Customer Reviews

Spellbound

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Spellbound is that brightest of gems: A terrific, engaging movie with no sex, violence, bad language, or even a massive sociological message. Just a small but involving story, told with light-hearted humour and surprising moments of emotional connection that's as purely positive a filmgoing experience as I can think of.

This movie also shows that you don't need eye candy to have a great film. The grainy shooting, often muddy sound and slightly wobbly camera in no way detract from the movie. The filmmakers are so good at capturing what's happening and their subjects are so interesting that all technical aspects become moot -- as they well should be.

At the heart of the movie are the eight kids in the competition, all of them marvelous characters. The filmmakers did a superb job diversifying the subject, for if Spellbound had been merely a documentary about a spelling bee, it would inevitably have fallen into repetitiveness. Instead, it succeeds in sketching out eight character studies before sending them on their central journey, and we respond to and are sympathetic to them along the way. And the moments of emotional connection are both surprising and touching: When one contestant (no spoiler) cries in her mother's arms after nerves got her eliminated early in the bee; when a zealous father clasps his hands in prayer at his son's hesitation on the stage; when a father and mother have to leave the auditorium because they can't bear the suspense. If you were to describe the situations outside of the film's context they might sound too small and insignificant to make great cinema, but the film lends such a sympathetic and detailed eye -- and the people themselves have such a good sense of humour -- that you'll find yourself drawn to them. And the kids -- an entertaining bunch: The obsessive, serious Neil, the nihilistic Ted; hyperactive oddball Harry; precocious, articulate Emily, whose sardonic remarks are achingly hilarious; shy, pessimistic April. After their introduction, I felt like they were kids living on my street, and I became more attached to them than I do to most movie characters or documentary subjects.

This is the kind of film we need more of. No tricks, no flash, and no huge fiery set pieces; just a very well-told story with deep-reaching characters and an inexorable forward narrative whose pacing leaves most blockbusters in the dust. Essential viewing!

This has to be the best movie that I have seen in the first half of 2003. Don't let the title or the concept throw you for a loop on this one. It is an excellent, gripping movie. While about the National Spelling Contest, it relates the stories of 8 young teens in their quest to be the number one speller. Its really about the teens, their families, and how they made it to the national spelling bee. Contestants range from a daughter of an Mexican immigrant family who does not speak English at home, through families throughout the midwest, and well to do families that hire many coaches for their children to compete.
All of the contestants are compelling, some in their personal desire to achieve, some in the family focus on their child winning, and some are just amused to be there. The real people provide a script that is better than any writer can write. The editing is so good that our audience was spelling out the words and cheering and sighing when contestants were in the final stages of their competition.
If you get the chance I would definately go and rush out and see this one. You will walk away feeling great after this uplifting movie. You will never forget some of this contestants!

Spellbound is an engaging documentary about eight kids who are hopefuls in the national spelling bee, 1999. I mention this first because honestly, I was expecting a scripted comedy film when I rented this based on the iControl description! Well in spite of my mistake, I found a worthwhile film with Spellbound.

Now I know this sounds extremely boring to the huge majority of us out here who have never even considered competing in a spelling bee. Give it a chance -- this movie is really about the individuals and their private dramas as they go through their training processes for the contest. We see a wide variety of approaches to preparing from both the parents' end and their kids': but truthfully, this whole thing reminds me of stage parents getting their children ready for those awful pageants. Almost across the board, pressure is applied to the kids to perform and WIN. For example one dad (who sounds to me like the most extreme perfectionist control freak that ever existed) drills his son on seven to eight thousand words per day and paid hundreds of people to pray for his son to win. He also promised that he would pay for five thousand people in India to have dinner IF his son won first place in the spelling bee. Talk about a heavy burden to put on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old kid!

The two exceptions to this stage parent mentality are interesting. One is the mom of an African American girl from a poor neighborhood; the other, immigrants from India whose daughter is a first generation American. In both cases, the girls were made to feel that they were good enough even without a championship trophy or a medal. There was never any suggestion that they were defined by their success in this spelling contest. I personally believe that of all the contestants, these two kids will have the best experiences in the larger adult world later on because their parents were supportive rather than trying to live vicariously through them or pushing them too hard; plus, these girls were allowed to have a life outside of the spelling bee training, which seemed to be lacking for most of the other kids as well.

Spellbound is an honest look into the world of spelling bees and the lives of the kids who compete in them, often from a very young age. It is relatively entertaining for a documentary, heavily dependant on listening to the dialogue rather than visuals, and sometimes funny in unexpected ways. Recommended for people who like documentaries in general.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

2002's "Spellbound" is a nail-biting documentary, which follows eight young contestants as they prepare to enter the 1999 National Spelling Bee Championship in Washington, D.C.

The pressure mounts for all eight of these charming young spellers (as well as for their tense parents -- well, maybe even MORE so in the case of a few of the parents) as each one wins his or her regional competition, and makes it all the way to the "Big One" in Washington.

You can really feel the nervous anxiety and the stress that these kids are experiencing as the camera zooms in on them while spelling these seemingly impossible-to-figure-out words. You'll find yourself rooting for them, right along with their anxious parents in the audience.

Amazingly, I found that I was actually able to spell a couple of the dictionary behemoths that were offered up during the competition. Of course, less than 1% of the monster words you'll find in a National Spelling Bee are words you've ever even remotely heard of before....and certainly none of these words would *ever* come up in a casual dinner conversation at home (or even at a dinner party hosted by Albert Einstein, I would surmise). But, the kids that participate in these "Bees" are prepared for virtually anything it seems.

Three of the top eight spellers at the '99 National Bee are among the 8 boys and girls featured in some depth during this 97-minute documentary film, including the eventual winner.

I was rooting for each and every one of these nice kids. It's a shame they couldn't all get a trophy. But those that were eliminated took it in stride, showing a great deal of poise and sportsmanship. All of these young folks showed a lot of class -- and I truly *don't* think it was solely based on the fact that there was a camera in their face the whole time. I felt these kids would have reacted in the same classy manner had there not been a documentary being made about them.

This DVD offers up some rather interesting Special Features, too .... including some "Bonus Footage", which is a nice, healthy 24-minute-long segment focusing on three additional spelling-bee contestants.

There's also a filmmaker's Audio Commentary Track, the Theatrical Trailer, as well as some informative text screens on the spellers, including a "Where Are They Now?" section.

In addition, there are also some DVD-ROM features, including a fun "Hangman" game. Even if you don't have a DVD-ROM computer drive, you can still get to the "Deluxe Hangman Challenge!" game by going to the following web address:

http://spellboundmovie.com/dvd/hangman/

Aspect Ratio is Full Frame (1.33:1), with a 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo soundtrack.

"Spellbound" is indeed a "spellbinding" motion picture. The ultimate "reality" film. So sit back and enjoy this excellent movie...and learn a few new words to boot (you'll never use them, but, what the heck). :)

Oh, and if anybody ever tells you that you're positively "callipygian" -- don't haul off and hit 'em with a frying pan. It's a very nice compliment. Really, it is. Look it up. ;)

"Spellbound" followed eight kids, winners of their regional spelling bees, as they participate in the nation-wide contest. The filmmakers deliberately choose the most diverse possible group of kids: one kid's dad is a Mexican immigrant, one African-American kid who grew up in a single-parent family in D.C., two Indian children of immigrants striving for the American "good life," one kid's dad owns a bar in the Rust Belt, one kid comes from a well-to-do family in Connecticut, one from rural Missouri, etc.

Because of this set of kids, the movie's theme becomes something like "the American Dream," the idea that anyone with enough pluck and determination can achieve perfection - even if "only" in spelling. There's something pure about their ambition; even if being a great speller doesn't get you Great Places in life, these students work sheerly for the sense of accomplishment it brings, not for the wordly rewards.

In the hands of less capable filmmakers, this film could have been condescending rather than uplifting. Actually, it toys with condescension in some places: the rich kid seems a little out of touch, the Indian kids seem particularly competitive, not one but both Midwestern kids are celebrated in their hometowns by signs at their schools--that are MIS-spelled. But fundamentally the makers liked the kids, and this affection will send you out of the theater with a smile on your face.

It is hard for me to express how much I loved this movie. I'm all for escapism, drama, or eye candy in movies. However, this film is a perfect example of how the experiences of real people can be just as compelling. The kids each have distinct personalities and differing reasons for participating in the National Spelling Bee. Watching them interact with their family, and discuss what the competition means to them is charming. Hearing the expectations of the parents is at times amusing, other times infuriating. Once you get to the actual competition in Washington, you feel for these kids so much that it ends up being nerve-wracking and intense even for the theater audience. If you see one movie this summer, don't make it another soulless special-effects behemoth. Spellbound is where the real drama is to be found.

This extraordinary documentary follows eight youngsters as they prepare for the 1999 annual National Spelling Bee. If you've ever watched it on ESPN, then you've seen the unique spellers who often last to the final stages. "Spellbound" highlights brilliantly the ways in which these youngsters and their families are exceptional. The eight youngsters, their families, and their hometowns are profiled separately; these narratives are by turns funny, inspiring, and heart-wrenching. Among the more amazing stories is Angela Arevivar, whose parents came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico and don't speak English. Her father, however, sees clearly that Angela's success justifies leaving his home country, and he accompanies her proudly to the bee. Aside from these emotionally resonant stories, young Harry Altman nearly steals the show with his wacky humor, including his bizarre imitation of a musical robot.

After introducing the youths and their families, the documentary accounts the actual bee. The tension is nearly unbearable when the spellers are given a difficult word, and seeing them eliminated is heart-wrenching. The documentary swells to a remarkable finale, due to the skillful editing by Yana Gorskaya and the debut work of director, Jeffrey Blitz. In addition, "Spellbound" is filled with amazing triumphs and heart-breakers. Hearing Ashley White's single, disadvantaged mother explain that the greatest moment of her life was seeing her daughter crowned champion at the city spelling bee is sure to leave a lump in your throat. Another warm moment is when a mother discusses how her child is somewhat of an outcast in her school but that she's popular at the bee. These children have managed to find ways of belonging and succeeding despite their quirks, which elevates further the amazing nature of their accomplishments.

"Spellbound" was Oscar-nominated for best documentary in 2003, losing to the flashier but less deserving "Bowling for Columbine." A truly excellent documentary exposes fundamental truths about us or our nation, and "Spellbound" certainly passes this litmus test. By following youngsters from a variety of backgrounds, nothing short of the American Dream is revealed. Ultimately, "Spellbound" is fantastic and perhaps the most touching and profound documentary of its kind since "Hoop Dreams." A most highly recommended film experience!

Extras: 1) Biographies and "where are they now" information for each speller. 2) A fascinating commentary featuring the director, producer, and editor. 3) Synopses of three spelling bee contestants who were not featured in the final cut of the documentary. The stories of these three spellers are probably not as compelling as the eight youngsters highlighted in the main documentary, although young Bradley Feldman's unrequited crush on his teen-aged spelling coach is terrific.

Regardless of how disenchanted one might become with its politics, its politicians, or its policies, a film like this restores one's faith in what our country has to offer its young people. Even if you happen to think the sort of ruthless competition that goes on in this film is another strike against us as a country, there's still something very moving about a child being nationally recognized and celebrated for the size of her vocabulary rather than her socio-economic background, social skills, or appearance. In a place saturated by the influence of beautiful people (valued often for nothing else), its refreshing to see the child with the braces and the bad haircut hold up a trophy that comes up to his chest, and walk away with enough money to see him through his first year of college.

Beyond that, this movie is delightfully nerve-wracking! Suspenseful and full of surprises, its as entertaining as it is important.

Could you spell arcane and abstruse words like kookaburra and logorrhea? The young teenagers in this movie (between the ages of 8-12) could.

This movie is about the American tradition of the spelling bee, which most of us have nostalgic memories of. This movie is about the National Spelling Bee, where the stakes are much higher and the words are much tougher.

This movie inspired me because it was a movie that showed the great potential that the young people have. These kids in the movie were truly amazing and dedicated. They were all unique and very intelligent. There was the Indian kid who's father drilled him into studying very hard for the Spelling Bee. There was the shy girl who studied the dictionary all day and shunned going to shopping malls. There was the young 8-year old Indian boy who was home schooled and very smart. There was the girl from a small town in the country who's parents immigrated to this country with humble beginnings. This movie follows the lives of eight children who dreamed of being the National Spelling Bee champions-it's really a great movie.

In an age when most of the movies being produced for children are tacky action thrillers devoid of any educational value and relevance, here's a movie that is rated G and shows children that they should be interested in reading and learning. All of these kids in the movie were diligent and persistent, and that's a lesson that can help any child today.

In 1996 and 1997, I was a nervous parent watching my daughter compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Therefore, I had a personal interest when I went to see the Oscar nominated documentary, "Spellbound," directed by Jeffrey Blitz.

Blitz does what every good documentary filmmaker tries to do. He personalizes his subject. By focusing on eight competitors from different parts of the United States, from a variety of ethnic groups, and from different social classes, Blitz engages the audience's interest in the individual contestants. From Angela, the Mexican-American daughter of a laborer who speaks no English, to Emily, the privileged daughter of wealthy parents, we get a close look at the hometowns, the family lives and the personalities of these eight bright and ambitious kids.

"Spellbound" enchants because of its great storytelling, its sharp editing, its humor and its celebration of a piece of Americana. In an age of high-speed computers, digital cameras and PDA's, it is quaint and enchanting to observe children who still regard the written word with reverence. Are the parents too pushy? Undoubtedly. Is there an element of child abuse in putting kids through this torture? Perhaps. However, no matter how you look at it, all of the contenders are terrific kids and Jeff Blitz has done a wonderful job of bringing their stories to life.