The newest documentary from Josh and Rebecca Tickell is a personal and inspiring looking into conscious capitalism. Focusing on John Paul DeJoria, Good Fortune tells JP's story from his childhood up until today. JP's life is fascinating as he was homeless twice and living out of his car before he founded Paul Mitchell and Patron Tequila. The founding of his companies is incredibly interesting, with the story of discovering Patron particularly standing out. Through a mix of reenactments, archival footage and interviews with JP and many friends, including huge celebrities like Danny Trejo, Arianna Huffington and Dan Aykroyd (who also narrates the film), Good Fortune paints a vivid portrait of JP as a business pioneer and humanitarian. It is heartwarming to hear all the nice things people have to say about JP and see how he uses his wealth to give back to over 160 charities. My favorite moment is probably when his daughter tears up telling the story of the time JP bought a woman and her family a meal at a diner. The woman stood up and thanked whoever did the good deed, but JP never took any credit for it. The moment represents the best part of the documentary: the compassion and the heart that JP shows the world and that we all should show each other. If you are looking for an entertaining documentary about the human condition, Good Fortune is the one.
16 Reviews
Good Fortune
davidthorpeal20 June 2017
Good Fortune is an inspiring documentary about the rags to riches story of a man named John Paul Dejoria. If you haven't heard of him, you've almost definitely heard of his businesses – he's the founder and CEO of companies like Patron and Paul Mitchell. John Paul isn't your typical businessman, however. The film details how Dejoria grew up destitute and was at one point homeless and how that experience shaped him. Now that he is so successful, he gives back to over 160 different charities and activist organizations. The directors, Josh and Rebecca Tickell, have previously won awards for their other documentaries likes Fuel, and it is no surprise that Good Fortune turned out so well. I loved the pacing they used and the variety of the scenes in the film. There are narrative moments telling us about John Paul's life, there are interviews with his friends that give us a deeper look into the type of person he is, and there are scenes where we see John Paul in action running his businesses and doing charity work. The variety of these scenes keeps you engaged in topics like business and charity, and makes you invest emotionally into the story of John Paul's life. He has an amazing story that made for an amazing movie.
Inspiring American Dream Story
isaaclevine-3673114 June 2017
Good Fortune is an inspiring "rags to riches" story about how John Paul DeJoria went from being homeless twice in his life, to then becoming a successful entrepreneur and lifelong philanthropist. The documentary focuses on how JP started brands such as Paul Mitchell and Patron Tequila from pretty much nothing, and the hardships that he has overcome in order to be in the position that he is in today. Throughout the film, the audience is taken back in time to pivotal moments in JP's life in order to show the tough road to success that he has conquered. My favorite aspect of the film was the countless stories told by close friends of JP's, such as Dan Aykroyd and Michelle Phillips, which gives the audience an in depth and personal account of JP's life that wouldn't normally be available to the public. I really enjoyed watching this genuine and positive documentary, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing what the true definition of the American Dream is.
GREAT Fortune
janepeterse19 June 2017
The path to success does not come easy, but Good Fortune shows that no businessman has to lose their soul to the daily grind. Following billionaire and Paul Mitchell CEO John Paul DeJoria, Good Fortune is the story of how DeJoria practices conscious capitalism and gives back to over 160 charities today. Fuel directors Josh and Rebecca Tickell made this documentary personal with the genuine interviews from DeJoria's friends and with the old photographs and archival footage. I specifically loved the personal interviews from stars such as Danny Trejo, Dan Aykroyd, and Michelle Phillips! Being a fan of The Mama's and the Papa's, seeing Michelle Phillips' interview gushing about her childhood friend DeJoria was personally one of the highlights of this movie for me. My favorite part is an ironic story Phillips told about a time when her and DeJoria passed an innocent note in class, how their teacher caught them, and how he made both Phillips and DeJoria stand up in class and said "these two will never amount to anything." I can sit here writing about every aspect I loved about this movie, but honestly, I would just ruin it for you. I recommend this movie because every single scene gets better and more inspiring!
Unpretentious rags to riches story
seanrushdrive14 June 2017
After the success of the Tickell's documentary Fuel, their foray into Good Fortune continues their tradition of covering topics that focus on social relevance. In this case: John Paul DeJoria. This real success of this film lives and dies with DeJoria. His charisma is unparalleled and magnetic to the viewers. We see the rise of an honest and humble man. That being said, the film explores tough periods of his life: facing homelessness, failed marriages, bunking with biker gangs. It shows the highs and the lows, which are quintessential to any biographical piece. The crux of the film is showing what Paul really stands for: Philanthropy and giving back. The Tickell's hone this subject in to display the joys of conscious capitalism, which DeJoria makes a point to exuberance in his life. The film shines its brightest at this moment and will easily give the viewer hope for humanity.Weaved into the film is a killer soundtrack and asides from famous celebrity friends. This is the best crowd pleasing film of the year for anyone looking for a film that will enlighten their outlook on life.
The Unusual Story of an Extraordinary Man is Welcomed on the Big Screen
shanewaldron20 June 2017
"Growing up I knew my father was different." John Paul DeJoria's daughter's words naturally speak to the heart of this film. Today, the idea of being "wealthy" has become old news. Countless TV shows feature people with enormous amounts of wealth and feature their lavish lifestyles (i.e Million Dollar Listing, Shark Tank, The Kardashians, etc.) and you don't have to look closely to see that everywhere billionaires are buying out the millionaires.
Praise then must be given to the directors of Good Fortune, Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, for creating a film that is both unique and original. It would have been easy enough to simply portray JP's hard fought journey from the rock bottom to the star studded top: The son of a poor Greek immigrant living out of a car and eating off of the dollar menu to survive, then rising to become Co-Founder of hair goliath Paul Mitchell and founder of tequila king, Patrón. Through this, DeJoria encapsulates the idealistic American dream through his sheer determination. Yet the directors push further and deeper into the subject matter, diving headfirst into societal and moral themes that make DeJoria's story so exclusively captivating and worthy of the big screen.
"Profit, people, planet," JP's mentality of conscious capitalism is revolutionary and awe-inspiring. Whether it is standing on the bow of a ship fighting against whalers in the name of conservationism, giving back to the local Mexican community of the Patrón company, spending his wealth on innovative renewable energy and sustainability, or simply building up his employees at Paul Mitchell, JP lives by example and shows the audience the true meaning of philanthropy.
The film accomplishes this as it weaves its story through the use of a combination of vintage photos and home video, present-day clips, and a handful of celebrity commentaries all brought together by a great soundtrack and sharp narration by Dan Aykeroyd. In all, Good Fortune is an excellent film that paints a picture that truly deserves to be told. Documentary film fan or not, I whole-heartedly recommend this unusual, wonderful and joyous film.
Praise then must be given to the directors of Good Fortune, Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, for creating a film that is both unique and original. It would have been easy enough to simply portray JP's hard fought journey from the rock bottom to the star studded top: The son of a poor Greek immigrant living out of a car and eating off of the dollar menu to survive, then rising to become Co-Founder of hair goliath Paul Mitchell and founder of tequila king, Patrón. Through this, DeJoria encapsulates the idealistic American dream through his sheer determination. Yet the directors push further and deeper into the subject matter, diving headfirst into societal and moral themes that make DeJoria's story so exclusively captivating and worthy of the big screen.
"Profit, people, planet," JP's mentality of conscious capitalism is revolutionary and awe-inspiring. Whether it is standing on the bow of a ship fighting against whalers in the name of conservationism, giving back to the local Mexican community of the Patrón company, spending his wealth on innovative renewable energy and sustainability, or simply building up his employees at Paul Mitchell, JP lives by example and shows the audience the true meaning of philanthropy.
The film accomplishes this as it weaves its story through the use of a combination of vintage photos and home video, present-day clips, and a handful of celebrity commentaries all brought together by a great soundtrack and sharp narration by Dan Aykeroyd. In all, Good Fortune is an excellent film that paints a picture that truly deserves to be told. Documentary film fan or not, I whole-heartedly recommend this unusual, wonderful and joyous film.
Interesting doc, but as always, BEWARE the planted IMDb "reviews"
Coolestmovies26 July 2017
As I write this (July 26, 2017), there are 14 user reviews on this documentary by the following people:
"Justin Anderson", "Shane Flint", "janepeterse", "David Trotter", "Isaac Landry", "Sean Rivera", "kaylifsutl", "Elisabeth James", "Christopher Ortezo", "jsscmrgndvs", "Mandy Ford", "Amanda Nasc", "Monica Summer", "mabarry-69560"
I placed their names in quotations because I'm convinced they're all non-existent entities. ALL of these "users" have submitted "reviews" for some combination of a VERY small batch of independent films and documentaries and nothing more: Good Fortune, Danger Close, Chief Zabu, Imperfections, Urban Hymn, Founders, Granny of the Dead, Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies, 1 Night and Walk of Fame. End of list. MOST of their reviews are approximately the same length, because the smaller number of real people writing them -- much as with ALL fake reviews all across the web -- are paid by the word. The writing style employed on several of them are so similar as to be the work of one person.
All of these "authors" give these film 9- or 10-star IMDb ratings, which in turn prompts readers who smell a scam to place retaliatory reviews, much like this one, to try and "balance" the deceptively high scores given to the films in question. While I actively encourage that practice, I DON'T encourage throwing up disingenuous 1-star ratings because that's just as detrimental to the casual IMDb surfer as the gushing 10-star reviews. I rated Good Fortune a 6, because I HONESTLY believe that's what it deserves; it's a well-made hagiography, cut and dried, and since it's theatrical run was limited largely to festival dates, the producers or the studio that eventually acquired it rather obviously sought out resources to boost it's profile on IMDb and parent company Amazon (where many of these exact same "users" deposited the exact same reviews while having no other product reviews to their names), as well as other sites I'm sure. Obviously, SOME viewers would indeed rate this particular film much higher than I did, others will honestly rate it much lower, but the fact that ALL the reviews on the film so far have toed virtually the exact same line, in addition to the staggeringly obvious clues to their manufactured nature as noted above not only does a disservice to the film and its makers — even if they WERE privy to the scheme — but also to IMDb's already shaky trustworthiness in this regard.
Surely if the IMDb can shutter the forums that helped make them the global community experience they always wanted to be because of inappropriate behavioour, they can likewise start filtering out fake, misleading and oftentimes paid-for reviews.
Until then, this particular movie remains worth seeing, but in no way worthy of such high praise.
"Justin Anderson", "Shane Flint", "janepeterse", "David Trotter", "Isaac Landry", "Sean Rivera", "kaylifsutl", "Elisabeth James", "Christopher Ortezo", "jsscmrgndvs", "Mandy Ford", "Amanda Nasc", "Monica Summer", "mabarry-69560"
I placed their names in quotations because I'm convinced they're all non-existent entities. ALL of these "users" have submitted "reviews" for some combination of a VERY small batch of independent films and documentaries and nothing more: Good Fortune, Danger Close, Chief Zabu, Imperfections, Urban Hymn, Founders, Granny of the Dead, Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies, 1 Night and Walk of Fame. End of list. MOST of their reviews are approximately the same length, because the smaller number of real people writing them -- much as with ALL fake reviews all across the web -- are paid by the word. The writing style employed on several of them are so similar as to be the work of one person.
All of these "authors" give these film 9- or 10-star IMDb ratings, which in turn prompts readers who smell a scam to place retaliatory reviews, much like this one, to try and "balance" the deceptively high scores given to the films in question. While I actively encourage that practice, I DON'T encourage throwing up disingenuous 1-star ratings because that's just as detrimental to the casual IMDb surfer as the gushing 10-star reviews. I rated Good Fortune a 6, because I HONESTLY believe that's what it deserves; it's a well-made hagiography, cut and dried, and since it's theatrical run was limited largely to festival dates, the producers or the studio that eventually acquired it rather obviously sought out resources to boost it's profile on IMDb and parent company Amazon (where many of these exact same "users" deposited the exact same reviews while having no other product reviews to their names), as well as other sites I'm sure. Obviously, SOME viewers would indeed rate this particular film much higher than I did, others will honestly rate it much lower, but the fact that ALL the reviews on the film so far have toed virtually the exact same line, in addition to the staggeringly obvious clues to their manufactured nature as noted above not only does a disservice to the film and its makers — even if they WERE privy to the scheme — but also to IMDb's already shaky trustworthiness in this regard.
Surely if the IMDb can shutter the forums that helped make them the global community experience they always wanted to be because of inappropriate behavioour, they can likewise start filtering out fake, misleading and oftentimes paid-for reviews.
Until then, this particular movie remains worth seeing, but in no way worthy of such high praise.
One of a Kind Story of a Planet-Conscious CEO
kaylifsutl14 June 2017
I haven't seen a documentary this good in a long time. Good Fortune is authentic, well done and offers inspiration at every turn. JP DeJoria is not your average CEO, he truly started from nothing and has used his passion and knack for sales to birth his world empires into what they are today. I walked away from this film with an overwhelming urgency to take after JP and give what I can. His success story will leave you feeling capable, empathetic and inspired. This movie does an amazing job at showcasing his business savvy and his personal endeavors, including his passion for philanthropy and family values. For documentary lovers or lovers of Patrón and Paul Mitchell, this is a must see.
Should Be Titled "The Man That Defrauded America"
dominicavanta5 March 2019
He was found guilty of Fraud in a Texas Courtroom/ Latitude Solutions.
Virtual Piggy sent business associates to prison.
Nordaq , Alaska - money missing
Morroccan Oil Deal - money missing
Five Star Entertainment - files and money missing
And more...all FRAUDS.
This is a feel good make believe movie for no one other than John Paul DeJoria as he has a trail of lawsuits and victims years in the making.
Last week, a federal Jury in Fort Worth, Texas, found executives of Latitude Solutions, Inc. (LSI), guilty of breaching their fiduciary responsibility to the water remediation company. The executives' actions reflect what's known as a "pump-and-dump" scheme, which essentially drains a company of its funds.
LSI, a publicly-traded company produced water remediation units to clean waste water near oil wells and fracking sites.
J.E. Cullens, a name partner at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Walters, Papillon, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, was lead counsel in the case, representing the bankruptcy trustee, hired after Latitude went bankrupt in 2012. After a one-week trial, the jury awarded $13.4 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.
Among the LSI executives was John Paul DeJoria, a prominent entrepreneur. DeJoria is the founder of Patron Spirits Company and also of the popular hair care company John Paul Mitchell and has guest starred as a panelist on ABC's "Shark Tank." According to Forbes, the 73-year-old is worth nearly $3 billion.
Last week, a federal Jury in Fort Worth, Texas, found executives of Latitude Solutions, Inc. (LSI), guilty of breaching their fiduciary responsibility to the water remediation company. The executives' actions reflect what's known as a "pump-and-dump" scheme, which essentially drains a company of its funds.
LSI, a publicly-traded company produced water remediation units to clean waste water near oil wells and fracking sites.
J.E. Cullens, a name partner at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Walters, Papillon, Thomas, Cullens, LLC, was lead counsel in the case, representing the bankruptcy trustee, hired after Latitude went bankrupt in 2012. After a one-week trial, the jury awarded $13.4 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages.
Among the LSI executives was John Paul DeJoria, a prominent entrepreneur. DeJoria is the founder of Patron Spirits Company and also of the popular hair care company John Paul Mitchell and has guest starred as a panelist on ABC's "Shark Tank." According to Forbes, the 73-year-old is worth nearly $3 billion.
Great & engaging documentary
elisabethapagan26 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Good Fortune is a great and constantly intriguing documentary about the life of John Paul DeJoria. This billionaire however is unlike any other through the over 160 organizations he sponsors as well as the hands on work he does with some of them. His charitable and loving spirit is not only seen through his contributions but through his work and companies. Through the film you'll see how he works, using conscious capitalism, to do right by the planet and people and not just what will help his bottom line. A great aspect of the film is the use of reenactment scenes and old footage and photos that gave the documentary a sense of authenticity. Along with the great choices for the soundtrack, the array of colors makes the film vibrant and always engaging. I recommend this film to anyone looking for a great, dynamic documentary that's genuinely impactful on an array of levels.
An inspirational & powerful masterpiece
anascarella20 June 2017
Good Fortune is unlike any documentary I've seen before. With its factual information and authenticity, the film weaves into a narrative about this incredible human being John Paul DeJoria! Good Fortune is about the inspirational journey of JP as he grew from being homeless on the streets of Los Angeles to becoming one of the most charitable billionaires in America. This documentary not only highlights JP's success, but brings forth the importance of giving back to the world you live in, no matter what you have. There are many times in the film that those who are close to JP say how humble he is about his philanthropy and charitable nature, and how he will never speak of the things he does to gain recognition. With that said, the interviews with JP where he directly speaks things in his life that he has done made it so personal and I felt honored to watch it. I recommend Good Fortune because it leaves you with an optimistic, feel-good attitude once you're finished watching it and I think all documentaries should feel that way.
Pure Beyond Words
christopherportiz22 June 2017
What distinguishes Good Fortune from other documentaries you've seen in recent years is one thing: a smile. Your smile. In a market positively saturated with negative information, morally bankrupt businesses and the absolute destruction of our planet, Good Fortune and its protagonist John Paul DeJoria push the pendulum 180 degrees in the other direction. This is a movie about hope, success against all odds and most importantly – doing something important with that standpoint. The narrative arc follows J.P. DeJoria through homelessness (twice), gang membership, business success and finally philanthropy. Though founding Paul Mitchell and attaining wealth from humble backgrounds would be admirable by itself, the fact that J.P. decided to invest in technologies such as solar power as well as back into the community through charity elevates his actions to rarity. What distinguishes DeJoria from his peers in the business community is his unhampered commitment to his planet and his people; a shot in the offices of Paul Mitchell demonstrates his true love for the employees, calling them geniuses and asking for their opinions about the product. This action extends directly to the viewer's heart in the seconds following, as he waits, genuinely interested in the answer. Good Fortune stands as a rags to riches tale told through the rear-view mirror of a man who intimately understands the road he's traveled on, and hasn't forgotten a single bump along the way. Equally successful as its subject, I give Good Fortune the highest distinction as a documentary fan and the biggest recommendation as a human being with a now-full heart.
Hard work does pay off--so inspirational!!
mandyxpustelniac21 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Good Fortune is the most inspirational movie of the year, using the twice homeless, now billionaire entrepreneur, John Paul DeJoria to prove that hard work does, indeed, pay off. Through the use of reenactments, themed music as transitions from segment-to-segment, and interviews with family members and friends, the documentary captures the fun-loving, hardworking, "the sky is the limit"-type person that John Paul DeJoria is. Raised by a single mom who taught him that "there is always someone who has less than you," JP has embodied this factoid his entire life, both before and after becoming successful. The film features footage of JP working hands-on with organizations such as the Sea Shepherds (nonprofit that works to prevent whale poaching), visiting his employees whom he constantly praises for being "geniuses", and keeping in touch with his business partners in order to ensure they are thriving. The film beautifully captures the amazing work that John Paul DeJoria does, motivating viewers to live life to the fullest and to create their own success the right way: through hard work and treating others well. His mantra, "Success unshared is failure," shines through everything he does, from the fact that he uses his success to give back to over 160 charities to his dedication to using recycled glass for his Patron tequila bottles (a process that is very tedious and described as a "nightmare" in the film). This is a beautifully inspiring film that will restore viewers' faith in humanity. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Engaging Doc about Compassionate Entrepreneur
mabarry-6956020 June 2017
Good Fortune is truly one of the best documentaries I have seen and takes you on a journey through John Paul DeJoria's life from his poor and humble beginnings to his success as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. For him success is defined as being the best at what you do and helping others, not about profit. DeJoria is a person who improves upon the world each day and has the desire to make a difference. This film sparked an inspiration in me to always give what I can to others and to persevere over all of the obstacles life throws at you. The directors excel at engaging you into his story and making you feel connected to DeJoria. From being homeless twice, to creating a solar powered car, and then celebrating his 70th Birthday with a fundraiser for first responders, John Paul is one of a kind person. I highly recommend you watch this film as you learn about the compassionate and charismatic JP DeJoria and by the end you will feel as if you knew him all along.
One of the most inspirational documentaries I have ever seen!
monicamariesuarez20 June 2017
I don't think there is a rags to riches tale more uplifting than that of John Paul DeJoria in Good Fortune. I am truly in awe of how much he has done for others and how optimistic his outlook on life is. From funding a Sea Shepherd vessel to hosting a charity run on his own birthday, JP is the type of genuine person that more people should strive to be. My favorite scene from the documentary has to be when his daughter Michaeline shares a childhood memory of her father paying for another family's meal at a restaurant. Even when the mother stands up to thank whoever paid for her check, JP stays quiet and doesn't take credit for his good deed. This small act of kindness symbolizes the genuine compassion that he has for other people, and how he doesn't look for any sort of praise for his actions. From the opening title to the end credits, Good Fortune does an excellent job of showing the world what kind of person JP truly is without any sort of exaggeration or gimmick. His actions speak for themselves, and everyone featured in the film can attest to his humanity. Watching JP live his life so charitably inspires me to be a better person in so many aspects of my life, and I truly believe that others will feel the same way.
Movie with a Remarkable Message
jsscmrgndvs21 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Good Fortune," a new documentary from veteran filmmakers Joshua and Rebecca Tickell is a film that not only educates but inspires. The film follows the life of Paul Mitchell CEO and founder, John Paul DeJoria. From his birth in 1944 and his unconventional childhood in downtown Los Angeles, to his time being homeless and living out of his car, to the present, an owner of two multi-million dollar companies; this film traces his footsteps from beginning to end. The directors have assembled an amazing selection of voices to guide the story, close personal friends and associates of DeJoria: Ariana Huffington, Danny Trejo and Robert Kennedy just to name a few. Joshua and Rebecca Tickell merge all of these different viewpoints into a cohesive and moving narrative. Never once does the film falter, or lose its grip on its message, the force of the story has as much determination as the man it is dedicated to, and just as much spirit and courage. After watching this film, I was inspired, and I can assure any audience that they will be too.
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