74
Metascore
11 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80VarietyRobert KoehlerVarietyRobert KoehlerOften mocked and rarely understood, the movement in communal living that blossomed with Flower Power in the '60s gets its most honest appraisal yet on film with Jonathan Berman's Commune.
- 80SalonAndrew O'HehirSalonAndrew O'HehirAmid the dozens of documentaries made about various aspects of '60s society and culture, Commune stands out for its ambiguity, honesty and sheer human clarity.
- 80The New York TimesStephen HoldenThe New York TimesStephen HoldenA breezy, informal history of the Black Bear Ranch, a long-running California commune begun in the summer of 1968 and still in existence, offers the fascinating spectacle of observing people then and now.
- 80L.A. WeeklyL.A. WeeklyA nice counterpoint is the soundtrack, with psychedelic trip music and bottleneck blues by noted wild-ass guitarist Elliott Sharp. It’s good to hear people talking about openheartedness without irony.
- 75The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayIt's fascinating to see how the Black Bears got onto their current path, but we don't see enough of the journey.
- 75New York Daily NewsJack MathewsNew York Daily NewsJack MathewsJonathan Berman's documentary about California's famous Black Bear Ranch is a trip.
- 75New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoAs we learn in director Jonathan Berman's fun documentary Commune, the ranch was financed by people such as musician Frank Zappa and actor James Coburn.
- 75TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThe only famous person in the film, actor Peter Coyote, is an eloquent spokesman, but he was only a visitor to Black Bear; the stars are the full-timers, and their willingness to share their rich and sometimes painful memories is captivating.
- 70Village VoiceJ. HobermanVillage VoiceJ. HobermanCelebrating the desire to immerse oneself in a collective, world-changing enterprise, Commune is unavoidably nostalgic.
- Unfortunately, producer-director Jonathan Berman only scratches the surface of daily life at Black Bear. We're left with many unanswered questions about the nuts-and-bolts of the place, even the basic social interactions and what it's like today. There are so many voices in the piece that we never get to know any of them; it's a dizzying array of opinions.