I have to say that at the moment that I'm beginning this blog I absolutely intend for it to not be some huge-arse monologue, but given my chattiness factor, my skillz at the keyboard, and, well, basic history,  it’s only fair to say that we're all in for a bit of a ride here. 

My topic this fine Sunday evening is my favorite documentarian and lifestyle intellectual, Morgan Spurlock.  I’m just one of the many people (not fans, no no…appreciators) who waited patiently for the third season of his TV show 30 Days.  30 Days is what I consider the Ultimate in reality TV, for the simple fact that it is ACTUALLY reality.  Well, let me rephrase that, it is One Person’s Reality meets Another Person’s Reality.  Gosh, that even SOUNDS awesome to me.  The premise of this show is to take one person with a very, uhm, specific perspective…and plop them right in the middle of a whole other perspective.  It’s a little like Wife Swap with a heart.  And a brain.  Spurlock purposely takes people outside of their comfort zone to experience the heart and soul of another person’s life.  My favorite episodes focused on outsourcing (2006) and  living off the grid (2005.)  I will not ruin a single moment by giving away an entire show.  If you like to think, even on a rare and random occasion…then go rent his DVDs or check them out at the library. 

You may remember Morgan Spurlock as the guy who created Super-Size Me.  Where he spent…go figure…30 days consuming nothing but food on the McDonald’s menu.  Three meals a day, trying everything on the menu at least once.  His caloric intake was twice the RDA.  The kicker of the experiement being that anytime a food service representative (McRep) asked him, “Would you like to supersize that?”…he would accommodate willingly.  Somehow this awesome director and mad lifestyle scientist made what *could* potentially have been analogous to the longest drive-thru experience into a poignant and relevant film.  The point was to demonstrate what eating a bunch of crap REALLY does to your body.  Spurlocks’s wife, Alexandra Jamieson, is a vegan chef, so clearly she was not thrilled with his meat-focused cinematic antics from the start.  The film gives an in-depth view of what corporate brain-washing techniques does to both society AND the liver.  Not to mention the size of one’s arse.  If you’ve not seen it, go rent it.  If you’ve seen it and still go through the McDrive…go rent it again.  No, wait, those people need to go buy it.

As I was saying before I interrupted myself, the third season of 30 Days started earlier this month.  The first episode was about working in a coal-mine (think of all of the mining incidents over the last year) and the second about being wheelchair bound.  The episode I just Tivo’d was on animal rights.  Can anyone wonder why I am in awe of this guy?  He really does take one person’s perspective and makes the viewer experience that life through the eyes of the most unlikely participant.  And he does not mince words or sugarcoat an issue.  He presents what he sees and experiences.  What I truly, truly appreciate about Mr.Spurlock is that it is not about HIS opinion.  And it is not about manipulating facts to make for high volume ticket sales…like that crackpot Michael Moore (who would not recognize truth even if it financed his next film....no worries, it won't.) 

Morgan Spurlock is from West Virginia, raised just outside of Beckley.  His first episode this season – working in the coalmine - was filmed very close to his hometown.  He is definitely a guy who does not let go of his roots.  One of the things that drove me mad about living in Los Angeles is that so many people who flock to the city to pursue some type of film career quickly forget where they came from.  Not this guy, but then of course, he went to film school at NYU and still lives in New York.  He clearly "gets it."

There are about a gazillion things that I want to say, but I guess I need to move this blog along.  Rent 30 Days. Rent Supersize Me.  And make sure you try to see his latest film Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden.  If you like my blogs even the slightest, you’ll like this film.  It is funny and revealing and intelligent.  Yes, the tomatometer (toe-ma-tom-eater) on Rotten Tomatoes give Spurlock’s flick a 37%, but then again, Cloverfield was wretched and got a 78%.  I think it has a lot to do with intellectual relevance…uhm, the VIEWER’s, not the film’s.  But on the other hand, Taxi to the Dark Side got a 100%, and I agree whole-heartedly with the positive rating.  I can only assume Taxi attracted a certain type of viewer, as in one who appreciates political documentaries (real political documentaries, not canned Moore-esque hyped BS.)  Spurlock gained a bit of fame with his (pun intended) easy to digest Supersize Me, and I think some of those expecting a McFilm will be disappointed…both his TV series and his latest film will very likely make you T-H-I-N-K.  And I know how much that offends some individuals.

I’m a bit at odds here.  I want to rave about Spurlock and his veggie-chef wife, but I really want to give away nothing of the content of his shows/films.  So instead I will open up the commentary to anyone who wishes to give input.  Seen an episode (every episode?)…did it change your own views?  Seen his films?  What did you think…or rather…DID you think?!  Spurlock is not like this guy big on surprise endings…it’s about the process.  Oh, yes, I highly encourage Michael Moore bashing (I must edit my blog rules) but I 100% guarantee that I will *not* put through any comments singing Moore’s praises.  EVER!!!  I am truly one of those who believe that Moore is less.

 

Have at it, folks.  What do you think?

 

 

 

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