Capturing The Friedmans

It sounds stupid to say that was awesome, but it was just really well done. I think that was one of the best ones so far. Just like another doc on the list Grey Gardens, this story was discovered while the filmmaker was attempting to make a different documentary-one about clowns in NYC. He stumbled upon this story instead.

Going over it more and more in my head, I think we were presented a pretty biased view of what happened. Originally, as I watched, I was thinking they were giving both sides. But the filmmakers knowingly presented one argument, and then immediately discounted it with one of the boys saying the complete opposite. I supposed it still allows the views to ultimately draw their own conclusions though.

One thing I like is the use of music. There's not much throughout the whole thing. It's just the natural noise of the room. It really depends on what kind of doc you're doing, but it most definitely creates a tone for the movie. I liked it. This doc really just knew what it was. It was sure of itself and its identity and the tone they wanted to capture. And it worked. It was very well done. A doc that definitely knows what it is and with multiple personality disorder, if that makes any sense. This is the ultimate he said she said. This family was just ripped apart by this horrific thing and they just don't remember it the same at all. The filmmakers have more of the whole story, but they don't let everyone else in on the whole story. It's interesting.

It's interesting though. This doesn't really seem like anything elaine wants to even talk about. And letting news like this out when it concerns someone who entertains children for a living can ruin someone's career. What the hell is he doing being interviewed in this documentary?! I really really wonder why and how they got them to reveal so much about their lives.

The method of using the interviews to slowly reveal and unravel the story is very interesting. It was done very sharply here. You use present tense to not give away the ending and not reveal the truth or what ultimately happens. As I got more and more into the story and the web of lies and half truths and fabricated truths were revealed, it really created this blanket of uncertainty. You don't know what's real, who to believe, and ultimately, when the thing was over, I still didn't know what I felt was the truth. Whose truth is the real truth? The authorities were just so sure that this happened. Even if they figured out it didn't and were sure, they' find a way to make it true. If I know anything, it's the kids are stupid. And kids will admit to anything that you tell them to be true. But on top of that, regardless of whether or not Arnold didn't touch this particular group of kids, he still had incestuous and jailbait nudie pic magazines. I mean, that's pretty horrific and terrible on its own. That alone makes him a pretty yucky guy. To then put focus on this other thing, this other particular instance where he possibly may not be guilty seems like small potatoes.