The Unforeseen (2008)
Ann Richards, Gary Bradley, Judah Folkman, Marshall Kuykendall, Robert Redford ... (see more) , Wendell Berry , William Greider , Willie Nelson
In the 1980s, an ambitious real estate developer came to Austin, Tex., with a dream--to transform miles of pristine wilderness into a sprawling self-sufficient city. When the development threatened a local treasure, a fragile limestone aquifer and a naturally spring-fed swimming hole, the community ... (read more) In the 1980s, an ambitious real estate developer came to Austin, Tex., with a dream--to transform miles of pristine wilderness into a sprawling self-sufficient city. When the development threatened a local treasure, a fragile limestone aquifer and a naturally spring-fed swimming hole, the community decided to fight back. Laura Dunn's lyrical and beautifully crafted documentary uses this landmark struggle--a microcosm of what's happening in communities across the country today--to consider the cost of the American dream.
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Unrated, 1 hr. 33 min.
Directed by:
Laura Dunn
Release Date: Feb 29, 2008
DVD Release Date: Sep 30, 2008
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This was really quite boring unless you lived in Austin, TX over the past 25 years. I was not impressed witht the flow & could have been shortened a good 20 minutes by taking out all the non-relevant footage with music. I was a little thrown by the... (read more) This was really quite boring unless you lived in Austin, TX over the past 25 years. I was not impressed witht the flow & could have been shortened a good 20 minutes by taking out all the non-relevant footage with music. I was a little thrown by the Christian song to end it as well, didn't think it fit at all.
Might be of most interest to those who live or have lived in Austin. Documentary about the real estate boom, bust, and boom in the 80's and 90's
No other movie has had as big as an impact on me as this one. Everyone needs to see this movie. Everyone.
The first half hour was interesting, but it got boring fast. Instead of just presenting facts it seemed to lean more to one side. I liked what it was saying at first, but after a while it just wore thin on me.
I love documentaries... and I'm all about ecofriendliness so I thought I'd enjoy this doc... but OMG so dry. First 2 minutes and I was bored. Granted during the next 20-30min I was able to stay awake by looking at the pretty pictures. But after 30 mi... (read more) I love documentaries... and I'm all about ecofriendliness so I thought I'd enjoy this doc... but OMG so dry. First 2 minutes and I was bored. Granted during the next 20-30min I was able to stay awake by looking at the pretty pictures. But after 30 min I HAD! to lie down and obviously fell asleep. Missed the entire movie... The idea was interesting but spice it up a bit... pleaSE!
There is just something I adore about socially conscious docs. Information is power and power is more valuable than money, something the greedy land developers in this flick should have learned. Protect Austin, protect your community.
I was really excited about this one, but I was let down. There's plenty of beautiful imagery, to be sure, but the film loses focus after the first 45 minutes. Not particularly damning nor particularly objective.
Really good documentary on the clash between development and the environment, water rights, and private property rights. It's not a wonder that people so short-sided and seemingly without the capacity to even consider living in harmony with nature or... (read more) Really good documentary on the clash between development and the environment, water rights, and private property rights. It's not a wonder that people so short-sided and seemingly without the capacity to even consider living in harmony with nature or their neighbors elected George W. Bush their governor. It made me so angry!!! No wonder our country is going down the drain.
Very moving account of how suburban sprawl can have devastating effects on the environment. Although there are a number of docs about sprawl, this film is one of the best because it let's the people involved do the talking. The slow overhead pans of ... (read more) Very moving account of how suburban sprawl can have devastating effects on the environment. Although there are a number of docs about sprawl, this film is one of the best because it let's the people involved do the talking. The slow overhead pans of the locations are very moving.
Critic Reviews
The Unforeseen is a poetic and high-minded meditation on American developers' manifest destiny and the cancer it introduces into the natural world.full review
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