Blurring Man
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Written by: Matthew Boman | Directed by: Matthew Boman | Genre: Documentary |
| And so it begins. As I’m blasted with various newsreel clips and listening to a fun “sounding” song that sounds suspiciously like YMCA, I was pretty sure I was going to like this film. By the time the credits rolled, again to the same song, I was patting myself on the back because I was right. Blurring Man was as good as I dared hope, and then some. Matthew Boman has fused together an interesting, and oddly funny film that revolves around a festival meant to celebrate freedom. But many aspects, including legal, seem anything but free. The quick version of this review? Pretty darn good film. Maybe a tiny bit longer than it should have been, but I’ll get into that below. What better place to explore what is perceived to be American freedom, than through the eyes of a Hispanic day laborer? After some on the spot interviews, among other things, Matthew Boman decides to nab Elmer for this film and the rest as they say is history. Forming the rest of his team with the help of Craigslist, Matthew Boman begins this adventurous road trip to the Burning Man festival, and almost immediately things don’t go as planned – this includes a cease and desist order.
Apparently, the folks who put on the annual freedom fest don’t want Boman to make his film, and they’re willing to go to almost any length to stop him. But the show must go on, and it does. This festival, is the ultimate party in the middle of nowhere. Americans are essentially free to do whatever and it all ends with the burning of a huge, wooden man. I swear I’ve seen that somewhere before? The point of this film is to throw a day laboring man who is not a middle class American into the fray and see how he fits in. How he is accepted by the festival goers – how Elmer fares in this celebration of freedom that feels like a parody. The film has it’s moments, both serious… in a tongue in cheek sort of way, and outright funny. But there is a definite message here. Why not find out what that message is by watching the film for yourself? For fear of being tasered, Hahaha – loved that part, Matthew Boman was advised on a way to keep making his film, and distribute it… without fear of a lawsuit. Aside from the obvious parody film title, Boman actually blurs out a “lot” of this film. It works, I suppose. It also saves his ass… however, it really gets distracting. With all that said, and the reasons fully understood, I felt that Blurring Man was a little long. I feel that had this film been around the hour mark, the pacing would have been slicker – and the film would have benefitted. There is some filler, and since there’s a lot of blurry action going on, some cuts would not have harmed the narrative at all. Just tightened it up. This is my humble opinion, and only that. Blurring Man is political, it’s even a little sad. But it’s also a fun adventure with some classic funny moments. It definitely educates, and the choice of Elmer was a good one. He is the everyman. A viewer can easily relate. I have no problem recommending this movie because I had fun watching it. If I had a good time, there’s no reason you won’t as well. Thank you for reading. Three and a half stars. Find this title online |
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