Central Park

If you're expecting a history of the park, talk of attractions, or even narration of any kind, you'll be disappointed. The talentless director basically just set up his camera at random spots and filmed whatever was happening at the moment. I'm not really disappointed in how incredibly dull it is, so much as how little effort was put into the making of it. In modern times, I could just wander around with a GoPro on my head and get similar--or better--footage, upload it to Youtube and have put as much effort into the project.

On the other hand, if you're feeling nostalgic about late-80s/early-90s NYC, and just want background noise, this would do the trick.

Wiseman observes a day in central park. From squatters, to people just relaxing, to people getting married. Concerts, protests, maintenance, bureaucracy, evictions, parades and even the shooting of a film. Nothing escapes Wiseman's camera. 3 hours of Wiseman greatness, shot beautifully in colour. Take a walk in the park through the eyes of Wiseman...you most certainly won't be disappointed (and you don't even have to smell NY)!

This film along with almost every other Wiseman release has been recently re-issued on DVD by Zipporah Films.... woohoo!!

Enjoy!!

Central Park, as designed by Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmstead, is amazing. 843 acres of man-made urban oasis (not even the Lake is natural), one of the largest metropolitan parks in the country, smack dab in the middle of its most densely populated city. "Central Park," the documentary, celebrates this irreplaceable marvel, taking in most of the familiar sights including the boat pond, the Great Lawn, Sheep Meadow, the Bandshell, the reservoir, the Boathouse, Belvedere Castle, the Arsenal, the police precinct, etc. But it also ventures out to buildings bordering the park for segments on Central Park Conservancy fundraising and a public hearing about park reconstruction.

Frederick Wiseman's documentary style is to stay out of the way of the subject matter. He shows pictures, nothing more, although he obviously chooses what he wants to show or not show. There's no intrusive host, no ever-present narrator dispensing factoids or opinions, no graphics or music, instead leaving the viewer to come to his or her own conclusions. Here, it's just three hours of sights and sounds of genuine New York, not the ersatz, squeaky clean image of "Friends" or the exaggerated grittiness of crime dramas. Still, Wiseman doesn't flinch from occasionally depressing reality in the form of drug users or the homeless. The camera often lingers on various park workers like bricklayers and groundskeepers, reminding us of just how much work it is to keep up such a massive park. Some of the other subjects are obviously playing to the camera and enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. The best moments are the candid shots, when people either don't realize or don't care that they're being filmed. In these 176 minutes, you'll see a good number of the hundred thousand or so people who use the park on a nice day for a wide range of purposes. Makeshift backyard, impromptu classroom, outdoor concert hall, you name it. The documentary seems almost timeless, with only a few scenes (including an appearance by former mayor Ed Koch) betraying its age.

Watching this is like spending a lazy summer day wandering in and around the park, but covering a lot more ground than you could on foot and without the sweat and the sore legs. And just like walking through the park yourself, sometimes things drag a little. But on the whole, "Central Park" is the next best thing when you can't get to Central Park.

With his unique style of filmmaking Wiseman captures the most famous public space in New York. A slow and detailed exploration of social dynamics, life and issues inside Central Park.

Like in all his films Wiseman manages to offer a seemingly unlimited access to the space. He withdraws himself during the shoot, letting the story tell it self trough the words and actions of visitors and even bureaucrats.

The camera captures the scenery and architecture without being in the way or drawing attention. People go about their daily life and continue with their activities and discussions without (seemingly) being aware of the camera or a film crew.

An important and inspiring film from one of the greatest documentary filmmakers of our time.