The Last Movie Stars
Season 1 Premiere:
Jul 21, 2022
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
91
User score
Generally Favorable
7.7
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
100% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jul 29, 2022
100
The radical brilliance of Ethan Hawke’s penetrating look into the exceptional art and stormy marriage of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is essential viewing for fans and newbies alike and an outpouring of movie love you’ll never forget.
Jul 21, 2022
100
[Ethan Hawke] expertly weaves footage from their films that, when paired with the memoir audio, takes on autobiographical layers, unearthing them like an archaeologist finding these layers hidden in plain sight. ... While the doc’s exploration of Newman’s superstardom in the 1960s is strong, Hawke’s careful examination of how motherhood affected Woodward’s stardom is raw and powerful.
Jul 20, 2022
100
[Ethan Hawke's] geeked-out zeal for the details of these two lives, and the lifetime of work they produced, injects the whole project with a joie de vivre that its three subjects — Woodward, Newman, and their marriage — demand.
Jul 19, 2022
90
This documentary series may not convince you its subjects were the last movie stars; their mastery of showing what they wanted the world to see feels utterly contemporary. But they’re unusually gifted ones — as, after spending six hours in their company, you’ll leave “The Last Movie Stars” wanting more.
Jul 20, 2022
88
You get an almost visceral appreciation for Hawke’s unbridled and infectious love of movies and his undying passion for chronicling the life and times of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, the subjects of this brilliantly conceived, masterfully executed, admirably honest and consistently revealing series.
Jul 21, 2022
80
[Ethan Hawke] adopts the role of enthusiastic fan and master of ceremonies. The result, though it loses momentum across its six episodes, is charming, entertaining and, for the eyes, addictive.
Jul 19, 2022
80
The director/narrator's enthusiasm serves to undercut the importance of his subjects. ... Perhaps you have to be a fan of either of the actors already to burrow into "The Last Movie Stars," though in terms of film biography, or documentary in general, it's a remarkable piece of work in the way it toys with structure and freewheeling impressionistic portraiture and creates a knowing account of what it meant to have a life in pictures, and marry it to another, and then figure out who is going to be who, and which part to play. As a story about stars, it may be a period piece. As a story about relationships, it doesn't really have an expiration date.
User score
Generally Favorable
70% Positive
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
22% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
7% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Jul 29, 2022
7
I love Paul Newman. One of my favorite movies of all time is Cool Hand Luke. I think it's the first movie I watched, as a kid (10-12?) that I actually noticed that movies weren't just about entertainment. This film told me something about the human condition and I got it, not that it's super deep, but it was to me then and it still resonates. What made it resonate was Paul Newman. I immediately trusted him. I trusted that he was telling me the truth, even though I knew he was "acting." I don't know much about Joanne Woodward at all, as I'm not familiar with her films. This documentary makes that point very eloquently and without (much) rancor or guilt. I think it was a different time, but even so, Paul Newman recognized how brilliant she was and they were completely in love. Even his infidelity can be forgiven as it was obvious these two were meant for each other. Outside of the in depth look at both of their careers, personal lives, and politics, Ethan Hawke does a great job of putting that into their legacy on Hollywood still. The only thing I find a tad (and I mean a very small tad) is the cringey Xoom calls. The Imagine video ruined the celebrity Zoom call for me. Add to that, a certain amount of implied nobility to the acting profession I just don't see. Yes, it's an art form, and I love hearing actors and directors talking about the craft, but it's only during the 20th century that it became so ennobled. Used to be kinda trashy. I wish these documentaries would temper their patting themselves on the back with that more. Still, one of the better Hollywood docs out there. I always wanted to meet Newman, and now Woodward, and I would love to hear what they would have thought of this.
Production Company:
- Nook House Productions
- Under the Influence Productions
Initial Release Date:Jul 21, 2022
Number of seasons:1 Season
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 2 Nominations
Golden Tomato Awards (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Gotham Awards
• 1 Nomination
