There is a reason why I look at audience reviews more than critic reviews for movies and TV shows.
I am totally shocked that movie critics loved and gushed over the Fauci documentary on Disney+. A few gave the movie a negative review because it did a “disservice” to him.
“A documentary that merits a place in classrooms as well as theaters, as a preventative against the virus of cynicism,” drooled Variety’s Chris Willman.
“Fauci is a refreshing figure and a standard-bearer for the truth,” cried The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw.
“An admiring film that still ends up doing him a disservice. Fauci is smarter than Fauci,” cried The Financial Times’ Danny Leigh.
Let’s look at the audience reviews at IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Are you laughing? I’m in stitches!
One person reviewed Fauci on Rotten Tomatoes. Justin B. wrote:
While the film had some interesting back story regarding Fauci’s career and family history, as a documentary it is severely lacking. While it is a challenge to give a truly analytical and unbiased assessment, the producers here don’t even try. They have some background noise of people saying mean things about Fauci and then make clear those are unfair and go about interviewing only people who fawn all over him. There are no interviews of anyone who question the quality of the job he has done. There is no real assessment of the quality his tenure during the pandemic.
I see people saying no one can leave a review for the movie. I logged into Rotten Tomatoes and could leave a review if I wanted to write one. I refuse to watch it.
The documentary has 66 reviews on IMDb.
“This is straight up propaganda. Have to give it the worst rating unfortunately,” wrote user etiennemol.
A lot of the reviews have a political angle, which doesn’t surprise me. But this one from sunwarrior13 is well-thought-out and coherent (emphasis mine):
“Fauci” is a documentary that presents the career of the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the current Chief Medical Advisor to the Presidenand [sic] amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,Anthony Fauci. His accomplishments as the top infection disease expert are discussed since working from the NIAID in 1968 until he became its director in 1984 and which he holds until today. Evidently, it tries to elevate him when to the greatest heights at a time with a lot of controversies going on during the pandemic.The documentary presents a one-side view of Fauci. It does not present a fair view of the man. Also, we get to see numerous people provide feedback about working with him like George W. Bush, Susan Rice, Bono and Bill Gates. His family members like his wife Christine and daughter Jenny,who both feel the disappointment and lack of appreciation towards the man who has done decades of service or better yet “service” to the government for almost 40 years in reference [sic] to the threats that the latter is getting. But he was a disappointment with the HIV epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.No question that the pandemic has resulted a big loss to many people around the globe. But evidently, many are disappointed and feel the emotion of fear of what is ahead in the future. Also,many are frustrated with him especially when he is not providing concrete guidance towards the public.The New York Times called Fauci a movie star at the review of this film. Why not? He requested Brad Pitt to play him on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and actor gladly did. Too bad that people demand better from Fauci as the top infectious expert. Expertise is needed rather than glamor. We need a health expert and not a cultural phenomenon.
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