There are no spoilers in this review.
PLOT: Filmmaker Thierry Guetta had been casually documenting the underground world of street art for years, but when he encounters Banksy, an elusive British stencil artist, his project takes a fascinating twist.
THE GOOD: Street art. Exit Through the Gift Shop does a great job introducing the audience to the world of street art. I honestly had no idea how big of a deal this stuff is (or was). I never even heard of Banksy, the graffiti artist with an apparent global reputation. So, to me, I feel like the documentary did a great job showing me enough of this fascinating world.
Message. There are a few messages you can gather from Exit in regards to hype and consumerism, but for me, the most important message I got out of this film is love what you like. Don't just follow the crowd and like something just because everyone else does. We're allowed to have differing opinions on things. Banksy's art, and street art in general, is meh to me. I think it's creative, but nothing about it makes me want to jump up and spend hundreds of dollars on it. Now an anime figure of a high school girl playing a guitar, that's a different story! Prior to this summer, my blog title was known as "camknows". It's been my screen name ever since I started using the Internet. I created it back when AOL 3.0 came out for Windows 95. It is because of AOL that I came up with that screen name. You see, AOL was thriving when we decided to finally get it. All my friends were already using it. So when I tried using the screen name "camrocks", AOL told me it was already taken. So then I tried "camrules". Already taken. "camiscool". Taken. "camisthebest". Taken. "awesomecam". Taken. I tried everything and nothing would take, until I tried "camknows". Bingo. "This screen name is available." Finally! I took it because it was the first thing it allowed me to use. To me, the screen name has always been meaningless. There was a time when I used it for a regular review post on my blog, but other than that, the screen name has never held any significance to me. "Cam-Fu" is a nickname that I adopted in high school and would probably make a better screen name, but I feel like I'm already stuck. Practically everything I've signed up for since AOL has been with "camknows". Anyway, I never thought much about my blog's title until earlier this year when some people starting referring to me by that name. When they did, I felt conceited and vain. That's not how I want to feel about something whether I am right or wrong. So then I thought about my blog and how it might make people feel to read "camknows" at the top of my blog and then read things like my movie reviews. There is no doubt that I like to inform people about what I am excited about, but in no way do I want to lift myself up or put people down. It's not like every single thing I write is fact. If I've ever sounded like that in my writing, forgive me. What I say on here in my reviews is my opinion. My own, personal, public opinion. You have every right to like or dislike something just as much as me (except Scott Pilgrim vs. The World... that's just genius... j/k!). To prevent any miscommunication, I changed my blog's title to "Cam's Blog" months ago. My URL will have to remain camknows.blogspot.com for now since I already have a bunch of regular readers, but I think I can make due with that. My point about all this, and a point that I think is so brilliantly brought up in the movie, is don't like something just because I like it and vice versa. At the same time, stand up for yourself. If everyone tells you that Avatar is the latest best thing to happen to cinema and you don't think so, tell them. Here are some examples of where I've gone against the grain on certain things:
The Social Network - I think it's a well-made movie, but I don't think it's anything special. It is teetering on the edge of not making my top 10 list. It will probably win Best Picture at the Oscars this year (or The King's Speech), but I didn't think it was that entertaining.
The Office (U.S. version) - I can't stand watching this show anymore. It's just not funny to me. The second and third seasons were hilarious though.
30 Rock - Another Emmy Award-winning show that I just don't find funny.
Speed Racer - I actually like this movie, or at least I liked it more than most of the critics.
Alright, that's enough of this deep, personal crap.
Discussion. I love the discussion that Exit Through the Gift Shop can lead to. I don't want to spoil what happens on here because I think it's more effective to watch it. However, there was a recent interview with Banksy that might be informative to those already aware.
THE BAD: Banksy. Let's face it, he's a criminal. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have to wear the hood, alter his voice, and go by a stupid name, like Banksy. Anyway, I think he is a punk. He tries to be all smart and philosophical, but he comes off as a pompous @$$ to me. His art is good, but it's never going to change someone's mind about something. Sure, make a statement. Complain about the government. Complain about the human race. Complain about capitalism. And then sell your art for millions of dollars. Wait...
THE END: Exit Through the Gift Shop is one of the most interesting documentaries I've seen simply because of the extensive discussions it can bring about. Would I be able to watch it over and over again? Probably not, but it is a movie worth seeing. If you have Netflix instant streaming, you can watch it now. If not, go rent it and check it out. Then, come back here and let's talk about it!
DISCUSS: Did you like Exit Through the Gift Shop? What is your opinion on all the skepticism surrounding the movie? Do you like street art?
I loved Exit Through the Gift Shop, and it'll likely make my top 10 of the year. So I've gotta address your thoughts on the message of the film, as I'm not sure that I fully agree. Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion about art. But not all opinions are equal, nor can the value of art be determined simply by one's subjective opinion or majority rule. If we're really honest, we trust informed opinions over ignorant ones; I trust Roger Ebert's views on film over the average junior high student's. If I'm going to disagree with an opinion on art, I need to make sure that my own opinion is informed, valid, and coherent.
ReplyDeleteI think Banksy is pointing out that Mr. Brainwash's art isn't really art at all, that its value stems from hype and consumerism instead of substance or beauty. Art is subjective, to a degree. But there has to be some sort of objective criteria for artwork, some sort of standard to determine beauty. I agree with you that it cannot be "majority rules." I think it has to do with tapping into something transcendently beautiful and true, that the best kind of art points out truth in ways that describe the indescribable. For me, I'd call that transcendent truth "God." He's the Creator, the ultimate Artist, and all our art is simply a reflection of the creative prowess He's graced us with. Mr. Brainwash wasn't tapping into that divine creative spark; he just hired interns and saps to make fake art for him, then he put his signature on it and called it awesome. Banksy's art is better than Mr. Brainwash's art, period. The Godfather is a better film than Transformers 2, period. If one's opinion differs on these issues, I'd have to say that they are simply wrong.
Maybe that all sounds pretentious. It probably does, reading it now. What's your opinion on it? ;)
I agree with what you are saying, and like I said, I think there are multiple messages that you can gather from the film. Although what we both got out of the film seems to make the other invalid, I actually think they compliment one another quite well.
ReplyDeleteI know you're right about Banksy's intention behind the film. I just think it's quite alright for someone to say that they like Mr. Brainwash's work. If his art truly pleases their eye or has some meaning for them, that's fine. That is, as long as they really are into it. Not because of the hype.
I think what you're really trying to tell me is that you did not like Speed Racer. =P
I haven't even seen Speed Racer yet, to be honest. :) Maybe now I'll have to check it out! But our opinions do differ on The Social Network and 30 Rock, as I love them both. Even though our opinions differ, I respect yours because I know it's informed and you can defend it with something beyond, "I just like Scott Pilgrim 'cause it's awesome." Maybe there's a difference between personal preference and the inherent value of the art. I love the film Troll 2, but it's the worst movie ever made. I liked the Twilight books, even though they're poorly written and I'd never argue that they're good art.
ReplyDeleteYou pointed this out in your review, that films like Exit Through the Gift Shop foster a great discussion about art and truth. Is the film a hoax or not? I watched I'm Still Here last week knowing that the entire Joaquin Phoenix insanity was just a performance, and it greatly affected my view of the film. (I wouldn't recommend the film; it's like watching a trainwreck, only with a lot of male nudity and drug use on the train.) Anyway, good discussion.