STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF MOTOWN
Behind all the great Motown sounds of the '60s (the Supremes, Marvin Gaye,
Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and so on) was a pit full of musicians who
paced each recording artist to the top of the charts. Paul Justman's soulful
documentary traces the formation of the eclectic group known as the Funk
Brothers and the relative anonymity they "enjoyed" while their sound was being
splattered all over Top 40 radio. The film interweaves footage of the reunited
still living Brothers performing Motown's timeless hits with such contemporary
stars as Bootsy Collins, Joan Osborne, and Ben Harper; and Justman captures the
essence of the politically tumultuous era without taking the bully pulpit --
this intimate portrayal remains focused on the musicians and their infectious
music. (108 minutes) Opens Friday at the Flagship.
Issue Date: January 17 - 23, 2003
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