--- title: "Becoming Cousteau: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/becoming-cousteau/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/becoming-cousteau" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Becoming Cousteau (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 15 reviews: 12 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics welcome Becoming Cousteau as an engaging, informative portrait, with praise concentrated on Garbus’s use of archival footage. The underwater images are a particular strength, conveying Cousteau’s attachment to the sea and the appeal of his filmmaking. His development from explorer and entertainer into environmental advocate gives the documentary its clearest emotional thread. The reviews generally find it an accessible introduction to his work, with several also valuing its attention to his flaws and regrets. Reservations concern how far the film probes beneath its admiration. The Guardian wants closer scrutiny of Cousteau’s family life and influence, while The Playlist finds the treatment too respectful and insufficiently curious about his films. Vulture, by contrast, credits its willingness to acknowledge his shortcomings. The spread runs from enthusiasm to qualified approval rather than outright rejection: the archive earns broad praise, but the depth of the biography remains the dividing point. ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. Gleiberman praises the documentary as an ardent, transporting portrait whose most moving force is Cousteau’s environmental awakening. He especially singles out its archival footage and the way it immerses viewers in Cousteau’s love of the ocean. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/becoming-cousteau-review-1235094426/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. Festival review. Scheck finds the documentary consistently engrossing and informative, offering a richly humanistic portrait of Cousteau. He praises its intimate use of archival footage and its reminder of Cousteau’s legacy in exploration and environmental activism. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/becoming-cousteau-telluride-2021-1235006013/) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating B+. 19 October 2021. Murray finds the documentary fascinating and thoughtful, showing how Cousteau evolved from explorer and entertainer into an environmental advocate. He praises Garbus’s curation of archival footage and storytelling, especially the arresting underwater imagery. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/becoming-cousteau-is-a-deep-dive-into-the-french-icon-s-1847893539) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2021. Ebiri finds the documentary informative, admiring, and admirably willing to show Cousteau’s flaws and regrets. He especially praises Garbus’s use of archival footage to convey the beauty and originality of Cousteau’s filmmaking. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-becoming-cousteau-directed-by-liz-garbus.html) ## Radio Times — Caroline Frost Rating 4/5. Frost gives the documentary a positive verdict, praising its archive-rich account of Cousteau’s life and influence. She singles out the singular experiences and accomplishments that shaped his environmental legacy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-jhnya0/becoming-cousteau/) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. Abele finds the documentary smart and moving, though not as deep a journey as some might hope. He praises how Garbus uses Cousteau’s archival footage to portray both his adventurous curiosity and evolving environmental convictions. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-21/becoming-cousteau-documentary-liz-garbus) ## IndieWire — Kristen Lopez Rating B-. 3 September 2021. Festival review. The review finds the documentary an engaging, optimistic portrait, though it handles Cousteau’s life matter-of-factly and avoids deeper complexity. It praises the beautiful, eerie archival underwater cinematography and the way Cousteau’s films bring his connection to the sea to life. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/becoming-cousteau-review-1234659287/) ## Screen Daily — Allan Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. Festival review. The review presents the documentary as engaging and clearly positive. It singles out how Cousteau’s story reflects the history of the environmental movement. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/becoming-cousteau-telluride-review/5162494.article) ## The Guardian — Phil Hoad Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2021. Hoad finds Cousteau’s life and career impressive, while arguing the documentary could have offered deeper insight into his family and environmental legacy. He praises the remarkable scope of Cousteau’s accomplishments but questions whether the film examines his influence critically enough. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/nov/10/becoming-cousteau-review-getting-in-deep-with-the-beanie-wearing-ocean-explorer) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. The page was inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/movies/becoming-cousteau-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Marina Ashioti Rating 3/3/3. 9 November 2021. The review finds the documentary a nuanced portrait of Cousteau’s complicated legacy, though its approach is formulaic. It praises the intimate use of archival footage, family voices and journal entries. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/becoming-cousteau) ## The Playlist — Chris Barsanti Rating B. 3 September 2021. Festival review. Barsanti finds the film beautiful and a solid introduction, but ultimately too respectful and thin in its treatment of Cousteau’s work. He praises the archival footage for its vivid, sensual images while faulting the film for not exploring Cousteau’s films in enough depth. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/becoming-cousteau-telluride-review-20210903/) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 3 September 2021. Festival review. McCarthy finds the documentary an invigorating introduction and a valuable reminder of Cousteau’s life and work. He praises its use of archival material to show how Cousteau became an environmental pioneer. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/09/becoming-cousteau-movie-review-nat-geo-liz-garbus-1234827034/) ## Eye for Film — Anne-Katrin Titze Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2021. Festival review. The review finds Cousteau’s life and environmental legacy compelling, though family tragedy and moral complications temper the adventure. It praises the stylish clothing and colourised underwater images for transporting viewers into a magical world. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/becoming-cousteau-2021-film-review-by-anne-katrin-titze) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the respectful biography effective, though it tends to burnish Cousteau’s legend and neglects parts of his personal life. The archival footage and the continuing urgency of his environmental message stand out as its strengths. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/becoming-cousteau-film-review-jacques-liz-garbus-natgeo/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/becoming-cousteau.md