Carmine Street Guitars is a simple and lovely documentary capturing the legendary guitar store in the West Village of NYC over the course of five days. A lot of the film is professional musicians stopping in to play guitars and we get to hear them talk about their life and the significance of this shop to their playing. It’s hard to tell how much is staged and planned, but everything comes across geniune. A wonderful piece for any guitar lovers out there

CUFF.DOCS screening #10
This isn't a doc, not sure how it got into a doc festival. It's about as real as an episode of Pawn Stars complete with an elderly realitive bumbling around the store. Every interaction is so set up and take it completely took me out of the beauty of the handmade guitars. The moments of genuine emotion are so few and far between because they non actors are sticking to some sort of script. Let Rick Kelly tell his damn story and don't feed him lines.

This film helped me shake hands with and talk to Jim Jarmusch.

Probably the most staged and stilted documentary you will ever watch. Its hard to see how this was a Jarmusch 'instigated' project given how it fails to fulfill his hangout style with any authenticity, but despite dramatic problems its dagginess is still winning. It's just nice to see these people so pleased by music and craftsmanship.

pure dad culture and a sweetie of a film. the old guy near me cheesin throughout it was the cutest thing i’ve ever seen 🥺

Kind of a voluptuous, sensual piece of artwork. Embodies the deepest love for music.

Short and sweet snapshot of some passionate music folk. Worth my time.

Painfully stiff and staged. The subject matter here has potential, but it really feels like every conversation was planned out in advance, and the result is that it's pretty lifeless and cardboard. Not much fun to watch.

Low-key and charming. Reminded me of the segments on Mr. Rogers or Sesame Street where they go behind the scenes of some creative work or process and just show you how it's done.

‘Carmine Street Guitars’ is the most enjoyable music documentary I’ve watched all year. It works so well because Mann ensures that the genuine passion for guitars and music felt by all the participants in the film reverberates out of the screen and into the hearts of the audience. You'll want to listen to Rick Kelly and you know you’re in good company.
- Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article...
www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-carmine-street-guitars-heartfelt-guitar-porn

Probably the most staged and stilted documentary you will ever watch. Its hard to see how this was a Jarmusch 'instigated' project given how it fails to fulfill his hangout style with any authenticity, but despite dramatic problems its dagginess is still winning. It's just nice to see these people so pleased by music and craftsmanship.

Everyone has someone in their life whose dream film would be watching semi-famous guitarists come into a handcrafted guitar store, talk shop, and jam out. You know - the type who says "listen to that reverb!" or "this neck has such a great feel!" nonironically. Barely functional for most other audiences- the staged conversations are often awkward and the film assiduously skirts any larger kind of statements - but I've spent enough time in bands I liked it ok. If the thought of seeing Bill Frisell noodle for two minutes and Nels Cline pick out a gift for Jeff Tweedy makes your pulse quicken, this is your film. (And are all the Eleanor Friedberger songs that great? I gave her a wide berth after those early Fiery Furnaces records, which did little for me, but her song was the highlight.)