Killing Bono
ARC Entertainment (II) | Release Date: November 4, 2011 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
46
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
7
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
New York PostKyle SmithNov 4, 2011
Killing Bono begs to be remade with A-list stars but, given Neil's history of near-misses, probably won't be. Read full review
70
MovielineAlison WillmoreNov 3, 2011
It's that mean edge to Killing Bono's storytelling, none of it directed at the famous figure of the title, that makes it more than the film equivalent of someone's prize bar anecdote about the celebrity he knew (and could have been - nay, should have been) back in the day. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterJordan MintzerNov 1, 2011
This cleverly conceived, behind-the-scenes tale features fine lead performances and enough nods to the epic group's early days to interest fans outside the U.K. Read full review
60
New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNov 4, 2011
Director Nick Hamm's movie is sparky and fun, and full of affectionate pokes at the '80s music scene. It's also, in terms of music biopics, probably better than the real thing. Read full review
60
Time OutJoshua RothkopfNov 1, 2011
"Amadeus" it's not, but as light transitional music, the film-which has Pete Postlethwaite's final performance, as a swishy landlord-is tuneful enough. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesRobert AbeleNov 12, 2011
Killing Bono whips up a frenzied mix of musical jealousy, wishful stardom and farcical lucklessness into a movie too slippery to hold onto. Read full review
50
VarietyLeslie FelperinNov 1, 2011
Taking liberties with journalist Neil McCormick's memoir to create narrative tension, screenwriters Simon Maxwell and prolific scribe team Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais ("The Commitments") overstuff the story with subplots and trite character arcs. Read full review
42
The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayNov 2, 2011
There's a difference between "funny" and "comedy," and the movie adaptation of Killing Bono tries way too hard to be nutty, at the expense of just getting across what McCormick knows. Read full review
40
The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisNov 4, 2011
What could have been a moderately entertaining short film is yanked to intolerable lengths in Killing Bono, a shapeless rock-music caper that, like its deluded antihero, just doesn't know when to stop. Read full review
40
EmpireIan FreerNov 1, 2011
A clever idea that can't find its feet on the bigger stage. Read full review
38
Slant MagazineJesse CataldoNov 1, 2011
Rather than organically develop its characters, it charts their evolution via silly outfit changes, treating the early '80s as a costume bin for flavor-of-the-week aping gags, with the band going from Gary Numan style shirts and skinny ties to lavish glam-rock costumes. Read full review
30
Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonNov 1, 2011
The migraine of a story arc needed sharp comedy reflexes or, at least, a live-wire/slummy star turn and got neither. Read full review
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