Spellbound

Year: 2002

Grade: A-

Country: USA

Director: Blitz

Review

fascinating way of looking at american culture. it looks at an apparently uniquely american pastime and is able to discover quite a bit about american culture in the process. perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t seem to have the fingerprint of the filmmakers. there seems to be balance and honesty in portraying its various subjects. for example, it would be easy to make a demon out of the old texas man who employs one of the contestants’ father, but they don’t. he makes some ignorant and old-thinking comments, but the film never seems to present and us vs. them dialectic. also, it allows the viewer to choose their level of enjoyment and education. it isn’t didactic and it doesn’t attempt to make mountains out of molehills. it simply is and much can be gleaned, if the viewer chooses.