Cleanflix is a documentary that starts out simple enough,
with a Mormon group that edits R rated and PG-13 rated movies. The basic idea
is Mormons cant watch R rated and PG-13 movies but they don’t want to be left
out of pop culture. This gives them the best of both worlds, with the cuts
having mixed results. Some don’t change it that much other changes it hugely.
Then the movie morphs back and forth a legal battle with Hollywood about licensing,
interfering with the artist vision, each of the sides finding and changing loopholes
while others just straight up breaking the law. But then it change to darker
more twisted things involving scandal, in fighting, religion, sex, gobs of
money, fame and ego. All while playing this cat and mouse game with the Hollywood. One man that causes it to take a twist was an
owner of a Cleanflix store Daniel Brown who (to Cleanflix displeasure) became the
very unofficial face of Cleanflix. Basically, he the type of guy who (if you
were a lifeboat together) would not only be gleefully poking holes in the life
boat but would be using a titanium power drill to do it. And when you got
angry at him for doing it the act like you’re the crazy person for getting mad.
He fame hungry and a crooked guy, who is constantly, get everyone else in
trouble due to not knowing the meaning of low key. He is the reason for the
dark and ironic turns the movie takes.
Some of the focused might be a little too much on him making the
narrative of the democracy seem force. Namely since he really not the head of Cleanflix.
He is basically, a religious version of Michael Scot from the office. Heck it
kind of clear he might not be that religious and just see it as more of
business thing. It seem like they wanted to force a nice 3 act structure and he
was the best way to do it. But to be fair, a big percentage of Cleanflix fall
is due to him and his arrogance. So, it not that out there to focused on him and
he is a pretty entertaining guy
Also the speech over near the end kind of forces the
director message to much. It is like they seem like they were afraid we wouldn’t
get it. I think they should have trusted the audience in that regard. That said
it’s a pretty good at introducing you to this world. I didn’t know how popular
this editing was. It was a pretty huge business that remains underground. Also
it was good and giving you different points of view. It would be easy
just to bash them. At the time watching you think “Airlines and TV have edited
version...why not offer it to the public”. Then you go “Oh wait that right...the
law” or wait “The money”. Also they make a decent argument on why they don’t
want to watch R rated movies. Then ironically it also points out the Mormon
customers want the sex cut out but they prefer the violence be kept it because
sometimes those parts are awesome. Because really if you seeing the Matrix...you
want to see Neo kick someone in a face a 1000 times don’t care what your
religion is. It’s the after all the defining trait that unites us all, the love
for super kung fu and a desire not to see Keanu Reeve pasty naked butt. B+
Art of Rap
Art of rap is a documentary directed by ICE T that involves
him going around to different rappers and talking about the process of creating
a rap song. It goes to the skill going into making. This speaks to me because if you know
anything about me it’s that, I keep it both real and I keep gangster. Pretty
bare bones. Just him and a rapper talking most of the time. It not much bells and whistles or camera
tricks. It does get you into on how to
create a rap song. Also you get rare moments of modesty from some of these guys
about their early frustrations and insecurities that there raps weren’t as good
as the other peoples, to the point some get in a funk for up to year and can’t
write anything. Also some even admitting maybe all the ditch tracks is why it
may not get as much respect as the others cause they don’t bringing each other
up. Although one of the rappers saying he has a ditch tracks he already
recorded for every big rapper out there JUST IN CASE. Making him basically the
batman of Rap, when it comes to his back up plans. But you see as it go on they
admire each other art and skills. You learn how to get their different styles,
create their persona, and set up their lines. Although would of like to see
more stories about how they market their records and going out touring for the
first time. It basically just about the writing. It would have been nice to
broaden the scope of the documentary more. Although I guess you get more into their
personalities more focusing on a few. Like when ICE T talk
to pepper (which I am going to assume her god given name) about how their
spouses admitted they mostly listen to
the beats and not the lyrics which ticked them off to know end.. For Shame
coco…for Shame. Anyway a nice documentary that goes at pretty breezy pace,
something to show to people who say rap isn’t an art. Although, it’s only
really for big rap fans.
B
