Side by Side

Side by Side is a documentary about how movies get made, and how that process changed. For most of cinema's history, moving images were captured, developed and projected on photochemical film. Over roughly two decades, digital tools replaced much of that workflow, and the film examines what was gained and what was given up as the industry moved from one technology to the other. Keanu Reeves serves as host, interviewing directors and cinematographers about their craft, their preferences and their predictions for where the medium is heading. Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch and Lars von Trier are among those who appear.

Christopher Kenneally directed and wrote the documentary, and Reeves produced it alongside Justin Szlasa through Company Films. It runs 99 minutes and draws on a large group of credited participants, with 60 people listed in the cast, reflecting the range of filmmakers and technicians interviewed.

Released in 2012, the film was received favorably. On IMDb it holds a 7.6 rating from around 14,000 votes, and on TMDB a 7.3 from roughly 318 votes. A critics' rating of 7.5 from 66 reviews puts it close to the audience scores, suggesting broad agreement about its merits.