81
Metascore
23 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90VarietyScott FoundasVarietyScott FoundasA superior example of fearless filmmakers in exactly the right place at the right time.
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertA remarkable documentary by two Irish filmmakers that is playing in theaters on its way to HBO. It is remarkable because the filmmakers, Kim Bartley and Donnacha O'Briain, had access to virtually everything that happened within the palace during the entire episode.
- 80The A.V. ClubScott TobiasThe A.V. ClubScott TobiasStunning you-are-there account of a grand swindle in the making. Were the coup not such an outrageous and chilling affront to democracy, their documentary would be a gut-busting comedy along the lines of Woody Allen's "Bananas."
- 80Film ThreatMerle BertrandFilm ThreatMerle BertrandA gripping example of "You Are There," on the spot journalism, even if it is a little slim when it comes to motives and back stories.
- 80Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumProves again that the best documentaries currently outshine Hollywood features as the most watchable, energizing, and relevant movies around.
- 80Village VoiceJ. HobermanVillage VoiceJ. HobermanIn addition to reporting a scoop, Bartley and O'Briain do an excellent job in deconstructing the Venezuelan TV news footage of blood, chaos, and rival crowds.
- 80The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenAs these tumultuous events play out in the film... they generate the suspense of a smaller-scale "Seven Days in May."
- 75San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco ChronicleThe sensation is dizzying, and you may feel relieved -- certainly the filmmakers do -- when Chavez re-enters the picture. There's a feeling of order restored, but the depiction of political free fall has been unnerving.
- 75New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardThe remarkable footage includes damning evidence of how the media, the people and the army were manipulated. Which leads to that eternal question - if it's not on TV, did it really happen?
- 75New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoA fascinating front-row seat for what could be history's shortest-lived coup.