019

Intelligent, vastly appreciative of its subject and conventional in approach, Pavarotti can scarcely go wrong due to the charisma of its subject, the gorgeous music that wallpapers the entire film and an arc of success arguably unmatched in the opera world. If the film is all but engorged with goodies, one can hardly object that this is in some way inappropriate to it subject. Read full review

Empire Ian Freer

Jul 13, 2019

The film soft-peddles any sense of controversy but what emerges is an entertaining portrait of a generous, funny, larger-than-life figure. And the music is sublime. Read full review

Ken Jaworowski

Jun 6, 2019

This is a film too enamored of its subject to pry very deeply. And yet, it’s hard not to be enamored as well, as Pavarotti’s larger-than-life personality shines in almost every scene. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jul 12, 2019

Bland, incurious and passionless, this documentary about the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti is like a promotional video licensed by a team of copyright lawyers – and about as challenging as a Three Tenors gig at Wembley stadium. Read full review

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User Reviews

Nov 22, 2019

I have always felt blessed to have been alive and listening during the heyday of one of the greatest tenors in the history of opera. I experience sheer exhilaration when listening to recordings of Pavarotti singing.

I enjoyed this documentary immensely not only because it contains lots ofI have always felt blessed to have been alive and listening during the heyday of one of the greatest tenors in the history of opera. I experience sheer exhilaration when listening to recordings of Pavarotti singing.

I enjoyed this documentary immensely not only because it contains lots of clips of Pavarotti performing but because it also captured his extraordinarily engaging personality. Few classical musicians obtain the status of rock stars, but Pavarotti had the requisite exuberance and love of people to draw millions of fans in to what many regard as a rather esoteric art form reserved for the privileged classes. He was a force of nature.

I loved the interviews with people who knew and worked with him, and I found the interviews with his first wife and his daughters particularly fascinating. Pavarotti let his passions train-wreck his personal life, and he never had the self-discipline to manage his voice and his career the way his colleague Placido Domingo, who is still a viable singer, has. He was possessed of a rare talent, but he was definitely a flawed human being, as we all are.

Nevertheless, the viewer can't help but love the man. I am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to obtain his documentary on DVD so I can enjoy it repeatedly.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Jun 25, 2019

Walking up the aisle after watching/listening to his last aria you feel as if you really missed out in life not having been a friend of Luciano Pavarotti who made everyone he met feel just that, grabbing you with a smile that engulfed you. Add to that a voice, that either singing or speakingWalking up the aisle after watching/listening to his last aria you feel as if you really missed out in life not having been a friend of Luciano Pavarotti who made everyone he met feel just that, grabbing you with a smile that engulfed you. Add to that a voice, that either singing or speaking brings you in closer into his world.

Watching him with his own children or, later, the many children whose path he crossed, seeing him mentor singers to be, working with people like Bobo, dedicating a song to Princess Diane sitting in the rain with thousands of others all getting drenched, you will wish you were with him every step of the way.

The film is a straight forward biography of a man dubbed the "King of High C's" not only in words from him but from his family, friends, co-workers but from people behind the scenes. He may have had enemies but none appear or are referred to here. Yes, he could be a 'prima donna' but not to others, only with himself.

Pavarotti was a big man physically, (and there is a funny bit as he describes what a diet is), and exuded warmth and a voice that not only could but did charm each individual member of a 500,000 audience.

In the clips of The Three Tenors tour consisting of Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras with conductor Zubin Mehta you can see that he doesn't take over the performances but that the men know that he is the best of them all.

I defy all of you to sit through this documentary and not cry as this tenor sings and performs scenes from "La Boheme" and "Tosca" just to mention 2 of the many roles he did on the opera stage. You don't have to be an opera fan or even know opera to sit back, relax and listen to his voice play with your emotions.

Luciano Pavarotti, above all, was a man, and like most men wasn't perfect. He would later in life have an affair with a woman half his age and would have a child with her--actually twins with one dying at birth--which would lead to a divorce from his first wife with whom he had 3 children. She had provided the financial life for the family until he became successful and even after the divorce she still held the man in high esteem. The reactions from his daughters as a father are all over the place but there is no doubt they loved him and they have no doubt he returned that love.

Luciano Pavarotti's main goal in life was to bring opera 'to the people' which he did and now in "Pavarotti" he continues to do just that in this Ron Howard's beautiful, moving documentary.

An aside: I only saw Pavarotti in person once and that it was in 1965 in Miami where he appeared with Joan Sutherland.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

MarkTakayama

Aug 30, 2020

I didn't know Pavarotti at all. When I listened to his songs, I was amazed at his powerful voice. This documentary is a good introduction to his life and legacy. We can enjoy life and music.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 4, 2019

A documentary well done and entertaining although perhaps not as informative but that's understood and is not really an issue. Although ultimately that's up to everyone's different expectations.

I personally didn't care because even though I enjoy listening to opera, my interest inA documentary well done and entertaining although perhaps not as informative but that's understood and is not really an issue. Although ultimately that's up to everyone's different expectations.

I personally didn't care because even though I enjoy listening to opera, my interest in investigating more of Pavarotti's life wasn't necessarily important but at the same time as it happens with any documentary your enjoyment will depend a lot on how interested are you in the subject, beyond the quality of the work delivered.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tyranian

Feb 7, 2020

Solid Pavarotti documentary that demonstartes fairly ably why he was as loved as he was.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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