The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 22, 2017
User Score
5.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 5 out of 14

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. TheShrike222
    Apr 25, 2017
    8
    Well done. I bumped this movie up two points right off because the story of Henrietta, the Lacks family and the HeLa cells is so amazing that it grabs your attention and won't let go. Like Hidden Figures, this covers an extremely crucial piece of scientific history that has been neglected for far too long.
    The style of direction, a little unpolished or raw, works for the material though    Well done. I bumped this movie up two points right off because the story of Henrietta, the Lacks family and the HeLa cells is so amazing that it grabs your attention and won't let go. Like Hidden Figures, this covers an extremely crucial piece of scientific history that has been neglected for far too long.
    The style of direction, a little unpolished or raw, works for the material though some of the dialog was hard to follow. All the acting was competent, I recognized several of my favorite go-to character actors in there, and they presented the characters well.
    The biggest problem with the movie is that it is a book to movie adaptation. These are notoriously difficult because you can't fit a book in 90 minutes of film. I could see the gaps where the director skipped portions of the book that went into greater detail, and those moments detracted from the rest of the movie. I think the director did a good job representing the sections that ended up being dramatized, but I definitely need to go out and read the book to find out the rest of the story.    … Expand
  2. Cinemaphile
    Apr 24, 2017
    8
    Powerful ....................................................................................................................................................................

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Lenika Cruz
    Apr 24, 2017
    50
    Winfrey’s performance as Deborah gives The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks its one bit of genuine brilliance. ... Beyond Winfrey, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has the markings of a standard TV movie, though there’s a clear mismatch between form and content.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Aja Romano
    Apr 24, 2017
    70
    Though the film’s writing tends to make too much of Rebecca’s bafflement and culture shock as she peers into the lives of the Lacks family, Wolfe never frames the Lacks as sheer spectacle.
    Read full review
  3. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Apr 24, 2017
    75
    The script and the pacing do not always serve her well, but [Oprah Winfrey] delivers her very best, as fans--and Winfrey herself--have come to expect.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »