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Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune

  NR HD Closed Captioning

Kenneth Bowser

View More In Music Documentaries

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Plot Summary

As the country continues to engage in foreign wars, PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE is a timely tribute to an unlikely American hero whose music is as relevant today as it was in the 1960s. Ochs, a folk singing legend, was moved by the conviction that he and his music would change the world. He loved his country and fought to honor it, in both song and action. Wielding only a battered guitar, a clear voice and the quiver of his razor sharp songs, he tirelessly fought the good fight for peace and justice throughout his short life. PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE is buoyed by these anthems and melodies from humorous to haunting and throughout the film play the role of narrator, giving contextual depth to the unfolding saga of Ochsí complex political and personal life. In the film, Joan Baez, Tom Hayden, Pete Seeger, Sean Penn, Peter Yarrow, Christopher Hitchens, Ed Sanders, and others who knew or were inspired by Ochs tell stories of political passions that were equal parts idealism, conviction and fantasy mixed together with a big ego and often wild disorganization.

Credits

Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

TOMATOMETER

97%
  • Reviews Counted: 33
  • Fresh: 32
  • Rotten: 1
  • Average Rating: 7.7/10

Top Critics' Reviews

Fresh: Not only a biography but also a running history of the period's left-wing activism, replete with film clips of that decade's tragic events. – Stephen Holden, New York Times, Jan 5, 2011

Fresh: At once an unsentimental portrait of the ambitious singer who thought himself bound for glory, and an affecting elegy for a time when song was a form of revolution. – Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly, Jan 20, 2011

Fresh: A warts-and-all portrait of a singer and his celebrity, Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune is an overdue look at the '60s folk movement's anti-Dylan. – John Anderson, Variety, Jan 5, 2011

Fresh: The short and tragic life of Phil Ochs is as involving as the music he wrote and played, and that is saying a great deal. – Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, Mar 3, 2011

Read More About This Movie On Rotten Tomatoes

Customer Reviews

Decent film, but a better subject

Very interesting portrait of a sorely under-appreciated artist. The songs and interviews show a passionate and articulate figure in a political movement that was all too disorganized and undisciplined. Seeing the man speak about his art and his convictions was quite enlightening. Thankfully, though the filmmaker's disdain for Bob Dylan is fairly clear, it is kept in check for the most part, and the focus stays on Ochs' life and passions. Overall, an informative yet tragic story.

Phil Ochs "If There But for Fortune"

For the first video doc on Phil I've seen, I thoroughly enjoyed how the personal connection/ observation and timeline was. I really am inspired by Phil and his songs, how he saw the glory or flaws in situations, he deserved so much more than what he got- but it showed us what it means to go all the way and not be scared of what others think.
Sarah

Exquisite Documentary

Well told and crafted story of one of America's greatest troubadours. Lots of family, friends, politics and music. Cohesive timeline. Excellent sound and video editing. A fitting tribute.

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