Banksy's name attracts instant buzz--and it should. Few artists are as sharp, cheeky and elusive as the Robin Hood of graffiti, who has given British police plenty of headaches over the past decade. Now the film industry has to worry as he pushes in on their turf with Exit Through the Gift Shop.
The film is one of two satirical takes coming from British figures that I've been looking forward to for a while (the other would be Chris Morris' Four Lions, which has received some disappointingly mixed reviews so far). I'm happy to say it's completely worth your time, though I would recommend everyone take the film's story with a grain of salt. Like his graffiti, Banksy's directorial debut takes a few liberties with the truth in an effort to illuminate the hypocrisy of the art world--both the establishment and underground. Partly he does this to stir debate, and partly, I feel, he's having a laugh at everyone's expense. Even his own.
I have a review up for Verbicide Magazine that talks about the film a little more. Check it out here.
