Review of Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) by Jimi M — 24 Oct 2011
Banksy the secretive Street Art assassin who is largely regarded as being responsible for turning Graffiti into a collectable artform has now made a film which chronicles the story of "film-maker" Thierry Guetta and his failed attempt to make a behind the scenes documentary about street-artists.
What transpires is that Banksy then persuades Thierry to drop his habitual appetite for filming and start expressing himself through street art thus turning the documentary on him. The results are spectacular Thierry becomes "Mr.
Brainwash" and very quickly it seems has a high turnover of art and exhibits at his own record breaking show in Los Angeles "Life is Beautiful" in 2008 where he sales are in the region of $1,000,000.
A star is born and a new Street art hero is thrust into the world. Or is it? That's the big question with the film, is this a documentary that conveys the real events of street art's history and the birth of a new superstar or is it a story about a French guy who tried to make a documentary about street art, failed and then became an art subject for Banksy himself? Watch the film and make your own mind up, I think I've made mine.
Having said all that some of the early docu stuff contains some great footage of world famous street artists at work including Banksy's infamous "Gitmo" prank at Disneyland, where he handcuffed a mannequin-like hooded figure in an orange jumpsuit and placed it beside one of the rides causing a security lockdown.
The more I think about it the more I Like it. Banksy is a genius, I think.
This review of Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) was written by Jimi M on 24 Oct 2011.
Exit Through the Gift Shop has generally received very positive reviews.
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