What Would Jesus Buy? - This documentary, produced by Morgan Spurlock, follows The Reverend Billy and The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they hit the road to spread the word about overconsumption and the commoditization of Christmas. The doc does a good job chronicling their journey and raises some great issues about how dependent our society has become about shopping. Unfortunately the film misses some key opportunities to get into some real depth about the core issue, favoring the overarching story of Reverend Billy and his travels over really exploring some of the issues. In addition to missed opportunities, there are a number of significant gaps in the narrative which need to be filled in: a tragic bus accident derails the tour but we get little info or insight into how a new bus magically appears; members of the Choir (and even the Director) get seriously injured but we find out very little about what happens to them. Somewhere along the way the director Rob VanAlkemade needed to make a strong choice about which movie he was making. Is this movie the story of Reverend Billy or is it an expose about the commoditization of Christmas? VanAlkemade seems to want to do both, but falls short of reaching either goal.
Having said all that, it's hard to fault a film that's got its heart so solidly in the right place. What Would Jesus Buy? also has some truly great moments, including a stolen moment between Billy and his wife questioning the impact of all they are doing, the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir going shopping at a rest stop, and Billy's protest at Starbucks. At it's best it's smart, funny, engaging and entertaining, and that's perhaps what's so frustrating about the film. What Would Jesus Buy? has the makings of a great documentary, but as it flirts with greatness it never quite acheives it.
Ultimately the film is an attempt at getting a dialog started about overconsumption and the near manic association with shopping and the holidays, and on that level it succeeds. Despite its shortcomings it's still a documentary worth checking out.
(What Would Jesus Buy Opens 11/23 at Cinema 21)
Beyond The Call - In a world where there are a large number of wars, ethnic cleansing, famine, drought and disease it's hard to imagine what one person can do to change anything. After watching a film like Beyond The Call it's hard not to be compelled to get up and do SOMETHING. Jim Laws, Ed Artis, and Walt Ratterman, collectively "Knightsbridge," are a profound example of how a small group of people, working together, can make a huge impact on the world they live in. More than just mere 'relief workers,' this group of Indiana Jones-esque-do-gooders travel to the most inhospitable places in the world, pull out wads of their own money and get things done. Filmmaker Adrian Belic does more than just document the lives and works of these three extraordinary people, he straps on his camera and dives head first into their world. From the edge of the bombing zone in Afghanistan to the Thai Burmese border, Beyond the Call follows the Knightsbridge crew into the areas in which they are most politically unwelcome and absolutely most needed, and it does it with great heart, humor and a true craftsmanship. Beyond the Call is more than just an interesting documentary about a fascinating topic - it's an entertaining and inspiring look into a world no one knew existed.
(Beyond The Call opens Friday, November 23rd at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland, Oregon)
Colma: The Musical - Unless you've lived in the San Francisco Bay Area you've probably never heard of the city of Colma. A small town just across the bay from the city, Colma houses one of the largest cemeteries in the region. The cemetery is so big that the number of dead people in Coma outnumbers the living. It's in this setting that Director Richard Wong choses to site his debut film, an indie musical.
Colma: The Musical follows the story of three friends, just out of high school, on a quest to find who they are and where they belong. Hitting similar notes and themes as Rent, Colma focuses much of its time and attention on the relationships between people and how this time of change can throw things completely off center. Colma's score, written by H.P. Mendoza, is up tempo and extremely catchy, and the title song (that bookends the film) is the absolute strongest. Mendoza also stars in the film, joined by Jake Moreno and L.A. Renigen, all of whom deliver strong performances.
One of the things I admire about Colma: The Musical is its ethnic diversity. Viewers looking for strong Asian, Latino and Filipino characters will celebrate Colma for its melting pot reflection of the Bay Area. Director Richard Wong does an excellent job showing his craftsmanship in his first film, showing he knows how to use film techniques like split screens not as gimmicks but to tell the story. Ultimately I just really liked Colma; I immediately connected with the characters, cared what happened to them and wanted to see more after the film was done.
Colma: The Musical is out on DVD.