By and large, documentaries aren't my thing. I'm really more of a fiction guy, at least as far as this medium is concerned (funny enough, when it comes to books, I tend to be the exact opposite). Of course, having said that, if the material interests me, I can absolutely get on board. And that was the case with Crumb.
I didn't have much prior knowledge of this man or his cultural importance, but Terry Zwigoff enlightened me with an insightful and compelling portrait, one that also makes use of some careful structuring. We open with an introduction to his artistry and voice, and we then spend the next two hours learning why he has this particular voice. It's actually pretty fascinating.
That's not to say that I like the guy. I don't. He honestly comes off like a bit of a self-obsessed creep. But the movie isn't really asking you to like him, either. It's incredibly honest about his shortcomings, from the controversial elements in his art to the evident flaws in his personality. And yet, when we delve a little deeper into his world, and start to learn more about him, the women in his life, and especially his brothers, everything falls into place. The information is doled out rather expertly, and it makes the whole thing feel strangely relatable, which is exactly what a biographical documentary is supposed to do.
Grade: A-
P.S. This is the second movie I've watched in two days where someone admits to finding Bugs Bunny attractive. Just thought that warranted mentioning.
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