Customer Reviews

Cinemania

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a problem most moviegoers don't have: scheduling conflicts. If you want to see a movie, it's probably playing at the multiplex all day and evening and you just pick a time and go. But the five people in Cinemania have every film showing anywhere in New York City to choose from, first run movies, film classics, festivals, films shown in museums and small screening rooms. Two of the men have worked out a computerized system to figure it all out. A movie they want to see might only be playing three times in the coming week, at the same time as one or more other movies they want to see. They need help from databases and decision trees. Another guy will only see a movie if it's a good print. He has the phone number of all the projection booths, and calls ahead of time to discuss the quality of the print. Then he brings his cell phone with him into the theater; if something goes wrong with the projection, he doesn't want to have to leave his seat. He calls instead. It's these kinds of details that make this movie fascinating, and fun to watch, in a head-shaking, "I can't believe this" sort of way.

It was also sad to see these people driven by an obsession that maybe even they don't understand. It was hinted that at least two of the film buffs didn't know as much about film as they thought they did, and didn't have discerning tastes. That was good stuff, and made me wonder, why do they do it, then? Ultimately, maybe the question can't be answered. There were five people, and five different, complex reasons. I think the movie gave as full a picture of what they were about as is possible in 80 minutes. So even though I wanted to know, and understand, more, I give the movie 4 stars and will watch it again.

I do wish there'd been more of sense of the mix of movies they all watched. It seemed that most of them did see a fair number of first run movies, but the documentary didn't get into that much. In one of the deleted scenes, Roberta discusses at great length her reaction to "Pearl Harbor." Suddenly she believes that the other person (another of the cinemaniacs) isn't understanding a word she's saying, and she walks away, frustrated, angry, unable to communicate. There are many small scenes like that one, that show so much just by letting the people talk.

I don't know what that other review is talking about! Dissorganized? I teach a course in film editing and this is a perfectly structured little gem - and funny, and human, and really touching. Yes, it's sad at times (these are fringe characters scraping by on the edges of the big city), but it is also very compassionate.

CINEMANIA is a near-verite look at some of the most whacked out film obsessives you could ever hope to find, but it reveals them in subtle layers - they're self-aware, smart, dangerously brilliant at moments. I found myself thinking about these people long after I saw the film (and was lucky enough to see it on the big screen!) There's no narration (no obnoxious Michael Moore-type leading you by the hand throught he film - thank GOD) so, sure, it may seem haphazard, but I was caught up in it moment-to-moment. I found it fascinating structurally - seeming to anticipate your questions about these folks and then answering them. I did miss hearing about their past lives a bit, but it seems a very in-the-moment experience, very much like the lives of the characters - as if there IS no other life beyond the confines of the silver screen.

People familiar with more verite styles of documentary filmmaking or brilliant personal essay films like Varda's "The Gleaners and I" will love this. It's a great homage to our love of cinema.

A disorganized, but fascinating documentary about a eccentric quintet of New York cinephiles. It's absolutely surreal and hilarious although parts of it is rather sad and even a little disturbing. The movie could've used better planning though. It's almost as though the filmmakers just put together footages of the so-called cinemaniacs at random. While the movie is super entertaining, it lacks a focus and a flow. Maybe they should've just focused the movie on Jack, who claims that he once saw 1000 movies in one month -- he was the only person who struck me as a true cinephile. Jack is funny, articulate and extremely knowledgeable of films, whereas other characters are borderline mental patients whose obsession with movies is simply a symptom of their obsessive compulsive disorders.

Cinemania is a fascinating and very funny documentary that focuses on the lives of five New York film-lovers. The men (and woman) this film chronicles are not simply erudite, artsy types who can appreciate Bergman. They are people who have literally re-arranged their lives in order to make movie-watching their primary focus. They are all articulate and funny. None of them are normal ... they range from strangely overzealous to OCD to downright creepy. And - while it is frequently hilarious to listen to their testimonies (one cinephile suggested that he's ripped food out of a too-noisy movie-goers hands; another has memorized the precise running time for practically every movie he's ever seen; and another is permanently banned from the MOMA (I'll let you figure out why)), it is also a little sad that these people get more fulfillment from movies than they do from their everyday lives.

This documentary excels most when it asks *why* these people need to watch movies (the answers, I think, also speak to the pleasure each of us gets from escapism). There is a scene where Jack, the main "character" in the film, insists that he could only make love to Rita Hayworth in black-in-white. It's an interesting and telling concept. Cinemania's greatest weakness is probably its amateurish production qualities. Rather than come across as quirky and immediate, they are more along the lines of frustrating. But this is only a minor complaint. Overall, I would still recommend Cinemania. I can pretty much guarantee that, if you give it a shot, you'll be entertained and amazed.

Cinemania was the best thing at last year's Edinburgh International Film Festival by several hundred leagues.
The fact that StereoTotal provide the soundtrack is the proverbial icing on the cake. Nobody with any sense or taste could be disappointed with this movie. Simple as that. Roll on October 7th.

I thought this was a really great documentary. The quality looks like it was filmed with a consumer-level camcorder instead of a professional camera but that doesn't hurt the film in this case. This doc follows and tells the story of several mentally ill people who love movies more than anyone should. One guy saw 1000 movies in an 8-month period. If you enjoy docs about unsual people, you'll like this.

It would not take much for me to become like this. I do feel it's sad but in a small way I understand. Perhaps if I ever find my self all alone in this world I would retreat into films. Anyway, these people seem happy enough and thank god they have films. Films can be a very simple outlet for people who might otherwise be up to no good.

The Fear comes from the fact that potentially I'm not so far from the characters depicted in this film. I'm also suffer from breakdowns produced by romantic failures, and I'm also have seen four movies in a row for three or four days in film festivals, when outside is a sunny day and the beach is near the movie theater. The Fascination comes from the fact that those people are not exactly crazy. Jack is even an extremely interesting and intelligent person. The fact that he is alone has to do more with the failings of the world (and his society in particular) than with his personal characteristics. This movie trascends morbidity because what some of those people have to say about cinema affects in some way or another each of us. Given that a segment of the western population passes their days watching horrible programs in television, the activity of these five people can be seen as revolutionary as taking a trip outside the Matrix. If Krakauer was right, maybe is time to ask Jack what he thinks about the future of Western civilization. I hope (even when I know he's right) that his answer will not be close to that of Houellebecq.

When does a hobby become an obsession? That's the question underlying Cinemania, a documentary about a group of New Yorkers whose lives revolve around going to the movies. The people in Cinemania are strange, interesting characters.

Among others, viewers get to meet:
- a man who intentionally constipates himself so that he won't miss any of his films and
- a woman who obsessively collects movie ticket stubs. When one of the ticket takers desecrates her ticket stub, the woman gets into a fight with the ticket taker and is banned from the theater. Later, the woman dons a disguise and unsuccessfully attempts to sneak back into the theater.

Cinemania is a great slice of life that lets viewers draw their own conclusions. I recommend it.

If you think you're a movie buff... you have to watch this. This documentary basically follows several people who live and breathe film... sometimes to a shocking degree. If you're a really casual movie watcher, this probably won't be worth your while because you simply won't get it, and more than likely you'll think these people are certifiable.

Now... for those of us who consider ourselves at least on a basic level movie nuts... this will be fascinating and at times quite funny. I found myself relating to certain aspects of these individuals lives, and identifying with why they love movies... even though I can't claim I'm anywhere near as much of a film fanatic as they are. Well made and worth a watch for the right crowd. 4/5 stars.