Arakimentari (**)
review by Jon
Waterman
This documentary explores the world of Nobuyoshi Araki. He’s
one of Japan’s most controversial, most prolific and
most talented photographers. His work ranges from the uniquely
beautiful to the uniquely perverse (and beautiful). Director
Travis Klose follows Araki around for a little while and try
to get into the mind of the eccentric genius. To fill in the
gaps and get society’s take on him, he interviews critics,
models and celebrities.
I wish there would have been more man on the street reactions
rather than analysis from famous people. If he’s such
a controversial figure, find out first hand from the people
why that is. I would have loved to see interviews with his
assistants and more of his colleagues. I think Klose is relying
on the big names, like Bjork and Beat Takeshi to increase the
popularity of the movie and give it name recognition rather
than substance. It’s not that they don’t have anything
to say, but I feel they were meant as attention getters. There
are people out there who could have contributed more interesting
things to say. Get people who are closer to him.
We get good insight into how and why he works, but not from
the interviews. We get it from listening to Araki himself talk
and from him taking photographs. We see how he works with his
models and the unusual ways in which he works. He’s very
frantic and fascinating to watch.
Klose and his cameraman, Brian Burgoyne, decide not to use
a tripod for the majority of the picture – possibly to
capture the frantic, fast-paced Araki in action a little easier,
while still remaining relatively close to him. Yet, it leads
to a more in-your-face technique, which lacks Araki’s
sense of professionalism. The camera roams without proper exposure
or purpose, and we catch it zooming and focusing way too often.
It can be chalked up to poor editing and poor camerawork. Please,
get a tripod. And use it.
The movie showcases the finished product more so than the
process (which could be seen as a positive or a negative).
It’s easy to see why he’s so popular and why he’s
so controversial. His photographs range from provocative to
forceful to passionate to simplistic to shocking to pornographic.
Not all of them are great, but some are absolutely amazing.
He truly does have a gift (and over 300 publications attached
to his name).
The documentary isn’t the best, but it’s not the
worst either. The camera definitely became annoying. The movie
lacked a solid structure, but was still able to keep my interest.
Araki is an interesting character and very much worthy of being
the subject of this doc. I wish it had gone a little more in
depth, but hey. DJ Krush’s music is good.
respond to jon@filmbrats.com
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