"From Sea to Shining Sea" is a very simple documentary. The whole film is shown from a camera facing the windshield of a motor vehicle, which travels from the east side of the United States to the west side. The footage plays in fast motion, a map of the country is frequently shown, and you hear people talking (mostly from the radio) and music. That's the movie.
Is it entertaining? Well, to me, it's kinda entertaining, but it's also kinda boring. Luckily, I wasn't incredibly bored throughout, although I imagine that at least some people will be. Not much happens, but to me, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Gerry" (2002) and "The Brown Bunny" are movies I really like and there isn't much that happens in them. I don't think I can explain why those movies work and why "From Sea to Shining Sea" only kinda does.
I will say that I like the music. It's nice to listen to. I also didn't mind listening to the radio. After awhile, I wanted the film to end, but it just kept going. Maybe it would've been a lot better if it was about 40 or 50 minutes long. 107 minutes is just too long. Thank God it's not over four hours. That would be crazy.
Is it entertaining? Well, to me, it's kinda entertaining, but it's also kinda boring. Luckily, I wasn't incredibly bored throughout, although I imagine that at least some people will be. Not much happens, but to me, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Gerry" (2002) and "The Brown Bunny" are movies I really like and there isn't much that happens in them. I don't think I can explain why those movies work and why "From Sea to Shining Sea" only kinda does.
I will say that I like the music. It's nice to listen to. I also didn't mind listening to the radio. After awhile, I wanted the film to end, but it just kept going. Maybe it would've been a lot better if it was about 40 or 50 minutes long. 107 minutes is just too long. Thank God it's not over four hours. That would be crazy.