The defence The Auteur Devotee
“Ambition earns the room.”
The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.
Back to trending 
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
Documentary · 2017
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
Movie details
Ex Libris: The New York Public Library
2017 Documentary 3h 25m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.4 / 10
Community rating
A documentary about how a dominant cultural and demographic institution both sustains their traditional activities and adapts to the digital revolution.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Ex Libris: The New York Public Library?
For the defence
The Auteur Devotee
“You watch the director, not the movie.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Frederick Wiseman
Written by
Frederick Wiseman
Richard Dawkins
Self
Elvis Costello
Self
Patti Smith
Self
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Self
E
Edmund de Waal
Self
Court is in session
Put Ex Libris: The New York Public Library on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Importance has entered the chat.”
The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.