The Go Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films

Synopsis

In the 1980s, two Israeli cousins (Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus) influenced Hollywood by producing over 300 films and starting one of the most successful independent production companies, Cannon Films. Their complex and differing personalities made them successful and eventually led to their downfall.

Reception

The film received mixed to positive reviews from the critics upon its premier at Cannes. Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter criticized the film, writing "It rather disingenuously ignores two major issues. First, Cannon had very bad taste in movies. Second, there’s precious little discussion, except in the most general terms, of the company’s suspected financial shenanigans." Ultimately concluded that "(it shows) A little love for Golan and Globus."

Tom Christie gave the film a negative review for Indiewire, writing "There's nothing particularly special about Hilla Medalia's documentary, The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films, other than its subjects, Menahem Golan and Yorum Globus."

However, Alissa Simon of Variety gave the film a positive review, calling it "both an affectionate tribute and a cautionary tale" and "a solid celebration of Menachem Golan, Yoram Globus and their famous filmmaking empire."

Craig Skinner wrote in his review for Film Divider that "The Go-Go Boys presents a fascinating portrait that goes beyond the films and tells an enthralling story of two men who grasped the American Dream in all four hands. They may not have always been working towards something that was really worth the effort, but whatever they did, they did it with passion."