Always at The Carlyle (2018) User Reviews

One Of The Last Classics Standing

[Binkconn · 7/10 · 18 July 2018]

The Carlyle is one of the last classic luxury hotels in New York, with many stories of celebrity stories to tell in its near-century of existence. While it benefits from competitors like The Plaza being transformed into condos and not being able to tell its own story - The Plaza's legendary 1966 Black & White Ball pretty much takes the cake for NY society events - its anecdotes from everyone from guests like George Clooney and Elaine Stritch to the lowest bell-boy creates a warm tapestry of welcome. If only we all had the money for a long stay at the Carlyle.

Quite interesting yet Under-edited

[Jephy1 · 7/10 · 6 November 2023]

An eye-opening look at one of NYC's great and historic hotels where--as of this writing (2023)--the room-rate is over US$1000 and most of us won't be staying. I found it poorly edited as it often dwelled on individuals with just too long a description of seeming irrelevancies, where more historic detail about the building's architecture or decades past before it was a "rich and famous" destination would have added much. Others have noted the questionable audio track which I thought was due to my marginal hearing loss! I re-ran a few clips to understand what was being said, but couldn't get them. Filmmakers: Test audiences before release!

Carlyle

[Cherspencer · 7/10 · 9 December 2018]

So great to see the history & Fav People - George Clooney, Jack Nickelson

NYC As It Was...

[marcdowning · 8/10 · 21 May 2018]

This movie shows what Manhattan Café Society was like. I was around during the end of it so this documentary was really nostalgic for me....Very Touching!

What were they saying?!?!

[billbassbuilder · 3/10 · 21 December 2018]

Boy, as a recording engineer I was amazed that more attention wasn't paid to the mixing and mastering of the audio. The music often covered up the dialogue. Questions were asked off camera and off mic, so you might not here the question that was being answered. It may have been an interesting story, but the audio was so poor that the story was hidden by such poor audio.

Home Away From Home

[clarkj-565-161336 · 8/10 · 11 July 2018]

This was a delightful film. I have not been to New York sine the 90s, but if I had the money then I think the Carlyle is where I would like to stay! What impressed me most was how well the staff spoke about the guests and how well the guests seemed to appreciate the staff. Our news is filled with stories of companies treating their employees poorly and also how many people dislike their jobs. Wow, somebody is doing something right here! Harvard Business Review take note, no fancy theory here, no AI, just fancy old fashioned respect for human dignity. A great selection of guests are interviewed across the whole spectrum of professions, with all saying the same thing. I felt good to be alive coming out of this movie!

Hard to hear

[stacylucero · 4/10 · 21 April 2020]

The music over powers the commentary. It's hard to hear what people are saying.

Not sure what people were expecting

[WordtwisterMN · 10/10 · 5 August 2019]

This was a gem. It gave me insight to a hotel, cafe, dining room, doors, elevators, that I have never seen. Many of these people have spent their careers here, and evidently made some good money. I won't give it away, but how about that bartender tip one night? Some greats have passed through..they love Jack and George. This was a fantastic documentary.

Tedious sycophantic Trip Adviser promo for an overrated hotel.

[cinemakerry · 1/10 · 18 August 2019]

Dull, from the start. I expected some cinematic and insightful observation on life in the hotel business in the grand city of New York. What we get is a load of old schmaltzy stars lined up to burble gleefully at the privileges of getting to lounge in an overpriced luxury hotel. Cue endless bum kissing, drooling reviews of the Carlyle repeated every 2 minutes until the editor gets bored and crashes up the music cuts. To top it all, a fawning sequence of bowing and scraping to English royalty who see fit to park their more "I am more privileged than you" rears in the Carlyle every few shopping trips. I disengaged after ten minutes. (yawn) My partner watched on, aghast at the obsequious, servile, ingratiating, sycophantic tone of it all. They sew guest initials into the bed linen of these pampered planet wreckers. I dread to think of the Carlyle carbon footprint. Second only to Imelda Marcos's laundry, I expect.

First rule of The Carlyle 😜

[cindyrellaexists · 9/10 · 7 March 2022]

This was adorable and superbly done. Everyone that participated was incredibly positive and genuine. They certainly could have turned their noses up. It's the human element that makes a place special and The Carlyle has it.

Hollywood Dullards Gloating about Themselves

[jackkern-862-993699 · 1/10 · 20 October 2018]

I was expecting something more in the way of a Historical perspective of the Hotel/Cafe. Of course I expected the celebrities to be the commentaries but not to be gloating on themselves as they all too often do these days.

What a boring movie

[jemery36 · 28 September 2018]

I thought it was going to about the Cafe Carlyle where many wonderful singers have appeared. No, it's about very boring celebrities who've stayed at the hotel. Who cares?

My favorite documentary of all time

[antonio-lentine · 10/10 · 20 August 2018]

Not only is it fascinating as I had no idea about that hotel but the group of people that they have for interviews and the guests are amazing. This is a must-see documentary

Just make a commercial

[drjgardner · 2/10 · 11 March 2019]

This "documentary" plays more like an extended commercial for the Carlyle. It's not real.

slick, 92-minute star-speckled infomercial about the Carlyle Hotel (puke!)

[008_Bob-JamesBob · 1/10 · 1 September 2018]

This combination People Magazine/National Enquirer/QVC commercial piece might be ok, if you're a movie star-crazy 13-year old. No plot. Nothing redeeming. Besides, the Pierre Hotel is my choice. "Does this review contain spoilers?" the whole darn, 92-minute piece of trash is a "spoiler", in my own personal, humble opinion.

Boringgggggggggg

[minnickmatt · 10 March 2019]

Yeah theres some serious history there, no doubting that. But Jesus, who honestly gives a flying F? No one normal is ever going to stay there. Basically a documentary of how people kiss celebrities asses. Bunch of narcissistic hypocrites .

Given the star studded cast featured in the credits, my hopes for this film were high...

[TheDocumentaryDistrict · 2/10 · 18 December 2021]

Given the star studded cast featured in the credits, my hopes for this film were high. I was extremely disappointed in the information provided (or lack thereof).

Rather than taking us back in time to understand the history of such an iconic NYC establishment, all I got out of the Carlyle was a list of past celebrities and royal patrons. If you're interested in funny, never-before-told stories about the Hollywood elite you may enjoy Always at the Carlyle, although I would argue even for those viewers the hour and a half runtime is far too long. If you wanted a historical story on a piece of New York City lore, you won't find much here. In fact, those interviewed will tell you how much they won't or can't tell you about the hotel and their guests...you'll probably wonder why they are even featured in the documentary.

Oh wow, celebrities stay in this hotel! Squee!

[cherold · 3/10 · 7 March 2021]

A friend of a friend recommended this, and I have no idea why because what I saw was wretched. It was basically people talking about what a swell hotel the Carlyle is and how celebrities love it and a few celebrities telling bland anecdotes about other celebrities and I can't imagine who would find this interesting.

I looked up the director, Matthew Miele, and it looks like he's got a nice in poorly-reviewed documentaries about Manhattan businesses. Based on Carlyle I suspect they're all long-form commercials for their subjects. Ugh.

Don't waste your time.

Is this supposed to be a parody?

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 19 August 2023]

Obviously not, but I found myself laughing at this documentary that focuses more on current events and the pretentiousness going on rather than the glorious history that would have made a nice addition to documentaries already made about New York City. It's like a much more elaborate episode of the long gone audacious "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" with tons of name dropping, and in a sense, an expose of the ridiculousness of the modern well to do than anything profound.

Profiles on guests such as Jack Nicholson, George Clooney and members of the royal family come off as self-serving, and there's the smug smirking employees who pop in and out to explain what they do and who they've done it for. After a while, it does get into the history going back to the 1930's with decorator Dorothy Draper, but that's not enough to remove the stain of the "Aren't we precious?" feeling that makes me not even interested in daring to step inside.

If you're looking for depth, this isn't it

[stsorrell · 3/10 · 7 July 2023]

This isn't a documentary. It's just a bunch of rather lame stories about celebrities that have stayed at The Carlyle as told by the staff. There is very little history about the hotel shared.

The worst part...the audio is TERRIBLE. There are two big issues...1. The background music is way too loud and it covers up the many soft spoken individuals that are being interviewed. And 2. The interviewer is off screen asking questions without a microphone, so you can't hear what is being asked. It is very, very annoying.

A lot of fluff, but nothing really interesting is shared. And it guess on and on...way too long for what little you get out of it.