Minamata

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Minamata

R,

2021,

1h 55m,

Drama

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77%

79 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

79 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Inspired by a true story, Minamata stars Johnny Depp playing celebrated photojournalist Eugene Smith. The film takes place in 1971 when we find Smith as a recluse and disconnected from the world he once shot. After receiving one final assignment from Life Magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy), Eugene must travel to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning. Ushered by an impassioned Japanese translator, Aileen (Minami) and encouraged by local villagers (Hiroyuki Sanada), Eugene's powerful images expose decades of gross negligence by the country's Chisso Corporation.

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Critics Consensus

Heartfelt yet jumbled, Minamata pays tribute to a remarkable real-life story perhaps better served by the documentary treatment.

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Concepción de León

New York Times

Feb 15, 2022

“Minamata” is often undermined by its protagonist, whose boorish ways clash with Japanese culture and distract from its central message.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Feb 11, 2022

2/4

Minamata is weighed down by self-important direction that loses the human beings in this story by prioritizing the headlines.

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Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

Feb 11, 2022

Taken on its own merits — as an accessible if ahistorical dramatization of an environmental tragedy — “Minamata” does what it sets out to do very well.

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Alejandro Lingenti

La Nación (Argentina)

Oct 20, 2022

2.5/5

The insistent drive to place the redemption of a heroic individual in the foreground diminishes the same Japanese people punished by the tragedy; they are used as satellites for Depp's magnetic and compelling performance. [Full review in Spanish]

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Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

Sep 1, 2022

3.5/5

Depp is quite good here as war photographer W. Eugene Smith. The environmental disaster story is hard to shake, and the stunning cinematography is a fitting tribute to an acclaimed photographer.

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John Serba

Decider

Jul 8, 2022

There's no attempt to break the mold on conventional dramas of this ilk, whose "prestige" has faded as of late, and in that sense, it's a throwback of sorts... Minamata fulfills its modest goals, something you can't say about too many movies.

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Andrew Levitas

Director

Johnny Depp

W. Eugene Smith

Hiroyuki Sanada

Mitsuo Yamazaki

Jun Kunimura

Junichi Nojima

Minami

Aileen

Bill Nighy

Robert Hayes

Minamata: Exclusive Movie Clip - The Greatest Photographer

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Minamata: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Inspired by a true story, Minamata stars Johnny Depp playing celebrated photojournalist Eugene Smith. The film takes place in 1971 when we find Smith as a recluse and disconnected from the world he once shot. After receiving one final assignment from Life Magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy), Eugene must travel to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning. Ushered by an impassioned Japanese translator, Aileen (Minami) and encouraged by local villagers (Hiroyuki Sanada), Eugene's powerful images expose decades of gross negligence by the country's Chisso Corporation.

Director: Andrew Levitas
Producer: Johnny Depp, Bill Johnson, David K. Kessler, Andrew Levitas, Sam Sarkar, Gabrielle Tana, Kevan Van Thompson
Screenwriter: David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Andrew Levitas, Jason Forman
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Kreo Films FZ, Infinitum Nihil, Metrol Technology, Head Gear Films, Metalwork Pictures
Rating: R (Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 15, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 8, 2022
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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