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City Hall

2020

Frederick Wiseman

Documentary

7.2

66

Documentary City government touches almost every aspect of our lives. Most of us are unaware of or take for granted these necessary services such as police, fire, sanitation, veterans affairs, elder support, parks, licensing of various professional activities, record keeping of birth, marriage and death as well as hundreds of other activities that support Boston residents and visitors. "City Hall" shows the efforts by Boston city government to provide these services. [+]

	Media	Author	Review
		Jordan Mintzer The Hollywood Reporter	"At a time when America looks like it's tearing apart at the seams, there’s something altogether reassuring — even downright inspiring — about Frederick Wiseman’s new documentary"
		Guy Lodge Variety	"A testing but rewarding study of democracy in action (...) The result is both sober and inspiring"
		Lee Marshall Screendaily	"[It] is remarkable for its view of a disparate groups of American citizens talking, explaining, disagreeing, correcting, persuading, conceding and engaging with one another"
		Jason Bailey The Playlist	"A much-needed dose of competency porn – a snapshot of government officials trying their very best to do better, and to be better"
		Keith Uhlich Slant	"[A] formidable and incisive exploration of local government in Boston (...) An invitation to serenely reflect on and think through systems of power (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"
		Eric Kohn IndieWire	"America would be a better place if everyone watched Wiseman’s 4.5-hour epic"
		A.A. Dowd AV Club	"Wiseman’s approach guarantees memorable encounters (...) [It] may sometimes try the patience of even a Wiseman devotee"
		Rory O'Connor The Film Stage	"[Wiseman's] ability to ennoble even the dreariest of bureaucratic entities never ceases to amaze"
		Alonso Duralde The Wrap	"'City Hall' argues that it’s incumbent upon all of us to be involved with local politics (...) It’s a civics lesson that’s subtly delivered within some thoroughly exciting documentary filmmaking."
		Peter Sobczynski rogerebert.com	"Even in a filmography with more than its fair share of impressive achievements, it deserves consideration as one of Wiseman’s greatest (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

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