Review of Vernon, Florida (1981) by Joshua T — 27 Dec 2008

Enjoyable because different, and because the people caught on film are great story tellers (the turkey hunter), eccentric (growing sand), possibly sick (the 4 track mind), and sweetly innocent (the picture of star) ...

Mr Morris' films elicit thought and questions, due to the richness of the subjects which he films and to the ambiguity resulting from his lack of explanatory narration. Sometimes this movie feels like a gag, like the obtruse film/novel about which someone snottily asks, "What? Don't you get it?" Other times, it is just a testament to the humor of eccentricity (quick note- I question the plot synopsis' statement that these are "ordinary denizens"... every place has "characters" who are not ordinary in representing the typical resident).

I am surprised by the willingness of these people to be put on film. I wonder, if they knew the final product, whether they would have been so inclined? Are they acting for the camera? Can anyone help but to perform in front of a lens? And what did Mr Morris ask these people to jumpstart the conversation?

As I believe Mr Morris commented somewhere else, the photograph (moving or still) hides as much as it reveals.