Tell Them Who You Are (2005)
79%RT Audience Score: 66%
Awards & Nominations: NA
As a highly intellectual and verbose critic, I must say that Tell Them Who You Are is a remarkable documentary that delves into the complex relationship between a father and son, both of whom are successful filmmakers. The film is a unique and luminous achievement that radiates dignity and warmth, despite the frustration of trying to know someone. It’s a fascinating blend of fact and friction, as dad calls junior’s filmmaking skills into question at every turn. The result is a compelling and tremendously moving portrait of two men whose determination to rebel against their heritage and succeed in their artform has rendered them unable to communicate. This is a great movie about a filmmaker, but more importantly, it’s a great movie about fathers and sons.
Tell Them Who You Are is a documentary that explores the complicated relationship between a father and son, who happen to be famous filmmakers. It’s a fascinating blend of fact and friction, with dad calling junior’s filmmaking skills into question at every turn. The film radiates dignity, warmth, and frustration, as the two men struggle to communicate and understand each other. It’s a rare film of startling sincerity, and a unique and luminous achievement. Plus, it’s a great movie about fathers and sons, and a reminder that even the most successful people have their own struggles and insecurities.
Production Company(ies)
Jet Tone Production
Distributor
ThinkFilm
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some sexual images
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:1h 33m
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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): May 13, 2005 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, Haskell Wexler, Mark Wexler, Robert DeMaio, cinematographer, Oscars, father-son relationship, dysfunctional, rebellion, communication, Medium Cool, Coming Home, Elia Kazan, left wing politics, career, accomplishments, irascible, critic reviews, Christy Lemire, David Parkinson, Matthew Leyland, Mike Clark, Ken Tucker, Roger Moore, Robert Davis, Jason Gorber, Robert W Butler, Chris Cabin, Kurt Loder, Mattias Frey, audience reviews, Walter M, Julia Roberts, Paul Newman, Peter Bart, Verna Bloom, Billy Crystal, Michael Douglas, R rating, English, ThinkFilm, box office, budget, producer, directed by Mark Wexler, written by Mark Wexler and Robert DeMaio, reviewed by Christy Lemire, David Parkinson, Matthew Leyland, Mike Clark, Ken Tucker, Roger Moore, Robert Davis, Jason Gorber, Robert W Butler, Chris Cabin, Kurt Loder, Mattias Frey, MPAA rating, genre, streaming, theaters, runtime
Worldwide gross: $46,741
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $68,927
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,061
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,517
US/Canada gross: $39,075
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $57,622
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,739
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,060
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,987
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,789
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
Paul Newman – Self
Peter Bart – Self
Verna Bloom – Self
Billy Crystal – Self
Michael Douglas – Self
Director(s)
Mark Wexler
Writer(s)
Mark Wexler, Robert DeMaio
Producer(s)
Mark Wexler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (65) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (8)
It works as a portrait of a father-son relationship that’s awkward, volatile, uneven and always painfully real.
March 6, 2007
Christy Lemire
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
A desperately sad look at two men whose determination to rebel against their heritage and succeed in their artform has rendered them unable to communicate. Compelling stuff, though.
June 2, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
With dad calling junior’s filmmaking skills into question at every turn, this is a fascinating blend of fact and friction.
May 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Leyland
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
What we really get from son Mark’s unusual take is a sterling movie about fathers (especially famous fathers) and offspring.
November 22, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
[A] tremendously moving documentary.
October 13, 2005
Ken Tucker
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
A real gem of a film.
August 18, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Tell Them Who You Are radiates dignity, the unusual warmth given off by the frustration of trying to know someone.
June 5, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Robert Davis
Paste Magazine
It’s a remarkable documentary, thoroughly enjoyable and one of the most powerful films I’ve seen in quite some time.
June 21, 2007 | Rating: A
Jason Gorber
Film Scouts
In the end this is a great movie about a filmmaker. It’s also a great movie about fathers and sons.
July 28, 2006 | Rating: 3.5/4
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star
a rare film of startling sincerity
October 19, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com
A unique and luminous achievement.
October 13, 2005
Kurt Loder
MTV
Equal parts fan mail and home video from Hell, Tell Them Who You Are is a fascinating piece of father-son psychotherapy la Hollywood.
October 13, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattias Frey
Boston Phoenix…
Plot
“Tell Them Who You Are” is a documentary about the complex relationship between acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler and his son, filmmaker Mark Wexler, as they navigate their personal and professional lives.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features appearances from Julia Roberts, Paul Newman, Billy Crystal, and Michael Douglas.
Mark-Wexler.jpg
