Review of Auto Focus (2002) by Stuart K — 27 May 2009
Renowned writer/director Paul Schrader takes on the life of one of the most famous TV stars of the 1960's, and it also tackles the subject of the price of fame, and the hardships that can follow if you go down the wrong paths and hang out with the wrong type of people.
It's an engaging film, with 2 good leads giving their best. The film follows the life and career of Bob Crane (Greg Kinnear), a radio DJ and sometimes actor, who achieved worldwide fame when he was offered the lead role in the POW TV comedy Hogan's Heroes.
It was while making the show that Crane met studio technician John Carpenter (Willem Dafoe). Carpenter gets Crane interested in VHS, a rising technology, and Crane, already interested in photography, buys a video camera, and proceeds to make home movies.
But, Carpenter is a seedy character, and he helps turn Crane into a sex addict, which destroys his family life and his career. It's an offbeat little biopic, but it's well made. Kinnear is great as Crane, and Dafoe is wonderfully seedy.
The film is interesting look at what an addiction can do, (the daydream sequences add a surreal quality), but it's a good watch. Consider it a cautionary tale...
This review of Auto Focus (2002) was written by Stuart K on 27 May 2009.
Auto Focus has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
