79
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 91Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumThe result is an engrossing chronicle of creative people under pressure, a movie about the madness of opera for which no knowledge of opera is required for full enjoyment.
- 90VarietyRonnie ScheibVarietyRonnie ScheibTension flows organically from every phase of this dangerous endeavor, making for a highly entertaining outing for operaphiles and operaphobes alike.
- 90Village VoiceNick SchagerVillage VoiceNick SchagerIt remains a rousing portrait of creative renewal and, specifically, the way in which - by attempting something daring and new in the face of an opera culture deeply invested in tradition - Lepage proves that classic art can survive and flourish in a marriage with modern technology and imagination.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeRising well above the typical making-of feature, the documentary will fascinate buffs when shown alongside the operas themselves.
- 80The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenAwesome also describes this 16-hour, four-opera masterwork about the creation and destruction of the world, a work that Wagner considered unstageable in his time.
- 80New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierThe finished "Ring" cycle, a combination of "myth, science and legend" made to order as Wagner imagined it, was unique to every viewer's eye. The making of it will be spellbinding to everyone.
- 80Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranYou don't need to be a fan of Wagner, or even opera, to find this a fascinating glimpse of a dauntingly complex human endeavor.
- 63Slant MagazineAndrew SchenkerSlant MagazineAndrew SchenkerThe title of Susan Froemke's documentary is both an expression of aspiration and a statement of achievement.
- 60Time OutTime OutTo its credit, Wagner's Dream includes revealing footage of Promethean labors undertaken by cast and crew, misfires included.
- All it takes is the majestic E-flat that opens "Das Rheingold" to make you realize that, despite what Wagner's Dream insists on showing, "the machine" really isn't the point.