#88. Exit Through The Gift Shop - Review

Exit Through the Gift Shop film posterExit Through the Gift Shop led the pack of 2010 meta-documentaries that attempted to play with audience expectations and classic narrative structure. Without giving too much away, ETGS is directed by infamous graffiti-artist Banksy, but is mostly compiled of footage shot and directed by Los Angeles clothing storeowner and amateur filmmaker Thierry Guetta. Guetta is the type of eccentric, maundering jerk that only a Frenchmen could truthfully personify. Bansky?Armed with his hand-held camera, Guetta frustratingly documents every moment of his life, no matter how superfluous or fleeting. When he discovers the underground world of street art, Guetta seemingly pushes family and career to the side in an obsessive attempt to break into the fascinating industry. Where does Banksy, the reigning king of the paint can fit in? Well I will let you find out for yourself. Even the questions this film left me asking are potential spoilers, so if you have seen it and want to discuss it we can do that in the comments section. What I can say is that Banksy’s documentary is the best of the year, filled with as much expression and insight as his street art. Satire or not, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a powerful film that ably examines the superficial and profit mongering community that makes up today’s art scene.

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Comments

[Scraps]

I'm mixed on how I feel about this movie... The first 40 minutes or so I thought were absolutely fascinating... Then watching his eyes slowly turn to dollar signs as he broke away from his original passion... Was disappointing to say the least.

Also I didn't realize I'd heard of Banksy until seeing this.