Project Nim (2011)

Tobias finds the documentary endlessly fascinating and moving, exploring the blurred boundary between humans and animals. He praises its use of interviews, archival footage, and recreations to tell Nim’s story.

The critic finds the documentary fascinating, sobering and deeply upsetting, and condemns the experiment’s treatment of Nim. He praises its compelling portrayal of the relationships Nim formed with the humans around him.

Rooney finds the documentary unsettling yet enthralling, praising Marsh’s craftsmanship and even-handed perspective. He singles out its candid interviews and skillful assembly of archival material for giving the story emotional and psychological depth.

Kohn finds the documentary moving but says it avoids deeper psychological analysis of Nim’s behavior. He praises the scenes showing Nim’s bond with Bob Ingersoll, where Nim is treated on his own terms.

Conterio considers it one of the year’s best documentaries, while noting that it feels too short. He praises Marsh’s deft handling of complex issues and the film’s detached, non-judgmental approach.

Turan finds the documentary engrossing and eye-opening, showing how Nim’s story exposed human self-interest as much as it explored chimpanzee communication. He praises Marsh’s candid interviews and effective use of archival footage, while noting occasional unsatisfactory re-enactments.

Debruge finds the documentary provocative, surprisingly emotional, and compelling as human drama. He praises Marsh’s sensitive, revealing account of Nim’s changing human guardians and the questions their experiment raises.

Bradshaw calls the documentary gripping, while arguing it exposes the human participants’ failings. He praises the chimp’s presence but wishes the film explored the experiment’s collapse more fully.

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Schenker argues that the documentary trades complex analysis for easy sentiment. He criticizes its reliance on human-chimpanzee equivalence to stir outrage rather than probing the experiment’s central questions.

Goldberg calls the documentary captivating and one of the year’s best, while raising difficult questions about humanity and animal experimentation. He especially praises James Marsh’s exploration of Nim’s unpredictable duality through reenactments, interviews, and archival footage.

Dunaway finds the documentary fascinating, technically accomplished, and ultimately a powerful cautionary tale about human responsibility. He praises its use of archival footage, recreations, visual motifs, and score to tell Nim’s heartbreaking story.

Chen finds Project Nim a heartbreaking, compelling film, though it does not reach the heights of Man on Wire. He praises the wealth of archival material and singles out Nim’s interactions with people as moments of magic.

The critic calls the documentary riveting and says Nim’s story is touching, while cautioning against wanting to take him home. The film is especially effective in exposing the human personalities and anthropomorphic assumptions surrounding Nim.

The critic finds the documentary fascinating and profoundly sad, while praising how deftly it brings Nim’s story to life. The archival footage and interviews with people who raised and studied him are singled out as particular strengths.