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These Amazing Shadows

Play trailer Poster for These Amazing Shadows Released Feb 1, 2011 1h 26m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
The history and importance of the organization that saves the very best in American cinema.

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These Amazing Shadows

Critics Reviews

View All (12) Critics Reviews
Jen Chaney Washington Post "Shadows" is an 88-minute valentine to cinema, a reminder of why we continue returning to the multiplex, and an abiding faith in the power of film to transport us to faraway places. Rated: 2.5/4 May 27, 2011 Full Review Ty Burr Boston Globe "Shadows'' is a deeply heartfelt, if scattered, effort that plays like an Oscar-night clip show with a mission. Rated: 2.5/4 May 19, 2011 Full Review Peter Hartlaub San Francisco Chronicle For lovers of American filmmaking, "These Amazing Shadows" may be the ultimate sampler buffet. Rated: 3/4 May 5, 2011 Full Review John Beifuss Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Entertaining, but only revealing when the directors visit the Library of Congress film storage vaults in Culpeper, Va., where close to 130,000 rolls of fragile and damaged nitrate motion-picture film are kept in 124 climate-controlled vaults. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Betsy Sherman Boston Phoenix If movies are our kiss-kiss-bang-bang arenas of desire, then this addictive movie-centric documentary from Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton makes the Library of Congress sound like the Playboy Mansion. Rated: 3/4 May 19, 2011 Full Review Les Wright culturevulture.net a long commercial promotion for The National Film Registry May 18, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member One of my favorite documentaries of all time, and the only documentary I own on blu-ray! I've watched it countless times, and every time, I'm completely captivated. My dream job is to work, help, volunteer, hell, even be A SLAVE to the National Film Registry. I WANT TO SAVE FILM. My life would be complete if I could even assist in doing this on the weekends. I would move to Virginia just to VOLUNTEER to save film without a second thought. This documentary really opened up that whole world for me, and maybe that dream isn't completely out of reach. Regardless, this documentary is truly special, and definitely worth our time to watch it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Fascinating delve into the work of America's National Film Registry and how it comes to select those films deemed worthy of preservation. Studded with clips, and interviews with cinematographers, archivists and movie directors. It should have been longer and perhaps more detailed. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member A must watch for any cinema enthusiast and a must watch for anyone who thinks movies are not art. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member An ever so informative piece, which focuses its lens on the National Film Registry, 'These Amazing Shadows' is a fascinating documentary that emphasizes the importance of film as not only an artform, but as an important part of history. With interviews from big-name directors, actors, and writers, 'These Amazing Shadows' might be aimed more towards film enthusiasts, but its depiction of film's importance in society, as well as the maintenance and preservation of these vital pieces of history is entertaining beyond just informational. Final Grade: A- Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful ode to The National Film Registry. More than a fluff government project, this is important work that preserves our culture, the good and the bad. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member These Amazing Documentary! [B+] Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
These Amazing Shadows

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis The history and importance of the organization that saves the very best in American cinema.
Director
Paul Mariano, Kurt Norton
Producer
Paul Mariano, Kurt Norton, Christine O'Malley
Screenwriter
Paul Mariano, Kurt Norton
Distributor
Gravitas Docufilms
Production Co
Gravitas Docufilms
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 1, 2011, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 26m
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