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Lightning in a Bottle

PG-13 Released Oct 22, 2004 1h 49m Documentary List
87% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 89% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings
B.B. King and his trusty guitar, Lucille, headline a one-night-only celebration of the blues' 100th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Through careful song selection, the concert crafts a musical narrative beginning with the form's earliest blues guitar beginnings, then branches out to encompass the myriad styles it subsequently gave rise to. Old-school practitioners Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Dr. John mix it up with the likes of Macy Gray, Chuck D and Aerosmith. Read More Read Less
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Lightning in a Bottle

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Critics Consensus

Lightning in a Bottle pays dazzling tribute to the blues by capturing its power and excitement through backstage interviews and performance footage.

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Critics Reviews

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Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Rated: B- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone Rated: 3/4 Aug 14, 2007 Full Review Richard Harrington Washington Post The event's musical director, Steve Jordan, marvels at one point: 'Looks like y'all hired the phone book . . . just looked up "Blues" in the Yellow Pages.' Dec 17, 2004 Full Review Jason Gorber Film Scouts The filmmakers really have captured something quite spectacular with this one. Rated: A- Jun 21, 2007 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 2.5/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com It is as much a lesson in musical appreciation as it is a thrilling concert. Rated: A- Mar 28, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (33) audience reviews
Geke g Remarkable. Groundbreaking Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review Bahad j The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Recommended to the people who love music. Bery genuine movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/02/24 Full Review Gnr E This is just a masterpiece! People who love jazz should watch this Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/01/24 Full Review Christopher S The professional film critics cited below who diss this movie reveal their musical illiteracy. They should sit down and shut up. From a music scholar and player: this is a masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/23 Full Review Audience Member If you love the Blues, you MUST see this movie! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis B.B. King and his trusty guitar, Lucille, headline a one-night-only celebration of the blues' 100th birthday at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Through careful song selection, the concert crafts a musical narrative beginning with the form's earliest blues guitar beginnings, then branches out to encompass the myriad styles it subsequently gave rise to. Old-school practitioners Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples and Dr. John mix it up with the likes of Macy Gray, Chuck D and Aerosmith.
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Producer
Margaret Bodde, Alex Gibney, Jack Gulick
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Vulcan Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 22, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$201.6K
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Surround
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