Fresh
The Funk Brothers seem to have hardly missed a beat.
Scott Von Doviak, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
The soul behind the sound.
2002 · 1h 56m · PG
Documentary, Music
Directed by
Paul Justman
Overview
In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit's thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They called themselves the Funk Brothers. Forty-one years after they played their first note on a Motown record and three decades since they were all together, the Funk Brothers reunited back in Detroit to play their music and tell their unforgettable story, with the help of archival footage, still photos, narration, interviews, re-creation scenes, 20 Motown master tracks, and twelve new live performances of Motown classics with the Brothers backing up contemporary performers.
Director and cast
- Paul Justman Director
- Richard 'Pistol' Allen as Himself
- Jack Ashford as Himself
- Bob Babbitt as Himself
- Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin as Himself (archive footage)
- Eddie 'Bongo' Brown as Himself (archive footage)
- Bootsy Collins as Himself
- Johnny Griffith as Himself
- Ben Harper as Himself
- Joe Hunter as Himself
- James Jamerson as Himself (archive footage)
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
92%
Tomatometer
Fresh
There have been better documentaries to come out this year, but none can touch this one for unadulterated pleasure.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Fresh
I promise, you'll never listen to a Motown classic in the same way ever again.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rotten
The documentary stumbles where it could have soared.
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
Fresh
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.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
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