I do not have strong feelings about M.I.A. either way, but I had a good time watching the opening stretch, with its period-redolent camcorder...fans, adjust upwards accordingly based on my biases.

| Jan 5, 2023

Matangi/Maya/MIA documents the outspoken rapper's journey from refugee to bona fide star. In doing so, it provides a fascinating insight...

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 14, 2021

Fittingly, this intriguing, frustrating and lively documentary on the trailblazing Sri Lankan-born recording artist M.I.A. sends many a mixed message.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 3, 2019

This documentary reveals, from an excellent use of hundreds of hours of intimate archive material, the multiple artistic and political facets of the talented and provocative singer-songwriter M.I.A. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 26, 2019

The richness of the documentary is centered on its protagonist and the great amount of archival material used in the film. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 8/10 | Jun 26, 2019

Matangi / Maya / M.I.A. delivers the goods in a lot of ways, but begs for a fuller picture of the vivid artist.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 5, 2019

...utterly fascinating...

| Original Score: 18/20 | Jan 9, 2019

A fascinating, if lop-sided, portrait of a musical maverick.

| Dec 11, 2018

[M.I.A's] overarching story of art, politics and disenchantment, so common to the music documentary, is satisfying as an argument against artifice. M.I.A., the artist, activist and person, is everything you've heard and more.

| Nov 27, 2018

A fascinating look at one of the most relentlessly talented and unique musicians working today, and the film fits the artist.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Nov 20, 2018

We get a searing intimate portrayal of M.I.A./Maya, with the documentary as her heartfelt diary and manifesto.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 31, 2018

...this documentary is trying to evoke the coolness of M.I.A. and if there's anybody who doesn't deserve the disservice of a bland tribute it's M.I.bloody.A. (innit?).

| Original Score: B+ | Oct 29, 2018

[H]er music is infectious. But this documentary about M.I.A., is, like its subject, provocative and problematic. She is absolutely fascinating; the film, however, is only intermittently interesting.

| Oct 27, 2018

Documentary MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. makes a case for our own self-reflection: What do we owe the 'Paper Planes' pop star?

| Oct 26, 2018

If there is one note that rings clear through all the xeroxed, glitchy, abrasive background noise, it is that of authenticity and sincerity.

| Original Score: B+ | Oct 13, 2018

The effect of Loveridge's choices are almost alarmingly cohesive and summon as much M.I.A. as the decade she herself evoked.

| Oct 10, 2018

When one looks at how divisive and misunderstood she is as an artist, such an approach is probably the best way to handle someone like M.I.A. Just like the artist herself, there's very little bulls--t here.

| Original Score: 7.5/10 | Oct 10, 2018

Mildly engaging, but intellectually underwhelming with clunky editing.

| Original Score: 5/10 | Oct 8, 2018

If the documentary is unsatisfying, it's because it gives us no definite answers about identity, about a reconciliation of self, about how to live in this world as many contradictions, belonging everywhere and nowhere.

| Oct 7, 2018

The movie is probably already too far in [M.I.A.'s] court to win over any new fans, but if you're an old fan, you'll thoroughly enjoy the blunt, brisk energy here.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 5, 2018