Catfish

Posted In: Catfish

Edmundo Bobet says...

So-would you believe me if I told you that showman P.T. Barnum, in point of fact, never actually uttered the words "There's a sucker born every minute"? You know how I found that out? I Googled it. It says, right here in the Wikipedia, that P.T. Barnum's "famous quote" never left his lips. And since I read it on the internet, it simply must be true, right?



In the documentary (-ish) Catfish, a buzz-generating entry at this year's Sundance, directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost ask their audience to suspend a lot of disbelief. In spite of a cast billed as playing themselves, and Universal's press kit trumpeting that "filmmakers" Schulman and Joost "...had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives"- well, if this film is a "documentary"- then I have some beautiful beachfront property in Florida to sell you unseen.



But I could be wrong. Perhaps the events "documented" in this film did actually transpire as presented, and I'm just an embittered, mean old cynic who has seen too many movies. In fact, let's all play along just for a moment. Let's say that Schulman and Joost really were in the process of making a documentary-in-search-of-a-story, when it struck them that the "story" was right in front of them the whole time. Schulman's brother Nev, a professional photographer blessed with his own camera-friendly good looks, had struck up a social networking-based friendship with an artistically gifted 8 year old girl from Michigan, who initially intrigued him by snail-mailing strikingly mature oil paintings based on his photos. When the girl's 19 year old sister introduced herself into the mix, Nev struck up a web relationship with her as well; a relationship of a more involved and potentially amorous nature. Inevitably, Nev (now the official "subject" of his brother's doc) reached a point where he wanted to take the next logical step-and not necessarily for the reasons you might think (sorry about the vagueness; I'm trying to keep this as "spoiler-free" as possible). Suffice it to say that our intrepid NYC-based trio of dazzling urbanites-turned detectives are soon packing up their film gear and heading to Ted Nugent country for a surprise visit. Ah, but which of the parties involved in this bit of cyber-intrigue is in for the bigger surprise? I could tell you...but then I'd have to kill you.



I do have to hand it to the filmmakers-they have at the very least constructed a virtually critic-proof product. If one decries the possible fakery of the film, then the filmmakers could counter that the heart of the story is, after all, about the inherent deception of cyber romance (the old "So how do you know that the hot 19 year old college cheerleader you've been sexting isn't in reality a fat, middle-aged truck driver named Skip?" meme). Also, the film is billed as a "reality thriller"-which could be thrown back at critics as a caveat emptor ("Hey-we never exactly claimed that this was a documentary."). Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but in a post "Blair Witch Project" world I feel it is my duty to bring this up. Oh well...wasn't it Godard who said that "Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world."?



If you can get past the "Is it real or Memorex" conundrum-this is not necessarily a bad film; it's intriguing enough to hold your interest through to the end. And if the point is to show how we have become a world of Walter Mittys and Eleanor Rigbys, spending the long dark nights of our souls pecking away on our keyboards, busily reinventing ourselves to assuage our lives of quiet desperation, then the film does convey a bittersweet poignancy in the denouement. And I have a confession to make. I don't have any Florida beachfront property for sale.

Posted on October 14, 2010

Ardith Hitz says...

this documentary is set to be a cult classic, capturing the age of social networking better than the other facebook movie.It takes you on an emotional roller coaster.It is funny, engaging, scary at times and shocking, and also profound and moving.This is not a fake documentary, it is real.A must see for everyone who uses social networking.It should be required viewing for all teenagers.I love the work of the artist who was discovered in the film.

Posted on October 14, 2010

Sixta Pharris says...

That the authenticity of "Catfish" is in question is both the film's greatest strength and its biggest weakness. Directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost have repeatedly claimed that their documentary isn't a hoax, and while I'd like to believe them, I admit that I have my doubts; some of it comes off as a little too dramatic, almost as if the situation were intentionally manufactured for the sake of telling a cautionary tale of internet romance. That being said, the definition and purpose of a true documentary is open for debate. Some believe it should objectively present life as it is, the camera meant to provoke or surprise an unassuming subject, the audience meant to participate as a fly on the wall. Others believe it should express an opinion and support its position with facts and figures. "Catfish" seems to do a little bit of both, confusing matters even further.



Still, there's no denying that it's a gripping piece of work - mysterious, at times suspenseful, at times amusing, and in the end, a curiously touching examination of human behavior and the power of art. If the film is real, if the people on camera are not actors but actual documentary subjects, then it may someday be regarded as one of the best examples of early twenty-first century Cin

Posted on October 14, 2010

Cindi Sapia says...

Let me start by saying I borrowed an advanced screener copy from a friend and this movie looks stunning on Blu-ray. The scenes at the beach as well as the shots of the zoomed in pixels of the computer monitor truly radiate off the screen and add to this unique movie experience. The screener copy I received had zip as far as special features but I am hoping the official release will include some featurettes and maybe a commentary.



However, most people here are probably more curious about the complaints concerning the authenticity and "ethics" of Catfish, and all I can say is don't let those negative reviews discourage you from seeing this film if you enjoy a great movie. I just finished watching the film, and it truly is a brilliant film regardless of whether its "real" or not. What most people are failing to acknowledge is that anytime you film something and edit it for the public, regardless of whether its staged for a movie or an interview for a news segment, just the fact that it is being filmed adds a degree of artificiality to the event. People can argue back and forth about whether Catfish is real, but it does not change that its a beautifully shot movie that really makes you think. Films should encourage thought and provoke the viewer and Catfish does just that. If you want a film with a cut and dry plot and a clearly labeled sign proclaiming the film to be "fiction" or "non-fiction," look elsewhere. The truth is that almost all films are comprised of both fictional and non-fictional aspects, and the sooner we all acknowledge that truth the sooner we can move on and just enjoy the movie.

Posted on October 14, 2010

Yuri Voita says...

Sure, I suppose it's possible that you could fall in love with someone online and never google them, even if they claim to have a famous artist as a family member... but if you were that naive, would you also be the kind of person who makes movies for a living?I thought not.



This film is a completely disingenuous portrait of how scheming hipsters conspired to make money from the obvious situation of a terribly troubled woman, and an exploitation of her personal problems so that the filmmakers can make some kind of "point" about how difficult it is to really know who's on the other end of your internet communications.It's completely unbelievable, and it's deeply unethical.Don't give these horrible people your money - I sure wish I hadn't.I feel dirty for having supported this exploitation in any way.

Posted on October 20, 2010