07-13-2004, 02:02 AM
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#97 of 298 
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Adam_S
Member
Location: Marina del Rey, CA
Join Date: Feb 2001
Local Time: 10:45 PM
Local Date: 09-04-2008
Posts: 5,008
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America's Heart and Soul -  ½
This film is like a trip to Silver Dollar City!*
I almost hate to rank this down, this was such a joyous cinematic experience, but I have a few issues with the film that prevent me from giving it a full four stars.
The biggest problem is simply that the film is too short. Oh not the segments, most of those are beautifully put together. However a few feel way too abrupt and there a two or three clumsy compilation scene transistions. Not only the compilations whet our appetites for what's ultimately not in the film, but they break the overall rhythm of the film, of it's storytelling.
My other major complaint is that they seem to have forgotten stories about America's asian communities, gay communities, hispanic communities, arab/middle easter communities, East Asian communities and the whole muslim faith.
I also think the premise of the film should have been carefully rethought and mapped out to give it a bit of more oomph. The ordinary people doing incredible things is lovely, but I think a stronger premise would have focused on people and communities who have deliberately set their head against the wind--against the status quo of mainstream life, in the greatest American fashion of pig-headed determination and ornery stubbornness.
Show us stories where instead of just seeing the incredibly touching relationship between the son and father on a dairy farm but we also see why he decided to produce hormone free raw milk, and what he's had to struggle to achieve these results. (and I don't know if the milk he produces is, but finding someone that's done so might be interesting). Look into organic farming, holistic medicine, etc etc and give the documentary a bit more punch--but then that'd be a different movie entirely so the suggestions are really valid because they wouldn't help this film.
Salt of the Earth people full of life and charm, incredibly enjoyable experience, one I'll highly recommend to my family.
THe photography is absolutely incredible, STUNNING wonderful work. I've never seen the Appalachian/Ozark mountains look that good on film, still not quite as stunning as in person, but damn if it didn't arouse a huge swell of emotion from me to see that beauty so lovingly displayed.
*Silver Dollar City in Branson Missouri is the Disneyland of the midwest. Like Disneyland, it is a theme park--it is not a soulless amusepark like six flags--with 1890s America as the key theme. My reasons for returning every year are food, crafts, shopping, and rides, in that order; favorite crafts are watching the glassblowers and the damascus steel knife smith. A great place to go, and I'll be there Wednesday, I can't wait!
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