My Kid Could Paint That (2007)
87%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 7 nominations
Director Amir Bar-Lev grapples with exposing the authenticity of four-year-old Marla’s paintings at the sake of burdening her publicly shamed family to transfixing results
My Kid Could Paint That is a documentary that explores the story of Marla Olmstead, a four-year-old girl who became an overnight sensation in the art world. Critics have praised the film for its insightful investigation into media frenzy and public perception, as well as its exploration of family dynamics and the nature of nonfigurative art. Some have criticized the film for exploiting Marla and her family, but overall, it’s a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the world of art and the people who inhabit it. Plus, it’s always fun to see a kid show up the so-called “experts”!
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Bill, Phillips
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Binghamton, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 22m
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Language(s):English, Mandarin
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 4, 2008
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, art world, child prodigy, controversy, authenticity, abstract art, family dynamics, media frenzy, journalism, ethics, art dealing, New York Times, Marla Olmstead, Mark Olmstead, Laura Olmstead, Amir Bar-Lev, directed by Amir Bar-Lev, written by Amir Bar-Lev, produced by Amir Bar-Lev, PG-13, box office gross, $231.3K, limited release, Sony Pictures Classics, Elizabeth Cohen, Jonathan Crosby, Tara Sands, Michael Kimmelman, reviewed by Michael Kimmelman, documentary critic, Hank Sartin, Time Out, Mark Bourne, Film.com, Amy Nicholson, I.E Weekly, Neil Smith, BBC.com, Will Lawrence, Empire Magazine, Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle, Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer, Jennifer Merin, About.com, Jonathan Kiefer, Sacramento News & Review, Rossiter Drake, San Francisco Examiner, PG-13, English
Worldwide gross: $258,316
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $370,055
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,811
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 40,355
US/Canada gross: $231,574
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $331,745
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,427
US/Canada opening weekend: $26,290
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $37,662
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,288
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Elizabeth Cohen – Voice
Jonathan Crosby – Voice
Tara Sands – Voice
Director(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Writer(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Producer(s)
Amir Bar-Lev
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
7 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (83) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (5)
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Hank Sartin
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
New York Times senior art critic Michael Kimmelman offers sharp insights when he mentions how Marla’s painting reflects not just ‘innocence’ and what our psyches project into them, but also ‘the cynicism of the art world.’
March 11, 2008
Mark Bourne
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating exploration of art, creativity, and family dynamics that takes an unexpected right hook.
February 22, 2008 | Rating: A
Amy Nicholson
I.E. Weekly
TOP CRITIC
A compelling documentary that leaves you wondering if there is nothing sacred in this stinking world.
December 18, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A highly engaging documentary that recounts a remarkable tale.
December 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Will Lawrence
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Bar-Lev exploits Marla as much as, if not more than, any other player in his movie.
November 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
February 9, 2011 | Rating: 8/10
Jeff Otto
ReelzChannel.com
Questions of authenticity surrounding four year old Marla Olmstead’s paintings occasion filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev’s insightful investigation about media frenzy and public perception, and the very nature of nonfigurative art.
June 16, 2009 | Rating: 4/5
Jennifer Merin
About.com
One of art’s richest rewards is its way of teaching us about our assumptions, doubts, and capacity for faith. … My Kid Could Paint That gets people thinking and talking.
November 26, 2008 | Rating: A+
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review
Marla’s story is a sobering illustration of the way children can be exploited by adults who should know better %u2013 journalists, filmmakers and especially their own parents.
June 5, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
Rossiter Drake
San Francisco Examiner
Like all good art, this raises difficult questions.
May 19, 2008
Anton Bitel
Eye for Film…
Plot
Four year old Marla Olmstead from Binghamton, New York became the sensation of the art world for her abstract artwork, which have sold for thousands of dollars per piece. The showing of her work started off as a lark, but when the paintings sold without the buyers knowing who the artist was, the media began to run with the story. Through it all, Marla’s parents, Mark Olmstead and Laura Olmstead, want to be grounded in what is best for their daughter while exposing her to whatever positive may come from the experience. But some negative and big name media also surfaces, some questioning whether Marla is the real artist behind the work, and some questioning exposing a four year old to such infamy. Regardless, the fact of this art selling brings up the legitimacy of abstract art being quantified as “quality”, especially if a four year old can produce it but can’t express the emotions or rationale behind its creation. Or is art truly in the eyes of the beholder? Regardless, money, in the art world as is much in life, becomes the great equalizer.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t mention anything goofy or funny about the film, but it does mention that the documentary explores the authenticity of four-year-old Marla’s paintings and the burden it places on her publicly shamed family.
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