65
Metascore
10 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Village VoiceChris KlimekVillage VoiceChris KlimekIt's an absorbing document of an extraordinary act of generosity.
- 75RogerEbert.comPeter SobczynskiRogerEbert.comPeter SobczynskiAs the saying goes, I may not know art, but I know what I like. I like this movie.
- 75Washington PostMichael O'SullivanWashington PostMichael O'SullivanIt’s a compelling, even stirring, tale.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe democratic nature of the project and its exploration here jibes with the story of the Vogels, who (to put it mildly) don't conform to the stereotype of the filthy-rich art patron.
- 70VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeMuch like a work of art, the film invites a range of reactions, though it’s far easier to process than the daubs, doodles and other weird works that now hang all over the country.
- 70Los Angeles TimesSheri LindenLos Angeles TimesSheri LindenMegumi Sasaki's follow-up to her first documentary, 2008's Herb & Dorothy, is as engaging and unpretentious as its subjects.
- 63Slant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneSlant MagazineSteve MacfarlaneDorothy Vogel is less the soft-spoken housewife from the first film than a businesswoman both shrewd and mousy, and her trajectory affords the film its closest semblance to a story.
- 60Time OutTime OutThe tangential artist interviews and constant lionizing of the star couple meander, but given how museums between the coasts rely on collectors for life support, 50x50 still acts as a provocative call to arms: Those who love art must support it.
- 50The New York TimesMiriam BaleThe New York TimesMiriam BaleIt’s difficult to dislike a documentary with such noble, generous subjects, but the film is unfocused and repetitious, not sure whether it is a road trip, a story of a couple or an exploration of small art institutions.
- 25San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco ChronicleThe film's hymn of praise quickly grows cloying, thanks partly to a relentless musical soundtrack.