Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres (2021): Cast & Ratings
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres is a 2021 documentary directed by Suzanne Kai, starring Ray Manzarek, Jann Wenner and Ben Fong Torres. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Suzanne Kai
- Genre
- Documentary
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres About?
The premise of Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres without spoilers.
This documentary explores the remarkable life of Ben Fong-Torres, a pioneering writer known for his influential work at Rolling Stone magazine. The film charts his journey from a childhood navigating the challenges of being an American-born son of Chinese immigrants to his iconic career, bridging cultural gaps through his writing. It's a compelling look at the world of rock and roll, personal identity, and the significant impact music has on shaping our experiences.
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres Cast
Ray Manzarek leads the cast, with Jann Wenner and Ben Fong Torres. Directed by Suzanne Kai; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Suzanne Kai
- Ray Manzarek as themselves
- Jann Wenner as themselves
- Ben Fong Torres as themselves
- Annie Sampson as themselves
Also Starring in Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
· 6 more- Harry Low Themselves
- John Burks Themselves
- John M. Glionna Themselves
- Jules Broussard Themselves
- Ling-Chi Wang Themselves
- Sarah Fong-Torres Themselves
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in character & emotion (85) and weakest in story & flow (70).
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres Echo Score Breakdown
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong‑Torres presents an engaging documentary portrait that celebrates the journalist’s impact while situating him within broader cultural currents. Critics highlight the film’s fun‑filled, immersive approach and its visual‑jukebox style that weaves archival footage with contemporary interviews. User feedback underscores the inspiring storytelling and the wealth of musical excerpts that enrich the narrative. Together these elements deliver a cohesive, entertaining experience that resonates with both music aficionados and general audiences.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 80
In terms of direction and visual execution, the documentary adopts a lively, collage‑like aesthetic that resembles a visual jukebox. Kai’s editing stitches archival clips, concert footage, and interviews with measured pacing, while the production design foregrounds period‑specific textures. The result is a competent technical presentation that supports the narrative without drawing attention to itself.
- Character & Emotion 85
When evaluating character depth, the film foregrounds Ben Fong‑Torres’s personal history through candid interviews and testimonies from peers. The testimonies reveal nuanced aspects of his career, mentorship, and cultural identity, providing emotional resonance that aligns with the documentary’s humanistic intent. Overall, the portrait conveys a layered and sympathetic view of its subject.
- Story & Flow 70
The documentary structures its narrative around a chronological sweep that intertwines Fong‑Torres’s professional milestones with the evolution of 1960s‑70s rock culture. While the pacing remains measured, some critics note a lack of distinctive narrative thrust, suggesting the film occasionally drifts into familiar territory. Nonetheless, the storyline maintains coherence and offers contextual richness.
- Sensory Experience 78
Sensory elements are anchored by a soundtrack rich in period rock excerpts, reinforcing the film’s musical setting. Audio mixing balances interview dialogue with archival concert sound, while visual styling employs a muted yet evocative color palette that complements the documentary’s reflective tone. These choices create an immersive, yet restrained, sensory experience.
- Rewatch Factor 85
The film’s rewatch value stems from its dense archive of interviews and musical moments, inviting viewers to discover new details on subsequent viewings. Its inspirational narrative and celebration of a pioneering Asian‑American journalist resonate strongly with niche audiences, while the layered cultural references encourage repeat engagement. Consequently, the documentary offers lasting appeal.
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IMDb 7.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 100% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 100%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
See on Letterboxd
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres.
Seen Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres released?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres was released on November 26, 2021.
Who directed Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres was directed by Suzanne Kai.
Who is in the cast of Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres stars Ray Manzarek, Jann Wenner and Ben Fong Torres, among 10 credited actors.
How is Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres rated?
Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73% on TMDB and 3.6/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres have a post-credit scene?
No. Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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