Examined Life (2008)

Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today's most ... See full summary »

Director:

Astra Taylor

Writer:

Astra Taylor

Stars:

K. Anthony Appiah, Judith Butler, Michael Hardt

Cast

Credited cast:
K. Anthony Appiah	...	Himself
Judith Butler	...	Herself
Michael Hardt	...	Himself
Martha Nussbaum	...	Herself
Avital Ronell	...	Herself
Peter Singer	...	Himself
Sunaura Taylor	...	Herself
Cornel West	...	Himself
Slavoj Zizek	...	Himself

Storyline

Examined Life pulls philosophy out of academic journals and classrooms, and puts it back on the streets. In Examined Life, filmmaker Astra Taylor accompanies some of today's most influential thinkers on a series of unique excursions through places and spaces that hold particular resonance for them and their ideas. Peter Singer's thoughts on the ethics of consumption are amplified against the backdrop of Fifth Avenue's posh boutiques. Michael Hardt ponders the nature of revolution while surrounded by symbols of wealth and leisure. Judith Butler and a friend stroll through San Francisco's Mission District questioning our culture's fixation on individualism. And while driving through Manhattan, Cornel West - perhaps America's best-known public intellectual - compares philosophy to jazz and blues, reminding us how intense and invigorating a life of the mind can be. Offering privileged moments with great thinkers from fields ranging from moral philosophy to cultural theory, Examined Life ...

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Plot Keywords:

philosophy | f rated | 

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Taglines:

Philosophy is in the streets.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 November 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sorgulanmis yasam

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,085, 1 March 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$120,555, 5 July 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sphinx Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Michael Hardt: We're stuck, almost conceptually, between two almost cliché ways of thinking about revolution. On the one hand, we have the notion of revolution that involves the replacement of a ruling elite with another... better-in many ways-ruling elite. And that's sort of the form that many modern revolutions have taken and have posed great benefits for the people but they have not arrived at democracy. So that notion of revolution is really discredited and I think rightly so. But, opposed to that, is ...

User Reviews

Snoozefest

I'm surprised this movie is rated so highly. I thought any movie that tried to make you think would start at 5 and go down from there. While it's encouraging that that's not the case, it's unfortunate that this has to be the movie to hold up as an example.

There is nothing profound here. There is no coherent theme or narration to tie everything together. It is just a collection of people discussing their new-agey ideas seemingly off the top of their head. I would have much preferred a scripted lecture where every sentence was thought out in advance.

I was hoping to learn something here or at least say "hmm, that's interesting". But that didn't happen once. Maybe philosophy will always require a book to appreciate and will never lend itself to a good movie. I actually do think it is possible, this movie just doesn't deliver.