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SummaryA thinly fictionalized account of a legendary movie director, whose desire to hunt down an animal turns into a grim situation with his movie crew in Africa.

White Hunter Black Heart

Metascore
Generally Favorable
66
User score
Generally Favorable
7.1
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
66
69% Positive
20 Reviews
28% Mixed
8 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
88
The Seattle Times
The most entertaining portrait of a wildly talented, socially untamed filmmaker since The Bad and the Beautiful. [21 Sep 1990, p.28]
80
Chicago Reader
It's a devastating portrait of self-deceiving obsession, and a notable improvement on Viertel's book in terms of economy and focus.
75
Orlando Sentinel
White Hunter, Black Heart is no African Queen (or even, really, an especially good movie), but it does manage to stay afloat. [12 Oct 1990, p.6]
75
Rolling Stone
The film is talky and often stilted. But Eastwood’s compassion for the character, warts and all, feels genuine. His performance, like the movie, is a high-wire act that remains fascinating even when it falters.
63
USA Today
Despite one of Eastwood's more respectable directing jobs, we never sense the method to his madness - or even if it is madness. Nor can Jeff Fahey lick his own character's novelistic origins: the first-person narrator (and Trader script doctor) who by himself isn't too compelling. [14 Sep 1990, p.4D]
50
Boston Globe
The sad thing about Clint Eastwood's White Hunter, Black Heart is that it fails in every important respect, yet is in no way cheap or exploitative. [20 Sep 1990, p.81p]
30
Washington Post
It's Mondo Machismo, Hollywood on safari, a self-aggrandizing epic reeking of man scent.
See All 29 Critic Reviews
User score
Generally Favorable
7.1
78% Positive
7 Ratings
22% Mixed
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Feb 4, 2022
8
r96sk
An interesting 1990 film, is 'White Hunter, Black Heart'. The lead character of John Wilson, portrayed by Clint Eastwood, is an intriguing fellow and the story he stars in is all very watchable. Jeff Fahey is also very good alongside Eastwood, his character is very much the moral compass of the film. The support cast, which notably includes one Timothy Spall, are all solid. The look of the film is pleasant, with some lovely visuals of the locations used, and it is paced nicely. There is also a cracker of a last line. I didn't love this film and don't think it's perfect, but that's not to take away from the fact that I found it be a really enjoyable watch.
Dec 23, 2023
7
Broyax
J’ignore si le portrait incroyablement sinistre dressé par Clint Eastwood du réalisateur John Huston lors de la pré-production de son film « African Queen » est fidèle à la réalité mais une chose est sûre : il y est particulièrement antipathique et insupportable, ce qui en dit long sur l’étonnante performance de Clint qui disparaît (presque) sous la peau de ce sale type qu’on a envie d’étrangler au bout de quelques minutes seulement !De caprice en obsession, il fait tourner toute son équipe en bourrique pour son sacro-saint safari, y compris ses plus fidèles amis et collaborateurs, tout en se faisant le fort redresseur de torts vis-à-vis des Blancs racistes ici et là qu’il n’hésite pas à brocarder ou castagner… mais sur ce point, on sent davantage un inspecteur Harry qui agit à rebours et à l’envers de ses habitudes de vieux facho.Personne n’ose ou n’entreprend vraiment de le remettre à sa place, y compris son producteur qui devient fou, ce qui permet de nous faire comprendre les difficultés de tourner avec des ‘artistes’ mégalos qui ne se sentent plus pisser. C’est sans doute cela aussi, la magie hollywoodienne ainsi que le ‘star system’ qui l’accompagne et le film le dépeint fort bien.Cependant, le film n’est malgré tout pas à l’abri d’une caricature certaine, tandis que Papy aigri part en vadrouille dans la brousse en mode ‘rien à battre’ pour se prouver quelque chose… (on ne saura jamais quoi, au juste !). Bien réalisé, le film garde un bon rythme mais irrite finalement autant qu’il intrigue, jusqu’à la fin où Papy l’artiste se remet en phase… mais à quel prix !Un film très déroutant mais qui vaut assurément le coup d’oeil pour un Clint décidément en pleine forme. PS : John Huston a surtout réalisé des merdes.
See All 9 User Reviews
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  • Malpaso Productions
  • Rastar Pictures
  • Warner Bros.
Sep 14, 1990
1 h 52 m
PG
An adventure in obsession...
Cannes Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
• 1 Nomination
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