SIDE BY SIDE (2012)

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The evolution of cinema; the battle between celluloid and digital.

The old wise master and the young padwaan upstart.

This is a new world, as it changes and technology grows the facilities become clearer, improved, maybe not with the exact quality as the original but with freedom to do more, just differently.
Can film survive our digital future?

The death of the old master.

Keanu Reeves produces and acts as the interviewer in this fascinating documentary about the birth of digital film technology and the experience and artistic possibilities that celluloid film has.

One can see the many benefits of this new technology that is taking over and shoving celluloid out of the way. The new alpha. There is a certain look that shooting on film gives that digital has yet to fully emulate.

It is like the difference between the beautiful, spacious delivery of music played on a piece of vinyl to the compressed, generic sound of the cd format. Sure, the higher the quality of digital used (FLAC) the more sounds you will hear but it will never be the same as sticking Miles Davis’ A Kind of Blue on your turntable and hearing it with all that space.

The same can be said for digital film, especially for purists, for most, as long as it looks good then no problem. There will always be the vinyl/celluloid pimps out there flying the banner high for their religion of choice and that is a good thing.

Change will happen whether one likes it or not. The world is in a constant state of flux, so as it twists and turns it is becoming increasingly futile to try and hold onto the old without acknowledging or even embracing the new.

Lots of big directors are featured here, George Lucas and James Cameron obviously but also Martin Scorsese (3d Hugo), Richard Linklater, David Fincher, David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh, Robert Rodriguez as well as a plethora of lauded cinematographers (Walter Murch, Roger Deakins), editors and colourists all eschewing their wonderful, informed, expert opinions on the subject in hand.

Ultimately, if you are a fan of cinema, this will surely educate and enlighten you on the ways of the cinematic technology.

Film or Digital…you decide….you decide.

3.5/5

BUY THE BLU-RAY DVD HERE

DOWNLOAD THE FILM ON iTUNES HERE

RICHARD PRYOR: OMIT THE LOGIC (2013)

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The cost of genius.

There is no doubt that Richard Pryor was a genius when it came to comedy. He literally changed the face of stand up and what was possible in that world. His legacy is still felt to this day in the works of Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Katt Williams and hell, just about most famous comedians.

Damon Wayans said at a tribute show “Richard Pryor defined the game of stand-up comedy and comedy itself, and if you haven’t stole from Richard, then you’re probably not that funny.”

Too true.

His physical comedy is like a ballet between him, his material and the audience.

The genius is documented here in this warts and all film that doesn’t shy away from the more difficult side of the late (or even early) comedian’s life.

Charting his journey with an early appearance on Johnny Carson’s show all the way to his death in 2005, we get to see his many wives, successes, failures and addictions through the eyes of friends and family.

When someone is that talented it often goes hand in hand that they may very well be a tortured soul. It is said that many artists self-medicate in one-way or another. If you feel so much being a sensitive, sometimes there has to be a way to escape that intensity. It’s just a fact that certain souls need an outlet to decompress. Look at the history, artists like to experiment and it definitely informs their work, unfortunately it sometimes destroys them.

Richard Pryor famously used his experiences in his routines and this is one of the things about great stand- ups, they lay themselves bare, at least when it come to the stage. It is why we love them. Comedians can say anything and the great ones do and do it well.

Marina Zenovich directs this documentary that, while not being as comprehensive and definitive as it could be, still gives us some interesting talking heads (Robin Williams, Paul Mooney, Whoopi Goldberg, Mel Brooks amongst them) and informs us a little bit more about this great man.

To understand the affect Richard Pryor has had on the world of comedy this quote by the brilliant Dave Chappelle sums up his influence:

“Richard Pryor, undisputed champion of the world, greatest of all times, case closed, period, exclamation point.”

3.3/5