74
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 83The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayWhat this fascinating, thoughtful documentary is really about is how even an icon can evolve. The “becoming” part of a life never really ends.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckConsistently engrossing as well as informative, the film delivers a richly humanistic portrait of a complex, indefatigable figure who introduced multiple awestruck generations to the wonders beneath the sea.
- 78Austin ChronicleSteve DavisAustin ChronicleSteve DavisThough this capable documentary is comprehensively informative in so many ways (perhaps to a fault), the one thing it doesn’t quite convey is the wonder and marvel of the undersea world of Cousteau, which continued to move him until his death at age 87.
- 75The PlaylistChris BarsantiThe PlaylistChris BarsantiWhere “Becoming Cousteau” frustrates at times is its thin treatment of Cousteau’s work. The films and shows are represented with plentiful footage but not truly discussed or differentiated. It’s an odd choice, given Cousteau’s cinematic obsession.
- 75San Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonSan Francisco ChronicleG. Allen JohnsonAs the documentary was produced by National Geographic with the cooperation of the Cousteau Society, Garbus has access to some fabulous, colorfully restored footage, some of it never before seen, that makes this an eye-popping experience — in theaters especially.
- 70Screen DailyAllan HunterScreen DailyAllan HunterGarbus’s approach is respectful, never hagiographic and allows room for consideration of Cousteau’s professional regrets and personal failings.
- 70The New York TimesA.O. ScottThe New York TimesA.O. ScottIt’s a swift-moving, detailed biography, recounting a life that was long, eventful and stippled with tragedy and regret.
- 67IndieWireKristen LopezIndieWireKristen LopezGarbus takes the standard documentary route of examining Cousteau’s life from birth to death, and while individual elements of his life are compelling in the first half, the documentary seems to come alive more towards its second half. Maybe that’s because Cousteau was just doing so much toward the latter half of his career, but the pacing seems to feel livelier the closer things get to the end.
- 63Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanCousteau is a thorough if somewhat by-the-book profile of a pioneer in the field of marine ecology and an activist for better environmental stewardship.
- 60TheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanTheWrapElizabeth Weitzman“Becoming Cousteau” could have used a little more focus on his earthly experiences.