By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Kurt Norton | Paul Mariano
Country: united_states
Year: 2011
Running time: 88
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1273222/
Toni says: “I think that THESE AMAZING SHADOWS is too much of a propaganda love story to random films selected to the National Film Registry than an even documentary about the registry. There is much one might like to learn about conflicts in selections or some story arc that might make the film more fascinating; however, outside of some details between scenes where we learn things like the wait of 10 years before a film can be considered, most of the film is talking head celebrities in film
talking about a film selected in the registry and showing a clip of the film.
“It feels more like a 90 minute public service announcement than a documentary. There were chances certainly for the filmmakers to tell more of a story but they would start an idea and then abandon it. For example, there was a tidbit about Ted Turner and the colorization of films and the need to preserve films as they are which didn’t go anywhere. Again, the topic is an important one but that does not alone make for a great film and just because Zooey Deschanel likes a film in the film registry, that doesn’t make for an amazing documentary. 2ish cats”
Michael says: ” THESE AMAZING SHADOWS was a very well-made and important film in my opinion. Sure, it was very much in the PBS style… after all, it’s a PBS documentary! But it affirms all the reasons why we love film. It reminds me why we do Chotrudis, and it reminds me why it’s okay that they Hollywood juggernaut keeps pumping out the stuff it does. Movies are one of the most accessible art forms, and they should be preserved and celebrated. I would give it 4 cats”
Diane says: “I never got around to posting a review for THESE AMAZING SHADOWS. I didn’t much like it, but I did like this: John Waters comments on THE WIZARD OF OZ: ‘I never got why Dorothy would want to go home…when she could live with winged monkeys and witches.'”