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The Outsider

Play trailer 2:29 Poster for The Outsider 2021 1h 23m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Verified Ratings
Michael Shulan was a struggling novelist who owned a storefront space in New York's trendy Soho neighborhood. The attacks on the World Trade Center changed his life forever. He turned his Spring Street space into a now famous crowdsourced photo exhibit called "Here Is New York." For five years, he was known as the world's leading expert on 9/11 photography. Then, the lifelong outsider was invited to be part of something big. Shulan was named the Creative Director of the National 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero. This is the story of his dream job and how it turned against him. His vision of an open, inclusive, participatory place for America to engage in the painful, personal story of 9/11 goes wrong. His role as creative leader turns into a daily battle to keep his vision alive.

Critics Reviews

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Ben Kenigsberg New York Times 08/19/2021
Arguments will continue over the propriety of transforming Ground Zero into a tourist attraction. But it's grotesque to turn that process into a monument to one man's professional advancement. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 08/24/2021
In the end, The Outsider compels because any such huge undertaking (let alone one focused on victims of terrorism) is bound to attract clashing personalities and ideologies. Go to Full Review Nora Lee Mandel Maven's Nest 08/20/2021
6/10
Subtitled "The Battle To Build The 9/11 Museum", over 7 years of access to exhibit planning, narrowly focuses on Creative Director vs senior staff opinions, not outsiders. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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08/23/2021 At best this is horrible storytelling. At worst this is a desperate attempt by the film makers to sensationalize a standard process, manufacture heroes and villains, and force a narrative with a goal of creating drama, divisiveness and negativity. The film's core premise of one museum professional wanting to ask questions and others wanting answers is silly. It is positioned to be an expose of sorts, but of what exactly isn't clear. Of course a history museum should tell a clear story. Yes, decisions need to made when there is discord. So what? The story framing is weak and there isn't enough of a spine to guide a viewer through what is essentially insider baseball. You will be confused, bored and wondering what the hell this film is actually about. The sad part is this could have been powerful film if they had leaned into the emotionally evocative story of the artifacts and the curator who is so compelling. Instead they privilege workplace bickering and gratuitously cut to 9/11 conspiracy theorists (unclear why?) in what seems to be a deliberate decision to "go low". This film is another entity wanting to capitalize on 9/11. I regret that I paid for this. See more Read all reviews
The Outsider

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Pamela Yoder

Director

Steven Rosenbaum

Director

Michael Shulan

Self

Steven Rosenbaum

Screenwriter

Bob Garfield

Screenwriter

Pamela Yoder

Producer
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The Outsider

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The Outsider

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Movie Info

Synopsis Michael Shulan was a struggling novelist who owned a storefront space in New York's trendy Soho neighborhood. The attacks on the World Trade Center changed his life forever. He turned his Spring Street space into a now famous crowdsourced photo exhibit called "Here Is New York." For five years, he was known as the world's leading expert on 9/11 photography. Then, the lifelong outsider was invited to be part of something big. Shulan was named the Creative Director of the National 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero. This is the story of his dream job and how it turned against him. His vision of an open, inclusive, participatory place for America to engage in the painful, personal story of 9/11 goes wrong. His role as creative leader turns into a daily battle to keep his vision alive.
Director
Pamela Yoder, Steven Rosenbaum
Producer
Pamela Yoder, Steven Rosenbaum
Screenwriter
Steven Rosenbaum, Bob Garfield
Distributor
Abramorama
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 20, 2021, Limited
Runtime
1h 23m