Do you want to see ‘Standing In The Shadows of Motown’?

Standing In The Shadows of Motown (2002)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 88
Fresh: 81 | Rotten: 7

A toe-tapping tribute to the band that gave Motown its sound.

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Critic Reviews: 26
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 2

A toe-tapping tribute to the band that gave Motown its sound.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 2,989

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Based on the book of the same name by Allan Slutsky, Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a historical tribute to the unsung heroes responsible for some of the greatest hits of pop music. Part documentary and part concert performance, this film is an introduction to the intriguing personas of the Hitsville studio band originally assembled by Berry Gordy in 1959. Over 40 years later, the remaining members reunited in their home base of Detroit, MI, to tell their stories, remember their departed

PG, 1 hr. 48 min.

Musical & Performing Arts, Documentary

Directed By: Paul Justman

Written By: Walter Dallas, Ntozake Shange

In Theaters: Nov 15, 2002 Limited

On DVD: Apr 22, 2003

Box Office:$1.2M

Artisan Entertainment

Standing In The Shadows of Motown Trailer & Photos

More Photos (7)

Cast

Critic Reviews for Standing In The Shadows of Motown

All Critics (99) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (82) | Rotten (7) | DVD (23)

There have been better documentaries to come out this year, but none can touch this one for unadulterated pleasure.

December 19, 2002 Comment

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

Top Critic

I promise, you'll never listen to a Motown classic in the same way ever again.

November 29, 2002 Comment

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Top Critic

The documentary stumbles where it could have soared.

November 28, 2002 Comment

Randy Cordova

Arizona Republic

Top Critic

Try as you might to resist, if you've got a place in your heart for Smokey Robinson, this movie will worm its way there.

November 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Top Critic

The movie lets us realize this Sound, still so alive and vibrant today, was created by flesh-and-blood people, each of whom has a compelling story to tell.

November 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Denver Post

| Comment

Steven Rosen

Denver Post

Top Critic

A triumphant documentary.

November 22, 2002 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

may not be the most creative of documentaries, but it's certainly an essential one that all music lovers should see and hear

January 2, 2012 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews

| Comment

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

Even after decades of performing the same songs, the energy never flags.

August 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

The feel-good documentary of the year, featuring the irresistible 1960s music that made Detroit famous.

February 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly

| Comment

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly Source: Boulder Weekly

The cheap and easy recycling of old myths and superficial treatment given the significant social milieu of the time is startling.

August 31, 2003 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

| Comment

Dan Jardine

Apollo Guide

...guaranteed to turn Motown neophytes into fans.

August 1, 2003 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Standing In The Shadows of Motown

View All

Fantastic documentary about a group of unknown musicians, self-named The Funk brothers who were the musical force behind so many of the Motown classics; partnering Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson... name a hit, and chances are, they were playing on it. Narrated by Andre Braugher, the film

November 25, 2009