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Plot Summary
William G. Wilson is co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, a man included in TIME Magazine's "100 Persons of the 20th Century." Interviews, recreations, and rare archival material reveal how Bill Wilson, a hopeless drunk near death from his alcoholism, found a way out of his own addiction and then forged a path for countless others to follow. With Bill as its driving force, A.A. grew from a handful of men to a worldwide fellowship of over 2 million men and women - a success that made him an icon within A.A., but also an alcoholic unable to be a member of the very society he had created. A reluctant hero, Bill Wilson lived a life of sacrifice and service, and left a legacy that continues every day, all around the world. A FilmBuff Presentation.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
82%- Reviews Counted: 17
- Fresh: 14
- Rotten: 3
- Average Rating: 6.6/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: This film's impact is hampered by a slavish adherence to chronology and vintage audio materials.
Fresh: There's an unflashy clarity to the documentary "Bill W." that suits its subject.
Fresh: 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.
Fresh: Pretty much like the man himself: solid, sometimes flawed and seriously unflashy.
Customer Reviews
My gratitude speaks..
Bill and his fellows helped Jimmy K one of the co-founders of Narcotics Anonymous start our fellowship. If it wernt for all the failures and mishaps of what seemed another suffering alcoholic… many of us if not most would have perished. I owe my life to AA, Bill W, Dr Bob and the trials and hurdles they had to overcome to get to hat we know now "A new way to live" Thank you for your humility and love for the fellow alcoholic we couldn't have done it without you. -> @mistr_eddie
The #1 film about Bill Wilson
I loved this film! I saw it 5 times when it was in theaters and can't wait to see it again! I loved the archival audio of Bill and never before seen photos. It showed a very well rounded portrait of Bill and I learned so much about the founding of AA. The music, editing, interviews and production value are top notch. I recommend this film to anyone who has ever known anyone in recovery or anyone who wants to learn more about one of the most important people in the 20th century!
Amazingly Produced
This is an absolutely fantastic documentary. It's well produced, incredibly well researched, and thoughtfully scripted. By watching this I learned quite a bit about the life of Bill W, Lois, and the others in the original AA circle of which I may have never known. The footage and photography are simply captivating!
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