“The film is really mostly about the foibles of religion, but gently so. It benefits from director Roger Nygard’s (“Trekkies”) light comic touch and heartfelt “desire to communicate truth,” as one subject says is often lacking in discussions of religious beliefs.”
Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times
Full Review
“Alternately quite serious and wryly funny….”
Howard Buck, The National Board of Reviews
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“The Nature of Existence is possibly the most even-handed documentary I have seen in a decade. It asks questions and fosters discussion: and there is no conclusion reached or proposed. Walking in with no preparation, I was expecting a scoffing and sarcastic piece like Religulous, but got instead of very thought-provoking and entertaining work.”
FastMovieReviews.com
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“Proceed with Caution. A lot of people say a lot of interesting things about God, Love, Happiness, Morality, Afterlife and the general nature of existence, but it all comes at you so fast and furious that you don’t get a chance to digest any of it, and before long, you have a thinking man’s headache.”
Monique Elisabeth, MOVIE REIVEWS BY FAQS
Full Review
“…a provocative film that’s guaranteed to stimulate some interesting conversations.”
Alonso Duralde, QueerSighted.com
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“Those who ponder existential issues should appreciate Roger Nygard’s documentary The Nature of Existence …”
Taoist Online
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“The film treads ground covered in films like Diane Keaton’s ‘Heaven’ and James Toback’s ‘Big Bang’ … [The Nature of Existence] is quicker, funnier and less pretentious.”
Mike Hale, The New York Times
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“The Nature of Existence presents a lot of diverse viewpoints, never ridiculing any of them. This desire to consider all perspectives is what makes the movie a smart, engrossing, and entertaining crash course in the study of What It All Means.”
Mike McGranaghan, Online Film Critics Society
Full Review
“While it will strike some as smug and others as sincere, pic certainly has a feel-good tone and playful attitude, both of which could draw congregants to this pasteurized version of ‘What the #$*! Do We Know?’”
John Anderson, Variety
Full Review
“Director Roger Nygard wisely structures the film with different chapter heading and blends in some humor along the way throughout his journeys so as not to make the subject matters seem so dry, heavy and, most importantly, so you can breathe a little while being inundated with all the answers. … The Nature of Existence is ultimately an enlightening, provocative and captivating spiritual journey well worth taking.”
Avi Offer, The NYC Movie Guru
Full Review
“What you get is a blitz of beliefs, comments and puzzling sayings about God and existence. … Nygard’s commentary is actually fairly funny and, for the most part, limited. He really lets his interviewees do the talking.”
Cliff Vaughn, Ethics Daily
Full Review
“…a brisk and occasionally very funny trip through the religions of the world. “
Jack Gattanella, Film-Forward.com
Full Review
“’Nature’ is defined by its hopeful juxtaposition of clashing ideas on humanity and the cosmos…With co-producer/editor Paul Tarantino, [Roger Nygard] has shaped the well-shot material into a quick-moving piece that abounds in energy.”
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter
Full Review
“Those who ponder existential issues should appreciate Roger Nygard’s documentary The Nature of Existence…. And you cannot dismiss someone who obsesses over his upcoming pancake breakfast all the way through church service.”
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
Full Review
“If I seem to make light of Nygard’s film, I’m doing so fondly, for it gave me a very good time and forced me to think a bit, while making me recall the kind of discussions we used to have during the wee hours in our college dorm. It covers a lot of territory but does so in a sprightly, intelligent manner that makes it, rather consistently, fun food for thought.”
James van Maanen, TrustMovies.com
Full Review
“… what this documentary does is displays a wide array of differing styles of beliefs from the devout to the comedic and everywhere in between. … The ideas presented in this documentary aren’t for everyone. … The film doesn’t have an anti-religious slant, but with anti-religious views expressed, it shouldn’t be unexpected if the film ends up protested heavily by religious groups claiming it to be a work intended to dismantle religion. Yet, anyone who watches it and actually understands what it’s trying to say should find themselves shaking their heads at these protestations.”
www.cinemasight.com
Full Review
“You have to admire Roger Nygard. He took on Trekkies, and that was confounding enough. And now he’s taking on everything. That takes balls.”
MaryAnn Johanson, FlickFilosopher.com
Full Review
“…there are some truly strange moments and characters in the film, and plenty of laughter.”
Sarah Auerswald, MarVistaMom.com
Full Review
“…amusing, informative, and well worth seeing. …it will teach, entertain, and provoke thought…often amusingly bizarre… you’ll see and hear things you never knew before. Or imagined. And if you’re attentive, you’ll get the jokes. Think Religulous except more ambitious and less mean.”
Richard Carrier, Richard Carrier Blogs
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“…an engaging exploration into what everything means.”
Pete Croatto, Reviewer for ICON and Filmcritic.com
Full Review
“From Los Angeles to China and India, Nygard explores the great mysteries (including the secret of great pizza) in this witty, smart documentary which allows the viewers to make up their own minds.”
Lisa Derrick, Firedoglake.com
Full Review
“Buy two tickets; you’ll want to see The Nature of Existence again. The documentary is a humorous but not mocking, earnest but not gullible attempt to answer unanswerable questions like Why am I here? … This is an absolutely superb documentary. It seems the answer to life, the universe, and everything is not 42.”
Richard Lanoie, The Reviews Page
Full Review
“…he maintains an amused equanimity about and deep respect for those whom he interviews… encompassing ancient and modern belief systems, laws, politics and religion, which should lead to an interesting discussion after the closing credits.”
Susan Granger, New York Film Critics Online
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“…fascinating, ironic, revealing, entertaining and occasionally very funny. Nygard has done a terrific job of asking questions, getting answers and finding interesting people to appear in [The Nature of Existence]. It rates an A.”
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Full Review
“[It's] a film that is constantly entertaining and thought provoking… ironic, sad, and amazing, but most of all funny. … This is the best documentary I have seen this year.”
Mark R. Leeper, Online Film Critics Society
Full Review
“5 stars.” (*****)
Fiona Scoble, Cambridge Festival Daily, UK
Full Review
“Lively and smart…”
Curt Holman, Creative Loafing
Full Review
“Charming and highly entertaining – even hopeful.”
Bill Hunt, The Digital Bits.com
Full Review
“…a hilarious juxtaposition of contrasting ideas…so far ranging, so ambitious, and so all-encompassing that it’s impossible to digest it all in one screening.”
Jason Weiner, Jason Watches Movies Blog
Full Review
“…a stellar documentary…”
Michael Le Roy, The Spartan Daily–San Jose State University
Full Review
“I was thoroughly entertained… It is filled with one funny line after another…”
Steve Rhodes, RottenTomatoes.com
Full Review
“…a witty, thought provoking and often surprising study in the greatest mysteries of life.”
Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Full Review
“…whimsical and entertaining… This was one of the more anticipated films of the festival, and did not disappoint.”
Philip Anderson
KAOS2000.net
Full Review
“Roger ‘Trekkies’ Nygard’s upcoming brilliant look at the question of existence and why we are here.”
by Henry Rosenbush
El Cine: Entertainment Section
Full Review
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