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Jim Henson Idea Man

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This article is about the 2024 documentary film about Jim Henson. For the 2011 memoir by Paul Allen, see Idea Man.
Jim Henson Idea Man
Promotional release poster
Directed byRon Howard
Written by
  • Mark Monroe
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyVanja Cernjul
John Chater
Igor Martinovic
Jenni Morello
Edited byPaul Crowder
Sierra Neal
Music byDavid Fleming
Production
companies
Distributed byDisney+
Release dates
May 18, 2024 (Cannes)
  • May 31, 2024 (2024-05-31)
(Disney+)
Running time
108 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Jim Henson Idea Man is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Ron Howard, about puppeteer Jim Henson.

It premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, in the Cannes Classics sections on May 18, 2024. It premiered on Disney+ worldwide on May 31, 2024.[2]

Summary

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The film chronicles Henson's life, from the early years of his career to the creation of properties like The Muppets, Sesame Street, and The Dark Crystal, and also focuses on his creative and romantic partnership with his wife Jane Henson.[3] The film features interviews with family members and collaborators of Jim Henson, including Frank Oz.[3]

Production

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A biographical feature film based on Jim Henson's life, known as Muppet Man, had been in development at Walt Disney Pictures and The Jim Henson Company since 2010.[4] The project was based on a spec script written by Christopher Weekes, which had topped the 2009 Black List.[5][6] In April 2021, it was reported that Michael Mitnick was hired to rewrite the screenplay, previously written by Aaron and Jordan Kandell. Lisa Henson would serve as producer.[7]

In March 2022, another attempt to adapt Henson's life, as a then-untitled Jim Henson Idea Man, was announced, stating Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment was partnering with Disney+ on a documentary "with the full participation and cooperation of the Henson family".[8] The film's title, as well as its scheduled release date of May 31, 2024, on Disney+, were officially announced on April 11, 2024.[3][2]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 61 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "A rich and warm overview of Jim Henson's life and career that avoids simplistic hagiography, Ron Howard's documentary will give audiences a much clearer idea of the pioneering puppeteer's artistry."[9] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[10]

Michael Nordine of Variety felt Idea Man is a conventional documentary "whose feel-good charms are undercut only slightly by its adherence to the tried-and-true nonfiction formula ... If it's easy to wish Idea Man were as bold as its subject, though, it's just as easy to be won over by this deservedly heartfelt tribute to him."[11] Matthew Carey of Deadline Hollywood reflected on the prior documentaries made about Henson's life and career, but felt "[Ron] Howard brings fresh energy to the subject through the skillful use of animations based on Henson's impressive drawings and wonderful archival rarities that go beyond what has been seen in previous treatments of Henson's life."[12]

For The Hollywood Reporter, Daniel Feinberg wrote Idea Man "delivers less perspective on Henson's personality and motivations than sheer evidence of his drive. That's fine, and the documentary is fine. Anybody with affection for Henson and his work will get the requisite laughs, nostalgia and probably emotions from the footage Howard assembled here."[13] Kate Erbland of Indiewire graded the film a B+, writing despite the star-studded interview appearances, "Howard leans into honesty. The film is so much better for it, even as it can't quite capture the full magic and scope of Henson's life and work."[14]

Accolades

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Accolades for Jim Henson Idea Man
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Astra TV Awards December 8, 2024 Best Documentary Jim Henson Idea Man Pending [15]
Cannes Film Festival May 24, 2024 L'Œil d'or Ron Howard Nominated [16]
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards November 10, 2024 Best Documentary Feature Jim Henson Idea Man Nominated [17]
Best Director Ron Howard Nominated
Best Archival Documentary Jim Henson Idea Man Nominated
Best Biographical Documentary Nominated
Best Editing Paul Crowder Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards September 7, 2024 Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Justin Wilkes, Mark Monroe, and Christopher St. John Won [18]
[19]
[20]
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program Ron Howard Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program Mark Monroe Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Igor Martinovic and Vanja Cernjul Nominated
Outstanding Motion Design Mark Thompson, Seamus Walsh, Mark Caballero, Ivan Viaranchyk, Max Strizich, and Momo Zhao Won
Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) David Fleming Won
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program Sierra Neal and Paul Crowder Won
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program Daniel Timmons, Jeremy S. Bloom, Ian Cymore, and Ryan Rubin Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program Tony Volante and Michael Jones Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Jim Henson Idea Man". Disney+. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Fu, Eddie (April 11, 2024). "Ron Howard's Jim Henson Documentary Idea Man Sets Premiere Date". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Zuckerman, Esther (April 11, 2024). "First Look: Ron Howard Enters the World of Jim Henson". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Brodesser-Akner, Claude (March 5, 2010). "Disney Planning a Jim Henson Biopic". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  5. ^ Finke, Nikki (December 11, 2009). "The Black List 2009: Full Roster". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  6. ^ Zeitchik, Steve (December 11, 2009). "Muppet fur flies over Jim Henson script". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (April 21, 2021). "Jim Henson Biopic: Michael Mitnick Writing 'Muppet Man' For Disney & The Jim Henson Company". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Carey, Matthew (March 30, 2022). "Ron Howard, Brian Grazer Team For Documentary On Jim Henson, With Full Participation Of Muppet Creator's Family". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Jim Henson Idea Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 25, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  10. ^ "Jim Henson Idea Man". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  11. ^ Nordine, Michael (May 28, 2024). "'Jim Henson Idea Man' Review: A Heartfelt, If Safe, Tribute to a Singular Figure". Variety. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Carey, Matthew (May 18, 2024). "'Jim Henson Idea Man' Review: Ron Howard Paints Moving Portrait Of Muppets Creator As Restless Innovator – Cannes Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  13. ^ Feinberg, Daniel (May 18, 2024). "'Jim Henson Idea Man' Review: Ron Howard's Disney+ Doc Is a Middle-of-the-Road Portrait of a Genius". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Erbland, Kate (May 18, 2024). "'Jim Henson Idea Man' Review: Ron Howard Looks Beyond Muppet Charm to Portray a Genius". Indiewire. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  15. ^ Anderson, Erik (July 9, 2024). "HCA Astra TV Awards Nominations: 'The Bear', 'Hacks', 'The Morning Show', 'Baby Reindeer' Lead Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 Competition". L'Œil d'or (in French). Scam: Société civile des auteurs multimédia. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  17. ^ Lewis, Hilary (October 14, 2024). "'Sugarcane' Leads Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Jim Henson Idea Man". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Carey, Matthew (July 17, 2024). "Imagine, Exploring Sale, Scores 8 Emmy Nominations For Ron Howard's 'Jim Henson Idea Man'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "Juried Winners for 76th Emmy Awards Announced". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
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