简介：Anotherreliablywell-crafted,generallyengrossingdocumentaryfromKenBurns,Lewis&Clarkemploysthedirector'snow-familiarapproachtohissubjects,fromitselegantjuxtapositionofperiodillustrationsandportraitsagainstnewlyfilmedfootageofhistoricsitestoBurns'srepertoryofaccomplishedactorstoprovidegravitasforquotesfromthekeyfigures.Grantedtheformulahasbecomefamiliarenoughtoallowparody,butBurnsknowshowtoinvesthishistoricalinvestigationswithmovementanddrama,makingthisfour-hourjourneyaworthwhiletrip. AsnarratedbyHalHolbrook,DaytonDuncan'sscriptexplicatestheagendapresentedbyThomasJeffersontoMeriwetherLewisandWilliamClark,placingitinthecontextoftheyoungcountry'sgambleinJefferson'sLouisianaPurchase,andtheexpedition'sgoalsforopeningtheWest.Whilepreservingtheheroicscaleoftheundertaking,Burnsalsofindstimetodelveintothepoliticsoftheventureandthedisparatepersonalitiesofthetwoexplorers;inparticular,DuncanandBurnslookatthecareerofLewis,thepresidentialprotégé,hismoodydemeanor,andhisuntimelydeath.Thefilmalsolooksbeyonditstitularleaderstoexaminethepersonalitiesoftheircorpsofsoldiers,theirboatmen,andtheIndianstheymetanddependedon,mostnotablytheirfemaleShosoneguide,Sacagawea.--SamSutherland…