The Bang Bang Club

Name: The Bang Bang Club
Genre: Drama
Released: April 22, 2011
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 48

2011

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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The Bang Bang Club

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Movie Details & Credits

Tribeca Film | Release Date: April 22, 2011 | Not Rated

Summary: The Bang Bang Club is the true story of four young combat photographers—Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter, and Ken Oosterbroek—bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. In 1994, they risked their lives to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post-ApartheidThe Bang Bang Club is the true story of four young combat photographers—Greg Marinovich, Joao Silva, Kevin Carter, and Ken Oosterbroek—bonded by friendship and their sense of purpose to tell the truth. In 1994, they risked their lives to tell the world of the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post-Apartheid South Africa, and exposed the plight of a nation to the international community through their courage under fire and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalism. This intense period of civil war produced their best work but cost a heavy price, as the group's fearless dedication and willingness to push the limits of journalistic ethics brought about both their greatest professional achievements and also their most profound personal tragedies. (Tribeca Film)… Expand

Director: Steven Silver

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 106 min

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Critic Reviews

Gary Goldstein

Apr 21, 2011

Writer-director Steven Silver (with an able assist from cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak) captures this brutal time - which led to the country's first free, multiracial elections in 1994 and the end of apartheid - in vivid, often bold, but never overpowering strokes. Read full review

Albert Williams

Apr 21, 2011

Director-writer Steven Silver deftly juxtaposes exciting (and sometimes horrific) battle re-creations with scenes of the photographers' personal lives. Read full review

Movieline Stephanie Zacharek

Apr 22, 2011

Unfortunately, Silver's movie doesn't cut deep enough: It glosses over some thorny questions and hammers too fixedly on others. Read full review

Michael Phillips

Apr 21, 2011

Writer-director Silver, who trained in documentaries, appears flummoxed by the challenges of getting the audience inside the heads of these young men. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Apr 21, 2011

This question, which will instinctively occur to many viewers, is never quite dealt with in the film. The photographers sometimes drive into the middle of violent situations, hold up a camera, and say "press!" - as if that will solve everything. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Apr 21, 2011

Silver means to get across the adrenaline rush of lives lived in dangerous extremes, but winds up trivializing their accomplishments and making them seem like men of hearty appetites, but little intellectual depth. Read full review

Kyle Smith

Apr 22, 2011

Seldom does The Bang Bang Club show much interest in the big picture of South Africa. When moral issues do come to the forefront, the big worry seems to be not questionable behavior but bad publicity. Read full review

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User Reviews

horizonbts

Nov 7, 2015

This is a movie that is based on the the true story of Greg Marinovich, as apartheid comes to a violent end in South Africa. It depicts encounters and violence faced by four fearless photographers, and sometimes they as we watching them are taken back by the horrific events. I always seemThis is a movie that is based on the the true story of Greg Marinovich, as apartheid comes to a violent end in South Africa. It depicts encounters and violence faced by four fearless photographers, and sometimes they as we watching them are taken back by the horrific events. I always seem to enjoy the true stories that are put to screen, much more frequently more than others, when they are well done as this one is. It always adds to the movie as this one does at the end when we get to see what the real life individuals looked like, and this one also added real life pictures. Sometimes when we get current events or read magazines such as Time we don't realize the perils that are faced by the real life photographers that bring us the window looking in. I would highly recommend this movie as it is very well done both on screen and by the actors and actresses!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

beelzie14

Jan 3, 2012

A good film with nice character portrayal despite some ineffective and cringeworthy South African accents. The action however portrays vividly and representatively the dangers involved in being a photographer t that tie in South Africa' bloody past. The streets were awash with brutalA good film with nice character portrayal despite some ineffective and cringeworthy South African accents. The action however portrays vividly and representatively the dangers involved in being a photographer t that tie in South Africa' bloody past. The streets were awash with brutal tribalism and senseless killing. The press of the time were incredibly brave and often irresponsible in their pursuit of the ultimate photo and associated acclaim. The 4 photographers depicted in the film are all heroes and more importantly, professionals of their art.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

May 12, 2018

A medium drama that seemed ready to be more but is content with simplicity.

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