This So-Called Disaster Poster
76
metacriticBased on 18 Critics

Release Date: April 21st, 2004

DVD Release Date: December 14th, 2004

R|1 hr 27 min

Plot Summary
In this documentary, filmmaker Michael Almereyda chronicles the San Francisco production of "The Late Henry Moss," a play written and directed by noted scribe Sam Shepard. The film explores Shepard's artistic inspirations as well as his working relationships with the play's cast, which includes stars such as Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and Nick Nolte. Much of the film is devoted to a detailed examination of the work that goes into readying a play for opening night.

Cast: T Bone Burnett, James Gammon, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin, Anne Militello, Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Sam Shepard

Director: Michael Almereyda

Genres: Documentary

Production Co: Keep Your Head, IFC Productions

Keywords: Fascinating, 2000s, Moving

Cast & Crew

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Ratings & Reviews

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  • 88
    Ty BurrBoston Globe

    Turns out to be one of the finer peeks into the creative process of staging a play. Granted, that's a tiny genre, and the film's core audience -- theater majors and the people who love them -- is narrow. The lessons, however, are big. show more

  • 70
    Frank ScheckThe Hollywood Reporter

    Despite the often insightful comments by the various cast members and Shepard himself -- the film doesn't dig very deeply into the artistic process of putting on a new play. But it does offer a fascinating fly-on-the-wall perspective. show more

  • 100
    David SterrittChristian Science Monitor

    Almereyda's movie is riveting for several reasons: its inside look at Shepard in action, its vivid account of how a challenging play is brought from printed page to public stage, and its glimpses of Shepard's troubled youth. show more

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