2019
Unrated
Zeitgeist Films
1 h 27 m

2019
Unrated
Zeitgeist Films
1 h 27 m

Summary Marion Stokes secretly recorded television 24 hours a day for 30 years from 1975 until her death in 2012. For Marion, taping was a form of activism to seek the truth, and she believed that a comprehensive archive of the media would be invaluable for future generations. Her visionary and maddening project nearly tore her family apart, but...

Directed By: Matt Wolf

2019
Unrated
Zeitgeist Films
1 h 27 m

2019
Unrated
Zeitgeist Films
1 h 27 m

Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project

Name: Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project
Genre: Documentary, Biography, History, News
Released: 2019-11-15
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Rating: 75
Cast: Anne Stokes Hochberg, Frank Hollman, Tom Keenan, Anna Lofton, Roger MacDonald

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

User Score Available after 4 ratings

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Where to Watch

Directed By: Matt Wolf

Where to Watch

Critic Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

100% Positive
15 Reviews

0% Mixed
0 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
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Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

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Metascore

Generally Favorable Based on 15 Critic Reviews

100% Positive
15 Reviews

0% Mixed
0 Reviews

0% Negative
0 Reviews

All Reviews
Positive Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Negative Reviews

RogerEbert.com

Nov 15, 2019

Is the human brain built to absorb so much of "the world"? How do we filter anything? Matt Wolf's new documentary, Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project, is an interesting meditation on these ideas, as well as a character study of a fascinating news-junkie with a mission.

By Sheila O'Malley FULL REVIEW

IndieWire

Apr 26, 2019

The results are fascinating, weird, and often quite moving.

By Kate Erbland FULL REVIEW

CineVue

Nov 10, 2020

In a way, Michael is an audience surrogate, informing our own understanding of her; his – and the film’s – refusal to pin Stokes down as either a genius or crank (as if they are binary) speaks to her own project’s attempt to capture the totality of a thing and the noble futility in such an endeavour.

By Christopher Machell FULL REVIEW

Film Threat

May 2, 2019

Wolf’s directorial command when selecting material to showcase and contextualize the anecdotes spun throughout the film further affirms his mission to paint the most compendious picture possible, and he succeeds quite admirably.

By Matthew Roe FULL REVIEW

Little White Lies

Feb 14, 2022

There is always an issue of sensitivity with documentary filmmaking, but the final film is wanting. Wanting more Marion, and wanting more interrogation of the role public news plays in American life. But that doesn’t mean this documentary isn’t worth your time, Marion was an actionable inspiration and contradictory genius.

By Rogan Graham FULL REVIEW

Screen Daily

May 1, 2019

This is a small, carefully crafted film that tries hard to pierce the protective armor of a recluse known to be difficult and domineering. In the end, Stokes still remains slightly unknowable, as she’d undoubtedly prefer. Yet the documentary’s deep dive into her extraordinary archives, and the grainy video treasures it unearths, make for fascinating viewing.

By Stephen Whitty FULL REVIEW

Boston Globe

Dec 4, 2019

Wolf relies on the videos far too much. That over-reliance makes Recorder feel padded, as does his frequent use of reenactments.

By Mark Feeney FULL REVIEW

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Production Company End Cue, Electric Chinoland, C41 Media

Release Date Nov 15, 2019

Duration 1 h 27 m

Rating Unrated

Genres

Tagline 30 years of television. 24 hours a day. 70,000 tapes.

Website http://www.recorderfilm.com/

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Awards

Tribeca Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Oak Cliff Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Athens International Film Festival

• 1 Nomination

Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project

Where to Watch

Where to Watch

Top Cast

Anne Stokes Hochberg

Self

Frank Hollman

Self

Tom Keenan

Self

Anna Lofton

Self

Roger MacDonald

Self

Anthony Massimini

Self

Melvin Metelits

Self

Michael Metelits

Self

Lynn Spigel

Self

Richard Stevens

Self

Marion Stokes

Self

Mizzy Stokes

Self

Christiane Amanpour

Self

Richard Branson

Self

Tom Brokaw

Self

George W. Bush

Self

Johnny Carson

Self

Jimmy Carter

Self

Rosalynn Carter

Self

Fidel Castro

Self

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews

User Reviews

User Reviews

Details

Details

Awards

Awards

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