A Man Named Pearl
Shadow Distribution | Release Date: July 11, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
The 66-year-old African-American, the subject of the inspiring documentary A Man Named Pearl, doesn't have scissors where his hands should be, but he turns trees and bushes into topiary sculptures every bit as amazing as the ones Johnny Depp's character crafts in the Tim Burton film. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
This is moviemaking that honors the craftsmanship of its subject. Read full review
70
Village VoiceVadim Rizov
Feature-length elaborations on quirky, inspiring human-interest stories are generally to be avoided, but I'll make an exception for A Man Named Pearl. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis
Assembled without frills or fuss, A Man Named Pearl is as much a portrait of a small Southern town as of an unassuming black folk artist. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesGary Goldstein
Though the film could've used more technical insight into Pearl's artistic process, it's hard not to be stirred by this hopeful portrait. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleJosh Rosenblatt
Pearl, in other words, is one of those guys put on earth to make the rest of us feel like we're wasting our lives. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleSteve Winn
A pleasant but mild-mannered experience. Read full review
40
Film ThreatPhil Hall
While Fryar is a charming man and his work clearly deserves recognition, A Man Called Pearl is an obvious case of building a three-story house on a one-story foundation. Really, can you make a feature-length film about a man who carves unique shapes out of trees, shrubs and bushes? Read full review
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