Becoming Mike Nichols is a 2016 documentary film directed by Douglas McGrath about the life of Mike Nichols. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2016,[1] and was later broadcast on HBO on February 22, 2016.[2][3]
| Becoming Mike Nichols | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Douglas McGrath |
| Starring | Mike Nichols Jack O'Brien |
| Music by | David Lawrence |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ellin Baumel |
| Cinematography | Tim Orr |
| Editor | Camilla Toniolo |
| Running time | 72 minutes |
| Production company | HBO Documentary Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | January 2016 (Sundance Film Festival) February 22, 2016 |
Participants
editProduction
editThe film contains interviews between Jack O'Brien and Mike Nichols filmed in the months before the death of Mike Nichols in 2014.[1] The interviews were held on two nights, one with an audience and one without. Both interviews were held at the Golden Theatre in New York City where An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May premiered 54 years earlier.
Release
editThe film premiered at the Egyptian Theater on January 29, 2016, as part of the Sundance Film Festival.[1] It was later broadcast on HBO on February 22, 2016.[2][3]
Reception
editJeremy Kinser of Sundance Institute called it a "thoroughly engaging film" that "explores Nichols unique creative process".[1]
Guy Lodge of Variety called it an "oddly truncated overview of his early career."[4]
Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com gave the film two and a half stars, writing that it "falls short of its potential beyond the clearly interesting source of trivia it provides".[5]
Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "The real value of the documentary from Douglas McGrath lies in charting Nichols’ creative trajectory".[6]
Charles Kaiser of The Guardian called the film a "fitting tribute to a great director".[2]
Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter called the film "A short, funny and illuminating interview-based documentary that will leave theater and film mavens satisfied and hungry for more."[3]
Brandon Nowalk of The A.V. Club called the film "this year's second best Mike Nichols doc".[7]
John Fink of thefilmstage.com gave the film a B+, calling it "brief and engaging".[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Daily Roundup: Tickled Probes an Obscure Fetish, James Franco Stars in 11.22.63". sundance.org.
- ^ a b c Kaiser, Charles (February 21, 2016). "Becoming Mike Nichols: new HBO film is fitting tribute to a great director". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ a b c "'Becoming Mike Nichols': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 29 January 2016.
- ^ Lodge, Guy (January 29, 2016). "Sundance Film Review: 'Becoming Mike Nichols'".
- ^ Tallerico, Brian. "Becoming Mike Nichols movie review (2016) | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com.
- ^ "Review: 'Becoming Mike Nichols' charts director's creative arc". Los Angeles Times. February 18, 2016.
- ^ "Becoming Mike Nichols is this year's second best Mike Nichols doc". TV Club. 22 February 2016.
- ^ Fink, John (February 22, 2016). "[Review] Becoming Mike Nichols".