71
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThough filming his hulking hero off and on for nine long years, he (Levy) has created a work that feels remarkably out of time, a snapshot of a man - and a relationship - running in circles.
- 80Village VoiceVillage VoiceLevy's deeply sorrowful but wonderfully affectionate doc depicts the wistful link between humanity and celebrity.
- 75The A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThe A.V. ClubKeith PhippsThough Levy's film feels shapeless at times, what it loses in structure, it gains in handheld intimacy, letting viewers get to know the mercurial but fundamentally sweet Pleskun.
- 75Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertStrongman is a tantalizing example of the kind of documentary I find engrossing: A film about an unusual person that invites us into the mystery of a human life.
- 75Boston GlobeWesley MorrisBoston GlobeWesley MorrisBy the end, you don't entirely understand either of these people, but you come to understand why they need each other.
- 70Arizona RepublicRichard NilsenArizona RepublicRichard NilsenStrongman is a documentary Diane Arbus might have made: These are the wretched of the Earth, and our peeking into their lives feels intrusive.
- 60Time OutS. James SnyderTime OutS. James SnyderOnce upon a time, raw talent was enough to get your name in lights; as this look at the underside of showbiz reminds us, you also need to know how to sell it.
- 60New York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierNew York Daily NewsJoe NeumaierTo use carnival lingo: Thrilling? Not quite; since Levi's film has no clear goal for Stan to reach. Spectacular? Truth be told, those skeptical of Stan's abilities may still walk out as nonbelievers. Fascinating? Absolutely, because if you take time to listen, everyone's life is a three-ring circus.
- The movie's sympathy is often disarming. Unfortunately the director can be generous to a fault, repeating certain moments and letting others run on after he's made his point.