This trailer was taken from: “Exit Through The Gift Shop” – Uk Trailer (Video). January 20, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTlm6dU2xHk
Exit Through The Gift Shop
Directed By: Banksy
Starring: Banksy and Thierry Guetta
Narrated By: Rhys Ifans
Exit Through The Gift Shop is a film unlike any other. It’s a documentary about the world of street art, but also a film that explores the very question of what is art? , Themes of obsession and a critique of the over hyped commercialism of an art form that was born out of counter culture. It is a gripping, exciting, unusual, unique and fascinating film that may not even be fully true.
British graffiti artist Banksy has become famous over the years for his frequently imaginative and thought provoking street art, Exit Through The Gift Shop is his first and possibly last feature film, which according to the films distributors is the first “street art disaster film” and the “true story of how the worlds greatest street art documentary was never made” while Banksy casts a large presence over the film, the film is not really about him. The star of this film is undoubtedly Thierry Guetta, a Frenchman living in L.A whose obsession with filming every second of his life, leaves him like the audience discovering the world of street art. Thierry is an eccentric, engaging character who by various people throughout the film is called everything from a guy with mental issues to a genius.
One quality about the film I really liked was how it opened my eyes to a whole new world of art that I knew nothing about, walking out of this film it would be hard to say that graffiti cannot be considered art. As Thierry follows around various street artists go about their craft and worrying whether the police will show up, we realize these are not vandals; these are artists who are expressing themselves in a unique and illegal way. In the film street artists comment about how their work has a short life span and it is important that Thierry is documenting it so that their work can live on. Early on in the film, the documentary seems to be showing how technology has helped street art become a dominant underground art form. With the Internet and video recording, it now seems that street art can have a much longer life span and be appreciated on a much larger scale than it could before.
Thierry’s obsession with filming everything is backed up by a surprising and engaging psychological background. He films everything for no purpose other than to just have a record of everything. The film is incredibly engaging and there is never a dull moment. One particular scene where Thierry and Banksy go to Disneyland is both gripping, fascinating, dramatic and hilarious all in one go. The film does not take itself to seriously and although it explores many themes and ideas which under other hands could of come off as pretentious, here the film is so exciting, unique and fascinating that we never like we are receiving a lecture about how the soul of street art is being destroyed by hype and money.
Many have questioned whether this documentary is in fact made up. Here is what I think, if it’s a documentary then it is a brilliant, fascinating and unique film. If it is made up then it is a brilliant, fascinating, unique and genius piece of filmmaking. If it is a fake documentary like I’m Still Here it does something I’m Still here didn’t, tell a new and interesting story with ideas and themes we haven’t seen done a hundred times before. Whichever way you slice it, Exit Through The Gift Shop is a brilliant film and one of the year’s best. It has great narration from Rhys Ifans, is incredibly gripping and energetic, has a great soundtrack, offers a fascinating insight into an underappreciated art form, is a must for all fans of Banksy (who appears in the film with a hood hiding his face and distorted voice) and is intellectually exciting, offering an enticing debate over art and its validity. As Banksy says at the end of the film “maybe the joke is on art” whether Banksy is taking aim at those who make the art, or those who buy the art he has delivered a fascinating film that deserves to be seen.
One Sentence Summary: A fascinating, unique and original piece of unusual filmmaking, one of if not the greatest “documentaries” about art ever made and one of the films of the year.
Rating: 8+
Directed By: Banksy
Starring: Banksy and Thierry Guetta
Narrated By: Rhys Ifans
Exit Through The Gift Shop is a film unlike any other. It’s a documentary about the world of street art, but also a film that explores the very question of what is art? , Themes of obsession and a critique of the over hyped commercialism of an art form that was born out of counter culture. It is a gripping, exciting, unusual, unique and fascinating film that may not even be fully true.
British graffiti artist Banksy has become famous over the years for his frequently imaginative and thought provoking street art, Exit Through The Gift Shop is his first and possibly last feature film, which according to the films distributors is the first “street art disaster film” and the “true story of how the worlds greatest street art documentary was never made” while Banksy casts a large presence over the film, the film is not really about him. The star of this film is undoubtedly Thierry Guetta, a Frenchman living in L.A whose obsession with filming every second of his life, leaves him like the audience discovering the world of street art. Thierry is an eccentric, engaging character who by various people throughout the film is called everything from a guy with mental issues to a genius.
One quality about the film I really liked was how it opened my eyes to a whole new world of art that I knew nothing about, walking out of this film it would be hard to say that graffiti cannot be considered art. As Thierry follows around various street artists go about their craft and worrying whether the police will show up, we realize these are not vandals; these are artists who are expressing themselves in a unique and illegal way. In the film street artists comment about how their work has a short life span and it is important that Thierry is documenting it so that their work can live on. Early on in the film, the documentary seems to be showing how technology has helped street art become a dominant underground art form. With the Internet and video recording, it now seems that street art can have a much longer life span and be appreciated on a much larger scale than it could before.
Thierry’s obsession with filming everything is backed up by a surprising and engaging psychological background. He films everything for no purpose other than to just have a record of everything. The film is incredibly engaging and there is never a dull moment. One particular scene where Thierry and Banksy go to Disneyland is both gripping, fascinating, dramatic and hilarious all in one go. The film does not take itself to seriously and although it explores many themes and ideas which under other hands could of come off as pretentious, here the film is so exciting, unique and fascinating that we never like we are receiving a lecture about how the soul of street art is being destroyed by hype and money.
Many have questioned whether this documentary is in fact made up. Here is what I think, if it’s a documentary then it is a brilliant, fascinating and unique film. If it is made up then it is a brilliant, fascinating, unique and genius piece of filmmaking. If it is a fake documentary like I’m Still Here it does something I’m Still here didn’t, tell a new and interesting story with ideas and themes we haven’t seen done a hundred times before. Whichever way you slice it, Exit Through The Gift Shop is a brilliant film and one of the year’s best. It has great narration from Rhys Ifans, is incredibly gripping and energetic, has a great soundtrack, offers a fascinating insight into an underappreciated art form, is a must for all fans of Banksy (who appears in the film with a hood hiding his face and distorted voice) and is intellectually exciting, offering an enticing debate over art and its validity. As Banksy says at the end of the film “maybe the joke is on art” whether Banksy is taking aim at those who make the art, or those who buy the art he has delivered a fascinating film that deserves to be seen.
One Sentence Summary: A fascinating, unique and original piece of unusual filmmaking, one of if not the greatest “documentaries” about art ever made and one of the films of the year.
Rating: 8+
