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The Unforeseen

Play trailer Poster for The Unforeseen Released Feb 29, 2008 1h 34m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Real estate developer Tom Bradley has a dream: to build a subdivision. But the realization of that dream in Austin, Texas, has results far beyond his own imagining. Bradley's enormous development becomes a rallying call for environmentalists, who fear it will taint the aquifer Barton Springs. Opposition to the project, in turn, is used by conservatives to muster support for the dismantling of environmental protections and, ultimately, the election of George W. Bush as governor.

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The Unforeseen

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Critics Consensus

A calm documentary that doesn't resort to shrill polemics, The Unforeseen also benefits from great interview subjects and jaw-dropping cinematography.

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Critics Reviews

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John Hartl Seattle Times A gorgeous, thoughtful film that is remarkably evenhanded in its treatment of the subject. Sep 22, 2020 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader One can see the hand of coproducer Terrence Malick in this gorgeous, lyrical documentary about ecological destruction in Austin, Texas. Sep 22, 2020 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 4/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Very thought-provoking and worth seeing. Rated: 4/5 Sep 22, 2020 Full Review Steve Erickson Gay City News While [director Laura] Dunn's style is closer to Terrence Malick than Paul Thomas Anderson, Bradley becomes a figure as tragic and memorable as the fictional Daniel Plainview in "There Will Be Blood." Mar 5, 2018 Full Review Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) It's a beautiful film. . .Go and see it. Aug 22, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Important but slow-moving. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member It craves for all kinds of persuasion to appeal to the audience, but loses many of its logic and factual evidence underneath the pile of credible men, cinematography, and sentimental music Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member In saying goodbye to Netflix disks, we chose an indie documentary set in Austin (how have I never heard of this movie before?) 20 minutes into I looked at Caleb and said I thought this was an environmental doc not a financial one, well it ended up being both. Really good thoughts (though the environmentalists were a little cocky at time) and now I know more about what the occasional Save Our Springs bumper sticker really means. I also learned the interesting fact that Robert Redford learned to swim in Barton Springs. The kid in Hutto was so cute and his innocence shined the truth behind the problem of urban sprawl. (we live in a subdivision that once was a farm but I justify it because Caleb walks to work!) One down part was there was no real call to action-what is their suggestion of where to live or how to interact with our natural surrounding. Everybody in Austin should watch this. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Good documentary about land development in Austin. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful combination of a plethora of stock footage, interviews, graphics, photography, and natural scenery time lapses form this documentary on the history of development in Austin. The metaphors woven together by well timed music, voice over, and images helps drive in the tone of the message about the impact development has on the environment. People from all walks of life and perspectives are represented in such a way that they become both informative and emotionally moving. This is a wonderful documentary for any Austinite and makes them muse over the multifaceted dilemma that is developers versus the environment. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Such a great story about housing. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Unforeseen

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Cast & Crew

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Laura Dunn

Director

Robert Redford

Self

Willie Nelson

Actor

Ann Richards

Actor

Laura Dunn

Producer

Terrence Malick

Executive Producer

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The Unforeseen

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Movie Info

Synopsis Real estate developer Tom Bradley has a dream: to build a subdivision. But the realization of that dream in Austin, Texas, has results far beyond his own imagining. Bradley's enormous development becomes a rallying call for environmentalists, who fear it will taint the aquifer Barton Springs. Opposition to the project, in turn, is used by conservatives to muster support for the dismantling of environmental protections and, ultimately, the election of George W. Bush as governor.
Director
Laura Dunn
Producer
Laura Dunn
Production Co
Two Birds
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 29, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 29, 2016
Runtime
1h 34m
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