BroadcastChic
Excellent, a Must See
ChanFamous
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
phswaddle
Perfect. The most important documentation of the generation x paradox: the wish to be a revolutionary free-spirit and yet having to earn money in a regular job, regular city with regular people. It is an entirely temporal piece, perfectly preserved as a slice of cultural history, impossible to recreate at any other place, at any other time. The documentary is the study of office politics in a Columbia House record club office. Wilcha took his camera into work with him everyday. He quickly becomes the guru of alternative rock within Columbia House, in parallel with the rise of Nirvana, (Nevermind had just exploded in America,) because of his 'youthful' record collection. His promotion after promotion is in direct opposition to his intention to be a creative mind and to increase artistically, not financially. There is certainly an intention to demonstrate this interior battle, but it is his appreciation of people and emotion that makes the documentary so much stronger. The studies of office parties or pregnancies are superb. The film looks beautiful. People and urban landscapes are considered throughout and Wilcha's reality-directorial talent shines through in a fly-on-the-wall experience of the true nature of multinational business. The editing is excellent and unbelievably, the camera's sound is used, no other dubbing was necessary. The film has a naivety similar to Douglas Coupland's book 'Microserfs', and the frustrations of office environments are familiar to both. Coupland fans should definitely strive to see this. I had the honour to meet Wilcha at a viewing last month, he talked of incredibly exciting new work for which I cannot wait. His own experiences within the company share a sad and spooky correlation to the rise and fall of Kurt Cobain within the music industry. Part of the film's genius is this play on reality and fantasy. Whilst speaking to this phenomenally easygoing culture-journalist, I was sure I saw something of Cobain in his eyes. There's a quote which says something like "Nirvana were the band that told America how unhappy it's children were." Perhaps Wilcha is the director that will tell them about their office workers. Paul.
#1 Gracie
I really enjoyed this film when Chris Wilcha presented this movie to me and my class recently. It was a creative concept, well shot, and succeeded in finding what it was going for. Special kudos to Chris for editing that much footage into about an hour and a half long movie. ****, 10/10
merie
Documentaries do not usually draw big crowds. But when I saw the film at the Rotterdam Filmfestival it was a full house. And justly so!A very interesting - almost shocking - and hilariously funny insight into US mail order CD shops. Shocking because you get to learn about corporate intruige. Shocking because the head of marketing does not even know what she is selling.Remember Columbia/Warner is the biggest reseller in the US! And frightening because these corporations are fast taking over Europe.And amidst all this, one lone warrior for the independent spirit fights himself out of the corporate noose to make this absolutely delightful documentary.Never condescending towards his colleagues. With tongue in cheek and without surplus commentary (remember you are almost watching a home movie) the film maker won my respect and my heart. The posing for a 'picture with the rich and famous David Haselhoff' had me and my friends in stitches. I wonder where Chris Rocha go next?
fourmarx
Here's an interesting idea: Take the brand new Hi-8 camera your parents gave you upon college graduation with you to work EVERY DAY. Sounds ubsurd? Well that's just what Chris Wilcha did. In 1993 he took a job with mail order giant Columbia House, and recorded at least one thing every day! The viewer recieves an interesting and humorous look into the workings of a large company. Wilcha edits down the 200+ hours of aquired footage and puts it into this film. The film goes from funny to brilliant in one blink of an eye. If you're scared of non-narrative films, this one's sure to bring you around!
