American Experience (2004)
74%RT Audience Score: 60%
Awards & Nominations: NA
American Experience is a concert documentary that captures Jay-Z’s farewell performance at Madison Square Garden in 2003. While some critics found it to be a moving and troubling documentary, others felt that it didn’t stand with the great hip-hop documentaries. However, against a vibrant, well-lit backdrop, Jay-Z performs his biggest hits with an intensity and clarity that should allow even the uninitiated to appreciate the lyrical dexterity which makes him the genre’s dean. The film also gives some fascinating insights into the making of ‘The Black Album.’ Overall, American Experience is a solid concert flick that is both entertaining and emotional, but it may leave some feeling like they’ve just watched a well-polished piece of marketing machinery.
American Experience” is a concert documentary that captures Jay-Z’s farewell performance in 2003. While some critics found it to be a moving and powerful record of a historic event in rap, others thought it didn’t quite measure up to the great hip-hop documentaries. Regardless, watching Jay-Z’s rapid-fire verbal acrobatics and intense performance is sure to leave even the uninitiated appreciating his lyrical dexterity. Plus, the behind-the-scenes footage gives a fascinating peek into the making of “The Black Album.” Overall, it’s a solid concert flick that’s entertaining, emotional, and occasionally self-indulgent – just like any good farewell performance should be.
Production Company(ies)
Mandeville Films, Walt Disney Pictures,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
TV-PG
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
family reunion, emotional, American Experience, David Grubin, Blair Brown, directed by David Grubin, written by David Grubin, documentary, rap, hip-hop, concert film, Jay-Z, The Black Album, Garden party, behind-the-scenes, lyrical dexterity, 60 Minutes, farewell performance, sensational, marketing machinery, Ted Fry, Roger Moore, Robert Denerstein, John Monaghan, Richard Harrington, Ashante Infantry, Matthew Turner, Josh Ralske, Bill Gibron, Emanuel Levy, James Verniere, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, TV shows, streaming, box office, budget, MPAA rating, producer, reviewed by critics
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
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
David Grubin – Director
Director(s)
David Grubin
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (76) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (16)
Stands as a powerful record of a truly historic event in the annals of rap.
December 10, 2004 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ted Fry
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
This doesn’t stand with the great hip-hop documentaries.
December 3, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
I’m more familiar with Jersey than with Jay-Z, but I found it difficult to watch this concert (shot in 2003) without gaining some appreciation for the rapper’s rapid-fire verbal acrobatics.
December 3, 2004 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
A concert film that captures last year’s Garden party along with well-orchestrated, if not especially revealing, behind-the-scenes footage.
November 12, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
A spectacular concert documentary that also gives some fascinating insights into the making of ‘The Black Album.’
November 5, 2004
Richard Harrington
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Against a vibrant, well-lit backdrop, he performs his biggest hits with an intensity and clarity that should allow even the uninitiated to appreciate the lyrical dexterity which makes him the genre’s dean, the first rapper profiled on 60 Minutes.
November 5, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Ashante Infantry
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
October 18, 2008 | Rating: 2/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
A moving and troubling documentary.
October 26, 2007 | Rating: 6/10
Josh Ralske
All Movie Guide
[E]ntertaining, just a wee bit self indulgent, and highly emotional at times, Jay-Z’s farewell performance [is] a sensational, if occasionally shallow, concert experience.
August 23, 2005 | Rating: 88/100
Bill Gibron
DVD Verdict
August 22, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
July 16, 2005 | Rating: 2.5/4
James Verniere
Boston Herald
A solid concert flick and a surface-deep peek at how the music gets made, but ultimately the final product feels like a well-polished piece of marketing machinery.
April 5, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5
Scott Weinberg
DVD Clinic…
Plot
American Experience is a documentary about a family reunion that doesn’t go as planned, resulting in emotional turmoil.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about American Experience, but Blair Brown is listed as part of the cast.
David-Grubin.jpg
