Review of Man with a Movie Camera (1929) by Eric J — 23 Sep 2007

RATING (0 to ****): *1/2.

As long as there have been films, there have been experimental films. Unfortunately, as a movie reviewer, I just can't give points for effort, and I really can't be lenient just because a film is so old. After all, why do we continually criticize films for being dated, and praise others for surviving the test of time? Cases in point, Lang's "M" and Stroheim's "Greed" require no excuses; they are just as effective and powerful today as they were when they came out of the film lab. Furthermore, Murnau tried a combonation of tricks in "Sunrise", and it was successful as both art and entertainment.

"Man with a Movie Camera", which is successful as neither, is cited as being "ahead of its time", presumably due to its sharing numerous similarities in technique to the well-known 80's film "Koyaanisqatsi". If that film is any bit similar to this one, then I probably have no business seeing it, as "Man with a Movie Camera" only has value for ten minutes before the novelty wears off. Time and time again, we learn that constant beautiful images (or images that think they're beautiful) just can't keep us awake if they're not there for any other purpose. It sometimes is a documentary on various aspects of life- with images of marriage, divorce, a funeral, numerous people at work, and even childbirth- but for the most part I dare speak against the "ahead of its time" claim. The recurring images of trains running towards the screen hint to me that this movie was 30 years too late, as audiences have long since lost their amusement by mere pictures that move- a lesson painfully learned by the Lumiere Brothers, who infamously remarked that their invention of cinema didn't have a future.

Adding insult to injury are the occasional non-motion shots. One would have to find himself extremely fascinated by the history of cinema- and I mean art-house rather than merely indie- to have any enjoyment out of the film. To the rest of the population, it feels like watching someone else's vacation videos with the difference of a mostly-static camera. Also, while I can't tack this onto the film itself, the musical score that accompanies the Kino DVD is loud, and eventually as repetitive and tiresome as the movie. When you think it's over, a recurring theme pops up, hinting to you that it is far from over.

At the end, we have some cute stop-motion shots of the tripod and camera bag moving around, but by then it's too little, too late. If it was the conclusion of a 10-minute short, I could have recommended this, but being in that uncomfortable middle ground between cinema enthusiast and moviegoer, I actually expect to be entertained by the art displayed on the screen.

Oh, yes, and effort.

Be not deceived by the runtime on the box. "Man with a Movie Camera" may run "only" 67 minutes, but the last 30 feel like weeks.