Little Richard: I Am Everything

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2:09

Little Richard: I Am Everything

2023

1h 38m

Documentary

Music

Biography

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Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

101 Reviews

98%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator -- the originator -- Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n' roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes -- he was unabashedly everything.

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Critics Consensus

Woooo! An engaging tribute to the rock pioneer, Little Richard: I Am Everything should shut up anyone who doubts the title's veracity.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

05/17/2023

It's so cool and so fun. He is such a charismatic and fascinating figure.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

05/12/2023

4/5

There’s too much life, unpredictability and jubilation for Little Richard: I Am Everything to dwell on lost years and opportunities.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

04/30/2023

4/5

Does an impressive job of reminding us how much generations of rock stars, from Tom Jones to Mick Jagger, Elton John and Prince, have owed to Little Richard, and how radical his presence was in a world not yet ready to pay for his talent.

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Stephen A. Russell

Orion's Shoulder (Substack)

11/12/2024

A charismatically captivating conundrum.

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Daniel Allen

Loud and Clear Reviews

07/25/2024

3.5/5

Little Richard: I Am Everything is a scattershot but fairly interesting music documentary about one of the most dynamic, spirited men in rock and roll history.

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Rosalie Kicks

MovieJawn

06/19/2024

3.25/4

It was interesting to learn more about this iconic figure… so much I didn’t know.

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Wayne Isaak

05/09/2023

What a terrific tour de force of the history of R&R and American/World culture through the life and times of the true father of the music! Lisa Cortez brought craft and stars to this excellent doc: the Beatles, Elvis, Sister Rosetta, Bo Diddley, etc.

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Renee J

04/24/2023

Absolutely amazing!!!

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Jezrabelle

04/23/2023

Amazing doc, filled with wonderful music and insight into the true origins of rock and roll.

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AD

04/22/2023

Great footage of him in stage and great interviews

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Dee Myers

04/12/2023

It was ABSOLUTELY AUHHHHMAZING!!! He truly was everything.

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Tom L

04/12/2023

This was an awesome documentary! I learned so many things that I didnt know about Little Richard.

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Lisa Cortes

Director

Tom Jones

Self

Mick Jagger

Self

Paul McCartney

Self

Little Richard

Self

Lisa Cortes

Producer

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Little Richard: I Am Everything: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING tells the story of the Black queer origins of rock n' roll, exploding the whitewashed canon of American pop music to reveal the innovator -- the originator -- Richard Penniman. Through a wealth of archive and performance that brings us into Richard's complicated inner world, the film unspools the icon's life story with all its switchbacks and contradictions. In interviews with family, musicians, and cutting-edge Black and queer scholars, the film reveals how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked pinball between God, sex and rock n' roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was an omni being who contained multitudes -- he was unabashedly everything.

Director: Lisa Cortes
Producer: Lisa Cortes, Robert Friedman, Liz Yale Marsh, Caryn Capotosto
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: In The Air, CNN Films, Bungalow Media + Entertainment, Rolling Stone
Genre: Documentary, Music, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA): $130.9K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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