Great World of Sound (2007)

81% of critics liked it
(42 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(1,450 ratings)

Filmmaker Craig Zobel explores the shortcuts that some folks are willing to take to become famous while simultaneously exposing the unscrupulous manner in which others take advantage of these desperate souls with this story of two men who set out to train as record producers. Excited about the… More Filmmaker Craig Zobel explores the shortcuts that some folks are willing to take to become famous while simultaneously exposing the unscrupulous manner in which others take advantage of these desperate souls with this story of two men who set out to train as record producers. Excited about the prospect of helping to sign undiscovered artists, Martin (Pat Healy) answers an ad to train as a record producer. Over the course of his apprenticeship, Martin is paired with like-minded trainee Clarence (Kene Holliday) -- a middle-aged man seeking out a new career path. Upon graduating from the program, Martin and Clarence are assigned the task of traveling to towns where the company has placed newspaper ads searching for untapped talent. For a fee, these emerging talents can have their music heard by an increasingly larger audience. Though at first everything seems to be going great with their new jobs, a few unsettling developments soon lead Martin and Clarence to suspect that the company may not always have the artists' best interests in mind. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Craig Zobel
Written By: Craig Zobel, George Smith
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 30, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Feb 5, 2008
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
Zobel ultimately comes down on the side of the suckers, whose need to make music -- even bad music -- gives them an unimpeachable dignity
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A confident, sure-handed exercise focusing on the American Dream, turned nightmare.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
Anyone who has enjoyed laughing at the bad singers auditioning on American Idol, consider the independent film Great World of Sound your penance.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
The laughs flow.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
...an involving, offbeat and truly unusual American independent film.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
Nimble performers...lift Great World of Sound above its central gimmick, turning it into a subtle, funny and depressing observation of unspoken race and class tensions.
Amy Nicholson, I.E. Weekly
Craig Zobel's soul-crushing docudrama slums in the real rags-to-rags tragedy of the lowest rung of the music industry.
Christian Toto, Washington Times
Great World of Sound is a corrosive antidote to "American Idol."
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
Character-driven drama revolving around a couple of Willy Loman-like losers' co-dependent relationship.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
The film's agenda becomes clear so early that the middle hour or so seems to be marking time until we get to the end.
Sean O'Connell, Charlotte Weekly
It's evident early on that this is a scam, though the extent of the movie's con is surprising.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Displays all the trademarks of a true indie effort, especially in its refusal to sentimentalize either the characters or their situations.
Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
Everybody's got a song to sing, and we'll all believe exactly what we want for just as long as we can.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
The pros and cons of the film are in direct proportion to the personalities of the two main characters, whose relationship is the story's anchor.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Director Craig Zobel and co-writer George Smith imbue our two misfits with plenty of character depth and an intriguing camaraderie.
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
If there's justice it should move plenty of viewers-those aching to see a recognizable conscience behind our fashionable American idolatry.
Ted Fry, Seattle Times
A quiet, clever and sometimes moving film about an unusual grifting lifestyle.