Praise for Kenneth Bowser's PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE
"Kenneth Bowser's terrific documentary is a poignant portrait of an uncompromising artist who believed in the power of music as a tool for social and political change. He charts the subject's life and career via an expertly assembled wealth of archival news and performance footage. Ochs' songs provide a stirring soundtrack throughout the film."
-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
"An ESSENTIAL PORTRAIT of an artist who ought to be far better known. Filmmaker Kenneth Bowser does an admirable job of conveying why Ochs’ music continues to mean so much to his fans. A MUST-SEE." -Simon Vozick-Levinson, Entertainment Weekly
"A fantastic tribute to one of the most unsung heroes of the folk movement. For those unfamiliar with Phil Ochs' impressive oeuvre, this documentary is an incredible introduction and explanation of the man behind the music, and the era that defined him."
- Jonah Green, Huffington Post
"Enthralling and fascinating! The film charts Ochs' passionate output and genre-defining moments...revealing his sweet genius. That voice - it's so beautiful and soulful and tenderly ironic. Go see this film." -Dennis Dermondy, Paper Magazine
“ILLUMINATING... INSIGHTFUL. Rich in archival material.” -Melissa Anderson, The Village Voice
"A well-constructed and long-overdue tribute [to] perhaps the most gifted '60s folkie not born Zimmerman." -Jay Ruttenberg, Time Out New York
"Filled with passion, humor, idealism, intelligence and perfect songs: all the elements that animated Phil at his best." - Michael Simmons, LA Weekly
"Excellent!" - Greg Mitchell, The Nation
"A thoughtful, probing documentary." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"More than just a biopic of the famed troubadour, Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune is also a brief, brisk, brilliant history of social turmoil in America in the '60s…the film includes fascinating family minutiae as well as the broader social and political perspective. Information flies out of this movie, and the end result is a fascinating, heartbreaking, warts 'n' all portrait." - Liz Braun, Toronto Sun
"An overdue look at the '60s folk movement's anti-Dylan -- a songwriter who almost singlehandedly launched the pop-musical protest against the Vietnam War, but whose early death had the tragic cast of a 19th-century ballad." - John Anderson, Variety
"A remarkable chronicle of one man's pursuit of justice through music in the 20th Century while serving as a lesson for the 21st." - Michael Simmons, Common Dreams
"Astonishing... Amazing!" - Ross Altman, FolkWorks
"Bowser has found a tragic hero he wants history to remember and appreciate....
And he makes a damn good case for it." - Dan Mecca, Film Stage
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