No Exit For Art Superstar

     Sunday, of course, was the Academy Awards, and while most people were debating the merits of "The King's Speech" versus "The Social Network," many others were wondering what would happen if Banksy won an Oscar. Banksy, who is perhaps the most famous graffiti artist in the world, was nominated for his documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop." The only problem being, however, that nobody actually knows what Banksy looks like.
     "Exit" is basically about filmmaker Thierry Guetta, who began filming street artist like Space Invader and Shepard Fairy. Guetta followed these street artist around in the middle of the night, filming then painting sidewalks, buildings, and other public spaces, telling them that he was making a documentary about graffiti art. Then, he met Banksy, and quickly earned his trust.
     Banksy had planned to place a blow-up doll, dressed in an orange jumpsuit and black hood, chained to a ride at Disney World, as a comment on abuse at Guantanamo Bay. Guetta would film the act and the public's reaction. Guetta, however, was picked up by park security and questioned for 4 hours. He was not water-boarded, but he did not tell them he knew who did the artwork.
     Soon, Banksy became the biggest artist in the world, street or otherwise. He was now having full-on art shows, in a gallery. Street art had taken off, and it was time for Guetta's documentary to hit theaters, Banksy told him. So Guetta spent 6 months editing thousands of hours of footage. Then, he showed it to Banksy.
     "I was in that position, where someone shows you there work, and you realize that it's shit." Banksy says. "I started to wonder if (Guetta) was a filmmaker or just someone with mental problems."
     So Banksy sent Guetta home, telling him to go make some art, and keeping the tapes for himself. This is when the switch happens. The film stops being about street art and starts being about Guetta himself. Guetta goes crazy, creating thousands of pieces, and renting a huge venue for his show. Soon, he is on the front page of LA Weekly, and thousands line up for the opening of his show, which stays open for two months.
     Some have wondered if the movie is not a documentary, but a hoax. This is an easy assumption to make, especially on the heels of the Joaquin Phoenix film "I'm Still Here." Ultimately, this seems doubtful. Either way, however, the film works as a commentary on celebrity (we still don't know what Banksy looks like) and art, itself (does Guetta really have any talent?). Banksy, and many other artist who appear in the film, have spent years curating an image and a message. Often in anonymity, always in a grey area of legality, and usually with no monetary compensation, only for Guetta to arrive, stand on their shoulders, and make millions. He recently did an album cover for Madonna.

End Of The Road

     Last week, Detroit rock band The White Stripes, announced they were officially done recording and touring together. The Stripes broke through in 2001 with the release of their third album, White Blood Cells, which included the single "Fell in Love with a Girl." They went on to release six studio albums, including 2007 Icky Thump. We were lucky enough to catch them live twice, most recently at Bonnaroo in 2007, and decided to review Under Great White Northern Lights. Lights is a concert documentary film which follows the band on their first, and last, tour of Canada in the summer of 2007. It first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2009.
     The tour wasn't the usual trip across Canada, where bands play two or three shows at major venues. Instead, the White Stripes play shows at bowling alleys and elementary schools at small towns all over Canada, including the northern territories. They also play free shows, some announced only minutes in advance, in town squares, on public buses, and at a senior center. Virtually all of the hits are performed, as well as deep tracks, such as "We Are Going To Be Friends," and covers, the best of which is Dolly Parton's "Jolean."
     The film includes performance videos plus behind the scenes footage of Jack and Meg. Longtime fans are already familiar with the relationship between the two, who are ex-husband and wife. Meg is quiet, even painfully shy at times. In contrast, Jack is extroverted, forcing conversations with perfect strangers and cracking jokes, often at Meg's expense. It is this dynamic which has fueled speculation about the reasons behind the break-up of the band. Were there tensions between the two that drove Meg to call it quits? The last scene of the film, a behind the scenes performance of "Blue Moon," raises more questions than the film answers.
     For fans of rock docs, Under Great White Northern Lights is an unconventional look at an unconventional band. For fans of the White Stripes, Lights provides a look at the contentious partnership between Jack and Meg, plus some great tunes from a band at the top of their game. Thankfully, the film offers the chance to experience the Stripes live for thousands of fans who will never have the opportunity. The live CD of the same name is highly recommended for all garage rock fans.

No Impact Man

     This week for Reviewsday, we looked at the 2009 documentary "No Impact Man." Colin Beaven and his family attempt to spend one year living in New York City while making no negative impact on the environment.
     Beaven in a non-fiction writer who vowed to turn his political beliefs into practical actions for reducing carbon emissions and pollution. First, his family gave up all carbon emitting transportation, including subways and planes, and shopping for anything new. They also gave up restaurants and packaged foods in order to reduce the amount of trash they produced. After a series of steps that included giving up toilet paper and the refrigerator, they turned off their power completely. Oftentimes during the film, Beaven expresses doubts about the project, and worries about the perception of him among other environmentalist.
     While it is true that Beaven's methods are extreme, he is making a point. By giving up just about everything, Beaven shows what practices are easy and practical, and which ones are more difficult. His family also enjoys, somewhat unexpectedly, a new connection with nature. His daughter chases lightning bugs through a community garden, and his wife enjoys a vacation to a farm upstate.
     While many people are politically active, few people make sacrifices that bring their lives in line with their beliefs. Liberals may complain about the wars fought for crude oil, but how many start taking the bus? Although we tell ourselves that we are doing our part, it is important to remember that we could always do more.

Alternative Lifestyle

Unfortunately, Arizona has been the center for much political controversy lately. So for our DVD Reviewsday, we took a look at the more pleasant side of Arizona.
Most people know Maynard James Keenan from his work as frontman for alternative band Tool, and his solo project A Perfect Circle and Pusifer. Few would suspect, however, that the reclusive star would become have an interest in wine making, but the 2009 documentary Blood Into Wine, offers a rare view of a unique artist and entrepreneur.
Keenan moved to rural Arizona in the 1990s to escape the celebrity culture of Los Angeles. He soon partnered with winemaker Eric Glomski to form Arizona Stronghold Vineyards. Keenan also operates his own winery, Caduceus.
Together, Glomski and Keenan consider themselves pioneers of Arizona wine making, and the film shows just how little attention Arizona receives in the wine world. They describe the process of choosing grapes that best fit the climate of Arizona, and show the lengthy process of growing and trimming vines. The times of standing in a barrel and stomping grapes with your bare feet is long gone, and Clomski and Keenan invest millions in huge machines that ferment and bottle the wine. Yet it takes seven years for Keenan to bring his first bottle to completion, which he names after his mother, Judith.
Overall, the movie is enjoyable, and Keenan comes off likable, if somewhat aloof. Once he laughs at Patton Oswalt, but otherwise, hardly smiles the entire film. For fans of Tool, though, these will be miraculous insights. For fans of wine, the movie offers a glimpse of the hard work mostly seen only by residents of the world's wine capitals. For fans of documentaries, Blood Into Wine offers 99 minutes of passionate people bringing you into a world that few people truly understand.

American (Re)Fugee

These are tough times in America. It has recently been reported that the current unemployment rate, which has been hovering around 9.5% for a couple years now, is the highest that it has been, for a prolonged period of time, than at any time since the 1930s. With this in mind, we decided to examine the lives of those most affected by hard times, the homeless.

In his 2007 film Skid Row, Pras, formerly of the hip hop group The Fugees, lives as a homeless man for over a week. He arrives on Skid Row in Los Angeles, home to over 10,000 homeless individuals, with 9 dollars and a tent. He avails himself of the services of the local mission, panhandles for spare change, witnesses various kinds of drug use, and tries not to get killed. For security reasons, hidden cameras are used throughout most of the film. On several occasions, however, Pras' new neighbors suspect that they are being filmed or followed. In once instance, Pras strikes up a conversation with a police officer, and becomes paranoid about others thinking he is a snitch.

The film does a great job of shining a light on the plight of the homeless without making judgements or generalizations. However, it does give some insight into the mindset that causes one to move onto Skid Row, and the factors that keep them there. Often it starts with joblessness. Then factors such as isolation, mental illness, and substance abuse converge to limit individuals of their options. Once one has come to live in this state, those factors feel even greater. As the film points out, homelessness can offer a kind of solace all its own. A homeless person can come to define themselves that way, and they often see it as a choice that they have made. Even when presented with opportunities, fear, addiction, or anger can make homelessness seem like the only viable option.
Of course, there are no easy answers, and this film does not pretend otherwise. Yet, it is apparent that the homeless need our attention. Ironically, Skid Row provides a community, away from the judgement and prejudices of the outside world. The majority, the people who have a bed and don't beg for food money, need to offer our community to those that society has forgotten. So next time a stranger ask you for spare change, and you think to yourself, "What is he really going to buy with this?", be sure to give whatever you can. Your conscience will be all the better for it. And who knows? He might just be an international recording artist.

To contact the Prasperity Project or for more information on Homelessness