Finding Fela!
Kino Lorber | Release Date: August 1, 2014 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
64
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
9
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
91
IndieWireMary SollosiJul 24, 2014
Even after a superbly made two-hour-long documentary, Kuti keeps many of his secrets to himself. Read full review
88
Washington PostMichael O'SullivanAug 7, 2014
[A] captivating and meticulous new film by Alex Gibney. Read full review
80
The GuardianJordan HoffmanSep 9, 2014
Finding Fela does an exemplary job of explaining, in musical terms, what made Fela standout, a simple enough step that most music documentaries ignore. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesMary HoulihanSep 11, 2014
In his dynamic and revealing documentary Finding Fela!, director Alex Gibney captures the many sides of Afrobeat king Fela Kuti, a complex character who is at once inspiring and vexing. Read full review
75
The PlaylistRodrigo PerezAug 26, 2014
Gibney never quite finds Fela, and the quest isn’t always remarkable either, but such is the spirited brio of the seminal subject that some of his dynamic essence still shines through. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy BurrAug 14, 2014
Gibney lays out the full picture, availing himself of terrific concert footage, archival materials, and interviews with Fela’s colleagues and family members (including eldest son and musical heir Femi Kuti). The portrait that emerges is of a larger-than-life personality who seems to have been closer to those who didn’t know him than those who did. (Again, much like Brown.) Read full review
75
The A.V. ClubJason HellerJul 30, 2014
What makes Finding Fela! just as poignant is the fact that Kuti, while still listened to and appreciated by millions, is not as ubiquitous a cultural institution as Davis or Brown. Gibney doesn’t fully, forcefully make the case in Kuti’s favor — but he does take a big step in the right direction, all while sketching a vivid, evocative portrait. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineClayton DillardJul 28, 2014
Alex Gibney uses archival and Broadway footage so seamlessly that telling the difference between reality and recreation becomes not only difficult, but one of the film's central metaphors. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyJul 24, 2014
Always interesting, frequently explosive, but also sprawling and unfocused. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comMatt Zoller SeitzAug 1, 2014
As a portrait of a great artist and activist, Finding Fela is worth a look, but it's Gibney's weakest work as a filmmaker. Read full review
63
New York PostFarran Smith NehmeJul 30, 2014
Though the filmmaking is not terribly exciting, Fela’s life and music are. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenAug 14, 2014
[Gibney's] chronicle informs rather than inspires, but it's a solid introduction to a fascinating figure. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJim FarberAug 2, 2014
There’s nothing like seeing Fela himself — blowing his sax, expressing his unbridled sexuality and living a life like no other. Read full review
60
The New York TimesNicolas RapoldJul 31, 2014
The behind-the-scenes component, juiced with razzle-dazzle excerpts from the “Fela!” production, is sound, in theory. But — like many sequences — it’s not so tightly executed, and this strand tends to knock the documentary off balance. Read full review
60
Time OutKeith UhlichJul 29, 2014
These scenes make you wish the rest of the movie had similar bite, but Gibney tends toward that dutiful doc style that mixes talking heads and archival clips into a flavorless stew—a bland complement to Fela’s zesty on- and offstage presence. Read full review
60
Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlJul 29, 2014
Once it gets going, it's fine, a somewhat scattered précis of the life and accomplishment of one of the 20th century's towering musicians, activists, and curiosities. Read full review
50
Philadelphia InquirerDavid HiltbrandAug 15, 2014
The constant flipping between stagecraft and reality creates a dissonant static that prevents any satisfying connection with the film. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoAug 14, 2014
The film is good enough to inspire viewers to learn more about Fela, but it should be better than that. Read full review
50
The DissolveNoel MurrayJul 30, 2014
The parts of Finding Fela that best handle the tricky nuances of Kuti’s worldview are the parts that show Jones and the Fela! creative team grappling with those same questions. Read full review
50
VarietyGeoff BerkshireJul 24, 2014
While the filmed stage performances are among the pic’s most galvanizing sequences, their inclusion underscores how flat Gibney’s combination of archival footage and talking-head interviews otherwise plays. Read full review
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