GRADE: A-

Exit Through the Gift Shop is a movie sweeping through the film festivals and coming out the other side with a best documentary award attached. While few other than movie connoisseurs have heard of this film, I am one of the many beacons acting as an advocate to make the masses aware of Exit Through the Gift Shop.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is an inside look at the very intriguing world of street art. While this is a small glimpse at the underbelly of the art game, the film’s main character and cameraman Thierry Guetta have an “in” with some of the art game’s most notorious artists making for a very detailed look at how this art form operates. Most of us have never heard the names Banksy or Space Invader, but in the world of street art, these guys are legends.

Street art has changed in recent years from ‘needs to be removed graffiti’ to a classification as art for show rooms. As the the art medium has changed, collectors from all around the world fight with their pocketbooks to hang up the formerly frowned upon graffiti next to their Picasso paintings. That considered, this film shows the transition of a man with no artistic bones in his body to a cultural phenomenon selling his art for thousands of dollars.

This documentary is unlike any other I have ever seen before. This film’s main character, Guetta, is also the cinematographer for the majority of the movie. As Guetta becomes involved in street art by filming it, he transitions from a filmmaker to a street artist taking up a nickname Mr. Brainwash. He ends up putting on an art show for pieces he did not create. He simply thought up the paintings and sculptures for the show and had actual artists fabricate the final product. So in reality, all Mr. Brainwash does is take credit for others work.

The title Exit Through the Gift Shop refers to the ascension of Mr. Brainwash as an “artist.” The title alludes to art shows saying, “Thank you for coming, if you would like to purchase what you see pull out your credit card.” The title, like the main idea of the film, could be taken as a critique of the undefinable notion of what is art. Is it really art if the artist taking claim for a piece didn’t even create the product?

After seeing this film, Banksy is a name that will stick with every viewer as an artistic genius. His name and his brilliant street art will be all that can stick with you. Banksy is a pseudonym as this artist has never shown his face to the public. When he is shown in this movie, his face is blacked out; when he is heard his voice is modified. No one knows who he is, but his work is recognized by millions. His work is some of the most creative and awesome art I have ever seen. Exit Through the Gift Shop was pieced together by Banksy and a team of editors, so he gets the title of director for this project. The group took the street art footage compiled by Guetta and made a documentary about Guetta and his involvement in the medium.

Some claim this film is nothing but a fabrication of reality, and that Banksy created the character Guetta to take over the art game. I can’t rule out the possibility, because Banksy is known for his stunts and uses his talents to send a message. This movie definitely has a message. Could Banksy simply be using this film and his character to prove a point about the problems in the art game? Personally, I think this is far too elaborate of a scheme for anyone to pull off, even the legendary Banksy.

Overall, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a movie few of you will get a chance to see unless you make an effort to do so. It most likely will not make it to theaters, but this review is solely to put this film on all Movie Mash readers radar. This film is both informative about the underground and high class world of art, and an interesting story of a man’s life.

Just found out Exit Through the Gift Shop is avaible for streaming on NETFLIX!

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What Should You Do? If you come across a chance to check this movie out, see it.