“Lambert & Stamp, a loving, freewheeling new documentary by James D. Cooper.”
A. O. Scott — New York Times
“Fans of The Who will find this film a rock Rosetta Stone. Students of the often anarchic creative process will be fascinated.”
Joe Morgenstern — Wall Street Journal
“Rare truthful & beautiful film about the rock'n'roll life.”
Alan Scherstuhl — The Village Voice
“A portrait of two men, their journey & their friendship.”
Dave Swanson — Ultimate Classic Rock
“A window onto the world of 1960s London.”
Chris Foran — Journal Sentinel Tap Milwaukee
“It’s an arrow aimed at the hearts of Who fans, & its aim is true.”
Jeff Miers — The Buffalo News
“Loaded with irresistible vintage material.”
John Beifuss — The Commercial Appeal Memphis
“One of my favorite films of the year.”
Mark Dubec — markdubec.com
“Comes through loud as a power chord.”
Bill O’Driscoll — Pittsburgh City Paper
“Energetic and ultimately poignant.”
Brad Wheeler — The Globe & Mail
“Lambert & Stamp is a love story.”
Jeff Baker — The Oregonian
“Director James Cooper crafts an impressionistic, shape-shifting story that discombobulates linear material by stressing emotional threads.”
Robert Levin — Miami.com/Tribune News Service
“This film is a terrific overview of the career of a remarkable duo and the band they helped turn into superstars.”
Jim Batts — We Are Movie Geeks
“It’s a rare look at the fearless approach of two British gents who set out to make a statement on the times, and instead helped create something timeless.”
David Ferguson — Red Carpet Crash
“A brilliant dynamic of what a documentary should be.”
Lori Buswold — Irish Film Critic
“Lambert & Stamp displays the same raw, chaotic energy as a vintage Who performance.”
Cliff Froehlich — Riverfront Times
“A brilliant, wholly absorbing documentary.”
Ned Lannamann — The Stranger
“It's a love story between two great friends who conceived one of the world's greatest bands.”
Joe Friar — Victoria Advocate
“This valuable film takes us on a moving journey from exhilaration to regret.”
Tim Jackson — The Arts Fuse
“A must-see for Who fans and virtually anyone else interested in the British rock ’n’ roll scene in the formative 1960s, Lambert & Stamp is more than another documentary.”
James Verniere — The Boston Herald
“In this illuminating documentary, filmmaker James D. Cooper does cultural history a service in restoring the duo to their rightful place as the Who’s fifth and sixth — that’s according to Daltrey — members.”
Ann Hornaday — The Washington Post
“James D. Cooper gives the duo their due and in so doing opens up a singular view on an era, its energy, and its excesses.”
Ty Burr — The Boston Globe
“Lambert & Stamp provides a treasure trove of insight and previously unseen footage.”
Michael Clark — Gwinnett Daily Post
“Interesting revelations abound.”
Glenn McDonald — Independent Weekly
“James D. Cooper's film tells the story of the beginning of the Who but focuses on the managers who helped shape the band. It's a riot.”
Bill Goodykoontz — The Arizona Republic
“They just needed to discover a band that would make it from rags to riches.”
Marcus Siu — mlsentertainment
“Cooper’s filmmaking aesthetic has the makings of an experimental design, with a reach beyond the New Wave.”
Danielle Shi — The Daily Californian
“Director James Cooper crafts an impressionistic, shape-shifting story that discombobulates linear material by stressing emotional threads.”
Robert Levin — AM New York
“It’s a joyous, engaging, clever piece of filmmaking, a finely cut gem of many facets.”
Laura Clifford — Reeling Reviews
“The moving picture was worth a proverbial thousand words.”
Denise Sullivan — Blurt Magazine
“Cooper's film feels as free-flowing as a '60s drug trip.”
Joshua Handler — Roboapocalypse
“Essentially a love story, Lambert & Stamp examines the complexity of a creative relationship while addressing the universal theme of self-discovery.”
Danny Miller — Cinephiled
“A vital and untethered account of one of the prime bands of its era.”
Walter Addiego — SFGate
“James D. Cooper's captivating documentary, Lambert & Stamp, captures the zeitgeist of an era as it explores the complicated creative partnership forged between Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.”
Sheila Roberts — Collider
“Energetic, raucous, and unexpectedly tender.”
Bernard Boo — Way Too Indie
“For all the Who's flamboyance and rock-god excess, the more fascinating story behind them may well have been that of Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp.”
Bilge Ebiri — Vulture
“The band's first managers take center stage in this fascinating time capsule of swinging '60s London.”
Chris Nashawaty — Entertainment Weekly
“Colorfully incisive documentary.”
Michael Rechtshaffen — LA Times
“What sets Lambert & Stamp apart from the common rock documentary is that its focus isn't on the band, but the big-thinking management duo behind them.”
Austin Trunick — Under The Radar
“Individually, the pair were certainly smart and ambitious, but together, lightning struck.”
Mark Rabinowitz — Paste Magazine
“Lambert & Stamp features a treasure trove of archival footage from the era, a pulsating soundtrack and revealing interviews.”
Susan King — LA Times
“With excellent material, wonderful editing, and the trust and confidence of great interviewees, this is the story the band has wanted to tell for a long time.”
Joshua Halpern — Film Forward
“An essential movie for any lover of music, culture or both.”
Cole Smithey's Movie Week (Video Review)
“Lambert and Stamp unpacks what Mr. Cooper calls the 'emotional reality' of Mr. Lambert and Mr. Stamp's relationship, both with the band and each other.”
Amanda Petrusich — New York Times
“First off, the movie is a love story.”
Andy Greene — Rolling Stone
“The unsung heroes of the world’s most popular musical acts are usually the people behind the glamour and fame — the talent managers.”
Courtney Howard — Very Aware
“A riotous new documentary about the two schemers who bumbled their way into making The Who one of the biggest rock bands in the world.”
Jim Farber — New York Daily News
“Two fabulous but unknown guys in the shadow of deity.”
Phil Gallo — Billboard Magazine
“Lambert & Stamp has a lot to offer about The Who and commercial music in general, but it will mean the most for those with a deep appreciation for the minutiae of British rock 40 years ago.”
Daniel Eagan — Film Journal International
“Incredible behind the scenes footage.”
WNYC The Takeaway
“Documentary about the two influential music moguls.”
WENN — Contactmusic.com
“An intimate glimpse at Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, the duo who helped mold the group into the rock icons they are today.”
Rolling Stone
“James D. Cooper’s poundingly fun, scrappy profile has an unusually satisfying nuts-and-bolts perspective on the ’60s fame machine.”
Joshua Rothkopf — Time Out New York
“The cinematic equivalent of a rich oral history.”
Keith Phipps — The Dissolve
“An intimate rock documentary that eludes most of the standard beats of the genre.”
Jake Coyle — Associated Press
“But make no mistake; this isn’t another rock doc about The Who. It’s a love story about the men behind it.”
Cooper Copeland — Campus Circle
“A tale of a time gone by that has played a pivotal role in the development of pop culture.”
Dr. Tian Dayton — The Huffington Post
“Their ideas were outrageous. The more preposterous the better.”
Spencer — 97.9 The Loop
“Lambert & Stamp is charged with a mad concoction of noise, love, rebellion, artistry, and hilarity.”
Michelle McCue — We Are Movie Geeks
“An essential movie for any lover of music, culture, or both.”
Cole Smithey
“They found similarities in their creative ambitions and their outcast natures.”
Larry Getlen — New York Post
“Lambert & Stamp tells the story of Stamp and pal Kit Lambert, then-aspiring filmmakers who set out to find a subject for their underground movie, but ended up shaping and managing The Who.”
Soth Team — Dan's Papers
“Lambert & Stamp is charged with a mad concoction of noise, love, rebellion, artistry, and hilarity.”
juice magazine
“An amazing journey across two of the most explosive, fascinating and significant decades of popular history.”
Modculture
“A reminder of the energy of social upheaval that found expression in pop music.”
Edward Helmore — the guardian
“You know the story of The Who, I’m not here to tell you the story of The Who. I’m here to shine a light on two guys that took a chance in the 60s.”
michael des barres — the michael des barres show
“The film feels like a night hanging out with the legendary managers.”
Katie Van Syckle — Rolling Stone
“Bracingly immersive.”
david rooney — the hollywood reporter
“James D. Cooper’s impeccably directed debut is a definitive screen bio of the Who and its rock-operatic rise.”
rob nelson — variety
“In telling this seminal story, James and Loretta and their team pay tribute not only to one of the greatest rock bands ever, but also to the glorious synchronicity of the creative process.”
sony pictures classics press release
