I had originally gone to the movies to see the new Jonah Hill movie
Cyrus but that was jammed so ended up with tickets to
Exit' which was on the 'to do' list anyway. This was one of those movies that I knew nothing about (other than my familiarity with the street artist Banksy) when I entered the theater and it ended up being one of the best documentaries I have seen for some time.
The movie is directed by the renowned English street artist Banksy who has lived his whole career anonymously while creating some of the most original underground art in the last twenty years. What was particularly interesting about the film is that you walk in thinking it will be about Banksy, and it is in parts, but really the central focus is on a Frenchman living in Los Angeles.
We meet Thierry Guetta living with his family in LA running a vintage clothing store but his major quirk is that he has become obsessed with filming everything that happens in his life and I mean everything. His kids, eating, waking up, working, driving, it is all committed to camera for no other reason that he feels compelled to record his every waking moment. This obsession ends up working in his favor when he begins to befriend and film local LA street artist
Shepard Fairey and French artist
Space Invader. Reels of tape are made, collected and stored as he tells these artists he is documenting their work with a view to creating an authoritative documentary of street art.
From the beginning when you see Guetta interviewed he comes across as a rogue, a charmer, a chancer and someone who sees reality quite different to everyone else! His compulsions to capture the worlds best street artists reach fever pitch when he begins to hear word of the mysterious English artist Banksy. He does all he can to connect with him eventually meeting up with in Los Angeles and getting himself an invitation to London so he can spend time filming the artist and they end up bonding to such an extent that for the first time Banksy allows part of his process (but never his face or real voice) to be exposed.
What we see during this film is really the transformation of Guetta from a man obsessed with documenting the work of others to an actual 'artist' who gives himself the moniker Mr Brain Wash (don't ask!) and ends up with his own show in Los Angeles. The director himself comes to realize he has created a monster when Guetta's work follows that of the artists he so admires with a painful lack of originality. Yet his utter force of personality and seemingly unshakable self belief creates success and in the words of the director "There's no one like Thierry, even though his art looks like everyone else's."
The movie ends with director wondering what he has done in telling Guetta to go and create his own art and his comment "I used to encourage everyone I knew to make art; I don't do that anymore." sums things up perfectly!
At 87 minutes this is a perfectly timed documentary and frankly the film ends before you know it. Welsh actor Rhys Ifans does a great job narrating with an understated tone throughout even when Guetta is at his most amusing and amusing this film certainly is. One of the biggest surprises is just how funny some of the scenes are with Banksy's direction clearly infusing proceedings with his own very strong sense of humor.
The movie is showing in
small theaters all around the country right now so catch it while you can and enjoy a refreshingly different movie experience.
Rating: ****
Movie Review - Exit Through The Gift Shop
