Exit Through The Gift Shop

04.25.10
Exit Through The Gift Shop
2010
Starring: Banksey, Shepard Fairey, Theirry Guetta


"I have no interest in ever coming out. I figure there are enough self-opinionated assholes trying to get their ugly little faces in front of you as it is. You ask a lot of kids today what they want to be when they grow up, and they say, “I want to be famous.” You ask them for what reason and they don’t know or care"-Banksy


At the Sundance screening of Exit Through the Gift Shop Banksy delivered a letter to be read at the beginning of the film. “Trying to make a movie which truly conveys the raw thrill and expressive power of art is very difficult. So we haven't bothered. Instead, this is simply an everyday tale of life, longing, and mindless vandalism. Everything you are about to see is true, especially the bit where we all lie.” Banksy has always been about creating a discord between average thought and art, he wants to move and shake peoples ideas through a faceless persona. Although I must confess the movie left me an anxiety-ridden-knotted-stomach-fist-clenching mess, it did its job. Banksy said, “I used to encourage everyone to make art, I don’t do that anymore.” This movie left me so upset because the very persona and idea of Banksy was cheapened and distorted by the semi-successful attempt at a hollow-motive driven fame seeker, Thierry. But after giving the film much thought, I realized that Banksy wanted to bring to light the issue that imitation is the highest form of flattery does not always apply, especially when the imitation turns out to just be a cheap-one dimensional copy of the original masterpiece. Although Banksy says that he wasn’t trying to make a movie that “conveys the raw thrill and expressive power of art” he shows exactly what sucks the raw thrill and expressive power out of art, perhaps that’s the more powerful statement. Who’s the joke on? Guess we’ll have to see.

My Left Foot

04.20.10
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
(1989)
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis


My Left Foot is none other than an inspirational story of epic proportion. Daniel Day Lewis plays the true-life role of Christy Brown, a talented man trapped in a body that is crippled with Cerebral Palsy. The narrative of this story is moving in its unassuming nature; It does not seek to put Christy Brown on a platform for his disability, but to enlighten the audience to the many obstacles that he overcame to seek a "normal" existence, that was anything but. Much of the subject matter of this film is very gritty and realistic, bordering on painful to watch. At many points in this film i remember clenching my hands and gritting my teeth as you watched Christy labor to do something as simple as writing "mother" on the floor in chalk. I would suggest watching this film alone, because it more deeply permeates your mind in it's journey of this man and his devoted family. My Left Foot should be praised for it's refusal to glorify the ugly parts of Christy Browns character, it portrayed him just as he was, a man living life.

The Fall

4.13.10
The Fall
(2006)
Starring: Lee Pace, Catinca Untaru


The Fall is a diamond in the rough, a movie that has gone unnoticed in my film search until now. I was extremely impressed and fascinated by the expansive imagery in the film. A wash of starkly contrasting colors and sweeping landscapes, The Fall seeks to blur the line between dreams and reality. The story is birthed as an escapism effort by the emotionally and physically wounded man who spins the "tall tale" that morphs into more of a heroic epic than a fairytale. This story is fraught with symbolism that serves as an allegory to the painful existence of the man creating the mystery. We see it unfold from the eyes of a little girl avidly soaking up the story, as well as being introdued to the true facts that translate into the beautiful fiction. Some parts of this film were overly theatrical and came off a bit cheesy, but any criticisms are quelled by the impeccable visuals. Overall, a movie i would highly recommend.

Kurosawas Dream's

04.05.10
Kurosawa's Dreams
(1990)
Starring:Martin Scorcese (cameo as Vincent Van Gogh) & various Japanese actors/actresses


Kurosawa's Dreams is a collection of beautiful short films. In formal Japanese style, the movie moves at a slow and traditional pace, but it does not disappoint. The amazing visual aspects and incredible vision of the legendary director translate perfectly into the, primarily visual, narrative. It is the equivalent of a moving painting, breaching the physical and spiritual world through the bridge of imagination. It's rather a coffee-table movie, that would not lose its charm if strict attention wasn't practiced, but i believe that it will captivate and demand any seasoned-foreign-film-viewers full attention.