By soulkikker (195.18.123.98) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:06 am:

Here's a comment on SITSOM from the Internet Movie Database-website.
Any thoughts from our forum members?

===============================================================

Summary: Very good, but could have been better

Comment:

Being a Motown fan myself, I really enjoyed the movie. It is very good, but
I think it could have been better. It is a bit too superficial to my taste:
nice stories and anecdotes, but too little information about how it really
was to be a Motown studio musician.
Did the musicians really get so little money, as the film suggests? What was
their relation to Berry Gordy and to the stars like Diana Ross? Did they
record with them, or did they just provide a musical track to which the
vocals were added (I think the latter). How did they feel about not being
asked to tour with the stars? Would they have liked too make their own
records, like their southern counterparts Booker T & the MG's did? (Earl Van
Dyke made some solo records, which is neglected in the movie).

I would have liked to get answers to those questions, but the movie doesn't
dig that deep. Some things are even irritatingly left unanswered, like the
role the musicians played on records from other labels. Did they play on
Cool Jerk by the Capitols, as is suggested by playing this non-Motown song
in the live concert? It remains unclear.
Still, there are great scenes. The relationship between the Funk Brothers
and the jazz scene in Detroit is very well explained. The story about the
band members spying on each other is great (and shows how Berry Gordy
treated his musicians).
A great disappointment for me was the concert footage. The Funk Brothers
sound like a second rate cover band. The magic from the sixties does not
return. The choice of songs is peculiar: not a single Four Tops or Supremes
song, although these songs were typically Motown-sound (more so than You've
Really Got a Hold on me or What Becomes of the Broken Hearted). The idea to
let young hip stars like Joan Osborne, Ben Harper and Me'shell Ndegeocello
play with the old guys seems to me like a typical way to sell the
soundtrack.
This doesn't mean the movie is not worth seeing. Every music lover should
see it. It is great.

Comment Author: Ruben Mooijman

By PhilH (203.221.53.218) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:37 am:

"Not a single Four Tops song"? What the heck is "Reach Out I'll Be There" then? Ruben obviously was either asleep or came in late!


Phil

By Nancy (24.101.72.243) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 06:59 am:

Shotgun, whats going on the choice of songs is peculiar????? I think the choice of songs that they had gave a great cross section of motown songs . The footage of them in concert was fantastic, but seeing them jam at a jazz club and in the snake pit took you backk, what is this guy thinking

By David Meikle (213.122.43.195) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 07:00 am:

Summary = "Good but could have been better"
Final sentence = "It is great"

By Nancy (24.101.72.243) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 08:35 am:

David I could not agree with you more

By Horse (159.53.238.243) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 09:18 am:

There are Motown fans...and then there ARE MOTOWN FANS. It seems that Mr. Mooijman should further inform himself regarding the subject matter. Perhaps he should have done a little more homework before and after the movie, so as to get a fuller understanding about the questions may have. I would think that any "Truely Interested" individual (let alone a professional critic)would have conducted a web search before or after viewing the film, which would have lead to the SITSOM site and then further to Soulful Detroit Forum. At that point, he could have spoken directly to the Funks or other individuals , who could have answers questions directly. I respect every individuals right to opinion, but can't give much respect to any individual who does not FIRST educate themselves regarding issues before delivering their input. I find that type of information to be as reliable as corrupt data, which is useless to acheiving anything positive.

By Sue (152.163.188.68) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 10:53 am:

All of the above, plus: It was very clear that "Cool Jerk" was a moonlighting session for the Funks.

It was also made clear that the Funks played on the tracks without the singers. Johnny Griffith I think it was, remarked, watching the Funks play their instrumental thing, "What is it you guys are doing?" He said he was used to accompanying singers.

You really have to see the movie more than once, especially non-Motown fans need to, to get some of the nuances, and some of the factoids that shoot quickly by.

It's too bad a review riddled with errors is up on a well-read Internet site like that. I mean, no Four Tops songs??

And the guy doesn't think "You Really Got a Hold On Me" sounds "typically Motown"? Email this guy ...

By Vickie (64.12.97.7) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 10:58 am:

Ruben should keep his day job....

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:28 am:

GREETINGS RUBEN: THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS!!!...PERHAPS YOU COULD ALSO TELL THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS HOW THEY COULD HAVE WON A BETTER WORLDS CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR AT THIS LATE DATE...AND I'M SURE THAT THE LIONS WOULD WELCOME YOUR "MONDAY MORNING" OPINION AS TO HOW THEY COULD HAVE WON MORE GAMES LAST YEAR...TO WHICH YOUR ANSWER PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN TO DRESS UP THE TAMPA BAY BUCHANNERS IN THE HONOLULU BLUE AND SILVER!!!...THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION...BUT AS YOU HAVE FOUND OUT...AND WILL FIND OUT...YOU'VE GOT A TOUGH CROWD HERE...AND AN EDUCATED CROWD...SO YOU HAD BETTER HAVE YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!!...STU

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:31 am:

I don't know the experience of the reviewer who wrote the review. I don't know what the movie database is. I only read the first paragraph, and realized that the reviewer knows nothing of Motown.

I did not read the rest of the review.

My last comment to the reviewer is: "PLEASE SEND ALLAN SLUTSKY SIX MILLION DOLLARS," and you can get all of your questions answered.

By HW (12.110.192.128) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:34 am:

Can one add to the IMDB comments? SITSOM has had its share of middling reviews, and so what, but this one shouldn't go unanswered.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:45 am:

Folks:
Seems to me that Ruben is a bit naive. He sounds like a fan of the music but not someone who knows the history of the music or the creators of this music. Instead of us griping among ourselves here, I suggest that one of us find out how to get on this website (Internet Movie Datbase)and file a counter-opinion. Maybe then Ruben will see what one of us have written and become more educated on the subject.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sue (205.188.209.38) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:24 pm:

Try this:

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0314725

I wouldn't just post a rebuttal though; everybody needs to email the site administrator about the errors in the review that need to be corrected.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:44 pm:

All I want from the guy is some money so Allan and Crew can make a sequel "And The Motown Saga Continues." :o)

By jack (65.82.172.209) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 01:43 pm:

Hello this is Jack Ashford.I was happy to read the note that the person wrote about us not recording a a top song in the film.I am proud to say that it makes the funk brothers feel good to know that we have helpped all kinds of people with mental problems get some say about what goes on around them isstead of just living from day to day. We don't feel bad about the comments that the person said because as I said ,it takes all kinds of people to make up the world. Even mental ones. God bless you person and keep taking your medication. jack

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 01:57 pm:

LOL Jack.....


Vickie

By drums (63.242.208.176) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:17 pm:

LOL !!

You guys wanna know something? I dont give a rats arse what any critic says. As soon as it comes out on dvd I am buying the FIRST copy here in PA!!!

Any information about what these guys did to create the "Motown Sound" is good enough for me!! I wish that we could see outtakes and mistakes and everything!!

PS Congrats on your Grammy & future Golden Globes and Oscar victories as well.

I wonder how many Grammy's Mr. Mooj has!

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:30 pm:

HEY DRUMS: MR.MOOJ HAS *NO* GRAMMY'S...BUT I THINK THAT HE HAS TWO *GRANNIES*!!!...STU

By Horse (159.53.32.41) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:31 pm:

Drums,

I don't personally care about what this critic has stated due to the fact that I trust my own judgement and know what moves me. However, This example of what I will call an "Uneducated Guess" which stands as critique causes only negativity to very hard heart felt work put forth by numerous individuals.
Sue, thanks for the info regarding the rebuttal and site admin. This kind of garbage can only hurt a good thing.

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:36 pm:

"Homie" is just lost in the sauce....totally uneducated and uninitiated in all things Hitsville/Motown Sound.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 03:11 pm:

LOL - Jack, we leave it up to you to remind this guy to take his medication. (LOL)

By drums (63.242.208.176) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

Hi there Horse!!

I agree with what you are saying. I grew up in Detroit and have had the chance to visit the "snakepit" on quite a few occasions before it became a museum that you have to pay to see now. I have always been amazed at the amount of music to come out of the place but have never met any of the people who created music that I grew up to!!

How many people here would have loved to be a fly on the wall and heard the stories, arguments, laughter, well just EVERYTHING!!!

This dvd is about as close as I will ever get, so I am buying the first copy!! We can bet on it!!

Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

PS. Is the 4 track still in the basement? Does anyone ever visit the Pit here?

By Eli (151.197.39.147) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

My opinion is that old reuben is a misinformed a**hole!!

By stephanie (64.63.221.27) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 06:24 pm:

OH well everyone can have an opinion but all of the other critics and Roger Ebert loved it so ...
Stephanie

By mhc (172.170.57.125) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 06:40 pm:

NO!

By Horse (68.61.77.137) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 07:17 pm:

Well Said Marshall..!

By Nancy (66.185.85.72) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 08:13 pm:

Well said Jack, well said

By Bassn for God (24.158.71.34) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 09:28 pm:

I have played with some second rate cover guys, I just WISH we sound like them when they were tuning up. But you know how it is in our world, if you can't make it, criticize it. Jack, my 7 year old son just loves saying your name, The Tamborine Man while we are singing at the top of our lungs in my truck. The stop light looks we get are great. Thanks so much for all the great sounds and songs. Congrats on the TWO GRAMMY's WOW!!
Keep the bass line strong and your heart in the song
Robert
ps Kev can you please email me, I would like to chat. Thanks

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:40 pm:

I am a true blood 60's soul sister. I know the magic of the Hitsville 60's thru early 70's. The many lumps in my throat when I heard the soundtrack, and the flood of tears I shed watching the Film, was due to the magic of the Funk Brothers bringing back the magic of the 60's.

By jack (65.82.172.254) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:55 am:

You can bet that if we could afford it ,we would take all of you loyal friends with us on the road. You all are so great and I mean each and every one of you. The support that you all have shown is just a blessing and we thank god for you. THANKS jack ashford (funk Brothers)

By Gary Rosen (12.234.25.217) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 01:55 am:

There is no screening of "reviewers" on IMDB - basically any jackass with a computer can chime in and say whatever they want whether it's true or not. Any movie dealing with the Holocaust, for instance, gets a few rants from some neo-Nazis claiming it never happened. So don't take "Ruben" (or whatever his real name is) too seriously. We are spoiled here because the quality and integrity of posters is much higher than average on the internet - including some people (like Jack, Bob B., Dennis, Mike M. etc.) who were actually there and are first-person witnesses to what really went on.

By Bassland (63.207.60.105) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 03:44 am:

Soulkicker,

I am responding to the statement in your first post that in effect says "The Funk Brothers sounded like a second rate cover band". I would suggest to you that "second rate cover bands" usually do not win grammys. The Funk Brothers however do win not one but 2 Grammys. How do you account for that?

BassLand

By soulboy (213.105.242.198) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 10:54 am:

I agree with all that's been said about the soulkickkers comment's. I have only listened to the soundtrack,and seen a couple of trailer clips and i think that the funks sound as good now as they did in their glory days,
Even more impressive is the fact that they have not played together as a unit for the best part of 30 years, add to that the fact they still cut one hell of a groove and win 2 grammy's in the process.
If i was in any position of power in the music industry i'd attempt to hire these guys for some serious recording work.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 01:50 pm:

I would also Soulboy. They are very enthusiastic on the Film as you can see on the trailer. During that whole film, they never slacked up.

Perhaps we should have a "battle of the bands." Soulkikker can get whom he wants against the Funk Brothers, anyday, anytown, anyhour. "Let's Get It On

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 02:04 pm:

EVERYONE - I believe SOULKIKKER is one of us. He was just posting the review of SITSOM on the Internet Movie Data Base. He was just posting it for discussion.

Rueben Mooijman is the author of the review and he is not the same person as SOULKIKKER.

Thank you.

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 02:43 pm:

Oh that's right, I'm sorry Soulkikker. I was posting to the reviewer Mooijman. So Sorry!

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 03:41 pm:

Sis,you are so dead-on !! I got hooked by the trailer...never having felt so many emotions in such a short time span. Then, after much anticipation I got to see the movie...and unlike most trailer vs final product scenarios...the movie was even better. It was like the old Walter Cronkite series "You Are There" because it just engulfs you. Not once was it like the normal movie going experience....this was a "docu-groove" of and about love and The Funk Brothers' smiles (especially "Pistol's") layered on top of their grooves made the whole thing simply...magical. The fellas may have taken an extended and unplanned "hiatus" from recording....but once behind their sticks, mallets, picks, speakers, amps, and mics....it was on and NO SLACKING !

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 03:57 pm:

ELI - Get your soulful band back together. MFSB. We are gonna have a knock down drag out jam session "battle of the bands."

1. MSFB
2. The Funk Brothers
3. Rueben Chosen Band

What other band can we invite? :o)

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 05:43 pm:

Sis...even Tower of Power, The JB's/Maceo & The Macks, Booker T. & The MG's would have to be spectators at THAT event !!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 06:10 pm:

Hey Sis!
Instead of a battle of the bands, maybe Eli should get the old MFSB back together for their own movie, which they so richly deserve.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 06:25 pm:

KevGo - That would be great. Let me get out my old LP's and 45's now and listen to the fantastic MFSB.

"ELI SOMEONE IS CALLING YOUR NAME. COME AND SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT."

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 01:29 am:

YOU GO SIS!!!...1WICKED: I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING THE INNER SPIRITS COMING FROM THE "SOUL" OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT!!!...YOU MENTION "PISTOL"!!!...I READ A PIECE ON THE NET TODAY WHERE ALLAN SLUTSKY POINTS TO THE EXPRESSION ON PISTOLS FACE DURING THE "AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH" PERFORMANCE...AND THE LOOK OF TOTAL SATISFACTION ON PISTOLS FACE... PERHAPS KNOWING THAT HE WAS TERMINALLY ILL...BUT REALIZING THAT HE WAS FINALLY BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS AMAZING LIFE'S WORK!!!...ALSO...LOOK AT PISTOL ON "HEATWAVE"...COMING OUT OF THE "SHUFFLE" ON TO HIS SYMBOL...ONCE AGAIN...A LOOK OF TOTAL SATISFACTION...AND THAT'S WHAT LIES AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE ESSENCE OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT!!!...I GUESS SOME PEOPLE WILL *NEVER* UNDERSTAND...AND THATS TOO BAD...FOR THEM!!!...STU

By Clay (66.73.176.209) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 08:20 am:

Some folk just continue to walk around with their head up their *ss. 2 Grammy's, a Tour,a film and a lot of RESPECT says a TON in my book. Peace

By passing bye (63.88.160.101) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 02:11 pm:

Some movies are panned by the movie credics other are praised,The true judge for any form of media is what it does for you. The Sound Of Music was panned by the credics by was a big oscar winner. If you like it thats all that counts I thought SITSOM was aver good movie for what is was.I gained facts and a insight into the old motown sound

By Livonia Ken (136.1.1.154) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 02:34 pm:

Grammies, tours, ticket sales, or not (lots of worthy efforts have received none of the above), anybody with at least one good eye and ear can see and hear that the film is something special and the performances are great. That certainly is the opinion of the vast majority of viewers, so no need to sweat the occasional outbreak of bad taste.

Regards,
Ken