The Kid Stays in the Picture [HD]

Fascinating!
Even though the reviews of this film were almost universally raves, I wouldn't have gone to see it. But a friend wanted to go, so I went along. And I'm truly glad I did. This is not like any documentary (particularly of a Hollywood notable) I've ever seen. For those of us who watch A & E Biography to glean tidbits of unknown information about "the famous," The Kid Stays in the Picture is a world apart, a completely refreshing take on biographical film-making.

What sets this film apart is its honesty. Evans's narration is self-deprecating, self-mocking, truthful and utterly unpretentious. The combination of TV and film clips, stills with subtle bits of animation (cigarette smoking rising from the surface of a photo) and the voiceover explanations of how some of Evans's films came to be is nothing less than compelling. It's also very, very funny. One notable description is of Frank Sinatra's ultimatum to Mia Farrow during the filming of the groundbreaking Rosemary's Baby. Either Mia...

He knows everybody
Maybe the most engaging documentary ever made. Brilliant style is used in telling the story of one of the giants of the movie industry, producer Robert Evans. Giving magical illumination and motion to still pictures in a way that I could only describe as psychedelic.

Being a film fanatic for the last 43 years I was shocked and ashamed to find that I had not heard of Robert Evans. In all my reading of credits over the years I had somehow missed his name. I had remembered seeing William Castle's name at the beginning of Rosemary's Baby but not Evan's. Then, at finding out that he was the driving force behind Love Story, The Godfather, The Godfather Pt.2, Chinatown and one of my personal favorites The President's Analyst and that he was a big reason why those movies were so good, well I was just dumbfounded. And these are just a fraction of the films he's produced.

Of course he didn't start as a producer. He had been in women's apparel with his brother and...

Cool
I had no idea what to expect before watching, but I was really happy I made time for this one. It's a doc / experimental piece unlike anything I've seen. Of course I've known about and appreciated the many films he's been involved in, but never of the man himself. I love the visual cut-motion style and a superb, evocative mix including music of the times then. Of course, how could anyone not be hypnotized by his speaking voice, which oozes that knowing which comes from having lived the life. While I'm happy for any guy who lands his dream girl, the footage of him in the supplements with his latest made me wince. It definitely should have been made into a difficult-to-find easter egg. The film itself is one of those that once you start, you are compelled to see to the end. Loved it.

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