Exit Through The Gift Shop

Mr Brainwash Pop Art

I love documentaries for the stories they tell and the messages that real people try to live out in daily life.  “Exit Through the Gift Shop” is the academy award nominated documentary that has found its self in the controversy of: Is it a documentary or mocumentary?  I think that  it is a fascinating documentary that provides a cutting commentary at the art world (street art to be specific).  Famous street artist Banksy puts together a film about a documentarian turned artist named Thierry Guetta who takes the aptly named moniker MBW (Mr. Brain Wash). The documentary shows wonderful insight into the street art scene, the process that goes into it, and some of the major players in the street art game.  It then shows how street art has gone off the streets and into the auction houses.  This is where the contraversy lies.  There are definitely arguments within the movie to be made that Banksy, known for his “jokes on you” attitude, has problems with arts value being measured in dollars and being nothing more than the popular toy for the rich.  Questions come up like what is art and what is just crappy imitation?  Does genius marketing make something good or just valuable?  In a consumer driven world do we question what we are buying into or are we just eating up whatever popular culture is feeding us?  With all of this being said because Banksy is kind of the Andy Kaufman of the art world people question if this documentary is real, and Thierry Guetta is for real or if it was all just one big joke to further press the point that the audience is the joke in the art world.  I still really enjoyed it whether I was watching a true documentary or a meta artistic expression upon the art world.

Banksy Street Art

 This movie has more than just a social commentary on art consumers. As predominately a rule follower I am intrigued by counter culture and the graffiti artist.  I do wonder how some people tag some places or how some people’s work is so big and elaborate yet done in a way that is so fast and under the cover of darkness.  This documentary touches on some of that as well.  I think that there is a very clear story here and the main character is easily watchable.  At times you love him, hate him, pity him, and champion him.  If you are not into street art this movie gives you a peek into that world.  You might view that highway on your way to work that is tagged differently, or when you get stopped and have to have to wait for a train you see it as a moving gallery not an ugly nuisance. This documentary will bring 87 minutes of artistic culture to your life, even if it is counter-culture.

Word Wars

     Nerd Culture fascinates me.  I love looking at small pockets of our society that holds outcast, quirky, and eccentric members that reject social norms and dedicate themselves to their passion.  The documentary that shoved me into this sub-genre was “Spellbound” a 2002 documentary that highlights contestants for the Scripts National Spelling Bee.  I have now watched many different nerd-docs and have seen a formula develop among them.  Highlight the quirkiest, most unconventional ones of the bunch along with ones that have a good shot of being successful, and follow their daily preparation and document their progress toward their goal.  With the popularity of “Words with Friends” the idea behind Word Wars, a documentary that showcases the world’s top Scrabble players, intrigued me.  As I start watching this movie I find myself thinking that this is just “Spellbound” all grown up.  That kind of disappoints me that it starts looking like the same movie but with adults.  All of that changes when Marlon is introduced into the picture.  In my opinion this guy is the greatest reason to watch this movie.  Although I have stated that I love nerd culture and I love your stereotypical nerds, Marlon breaks the mold of the stereotypical Scrabble player.  Marlon is a very aggressive in your face African American gentleman that smokes lots of weed and at one point in the movie picks up a hooker on camera before a tournament.  When you contrast him with “GI Joel” another player that fits every nerdy stereotype you can think of on top of having to constantly spit up stomach juice from his terrible acid reflux and gastrointestinal problems for which he got his nickname, you will find Marlon is the little nugget of gold in this movie.  Marlon separated this movie from any nerd-doc I have ever seen.  On top of all of his antics, he is a phenomenal Scrabble player.  Every other person that gets highlighted in this movie fits a mental image of a typical Scrabble player.  The fact that this guy who has such strong opinions about what he calls “Amerikkka with 3 k’s”   and openly hates the English Language for stripping his ancestors of their Afrikan language is such a student of the English language and submerses himself in a culture of nerdy white guys and old ladies is well worth 80 minutes of your life.  If you are looking for a nerd-doc this movie will deliver that as well.  This is the ultimate in “don’t judge a book by its cover” especially when the dreadlocked book you are playing can drop words like xenogamy(71pts) and lambrequin(73pts) on you after stepping outside for a blunt.  This movie really does have more appeal than just that of Scrabble players.  I was able to learn a little about Scrabble, but a lot about those who dedicate so much time and effort to this game.