William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
Arthouse Films | Release Date: November 13, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
62
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChronicleAmy Biancolli
Both a memoir and a history lesson, the film looks back on their late father - a crusading civil rights lawyer who later defended a host of unsavory characters - with a combination of love, admiration and bafflement for the man he was and the career he forged. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesGary Goldstein
Terrific archival footage from a range of seminal civil rights events, as well as affecting narration written by Sarah Kunstler and spoken by Emily Kunstler (who also edited the film), round out this superior documentary. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
His pluck and chutzpah shine through. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
It's a view filtered through a prism of memory and emotion, but one well worth investigating. Read full review
75
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Williams
Ultimately, William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe is a defense, not a prosecution, and the principal witness remains a shining star. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
This engrossing and provocative documentary is also about a tragic kind of liberal guilt. Read full review
75
New York PostKyle Smith
It is said that everyone either loved or hated radical defense lawyer William Kunstler. A documentary by his daughters asks, "Why choose 'or' instead of 'both'?" Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterJames Greenberg
Compelling portrait of famed radical lawyer by his daughters. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Disturbing The Universe doesn’t mix it up enough. Read full review
50
VarietyRob Nelson
In attempting to address its subject's ideological discrepancies, "Kunstler" lacks the objectivity needed to put the lawyer's shift from '60s fist-pumper to '80s and '90s headline-grabber in proper context. Read full review
50
The New York TimesStephen Holden
Although the film, with its home movies and family reminiscences, portrays him as a heroic crusader for justice, it is by no means a hagiography of a man who earned widespread contempt late in his career for defending pariahs. Read full review
40
Village VoiceElla Taylor
What makes the film fascinating is the anguished dance around hagiography performed by two of his daughters, who wrote, directed, and narrated the movie. Read full review
40
Time OutKeith Uhlich
The film slowly loses the sobering toughness of its initial inquiry, and finally comes off as bloodline-biased hagiography. Read full review
40
New York Daily NewsJoe Neumaier
This doc, made by Kunstler's daughters Emily and Sarah, doesn't pretend to be unbiased, but it nonetheless has an unblinking view of its subject. They must have learned a thing or two from dad. Read full review
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