72
Metascore
15 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Julia CooperThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Julia CooperGould’s excellent documentary captures this elasticity, stretching the spectator to consider why bearing witness to a life collectively is so very worth the trouble.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeEngaging and lively.
- It is modest, observant, graceful and nonchalantly witty.
- 75The Film StageJose SolísThe Film StageJose SolísIt’s easy to forgive it for its shortcomings, for rarely does the idea of death elicit the warmth and utter charm as it does in this documentary.
- 75Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreGould creates a fascinating portrait of the work and the patient, harried and detail-oriented folks who do it.
- 75RogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireRogerEbert.comGodfrey CheshireThe fascinations of Obit, Vanessa Gould’s slick but entertaining documentary about the New York Times obituary department, operate on two levels.
- 60VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyIf, overall, Obit is merely pleasant in a predictable, innocuous way, it’s nonetheless well-crafted and moderately educational.
- 50Slant MagazineClayton DillardSlant MagazineClayton DillardThe film ascribes to a conventionally contrapuntal take on the lives of those who spend all day surrounded by death.
- 50Village VoiceMelissa AndersonVillage VoiceMelissa AndersonObit rarely strays from the anodyne tone of the advertorial.