LOOK! UP ON THE SCREEN! IT’S A MOVIE! IT’S MORE THAN A MOVIE! IT’S AN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AND IT’S A REAL FILM!
It rains. It snows. There is NO voice over.
The Last Truck
Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar
2009 (HBO)
It rains. It snows. The sun sets. Unfinished vehicles — works in progress — pass slowly along the assembly line as the metal inspector, spot welder, painter play their parts. Painting this. Polishing that.
It is American technology, and it is beautiful to watch. But why is it so special?
There is NO voice over.
The reels form a real film. The pictures tell their story. There is meaningful commentary by employees suffering the heartbreaking notification of the closing of the GM Moraine (Ohio) Assembly Plant. Most of the commentary is spoken directly into the camera. There are occasional titles.
GM Technology
But there is no droning narrative with the pictures only adjuncts to the ongoing lecture, the nonstop lecture — the style, for as long as anyone can remember — of the typical American documentary, especially almost every documentary made for current television.
Applause and cheers for this HBO exception.
Do not miss it. This is a MUST-SEE.
Filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar are also the creators of AMERICAN FACTORY which was nominated for a 2019 Academy Award.
Readers interested in pursuing the matter of over-narration in American documentary might want to look at Rick’s Flicks for 10/31/11; 12/21/11; and 3/16/12 — with comments from reader/follower BEC.
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ADDENDUM: From Lawrence Block’s novel Small Town:
(Eddie Ragan is tending bar on a quiet afternoon with only three customers) “The Mets were playing a day game in Chicago, and the set was on with the sound off, so you could watch Mo Vaughn take the big swing without some announcer telling you what you were seeing.” HEAR! HEAR! ( Small Town by Lawrence Block. William Morrow, 2003)
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RETROSPECTIVE READING
“Superheroes Vs. Movie Stars” by Wesley Morris
I recommend this perceptive, gut-wrenching article to everyone interested in films and film history (and movies and Hollywood history).
TWO TEASERS Morris writes: “The comic-book franchise is where traditional movie stardom is going to die.”
And: “When the character is more famous than the actor playing it, how does anyone develop the trademarks of a star?”
DON”T MISS Morris’ provocative article. And let me hear from you.
Morris, Wesley. “Superheroes Vs. Movie Stars.” New York Times, 5/22/16.
NEXT FRIDAY POST June 5
Until then,
WATCH A MOVIE!
Rick
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