Buzz

Buzz is an engrossing, psychological study of a public figure wrestling with his obsessions and the impact they have on his personal life. The intimate access to Bissinger and his wife and his bare confessions expose the internal conflict of one who genuinely does not fit a mold in society and the weight that misfit status has on one's psyche. Director Andrew Shea has painted a rich portrait of his subject Buzz.

Gave this title a look just because it was on HBO -- and knew little more than that it was about the writer of the Friday Night Lights novel -- that the movie and subsequent TV series was based on. Was completely engaged right from the start by Buzz who seemed like a larger-than-life character and it wasn't until maybe 1/3 of the way in that it took a turn into Buzz's secret lifestyle and the struggles it has made him endure. The other main character besides Buzz's conflicted spouse was none other than Caitlyn Jenner; whose biography Buzz just got finished co-authoring -- and the portrayal of Jenner definitely caught us off-guard; in that she was sympathetic and a POV worth hearing. Though the film concentrated increasingly on Buzz's hidden life; it only occasionally felt uncomfortable and certainly never gratuitous or sensationalistic -- two traps it would have been so easy to fall into; more than anything a tribute to the engaging direction and production of the piece. Worth an hour and a half of your time for sure.

Buzz and Caitlin are insufferable in this documentary. However, there is one tender scene between a UPenn student and Caitlin at a Q&A that I really appreciated. The BEST PART of this documentary is Lisa Smith (Buzz's wife ... they are now separated). Lisa is beautiful and brilliant and I wish her all the love and happiness in the world. She was so honest in the documentary and it depicts something I haven't seen very often : a partner learning to adjust to a significant other's exploration. She has a beautiful soul and it is so apparent in this film.

Buzz Bissinger is a captivating character with real human struggles. This film is an enlightening look into the broad spectrum of human sexuality. It wrestles with the complex ideas of living one's true sexual self while retaining the security and deep love of a traditional marriage. It's not clear if Buzz has figured it out, but the film nonetheless leaves you hopeful that this man is smart enough to get it right.

The fact that the backdrop of this film is Buzz's collaboration with Caitlyn Jenner gives us a powerful touchstone for his own struggle with identity, while also framing his path in the larger context of how far we've come in understanding gender and sexuality as a society.

I meant to watch half and then go to bed, but really couldn't, it was too compelling, about Buzz Bissinger, Pulitzer Prize winning author, now also exploring the edges of his identity.

Some of my favorite moments were ones that might seem marginal, but I suspect weren't -- an interview with a Friday Night Lights ex-football-star, now in prison; the scene of Buzz teaching writing class -- great teacher! I also really liked the portrait of Lisa, his wife. I began to feel her as a moral centerpiece of the film, also very smart and engaging. There is also fascinating repartee between Caitlin Jenner and Buzz (writing a book about her); the almost "married couple" they became, and the creative process of writing a book.

Buzz is a bit of a mystery to me, maybe because I don't identify with his obsessions, and find them somewhat unappealing. But it's clearly part and parcel of his uniqueness and his brilliance as a reporter -- and I admire the honesty with which he (and Caitlyn) expose their authentic, and long hidden, selves to the world. Pretty amazing stuff to get on film.

I like that the film didn't seem to take any strong editorial point of view, but simply let the characters present themselves as they chose.