Review of Overnight (2003) by Sarah F — 19 Oct 2006

Watched this documentary in Film Genres, it was a pretty aggravating film... but by no means terrible. It's a biographical documentary on Troy Duffy, the now infamous one time director of Boondocks Saints. This film sheds more than just a negative light on him, I honestly hated him within the first two minutes. His defendors say he's "devoid" of critisism, as is his film because at least he was able to do what so many can't. Well, it's a miracle it ever came off the grounf because he kept on shooting himself in the foot. Spanning four years we follow Troy as he rushes to the top, only to crash and burn on his way down.

The film is "technically" well made, although I don't personally think the story is the type of doc I enjoy to watch, or want to hear about. Troy doesn't have a crazy appeal, he's just an ******* with a giant head. The people around him mention later in the film that he "changed" with the film, but honestly in watching this film you get the impression he never really changes, and that's what gets him into so much trouble. He can do no wrong, and he continually puts those around him down as insignificant or important. I think what bothers me about him so much is that I know someone very similar to his character, and although I'm still friends with them I reduce my amount spent with them to bare minimum. People who will never sway or relent their opinion even though when it's clear they are in the wrong are not bad people, just unbearable ones. Troy seems to be a pretty unbearable guy.

The editing is quite well done, with everything moving at breakneck scene in the first thirty minutes, the early fame, the happy times. Then though, as things start to fall through the pace slows down considerably. It's as I said not a bad film, and I wouldn't mind seeing other work from the directors, just the subject matter is not really stimulating, or particularly interesting. They are not great filmmakers, just good ones. They don't offer any particular insight on the man and his actions, maybe they were just too close to see it all.