Critic Reviews

• Richard Harrington, Washington Post

  The event's musical director, Steve Jordan, marvels at one point: 'Looks like y'all hired the phone book . . . just looked up "Blues" in the Yellow Pages.'

• Sean Daly, Washington Post

  Features a who's who of world-wise bluesmen (and women) and newbie practitioners.

• Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

  Every so often there comes a must-see movie. This one's a must-hear.

• Jason Gorber, Film Scouts

  The filmmakers really have captured something quite spectacular with this one.

• Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com

  It is as much a lesson in musical appreciation as it is a thrilling concert.

• Jeffrey Bruner, Des Moines Register

  Lightning in a Bottle is a feel-good film, ironically, for fans of the blues and a solid primer for newcomers to the sound.

• David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com

  This is music for which there are not enough superlatives.

• Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

  Features performances by such masters of the form as Buddy Guy, Solomon Burke, B.B. King. But the movie doesn't depend on your knowledge of them or their works.

• Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune

  [It] achieves the goal of every concert film, to make you feel like you were there - or at least wish you were there.

• Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

  ... we'll save the arguments about the patronizing nature of blues fetishism for another time. If you wish you were there, you'll want to see this film.

• Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star

  A thrilling experience for jazz fans, and if you're not in that category, the film's overpowering atmosphere could have you changing your tune within minutes.

• Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press

  Mostly, director Antoine Fuqua's straightforward film gives the greats a chance to shine, and they deliver.

• Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters

  Lightning in a Bottle is at once deliberate and agile.

• Jonathan Takiff, Philadelphia Daily News

  A fast, sweet, cram course in the blues. And it does so in an extremely coherent, vital and entertaining fashion.

• John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

  This 'blues' film devotes more time to the music of Jimi Hendrix than to that of Robert Johnson or Muddy Waters...

• Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

  The musicians uncorked that bottle, sending lightning all over Radio City Music Hall. Thanks to Scorsese and Fuqua, we can all catch some bolts.

• Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly

  For all the talk of the form's indomitable spirit, the picture that emerges is of a cultural artifact in desperate need of preservation.

Read all 17 critic reviews