Ryan McNeil
The debate of what is and is not “art” has been raging for centuries. In this century, the question sometimes centres on artists who forsake brush and canvas for spray paint and public wall. Now, we have a doc that tells their story.
Or perhaps, a doc that is just another chapter in their story…
In the opening moments of EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, Banksy – silhouetted and voice disguised – informs us that this isn’t a film about him. The reason is because he found the man who came wanting to make a film about him so much more interesting, that he decided to turn the tables and make this film about his would-be filmmaker. But more on that in a bit.
This doc begins by looking at the street art scene and how it took off just after the turn of the millennium. We watch as artists like Banksy, Invader and Shepard Fairey go cloak-and-dagger through the shadows of Paris, London and Los Angeles. In an instant of daredevil creativity, they can turn something as commonplace as an overpass into an original, often momentary, piece of art. To call what they do graffiti is an insult – there is a lot of forethought and imagination that goes into their splashes of brilliance.
Following a step behind all of these visionaries is Thierry Guetta; Invader’s cousin and a man who might as well have a camcorder welded to his hand. He gets drawn into the scene by first documenting the work of these artists – including the ever elusive Banksy who takes him on as a wingman/protege/biographer franken-weirdo.
Guetta, who looks like the love child of Peter Lorre and Eugene Hutz, first tries to assemble the hours of film he’s shot as a documentary. This “film” comes off as an ADD nightmare, giving Banksy and his contemporaries the first hint that while Guetta is a nice guy and films everything around him, he hasn’t the foggiest clue what he’s doing.
With the film in dry-dock, Guetta turns his eye towards joining these artists he’s spent years chronicling. He dubs himself Mr. Brainwash, and looking to specifically follow in Banksy’s footsteps, makes a meteoric jump and becomes the toast of the L.A. art scene. Again though, we’re left to wonder whether he has the foggiest clue what he’s doing.
What makes this film such a provocative experience, is the question it leaves us with. Namely, “Is Mr. Brainwash for real?”
If what we see in this film is complete truth, than what we witness is the art world going haywire for a talent that has no more skill than I do. I mean I’m not bad, but I’m not that good – and evidently, neither is Mr. Brainwash. His pieces have no meaning, no technique, no cohesive statement. As his circus of a debut approaches, he’s an artist obsessed with stoking his own legend…and not an artist obsessed with earning legendary status.
Quite simply, he’s a hack without a single original idea. He can create pretty pictures, but they are nowhere near as exciting, inventive, or iconic as his contemporaries. His work sells, and his celebrity is granted, but it all comes from an obscene and undeserved amount of hype granted to him by the L.A. art scene.
But what if what we see in this film is the exposition of a hoax? We seldom see Mr. Brainwash creating any images, and nothing we do see him create seems all that exceptional. Hell, some of what we watch him create displays some rather bad technique. Is it possible, that Mr. Brainwash isn’t even the true talent behind these pieces…and that he has been conjured up to see how much hype the art world will buy?
Rumours suggest that every piece of work credited to Mr. Brainwash are in fact low quality works by Banksy himself designed to prove some sort of point. If that’s the case, then while I still find this film amazingly enjoyable, we can’t really call it a documentary, can we? It’s no more a documentary than THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT…but it is still quite an amazing feat by everyone involved to sell the legend.
Thus I’m left unsure of my reaction to the film’s subject matter. All I can say for certain is that this film itself plays like an installation. Of course, with any great piece of art, the question of meaning and motivation has multiple answers. That’s what makes EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP so good, and so much fun. It’s a film about the art, and about the artists, but it is above all a work of art itself.
Thought the exact same things, man. Was surprised by this movie and how I really didn't know what to think of it by the last Act. Still totally interesting and Thierry's first go at the movie was hilarious, but I'm interested to see if we ever do find out the truth about this thing.
First off, great review.
I think the great thing about "Exit Through the Gift Shop" is that all of the questions about whether or not this is a hoax or not is essentially irrelevant. (Sure, I'm as itchy to know the truth as everyone else, but the point remains the same either way.)
It works as a scene-of-the-crime graffiti caper and it works as an expose on the gullibility of LA art-world vultures and the ludicrous commercial appeal of senseless, vapid works. Strangely enough, it's also likely to provide some of the best laughs of the year.
I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS! for all of your LAMMY nominations. Well earned, and hope you win many!
As for the movie at hand, I've heard a lot of good things about it, so it's definitely peaked my interest. Your review has only further increased it, I'm pushing this up near the top for my view when available queue.
You Lammy hog, you.
Great review. I want to see this, still, if not for the presence of Banksy.
Hhaha my cousin said he knows Banksy’s brother so at least we know hes a real person. But yet, I have a feeling after this movie, a lot of people will be saying that. Nice Review!
@ Aiden… If we do get the truth, it won't be for a good long while. Looking forward to reading your review, and also your review for THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES.
@ Chase… Thanks! You're right, I mean I ask these questions in my review, but getting the answers isn't all that important. Much like good art, I only hoped to inspire debate.
You're bang-on to mention the heist angle of the whole doc. It makes it a film that elevates itself above the subject matter…sorta like THE COVE.
@ Univarn… Good to see your interest in docs growing. Maybe all that Hot Docs coverage rubbed off on you.
And thanks for tipping me off on what was happening Lammy-wise. I'm really surprised (especially since I didn't do an FYC), and was really happy to hear your name get mentioned a few times as well!
@ Simon… Sorry man – I was surprised too. And do see this flick – it'll rock your world.
@ CMrok… Perhaps I was unclear. I don't question whether or not Banksy is for real – it's Mr. Brainwash who I don't believe is exactly what he seems
Hopefully this movie can entice the truth.
So sad I missed the Toronto premier of this. Definitely looks like its worth a go!
I told you a while back I'm dying to see this and now I'm even more excited. Great review… I know we'll never know but I hope that's what they're doing (f—ing with us, that is).
AND, once again I have gotten an awesome word for comment verification… FOGFU.
It's like what they do in Fight Clubs from the foggy back streets of London… they FOGFU!!!