73
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80VarietyLisa KennedyVarietyLisa Kennedy"Going to Mars” responds creatively to the call of its ingenious subject thanks to the directors’ soulful grasp of her work, and Terra Long and Lawrence Jackman’s skillful editing.
- 80The Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeThe Hollywood ReporterLovia GyarkyeWhere Going to Mars undoubtedly succeeds is in spotlighting the poet’s blazing personality, her unwavering confidence and her commitment to community without ever sacrificing herself.
- 80Film ThreatMichael Talbot-HaynesFilm ThreatMichael Talbot-HaynesGoing To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project will school you thoroughly on why this great poet is so damn important.
- 75The Film StageMichael FrankThe Film StageMichael FrankBrewster and Stephenson struggle to penetrate the armor of this famous poet, focusing instead on her career, her health, and the way that others look at her. Most often they do so with deep admiration, a longing to be fixed by Giovanni.
- 75RogerEbert.comSimon AbramsRogerEbert.comSimon AbramsThe makers of Going to Mars do right by Giovanni by showing how she speaks for herself.
- 70Paste MagazinePaste MagazineGoing to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project does an admirable job capturing the aesthetic of Nikki Giovanni’s life and poetry. It offers windows into certain parts of history, and glimpses into her ongoing evolution as an artist. Unfortunately, those glimpses don’t offer enough to be memorable.
- 67IndieWireRobert DanielsIndieWireRobert DanielsWhile Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project doesn’t wholly breach the bubble surrounding Giovanni, by the end, Brewster and Stephenson, through tender immersion and lyrical invention, inspires viewers who have maybe never read Giovanni to seek out her poems, the one that say everything about the spirit of the woman who cannot wholly be captured on camera.
- 60The New York TimesConcepción de LeónThe New York TimesConcepción de LeónThe documentary offers only what the poet is willing to give.