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Bill W.(film)

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Bill W.
Theatrical poster
Directed byDan Carracino
Kevin Hanlon
Written byDan Carracino
Patrick Gambuti Jr.
Kevin Hanlon
Produced byDan Carracino
StarringBill Wilson(voice)
Blake J. Evans
CinematographyRyo Murakami
Edited byPatrick Gambuti Jr.
Music byGil Talmi. Also includes original selections from Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach: The Cello Suites[1]
Distributed byPage 124 Productions
Release date
  • May 18, 2012(2012-05-18)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bill W.is a 2012Americanbiographical filmdirected by Dan Carracino and Kevin Hanlon, aboutWilliam Griffith Wilson,the co-founder ofAlcoholics Anonymous,and the firstfeature lengthdocumentary on Wilson.

Synopsis

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The film includes interviews with several recovering alcoholics who are photographed in dark shadows to maintain their anonymity, and also makes use ofdramatic reenactmentsto visualize key events in Wilson's life. Blake J. Evans portrays Wilson in the film.[2][3]

Production

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Making a film about the founder of an anonymous society presented the filmmakers with challenges. For example, by the time production began, there were few people still alive that knew Wilson, and it first appeared that there was very little visual material available on Wilson. The filmmakers were able to unearth little-seen archival footage and previously unpublished photographs of Wilson and the people in his life.[4]

Release

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The film opened on limited release inNew York CityandLos Angeleson Friday, May 18, 2012.[5]

Prior to its theatrical release,Bill W.screened at theCleveland International Film Festival.[2]

PBS version and Emmy Award

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An extensively re-edited and extended “director’s cut” version of the film (116 minutes) was aired on PBS starting in September 2016. This version of the film won an Emmy award in 2017.[6]

Recognition

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Critical response

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On theRotten Tomatoesthe film received a 78% based on reviews from 18 critics.[7]OnMetacriticit has a score of 78 based on 10 reviews.[8] Ernest Hardy in hisVillage Voicereview described the film as "a loving, exhaustive, warts-and-all look at the man who spent years battling his own alcoholism before a spiritual experience in the hospital set him on the course to help others."[9]

Sheri Linden's review in theLos Angeles TimesdescribedBill W.as "a thoroughly engrossing portrait of Wilson, his times and the visionary fellowship that is his legacy."[3]

Roger EbertgaveBill W.three stars out of four, calling it "an assembly of styles. It incorporates such film footage of Bill as is available, and then uses actors to re-enact chapters in his story."[citation needed]

Partial cast

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References

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  1. ^"Bill W., The New and Revealing Documentary about Bill Wilson, The Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Is Now Available on DVD and Online"(PDF).page124.com.Retrieved14 March2024.
  2. ^abUrycki, Mark (27 March 2012)."Bill W. documentary at CIFF".Kent, Ohio: WKSU.Retrieved21 May2012.
  3. ^abLinden, Sheri (18 May 2012)."'Bill W.' cuts through the anonymity ".Los Angeles Times.Los Angeles.Retrieved22 May2012.Laudatory but never simplistic, "Bill W." is a thoroughly engrossing portrait of Wilson, his times and the visionary fellowship that is his legacy.
  4. ^"About".Page 124 Productions.Retrieved22 May2012.
  5. ^"In Theaters Now".Page 124 Productions.Retrieved22 May2012.
  6. ^"Bill W. PBS".PBS.Retrieved28 May2019.
  7. ^"Bill W. (2012)".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved22 May2022.
  8. ^"Bill W. (2012)".Metacritic.Retrieved22 May2022.
  9. ^Hardy, Ernest."Bill W."Village Voice.Retrieved18 May2012.
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