American Cannibal: The Road to Reality

I think this move is terribly smart and actually it is very brave. A documentary about how fake "reality" is... So is this movie real? Is it fake? I believe that's the point. Utterly clever. And if Kevin Blatt is made up, then whoever created that character should either win an Oscar or be place in an insane asylum. He is unbelievable, in a good, entertaining and disgusting way. After watching the movie, we listened to much of the DVD commentary and it is fascinating... Yes, the directors set much of the events in motion but let it play itself out -- and they admit to the fact that they bent and twisted some of the scenes. Everyone knows Michael Moore does it, he's been sued over it, but has he ever admitted it? I did read a review that called the movie a Blair Witch type of film. American Cannibal is too clever. However i wonder if this calling into question and shining the light on truth in documentaries or truth in reality shows? Maybe both. I really don't know but fantastic.

Of the 12 films I saw at The Provincetown Film Festival (known for always having a strong slate of gay and lesbian films) American Cannibal (neither gay nor lesbian) was without question the most cutting edge, the most provocative and the best money I spent at the festival.

The film focuses on two writers who get caught up in pitching a reality TV show to the pornographer who is behind the Paris Hilton Sex tape... The writers are so lovable and so human and, like many of us, have to take a job for the money. The consequences are sad and shocking.

It's been five days since I saw it in our tiny little p-town theater and I cannot stop thinking about it. Like great works of art this film has stayed with me, this film inspired me, this film is one that I've been telling everyone about. Fabulous entertainment. It plays as a historical document of what is going on in popular entertainment. American Cannibal... We are eating ourselves to be entertained.

man-o-man --- I wish I could swear here because my brain is spinning. Why haven't people rallied around this? Why haven't more critics been vocal about this? Kurt Loder names it best Doc of 2007 (I agree) and Kurt Loder is probably the only good thing left at MTV. But It really is something special and after reading about it it makes it more amazing to me. This movie was steered by the camera, by the writers, the so called guinea pigs of the film. Finally a movie that calls into question everything wrong with documentaries and entertainment and news and the hyper tech we're being buried by. Rent this film. It's like a meta-meta-meta film wrapped up in a performance art piece that no one knew they were apart of. I've never seen anything like it. Really. Period. The end.

I saw this movie at a screening during the Tribeca Film Festival. A couple of people had recommended I check it out, and since I enjoy docs I thought this was a good one to try out at the festival. I was not disappointed. The movie was well done and compelling. The Kevin Blatt character ate up the screen, and while I didn't really feel that bad for the two writers breaking up, I couldn't take my eyes off the uncomfortable scenes these guys were wrapped up in.

The Paris Hilton bombshell didn't mean much to me, since everyone already knew that she made money off the video and helped it get distributed, but it was still interesting to finally have someone talk about it on camera.

My big question from this was what is the f&^%in deal with the girl - I thought I saw something in the movie that others I was with didn't see, so i'm curious to see if this gets distributed and gets anymore exposure - then what comes of that girl's injury and her story?

This documentary was definitely one that held my attention from the beginning to the end. There was a good balance of intense and comic moments to hold my interest. The people featured in the doc were also a good choice since I found the chemistry between the two writers very entertaining and then there is Kevin Blatt who you love to hate. American Cannibal is a revealing look into our Reality Television obsessed culture and just how far some people are willing to go for their fifteen minutes of fame. It is great for people who watch reality television but also has value for those who have never tuned into an episode of survivor. The events and points made by this documentary are ones that are not easily forgotten.