De Felitta seems a born documaker. He brilliantly constructs a tale born of a genuine love of jazz and a need to understand how Paris went from sensation to footnote in a generation.
80
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
A music documentary of uncommon richness.
75
New York PostLou Lumenick
New York PostLou Lumenick
Based on the many delightful samples on the soundtrack, it's an exemplary goal.
75
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
The film serves him well, replaying a few surviving recordings that make clear what a beautifully melodious voice he had and what a talent went wasted.
De Felitta's portrait of Paris -- who died in June 2004 -- isn't always flattering, but it is genuinely moving on many levels, none of which require knowledge of or even interest in jazz.
70
Village Voice
Village Voice
What kept Paris from the top? The answers provided rarely qualify as revelation, but this affectionate portrait distinguishes itself from the ongoing epidemic of musician docs by mere virtue of staking out ground that hasn't already been thoroughly tilled.