Critic Reviews

• Trevor Johnston, Time Out

  Diffuse, but worthwhile.

• Tony Wong, Toronto Star

  A worthy look at a music born though turmoil with a vision that still resonates globally.

• Jason McBride, Globe and Mail

  An affectionate if largely unsatisfying exploration of the musical genre's evolution.

• Edward Porter, Times [UK]

  I'd have preferred Laperrousaz to give more information about the music's history. And fans will probably find the film's performance clips annoyingly short.

• Philip French, Observer [UK]

  One suspects the film-makers have deliberately excluded numbers of a homophobic nature.

• Anna Smith, Empire Magazine

  Shapeless in form but with the characters and talent on display, this is hardly important.

• Jon Fortgang, Film4

  Some great performances and a raw taste of life on the streets of Jamaica, but too ragged and rambling to explain why this music matters.

• Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

  Unselfconsciously celebratory about a culture teeming with energy and semi-absorbed influences.

• Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph

  I found it hard to warm to this overlong documentary about new trends in reggae, perhaps because of the sense that all the less savoury aspects of that culture were being softballed.

• Carmen Grey, Total Film

  The haphazard structure chafes against its gritty aspirations.

• Neil Davey, Filmstar Magazine

  In a move that will either see it written off as lazy or celebrated for its admirable neutrality, Made in Jamaica doesn't provide a straight answer.

• Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film

  The biggest flaw here is that, despite its excellent music and infectious energy, Lapperrousaz's documentary feels as though it is constantly skating across the top of much bigger issues that you wish he'd investigate.

• Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

  Singers, instrumentalists, bands and composers are poorly identified by ornate brief printed titles, only two or three familiar names resonating for a general public.

• Jason Anderson, eye WEEKLY

  The consistently stellar appearances by everyone from Bunny Wailer to Bounty Killer give Laperousaz's movie the same restless and sometimes reckless vitality that has always energized Jamaican music.

• Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies

  Made in Jamaica has some charming interludes.

Read all 15 critic reviews