Spectres of the Spectrum (1999)

When I figure this one out, I'll let you know.

Director and dumpster diver Craig Baldwin fastens a film made up of an enormous amount of old footage, found footage and abandoned footage. There are so many moments culled from old science films, many of them old TV shows, that it begins to become meaningless. Worse yet is the "new footage," supposedly set in 2007.

The whole film rambles around the subject of science and, in particular, electromagnet scientific study, that you need a degree to understand it all. A documentary in many ways, the film finds time to discuss Tesla, Edison, David Sarnoff, Alexander Graham Bell, Benjamin Franklin, Philo Farnsworth, and so many other inventors and men of science in this field. This is oft times so interesting, that we begin to wish that we were seeing a straightforward documentary about this subject, instead of all this modernist, low-budget film mumbo-jumbo.

Look, this film is interesting. The projection I saw had horrible sound quality, however. It is low-budget but I don't know whether it is the source material or the venues "fault" that the sound was so horrible. It made much of the film unwatchable. And the ridiculous plot contrivances and post- post modern storyline about conspiracy theories and such just distracts from what could be a thoughtful, insightful, and leftist bent documentary film about modern technology, from Ben Franklin and the kite in the rainstorm to Bill Gates with a pie in his face. It's too bad Baldwin feels it necessary to deluge his subject matter in so much arty nonsense. He's obviously extremely intelligent and perfectly capable as a filmmaker and editor. He could produce a riveting and complex scientific documentary with his skill and creativity that didn't resort to such tactics.

If nothing else, "Spectres of the Spectrum" made me hunger to know more. It rekindled my interest in Tesla. And it introduced me to many other interesting characters and stories. The historical complexity of modern science in America is fascinating. I look forward to a day when a documentary which chronicles this explains it all to us in simple, easy to understand language and film devices. I wouldn't be surprised if the director's name was Craig Baldwin.

Report Card

Script: D+

Acting: F

Cinematography\Lighting: A+

Special Effects\Make Up: A+

Music: A+

Final Grade: C-