Standing In The Shadows of Motown

Rating:
Summary: This is really SOULful
Review: One will feel every emotion while watching this movie. Love for the music and musicians. Sadness in the way that Motown Detroit ended. Laughter from their stories. Gladness that one is able to witness the stories from the comfort of a theater seat (and in April from the comfort of the home). The thrill of hearing the music. Fear this will be the last that we see/hear from the world's greatest musicians. Disappointment that the vocalists never shared their financial gain with the Funk Brothers. (It is not too late.)
This is more than a documentary of the Funk Brothers. It is our nations' documentary of great people doing great things without much regard for themselves.

Rating:
Summary: Great!!! Documentary!
Review: As an avid musician for as long as I can remember, this documetary really can't be beat. Great music plus interesting people that played so big a part in the development of music in this country. They formed the bridge between segregated "race" music and the African-American stars that followed, not only in music but in many other areas. Some of the other reveiwers don't seem to understand the points made in this film. First, there is a reason that the original stars weren't present - they would once again demand star status and over-shadow these great musicians. Also, these men were more that just session musicians. As anyone that is expected to play and develop an original riff/groove from just a song chart will know, they were composers also with a special talent for finding the right sound for a song with little if any preparation. They didn't have note for note arrangements handed to them to play. The producers/arrangers that were around had very little to do with the sound these guys found. That's what makes the Motown sound so unique and almost always perfect sounding. A producer would just have mucked it up (which they did at times when they tried to get the band to play a differnet style) Joan Osborne was fabulous - especially in "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted". The other guest soloists were also good. Ben Harper seemed a little weak but only in comparison to the others. The band was the star though as it should have been all along.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Nobody Ever Saw
Review: If it weren't for a friend sneaking me into a theater via cellphone to hear this movie, I would never have had the pleasure of enjoying music I was weaned to. For years and years, I've wondered who were the house band that backed up Motown's superstars. And I second the notion that Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Smokey Robinson, and Lionel Richie should all hang their heads in shame for not supporting this filmmaker/storyteller. This is the type of project nobody should have thought twice about, and I think they each could have sold one of their precious Rolls-Royces to help finance this important movie. I thank God the filmmaker found the courage to carry on and tell the stories of James Jamerson and the other wonderful musicians without whose talents the Motown sound would not exist.

Now, why the hell isn't this movie in nationwide release at the big movie theaters? Is an intelligent movie/documentary about black people such a risk that nobody wants to show it except in the coastal cities? Send this movie to the heartland because we love Motown here, too!

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: This is one of the best documentaries I have even seen. You must see it!

Rating:
Summary: Essential history - great music
Review: This movie gives you the feeling that you have after seeing a great concert, plus it lets you know about some of the most amazing musicians in the history of music...highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: Standing in the spotlight for a change
Review: I had been told of this film before its release by another r&b player/friend about a month before it hit the Nashville area. It surprised all of us who saw it how fast it came and went and, when looking at the film's website, how limited the release was. That was a shame in that it chronicled not only a time the but faceless people behind "the Sound of Young America" that was a part of that time. As a player, I was fortunate during the mid-60s to work with two of the musicians featured in the film when they came south with the Four Tops to do area concerts. Standing in the Shadows of Motown gave me the same feeling I had at that time of working with people who were impeccable professionals who were willing to graciously share their knowledge of how to play the Motown version of rhythm and blues with any who would watch and listen. As my brother and I left the theatre, I had the yearning sense to hop on a Silver Eagle bus and hit the road once again after having felt the r&b fire provided by this wonderful documentary.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible Motown!!!!
Review: "I was aware, as I sat in the theater watching this movie, of a big fat smile pasted on my face. The same one that pops out at a great concert. I left the theater full of love and admiration for these musicians."

Wow, I had the exact SAME experience!! Halfway through the film, I took a quick survey of the people who were sitting near me in the theatre; I was not at all surprised to see everyone else so obviously enthralled, but I didn't expect to see so many people - other than myself, of course - wearing uncontrollable ear-to-ear smiles.

This film is both a "must see" as well as a "should see". Included in the film, are enough details to make it well worth watching again...If only the DVD were available to purchase...hmmm

Rating:
Summary: IN THE SHADOWS OF FAME
Review: Anyone who has appreciated the great records of '60s Motown has at one time or another given an earful of appreciation to the big brassy perfection of the studio back-up band. This documentary attempts to attribute the excellence of those wonderful records to the studio musicians known as "The Funk Brothers". However as accomplished as these musicians are, the great Motown records were truly the inspiration of the great record producers of the '60s who are sorely lacking in representation here. It needs be said these guys were merely session players for the Motown recording studio. Unsung heroes, no doubt, but not the guiding hands the movie alleges them to be. They would have never been left behind when Motown Records packed up their East Coast operation and moved West if they were the hitmakers the movie claims. Why for instance are the major artists of that era not here in this movie testifying and singing the praises of these musicians? Instead we're offered mostly lukewarm renditions of Motown classics by contemporary artists that seemed an excuse for a movie soundtrack recording, as the original hit records are heard here in only edited bits. Watching The Funk Brothers reminiscing and regretting came across as righteous sour grapes, however unfortunate the era was in reserving royalty checks for the record companies and not the musicians. They deserve their due and it is sad this film couldn't portray them as the strong backbone and not the curator of those wonderful records. As the movie ultimately and unwittingly reveals, The Funk Brothers were session players for Motwon Records. No more, and respectfully, no less.

Rating:
Summary: We Love You, James
Review: "Shadows" is technically a great documentary, but it's the story that it tells that's so emotionally powerful to me. As great as this movie is and as much as it tries, it just can't and doesn't undo enough of the injustice meted on these artists. Would James have been less tormented (and still with us!) if we'd paused 35 years ago and said, "Wait a second...who the heck is playing that bass?" But alas, what our feet, hips, and spine knew was not a source of curiosity to our minds. What can I learn from this? Can we make the world a better place?

The re-enactment of James's buying a scalped ticket to the "Motown at 25" TV show is unfathomably sad to me; he wasn't even invited to his own party.

I laughed a lot during the film too; it's a great celebration, as you can see from the other reviews.

The film's title is borrowed from the 1987 book by co-producer Alan "Dr. Licks" Slutsky; the book's subtitle is "The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson," and it's a great companion to the film. The soundtrack includes 2 original Motown hits-sans vocals, except for the singing of a single word: "Bernadette." Have a change of clothes handy when you listen.

I'll have and watch the video the day it comes out.

- S.

Rating:
Summary: A Must SEE
Review: I was bowled over. This answers a lot of questions and its true just about anyone could have sung these songs with this kind of muciscianship available. The beauty is that these gentle people don't dwell on bitterness or anger. See this and know they were robbed!!! Ben Harper was a poor choice, and Joan Osborne ripped it. I can't wait until it's released on DVD. This will be the first one in our family's collection.