''Amarillo by Morning'' is a documentary short by Spike Jonze.

Synopsis

While filming pro bullriders for a commercial at the national rodeo in the

Houston Astrodome The NRG Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas. It was financed and assisted in development by Roy Hofheinz, mayor of Houston ...

in Houston, Texas, Spike befriended two suburban teenagers who aspired to be cowboys. The documentary chronicles an afternoon in their lives.

Release

''Amarillo by Morning'' was initially screened in 1997, his first released documentary and second film. The short was re-released in 2003 by

Palm Pictures Palm Pictures is a US-based entertainment company owned and run by Chris Blackwell. Palm Pictures produces, acquires and distributes music and film projects with a particular focus on the DVD-Video format. Palm places an emphasis on such pro ...

as part of a collection of Jonze's "music videos, short films, documentaries, and rarities", accompanied by interviews and commentaries on the director's works. In 2009 ''Amarillo by Morning'' was screened at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

in New York City as part of a retrospective on Jonze's work.

Reception

Critical reception for the short after its initial release has been positive. In the book ''ReFocus: The Films of Spike Jonze'' Laurel Westrup noted that the short "diverges substantially from the irreverent charm of his narrative ads and music videos. However, it reveals some key thematic features and an emphasis on creative collaboration that carry into the ''Suburbs'' films." ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...

'' has also praised the work, calling it "a perfect, unpretentious short doc tagging a crew of suburbanite Houston teens who get together to ride a homemade mechanical bull and dream of future rodeo glory. "

References

External links

* Films shot in Houston Films directed by Spike Jonze 1997 films Cowboy culture 1990s short documentary films American short documentary films 1997 documentary films 1998 films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films {{short-documentary-film-stub