Exit Through the Gift Shop Review

The film, which is nominated for a 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary, follows the world of street art. Amateur French film maker Thierry Guetta begins following Los Angeles street artists and eventually works his way up to meeting and featuring the world's most famous street artist Banksky. British artist Banksy wants to gain a more global audience so decides to come to America and ends up getting Guetta to show him the best walls. Soon Guetta and Banksy are joined at the hip as Banksky becomes the main focus of the "film" with Banksy's consent and agreement that his identity remains unknown.

I never realized that the world of street art was such a big deal. I am gathering by watching this movie twice that this unlikely movie made street art become the mainstream phenomenon that it has become. Until watching Exit Through the Gift Shop I thought of street art as more a form of vandalism. Though most world-wide municipalities still see this as a form of vandalism the art-world has legitimized it,

The film, bought to us by "Paranoid Pictures," was so entertaining that I watched it twice. Though I haven't seen any of the other films nominated for Best Documentary I am predicting Exit Through the Gift Shop will win the Oscar this Sunday night. Guetta is slated to make an appearance and there is a lot of hype and interest to see if Banksy, who respects and maintains his anonymity, will show at the awards. Bansky is the director (and filmmaker). My guess is that he will not make an appearance...at least not that we will be aware of. It does seem that Brad and Angelina could sneak him in though (watch the film). You may wonder why and how Banksy became the director or a film started by Guetta. That is one of the best reasons to watch this film; to get the very entertaining answer to that question.

I highly recommend this film and I give it four stars. It is available on "instant view" on Netflix. If you get a chance do yourself a favor and watch this movie. And then, watch the Academy Awards this Sunday night, the 27th, to see if the ever-elusive Banksy makes an appearance.

click here to see Exit Through the Gift Shop trailer.