Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016)
84%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 4 nominations
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words offers an illuminating primer for Zappa novices as well as an entertaining retrospective for diehard fans
If you’re a fan of Frank Zappa, you’ll definitely want to “Eat That Question” and watch this documentary. Even if you’re not familiar with his music, it’s worth a watch to get a glimpse into the mind of this American original. And who knows, maybe you’ll become a Zappa fan after all! Just be prepared for some serious Dadaist humor and a lot of candid interviews with the man himself.
Production Company(ies)
FX Sound Industrias Audiovisuales Argentinas S.A.J.Z. & Asociados
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Prague, Czech Republic
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, some sexual references and brief nudity
Year of Release
2016
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
documentary, music, Frank Zappa, interviews, concert performances, archival footage, R, directed by Thorsten Schütte, written by Thorsten Schütte, produced by Estelle Fialon, starring Steve Allen, Angel, Theodore Bikel, Jimmy Carl Black, Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, box office gross $353.8K, Sony Pictures Classics, MPAA rating R, reviewed by Peter Bradshaw, Tom Long, Calvin Wilson, Steve Davis, Bill Goodykoontz, Zach Schonfeld, Richard Crouse, David Bax, David Lamble, Chris McCoy, Jorge Loser, Micheal Compton, genre: documentary, music, budget, producer: Estelle Fialon, critic reviews, audience reviews, interviews, concert performances, archival footage, Frank Zappa in His Own Words, English
Worldwide gross: $365,540
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $450,528
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,760
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 49,131
US/Canada gross: $355,074
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $437,628
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,358
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,695
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $20,577
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,504
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
Angel – Self
Theodore Bikel – Rance Muhammitz
Jimmy Carl Black – Self
Tom Brokaw – Self
Katie Couric – Self
Director(s)
Thorsten Schütte
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Estelle Fialon
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (75) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (69) | Rotten (6)
In a perfect world, “Zappa in his own words” would really mean nothing but his music and lyrics, which is where he would be truly himself – but this is nonetheless a thoroughly entertaining watch.
November 21, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Any true Zappa fan will eat this stuff up. For novices it may open up the universe.
August 19, 2016 | Rating: B
Tom Long
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
“Eat That Question” may be of most interest to Zappa fans, but newcomers to the man and his music may also find it well worth a look.
July 28, 2016 | Rating: 3/4
Calvin Wilson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Trying to communicate the essence of musician Frank Zappa and his body of work in words is futile, even when the words are his own.
July 14, 2016 | Rating: 2.5/5
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
You don’t have to be a fan of Frank Zappa’s music to enjoy “Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in HIs Own Words,” Thorsten Schutte’s documentary.
July 14, 2016 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Although there is some nice performance footage, the film isn’t a good way for a beginner to get a grip on Zappa’s music, which spans from proto-punk to classical. It is a nice journey through Zappa’s mind for the already converted.
July 8, 2016
Zach Schonfeld
Newsweek
TOP CRITIC
A stripped down portrait of an American original whose compositions expose as much about him as his words do. The real Frank Zappa? You’ll see him with your ears.
March 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Despite Schütte’s presentation of Zappa as a man defined by his social and political beliefs, the film actually finds him at his most endearing when it’s just about his artistic pursuits.
January 6, 2021
David Bax
Battleship Pretension
An entertaining and pertinent film that many savvy doc-lovers will catch more than once.
June 10, 2020
David Lamble
Bay Area Reporter
It’s sure to speak to both hardcore Zappa fans and the intellectually adventurous music nerds of today, but it’s likely to leave any unsuspecting normals cold and bewildered. And that’s exactly how Zappa would have liked it.
January 14, 2020
Chris McCoy
Memphis Flyer
A complex but inevitable contradiction, when it comes to analyzing a figure with so many arcs, a genius of impenetrable seriousness, capable of becoming an hilarious Dadaist. [Full Review in Spanish]
August 20, 2019
Jorge Loser
Espinof
Everything is covered with Zappa’s own words, with the interviews showing the candor that made the artist so beloved by some and misunderstood by others.
January 15, 2019 | Rating: B+
Micheal Compton
Bowling Green Daily News…
Plot
In the 20th Century, Frank Zappa made his mark as a musician unlike any other in America. With a wild eccentric iconoclastic attitude guiding his distinctive music, which it was itself guided by a firm intellectual integrity, Zappa made himself an unforgettable force in popular music. This film covers his life and work through various archival footage through the decades. Whether it was his taboo challenging early creations, his outspoken efforts against the political forces determined to censor him or his constant quest for new artistic challenges, Zappa made a mark no one could ignore.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words on Fresh Kernels.
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