Popatopolis

My first viewing of 'Popatopolis' was mildly entertaining as it was supposed to be. A light exploration of those sometimes likable T&A flicks & a well known b-movie director. This documentary traces Jim Wynorski's career, actresses within his films and isn't a bad watch for fans of this genre. It's "talking heads" format and a little too much industry back patting I could have done with less though.

Thru clips & interviews you get a quick picture of his start before boobs took over his movies. Back when he wasn't exclusively pumping out softcore romps and also working with a bit more money, imagination. This leads to the loose narrative at the heart of this doc as we follow along as Jim shoots his T&A flick 'Witches of Breastwick' in three days. Thankfully filmmaker Clay Westervelt shows this mock "challenge" to ultimately be a maneuver to make a flick with the least amount of effort, cost in all regards.

Most interesting pieces come courtesy of facts. Technology changed everything. Better cheaper cameras. The internet and more accessible porn. Much smaller b-movie market. Acting "talent" gone and budgets disappear. Sex even more important to sell. A paycheck is a paycheck. 'Popatopolis' hits all these notes and it's edited to be an easy watch.

B Movies are known for their absurdity, weak story, cheesy visual effects, and ... acting, but how does a product like this get made, and more perplexingly, how does it become popular? Somehow we love watching these films BECAUSE of how bad they are.. the worse they are, the more often we watch and talk about them, even making them part of our holiday traditions. Popatopolis gives us at the underbelly of the underbelly of cinema, and the results are, well, not that surprising. You see low budgets, little-no preparation, and an almost nonexistent passion for the art. What truly shines about this documentary are the personalities, which seem so genuine, and how all the arguing, the disorganization, and the minimal forethought defies probability to result in a finished product.

Popatopolis (2009)

*** (out of 4)

I think it's fair to say that director Jim Wynorski will never win an Oscar but he's become known for being one of the better people out there making low-budget "B" and "C" movies. Some of his films include CHOPPING MALL, BIG BAD MAMA II, SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE II and DINOSAUR ISLAND. This documentary follows Wynorski as he tries to film THE WITCHES OF BREASTWYCK in just three days. I've always been a fan of Wynorski so that helped add to my enjoyment of this film but I think that even if you've never heard of him you can still be entertained by this thing. We've all heard stories about Roger Corman and others making movies in a few days so it was fascinating watching this documentary as it shows someone trying to do this. We get a lot of time with the director as he's having to deal with certain issues that come up and this ranges from actresses forgetting their lines to a porn star doing her first "normal" movie and not knowing how far to go in a simulated sex scene. There's even a funny moment where the director and his actress argue about wearing panties during a sex scene. We get interviews with Wynorski, Corman, Julie Smith, Monique Parent, Julie Strain, Stormy Daniels and Antonia Dorian among others. I think fans of the director are obviously going to enjoy this look at his career but others should also find themselves entertained just by watching someone try to do a hundred different shots in one day.

Jim Wynorski is a uniquely expressive human being in every way possible. As a reigning b- movie director he's gifted, easily irritated, your best friend at times, and a bit crazy. For Wynorski's sake, who wouldn't be a bit crazy after trying to repeatedly make movies with three days or less? But somehow, someway he does the impossible.

Popatopolis lets you take a front row journey of the production for, "The Witches of Breastwick" and just how Wynorski directs the incredible task of creating a film in three days with a three-man crew and a selection D-list talent. Through the movie you will find yourself laughing and learning from his infamous line, "I hate it, I hate it" to his views on life, "Here is a lesson for all you stupid, stupid chicks out in Hollywood… and there's plenty of ya." Prior to Popatopolis, I had minimal understanding of the b-movie world and have gained an appreciation for the art form. It's a great insight on the b-movie genre and anyone who admires the work of production and filmmaking.

This documentary is a riot from the first frame to the last. From the musical numbers to Jim's repetitive outbursts, I was completely entertained and enthralled the entire time. The way the documentary was set up almost mirrored the quirky tendencies of the director it followed, and truly that only furthered the magnetism the film let off. But not only was it hilarious, but it was borderline inspiring. How could someone set out to succeed at such an impossible task of filming a movie in 3 days? Seeing who Jim is and how he works, you begin to understand how he makes it possible. Then, after seeing (on various occasions) Jim's enthusiasm for the bimbo scantily clad, you hate yourself for thinking him a genius. But, that's what he is. There's a rare breed that can be so passionate, angry, and strange at the same time whilst creating a feature film, and it's something that the man exceeds at. This documentary perfectly captures the essence that is Jim W. and the movies he so loves to create.