Becoming Cousteau
{{Short description|2021 American documentary film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Becoming Cousteau
| image = Becoming Cousteau poster.jpeg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Liz Garbus
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Liz Garbus
- Dan Cogan
- Mridu Chandra
- Evan Hayes
}}
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Pax Wasserman
- Mark Monroe
}}
| starring =
| music = {{Plainlist|
- Danny Bensi
- Saunder Jurriaans
}}
| cinematography =
| editing = Pax Wasserman
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
- National Geographic Documentary Films
- Story Syndicate
- ACE Content
}}
| distributor = Picturehouse
| released = {{Film date|2021|9|2|Telluride|2021|10|22|United States}}
| runtime = 91 minutes
| country = United States
| language = {{Plainlist|
- English
- French
}}
| budget =
| gross = $264,530{{cite web|url=https://the-numbers.com/movie/Becoming-Cousteau-(2021-Documentary)#tab=box-office|title=Becoming Cousteau|website=The Numbers|access-date=November 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1846182657/?ref_=bo_hm_rs|title=Becoming Cousteau|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=November 11, 2021}}
}}
Becoming Cousteau is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Liz Garbus. It follows the life and career of Jacques Cousteau.
It premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021, and was released on October 22, 2021, by Picturehouse.
Synopsis
The film follows the life and career of Jacques Cousteau, who tried to warn the world for decades about environmental issues.
Production
In 2015, National Geographic Documentary Films approached Liz Garbus about directing a documentary film revolving around Jacques Cousteau, and she agreed.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/garbus-toronto-1235061371/|title=Liz Garbus on Her Toronto Doc 'Becoming Cousteau'|website=Variety|first=Addie|last=Morfoot|date=September 10, 2021|access-date=September 23, 2021}} Over the course of five years, Garbus worked with The Cousteau Society to get access to unseen footage.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/becoming-cousteau-director-explains-how-explorer-went-from-exploiting-nature-to-protecting-it-video/|title='Becoming Cousteau' Director Explains How Explorer Went From Exploiting Nature to Protecting It (Video)|website=The Wrap|first=Brian|last=Welk|date=September 16, 2021|access-date=September 23, 2021}}
In May 2019, it was announced Garbus would direct a documentary film revolving around Cousteau, with Cousteau Society Archives producing and with National Geographic Documentary Films set to produce.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/natgeo-dives-into-jacques-cousteau-documentary-with-oscar-lauded-team-1202610244/|title=NatGeo Dives Into Jacques Cousteau Documentary With Oscar-Lauded Team|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=May 8, 2019|access-date=August 25, 2021}}
Release
It had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021.{{cite web|url=http://telluridecms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/48th-TFF-program-guide.pdf|title=Telluride Film Festival Program Guide|website=Telluride Film Festival|access-date=September 1, 2021|archive-date=September 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901170501/http://telluridecms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/48th-TFF-program-guide.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/telluride-film-festival-2021-lineup-king-richard-cyrano-1234825309/|title=Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith's 'King Richard', Peter Dinklage Musical 'Cyrano', Joaquin Phoenix In 'C'mon C'mon', Ken Branagh's 'Belfast' Set To Premiere|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Pete|last=Hammond|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021}} It had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/tiff-2021-lineup-midnight-madness-documentaries-1234808882/|title=TIFF Unveils Docs, Midnight Madness & Wavelengths Lineup With Palme d'Or Winner 'Titane', Liz Garbus' 'Becoming Cousteau' & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=August 4, 2021|access-date=August 25, 2021}} It was released on October 22, 2021, by Picturehouse.{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210901005788/en/National-Geographic-Documentary-Films-and-Picturehouse-to-Release-Liz-Garbus’-“BECOMING-COUSTEAU”-on-Friday-Oct.-22-2021|title=National Geographic Documentary Films and Picturehouse to Release Liz Garbus’ “BECOMING COUSTEAU” on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021|website=BusinessWire|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=September 1, 2021}}
Reception
=Critical reception=
Becoming Costeau holds a 98% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 60 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.50/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "As visually thrilling as it is edifying, Becoming Cousteau pays fitting tribute to a pioneering explorer and environmental advocate."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/becoming_cousteau|title=Becoming Cousteau|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=October 26, 2023}} On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 74 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/becoming-cousteau|title=Becoming Cousteau|website=Metacritic|access-date=February 4, 2022}}
=Accolades=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|10334438}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|becoming_cousteau}}
- {{Metacritic film}}
{{National Geographic Documentary Films}}
{{Jacques Cousteau}}
Category:2021 documentary films
Category:American documentary films
Category:Story Syndicate films
Category:National Geographic Society films