This film shouldn’t be new to readers of Shadow & Act given that its been around the block a couple of times, making its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and in 2012 airing on Showtime chronicling an urban Woodstock of a music festival in Philadelphia. “Made in America” will also hit theaters on July 11th.
The first five minutes of the documentary makes clear that the documentary will tilt more on Jay-Z’s rise from his bootstraps in Marcy Projects to a part owner of the Barclay Center a few miles away. There should be no mistaking that the music festival is ornamental to Jay_z’s narrative. Minutes after, the camera cuts into the vibrant cast of musicians that make up the “Made in America” music festival which include: Gary Clark, Jr. D’Angelo, Dirty Projectors, The Hives, Mike Snow, Janelle Monáe, Odd Future, Rita Ora, Passion Pit, Pearl Jam, Run D.M.C., Santigold, Jill Scott, Skrilex, and Kanye West.
“We are all flawed human beings. Based on my experience, I would never have believed I’d be here today,” says Jay-Z from the backseat of his Maybach, pontificating on politics and pop culture. There’s a subdued Marxist vibe that runs through the film that saves the it from complete celebrity naval gazing.