The Culture High

Name: The Culture High
Genre: Documentary, News
Released: October 3, 2014
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 37

2014

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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The Culture High

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Movie Details & Credits

Phase 4 Films | Release Date: October 3, 2014 | Not Rated

Summary: The Culture High tears into the very fiber of modern day marijuana prohibition to reveal the truth behind the arguments and motives governing both those who support and oppose the existing pot laws.

Director: Brett Harvey

Genre(s): Documentary, News

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Daniel M. Gold

Oct 2, 2014

Some of this seems like stoner’s paranoia, and some of the film’s talking heads, mainly comedians, don’t make the best advocates. Over all, though, its experts... argue forcefully for decriminalization. Read full review

Chris Packham

Oct 2, 2014

It’s strongly anti-prohibition, and the film’s structure favors that bias. Read full review

Martin Tsai

Oct 9, 2014

Director Brett Harvey has gotten the documentary look and format down pat, complete with generic and gratuitous nature and cityscape shots. Where he shows an amateurish hand is in the term-paper-like voice-over narration and the inclusion of underqualified talking heads. Read full review

Justin Lowe

Nov 15, 2014

What new information The Culture High offers is almost entirely subsumed by its sprawling ambitions to make every conceivable connection to the marijuana debate, limiting both its reliability and its impact. Read full review

Geoff Berkshire

Nov 15, 2014

The film’s haphazard structure and freewheeling arguments only serve to reinforce tired pothead cliches — it’s paranoid, prone to starry-eyed dorm-room philosophizing, and it doesn’t know when to quit. Read full review

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Mixed:

User Reviews

apg1996

Jun 8, 2016

What a surprise, mainstream media making unjustified points to attempt to control society for the government. This documentary gives ideas that help to critically think about the war on drugs.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Hoags

Oct 14, 2015

Just watched this documentary on Netflix having no idea what to expect. Was immediately drawn in and didn't even pause during the 2hr fim length. Covers some of the major issues in human society today in a compelling and well backed manner.
Then I come onto this site to see such a vastJust watched this documentary on Netflix having no idea what to expect. Was immediately drawn in and didn't even pause during the 2hr fim length. Covers some of the major issues in human society today in a compelling and well backed manner.
Then I come onto this site to see such a vast difference in user and critic scores. Ha! Don't trust the critics… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Advocate

Jan 17, 2015

Not a single one of the critic's reviews scored as 40s are accurately recorded. Go read the reviews. The quotes are selectively taken from them to validate the given low-mixed scores.

For example the Village Voice quote reads as if they dismissed the movie as biased. In reality, look atNot a single one of the critic's reviews scored as 40s are accurately recorded. Go read the reviews. The quotes are selectively taken from them to validate the given low-mixed scores.

For example the Village Voice quote reads as if they dismissed the movie as biased. In reality, look at the title of the review itself, "The Culture High Reminds Us The Enemy Isn't Cartels It's Prohibition." Most persuasive documentaries are biased, that is the point. And bias is not a criticism when the issue is in reality so one-sided. The review, after recognizing that "Americans have basically internalized [the movie's] arguments," "Talking-head interview segments with former cops, marijuana smugglers, culture icons, comedians, and legislators address the counterintuitive benefits of marijuana prohibition to criminal enterprise." Counterintuitive means that viewers might learn truths that they otherwise would have not known.

The LA Times review, while criticizing for using too many underqualified spokespersons, then mentions the many "legitimate medical and legal experts" in the film. Maybe these reviews are not glowing, but the are not negative in any way either, I don't see how they are scored a 40 and not a 60 for example.

And the Hollywood Reporter review? It is straight up positive. From the review, "The Bottom Line: You don’t need to be an expert to appreciate the advantages of rethinking the “War on Drugs." It takes it to task a a bit for having too wide of scope on the subject, but otherwise the vast bulk of the review is positive. It should have been scored be a 70 at least. It is almost as if Metacritic is biased against herb. I loved the movie.

Even the one negative review should be rated as mixed. "In contrast with many contemporary docs, the goal here isn’t to divide viewers down partisan lines, but to unite them with a common-sense approach to solving the ongoing problems of the drug war." That reviewer, like the others, main criticism is not towards the movie but towards the topic , as if it no longer needs to be talked about.

Maybe not in LA, but go to talk to the thousands in prison in the South, the Midwest, and the Federal system and see if they consider the argument as "redundant."… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

MarCylinder

Oct 18, 2014

Incredible documentary. It was very moving, full of great interviews, and just dripping with information. The arguments made for legalization are well constructed and presented. Perfect follow-up to The Union.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

ohtruth

Dec 1, 2014

What a surprise that such a film that ends up fully attacking mainstream media and government ties get's such a mediocre review from places as the Los Angeles and New York Times, to the extent where both of the reviewers just happen to make similar points in their reviews?! Madness.What a surprise that such a film that ends up fully attacking mainstream media and government ties get's such a mediocre review from places as the Los Angeles and New York Times, to the extent where both of the reviewers just happen to make similar points in their reviews?! Madness.

Anyway, the documentary is definitely a good follow up to the original with a LOT more information and at points it was very moving - great job here! Was nice to see some info on landrace strains come into it. PS to the "professional critics" ahem, "paid off individuals" who claim a lack of qualified sources, would you prefer we bring such proponents as the DEA chief in to give us their "expert" recommendations? Last time I checked she was busy debating whether cannabis was even less of a danger than meth.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

ponderflix

Mar 22, 2015

I am a committed journalist and when I say ‘committed’ I mean focused and resolute – I don’t mean to say I’ve been sectioned – but such is my fervour for accurate reportage it may as well be considered a mental illness. And so it is today that I review The Culture High, Snoop Dog (aka ‘SnoopI am a committed journalist and when I say ‘committed’ I mean focused and resolute – I don’t mean to say I’ve been sectioned – but such is my fervour for accurate reportage it may as well be considered a mental illness. And so it is today that I review The Culture High, Snoop Dog (aka ‘Snoop D.O.double-G’ – aka ‘S.N.double-O.P.D.O.double-G.Z’ – aka ‘S to the N to the double-O.P, Snoop Doggy G that’s me, that’s me’ – aka ‘Calvin’) and pals ode to the decriminalisation of marijuana, recently added to Netflix. Like Jon Snow and Jennie Bond before me, I, Paul Sorrenti – a marijuana virgin – will get high on skunk as I review the documentary. But I will take it one – perhaps even four – steps further. If any previous Pulitzer Prize winners are reading this: apply your KY now.

Full review available at ponderflix.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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