|
|
|
Movie Reviews
Robert Brent Toplin
Contributing Editor
| |
|
Reel Report, 2004–2005 | |
| "Reel Report" examines recent trends concerning the screening of history in American movie theaters and on television. It considers developments in both documentary filmmaking and the production of dramatic feature films. |
1
|
|
In years past, documentaries were often identified as "art house" productions and played to limited audiences. Recently, however, there has been an explosion of public interest in documentaries, and several of these productions have been screened in the mainstream cineplexes. Some of those films examined aspects of American foreign policy, such as Fahrenheit 9/11 (Michael Moore's view of American involvement in the Iraq war) and Fog of War (Errol Morris's study of the lessons Robert S. McNamara drew from his years of work in the defense establishment). Most of the popular documentaries treated subjects outside the realm of history. Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me examined the physical impact of dieting exclusively on meals from a fast-food restaurant, while Winged Migration and March of the Penguins, popular movies that attracted impressive audiences in the major theaters, demonstrated that sophisticated cinematography could make animal life appear entertaining to mass audiences. Nevertheless, evidence of growing public interest in the documentary genre suggests intriguing opportunities for cinematic historians. Since many American television viewers have demonstrated a strong interest in history- oriented programming, there may be a substantial market in the future for theatrical productions that deal with history. |
2
|
|
Many of the finest historical films on television appear under the aegis of American Experience, a long-running series of programs coordinated through WGBH-Boston. As has often been the case, an offering from American Experience captured the most recent Erik Barnouw Award from the Organization of American Historians. Elizabeth Deane and Llewellyn M. Smith received accolades for producing and directing Reconstruction: The Second Civil War. Historians have long recognized the importance of the subject, but filmmakers have appeared fearful to tread on this minefield of controversial material. Members of the Barnouw Committee observed that Deane and Smith handled this emotion- laden topic with particular skill. Reconstruction: The Second Civil War "focuses on the struggle to define the nature of race and labor relations in the former Confederacy," the committee reported. The film engages viewers by examining several personalities that "exemplify the complex motives that defined combatants in a social transformation that would determine both the shape of society and its political struggles in the North and the South for the next century." The Barnouw Committee's report praises the filmmakers' sophisticated presentation of historical evidence. "Throughout," say the committee members, "the narrative is driven forward by photos of the period and personalized narratives of the participants that uncover the heightened emotions that informed the actions and motivations of the participants. The result is a documentary that portrays both the heroic and the tragic." |
. . . |
There are about 587 more words in this article.
Please log in (or, if you are not yet an
authorized user, please go to the
User Setup page) to gain full access rights. Or if you're already logged in register your subscription.
|
