Recent movie theater screenings of the documentary film, DECONSTRUCTING DAD, prompts new reviews:
“Heartfelt documentary… This well-made film argues that Scott’s most significant achievements were his inventions of electronic instruments.”
—THE NEW YORK TIMES, Stephen Holden
“Both an exhaustive exhumation of a forgotten 20th-century genius and a tender, bittersweet requiem for a fractured family.”
—THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Bruce Bennett
“On a personal level, this film tells a fascinating tale. The focus on Scott’s music and electronic experimentation remains strong throughout, thanks to an eclectic roster of musicians and scholars including JOHN WILLIAMS, JEFF E. WINNER, MARK MOTHERSBAUGH, and DJ SPOOKY.”
—VARIETY, Ronnie Scheib
“A beautiful, personal look back on the man’s career; it’s essential viewing.”
—TIME OUT NEW YORK, Bruce Tantum
“Personal discoveries, never-before-seen archival footage, and in-depth insights from a range of historians and collaborators shed light on one of the most intriguing composers and musical innovators of the 20th century.”
—WIRED magazine, Geeta Dayal
“Undeniably poignant, providing plenty of fascinating details.”
—THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Frank Scheck
“Pays lavish tribute to the work of Raymond Scott.”
—NEW YORK POST, Lou Lumenick
“Informative and entertaining, it tells a loving, resonant story of an American original.”
—HUFFINGTON POST, Regina Weinreich
“A work of careful consideration, moral weighing, and deliberateness of craft.”
—SLANT magazine, Kalvin Henely
“It is a fascinating primer on Scott’s work. A portrait of Scott as a multi-hyphenate musical prodigy.”
—VILLAGE VOICE, Simon Abrams
“The film ignites interest in anyone who sees it.”
—WNYC, Leonard Lopate
“An offbeat, intimate documentary.”
—NEW YORK magazine
“An enthralling, poignant film that tells the story of a truly pivotal figure in 20th-century music. An essential view inside the wonders of creative genius, American-style.”
—LA WEEKLY, John Payne
“A very powerful, honest, direct, and personal documentary film.”
—NPR, Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane
“A fascinating look at a musical genius and the way he lived his life. This absorbing, highly personal documentary is well worth checking out. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
—LEONARD MALTIN, film critic, historian, and author
“Raymond Scott isn’t a fascinating figure to tech-heads and crate-diggers alone — to this day, he continues to mystify even his own son, a veteran filmmaker. Through interviews with the likes of MARK MOTHERSBAUGH and JOHN WILLIAMS — as well as his own family members — the younger Warnow pieces together a portrait of an artist neither he nor his father’s fans fully understand.”
—THE ONION AV Club
“A beautifully-produced testament to the legacy of an extremely brilliant musician and innovator. It scarcely seems possible that this much genius was crammed into a single brain, but this film captures it all in glorious detail. It all adds up to a 98-minute viewing experience that at times finds one awestruck. It’s a safe bet that, pending eligibility, a much-deserved Oscar nomination is just around the corner. By all means, SEE THIS FILM!”
—NITELIFE EXCHANGE, Andrew Martin
“In a bittersweet paean to his late father, the director has taken great pains assembling a visual and aural composite of his subject. The insights afforded by Raymond Scott’s own son add shades of intrigue and pathos not found in the average music documentary.”
—THE WIRE magazine, Erik Morse
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
