Morgan Spurlock has delivered a fascinating satire of the process of placing products into movies and the ubiquitous nature of advertising in our society. He takes us inside the process by showing us what it takes to make a movie and to gain corporate sponsorship for it. He allows us to see the process by getting corporations to underwrite his movie about product placement. He uses humor – as he did with fast food in Super Size Me - to point to the insidious way into which advertising has slipped into film-making and become a major part of its profit model of film making. He isn't the first one to do this, of course. Feature films like Thank You for Smoking and The Truman Show have pointed out this phenomenon. Steve Colbert has also does so regularly on his show. Still by putting it into a documentary form, Spurlock has taken the critique to a new level. The sponsoring companies will likely benefit through their association with his humorous critique of corporate America. The movie-going public will benefit if they become more cognizant of the pervasive nature advertising in films. Spurlock has shown us yet again that it is much easier to get the public to listen to critiques our economic system if they are delivered with a good-natured sense of humor.
39 Reviews
A good idea
nick-vittum6 May 2011
Some people would have you believe that Spurlock is trying to dupe his audience and exploit advertisers for profit, like this is a BAD thing. But that's just it - it's not. After you see this movie, you might actually notice the subtle, insidious advertising which is omnipresent in our society. he rubs your face in it, exposes some of the inner-workings of the ad-market and tries his hardest not to look like a whore all the while.
Let's not forget Spurlock's masochistic endeavor to eat McDonalds 3x daily for a month. Is that not genuine? This time he lays his reputation on the line instead of his health, and to those who are offended by it: are you less offended by movies that use product placement shamelessly without informing the audience? Spurlock had to walk a thin line to make this movie, and I think he walked it beautifully.
Let's not forget Spurlock's masochistic endeavor to eat McDonalds 3x daily for a month. Is that not genuine? This time he lays his reputation on the line instead of his health, and to those who are offended by it: are you less offended by movies that use product placement shamelessly without informing the audience? Spurlock had to walk a thin line to make this movie, and I think he walked it beautifully.
Where's the Beef?
ferguson-61 May 2011
Greetings again from the darkness. This is billed as "a documentary about branding, advertising and product placement that is financed and made possible by branding, advertising and product placement". My issue with the movie is that it's not really ABOUT anything! It's really more of a "How To Raise Money For Your Movie By Selling Advertising". And that does have some funny scenes and provide a glimpse into how the leaders of companies think.
Morgan Spurlock hit the big time in 2004 with his Oscar-nominated "Super Size Me", in which he filmed himself eating only McDonalds food for a full month. The difference in that movie and this one is that previously, he did much research and explained to the viewer the significance of cause and effect. In this most recent film, he promises insight into the abundance of product placement in the entertainment world, but really we get only a mish-mash of images and scenes.
The segments can be divided into these categories: conference room presentations, celebrity talking heads, industry experts, and Mr. Spurlock's own ruminations. Each of these segments are entertaining ... heck some are laugh outloud funny ... but in the end, we are left holding an empty bag. We have no more understanding of product placement than when we started. What we do have is a better feel for how desperate companies are to find new ways to advertise their products.
Some of the products featured in the film are: Hyatt, Jet Blue, Mini Cooper, Merrill shoes, Sheetz (gas and convenience) and of course, Pom Wonderful - the 100% pomegranate juice whose President and Owner ends up spending $1 million for above the title sponsorship. Some of the talking heads include Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Paul Brennan and Donald Trump. We get brief chats with film directors Peter Berg, Brett Ratner and Quentin Tarantino. Throw in a couple of lawyers, musicians and some industry experts and you get the impression that Spurlock did his homework.
I have spent some time thinking about this and I will stick to my conclusion. What the movie doesn't do is provide any insight or detail into what drives product placement in entertainment. However, the movie does a decent job showing us how presentations are made to advertising managers at companies, and it leans heavily on Mr. Spurlock's often-hilarious viewpoint of situations (Mane & Tail shampoo). When you get right down to it, isn't this just a glimpse at one segment of capitalism? When you have a product to sell, you are constantly looking for the most effective way to advertise that product to potential customers. Sorry, that's not insight, that's just Marketing 101.
Morgan Spurlock hit the big time in 2004 with his Oscar-nominated "Super Size Me", in which he filmed himself eating only McDonalds food for a full month. The difference in that movie and this one is that previously, he did much research and explained to the viewer the significance of cause and effect. In this most recent film, he promises insight into the abundance of product placement in the entertainment world, but really we get only a mish-mash of images and scenes.
The segments can be divided into these categories: conference room presentations, celebrity talking heads, industry experts, and Mr. Spurlock's own ruminations. Each of these segments are entertaining ... heck some are laugh outloud funny ... but in the end, we are left holding an empty bag. We have no more understanding of product placement than when we started. What we do have is a better feel for how desperate companies are to find new ways to advertise their products.
Some of the products featured in the film are: Hyatt, Jet Blue, Mini Cooper, Merrill shoes, Sheetz (gas and convenience) and of course, Pom Wonderful - the 100% pomegranate juice whose President and Owner ends up spending $1 million for above the title sponsorship. Some of the talking heads include Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Paul Brennan and Donald Trump. We get brief chats with film directors Peter Berg, Brett Ratner and Quentin Tarantino. Throw in a couple of lawyers, musicians and some industry experts and you get the impression that Spurlock did his homework.
I have spent some time thinking about this and I will stick to my conclusion. What the movie doesn't do is provide any insight or detail into what drives product placement in entertainment. However, the movie does a decent job showing us how presentations are made to advertising managers at companies, and it leans heavily on Mr. Spurlock's often-hilarious viewpoint of situations (Mane & Tail shampoo). When you get right down to it, isn't this just a glimpse at one segment of capitalism? When you have a product to sell, you are constantly looking for the most effective way to advertise that product to potential customers. Sorry, that's not insight, that's just Marketing 101.
Ad Nauseam - Morgan Spurlock cashes in on commercialism
ezrawinton11 November 2011
At the 2011 Hot Docs opening and Canadian premiere screening of Morgan Spurlock's POM Wonderful Presents the Greatest Movie Ever Sold the peppy logo-clad filmmaker told the audience his film will have the effect of changing the way we look at advertising, TV, and films. Maybe Spurlock has been hanging out with a different crowd recently, because his grasp of audience intelligence—especially a doc audience—is certainly off the mark in terms of advertising savvy. While his film, as hilarious and entertaining as it is, won't be affecting the way I look at advertising, it definitely changes the way I now look at Morgan Spurlock.
Spurlock is a master story-teller to be sure, and this was readily apparent in one of the funniest, rollicking Q&As I've had the pleasure to sit through. Story after story rolled off his lips in all manner of imitation and animation – and had pretty much all in attendance slapping knees and grabbing sides in fits of laughter. His 2004 doc-buster hit Super Size Me told the story of one man's experiment to eat only McDonald's food while suffering the consequences. His 30 Days television series was a masterpiece jewel in the cheap tin crown of reality television fare. With all these storytelling accomplishments and talent under his belt his most recent work, a 90 minute celebration of advertising, marketing and commercialization bereft of any engaging narrative, comes as a whopping disappointment.
Don't get me wrong – if you want funny, entertaining, inquisitive Spurlock you'll get your dose in this documentary about sponsorship in film. But if you're looking for critical analysis or an investigative lens you'll be very disappointed. Spurlock's film is the ultimate postmodern documentary – a film paid for by corporate sponsors about the business of financing films through corporate sponsorship. On the surface it's a great idea, but Spurlock doesn't scratch that surface to reveal the real "inner workings" of the business or the consequences of a social reality dominated by advertising and marketing. As one audience member said to him, the film is all joy – where are the questions? Spurlock, predictably upbeat responded that if the audience is uneasy about these things after watching The Greatest Movie Ever Sold than the film has done its job. Right.
As a postmodern self-reflexive work there is surprisingly little self-reflection in PWPTGMES. Spurlock is in almost every frame of the film – flogging his film idea to ad execs, flogging products, and making light of critical voices like Ralph Nader. Between getting free stuff, zipping around the country meeting rich people (why Donald Trump's opinion was sought in this film remains a mystery), and drinking litres and litres of POM juice, Spurlock apparently has little time to really critically explore the nature of what he's doing and what the whole thing is about. Sure he has his moments of wondering aloud if he's going too far down the rabbit hole, but they feel as forced and staged as his meetings with CEOs and marketing gurus (all shot with atrocious camera work it has to be said). One senses that he went into this much like he went into Super Size Me: as a personal challenge and experiment, just to see if he could do it. And, lo and behold, of course he can – he's Morgan Spurlock after all.
The first half of the film had me in stitches as he set up the gag. But by mid-way I was bored of watching Spurlock in predictable scenarios flogging everything from shoes to under-arm deodorant to airlines. I kept waiting for him to go deeper, to really provoke some critical thought on the issue of advertising and marketing. By the end of the film, this craving went unabated, much like my new craving to drink POM juice – thanks to what has to be the best marketing coup for a juice company since Dole colonized Carmen Miranda.
So if you're looking for a funny, intelligent, provocative and critical documentary on advertising and marketing I highly recommend seeking out the wonderful 2004 Czech film Czech Dream. If you want to laugh with and at Morgan Spurlock as he makes a mint from celebrating crass commercialism, check out POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, that is, if you have the stomach for it.
Spurlock is a master story-teller to be sure, and this was readily apparent in one of the funniest, rollicking Q&As I've had the pleasure to sit through. Story after story rolled off his lips in all manner of imitation and animation – and had pretty much all in attendance slapping knees and grabbing sides in fits of laughter. His 2004 doc-buster hit Super Size Me told the story of one man's experiment to eat only McDonald's food while suffering the consequences. His 30 Days television series was a masterpiece jewel in the cheap tin crown of reality television fare. With all these storytelling accomplishments and talent under his belt his most recent work, a 90 minute celebration of advertising, marketing and commercialization bereft of any engaging narrative, comes as a whopping disappointment.
Don't get me wrong – if you want funny, entertaining, inquisitive Spurlock you'll get your dose in this documentary about sponsorship in film. But if you're looking for critical analysis or an investigative lens you'll be very disappointed. Spurlock's film is the ultimate postmodern documentary – a film paid for by corporate sponsors about the business of financing films through corporate sponsorship. On the surface it's a great idea, but Spurlock doesn't scratch that surface to reveal the real "inner workings" of the business or the consequences of a social reality dominated by advertising and marketing. As one audience member said to him, the film is all joy – where are the questions? Spurlock, predictably upbeat responded that if the audience is uneasy about these things after watching The Greatest Movie Ever Sold than the film has done its job. Right.
As a postmodern self-reflexive work there is surprisingly little self-reflection in PWPTGMES. Spurlock is in almost every frame of the film – flogging his film idea to ad execs, flogging products, and making light of critical voices like Ralph Nader. Between getting free stuff, zipping around the country meeting rich people (why Donald Trump's opinion was sought in this film remains a mystery), and drinking litres and litres of POM juice, Spurlock apparently has little time to really critically explore the nature of what he's doing and what the whole thing is about. Sure he has his moments of wondering aloud if he's going too far down the rabbit hole, but they feel as forced and staged as his meetings with CEOs and marketing gurus (all shot with atrocious camera work it has to be said). One senses that he went into this much like he went into Super Size Me: as a personal challenge and experiment, just to see if he could do it. And, lo and behold, of course he can – he's Morgan Spurlock after all.
The first half of the film had me in stitches as he set up the gag. But by mid-way I was bored of watching Spurlock in predictable scenarios flogging everything from shoes to under-arm deodorant to airlines. I kept waiting for him to go deeper, to really provoke some critical thought on the issue of advertising and marketing. By the end of the film, this craving went unabated, much like my new craving to drink POM juice – thanks to what has to be the best marketing coup for a juice company since Dole colonized Carmen Miranda.
So if you're looking for a funny, intelligent, provocative and critical documentary on advertising and marketing I highly recommend seeking out the wonderful 2004 Czech film Czech Dream. If you want to laugh with and at Morgan Spurlock as he makes a mint from celebrating crass commercialism, check out POM Wonderful Presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, that is, if you have the stomach for it.
I'll buy in
gizmomogwai25 August 2011
Futurama had an episode that submitted in the year 3000 advertisers will be able to send signals in the air that put commercials into people's dreams. Funny that Ralph Nader mentions sleep as the last place you can go to escape ads. In today's world, they're pervasive. It's a good topic for an amusing and entertaining filmmaker (Morgan Spurlock, who previously had success with his anti-fast food pic Super Size Me). Much as with Super Size Me, Spurlock pulls a stunt; this documentary is funded by product placement.
There are certain limitations inherent in such a project. Make a film against product placement, and the worst offenders will not want to help it. In the end he mostly finds businesses I've never heard of (Ban, Sheetz). So we don't see how the bigger corporations go about product placement. That said, we see a bit of how it works, as Spurlock's sponsors send him contracts making various demands.
At times it seems this movie is more about itself than product placement generally, but we do have some good discussions spread throughout the film. It is true blatant advertising is insulting, yet the film poses the question of whether subtle advertising is more dangerous. The presentation is funny, including with the Mane 'n Tail material. (Why didn't that company pay for the publicity? They even got a Wikipedia page because of this movie). The film has some good music and I can testify that it looks great on Blu-ray. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold may not be the greatest documentary, but it's worth a look.
There are certain limitations inherent in such a project. Make a film against product placement, and the worst offenders will not want to help it. In the end he mostly finds businesses I've never heard of (Ban, Sheetz). So we don't see how the bigger corporations go about product placement. That said, we see a bit of how it works, as Spurlock's sponsors send him contracts making various demands.
At times it seems this movie is more about itself than product placement generally, but we do have some good discussions spread throughout the film. It is true blatant advertising is insulting, yet the film poses the question of whether subtle advertising is more dangerous. The presentation is funny, including with the Mane 'n Tail material. (Why didn't that company pay for the publicity? They even got a Wikipedia page because of this movie). The film has some good music and I can testify that it looks great on Blu-ray. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold may not be the greatest documentary, but it's worth a look.
Truth be told, it's not that great.
Ryan_MYeah22 September 2011
Director Morgan Spurlock analyzes the world of product placement and advertising in film, transportation, and cities, but in an ironic twist, needs sponsors of his own to finance the film.
He's very gleeful in giving the film a quirky, humorous tone (Especially commercials for his sponsors that randomly interject every now and then), but I think he was so focused on the humor of his film, he didn't properly tune his information.
The facts come fast and furious, and are very dense in explanation. Spurlock adds a seemingly endless trail of self references and humor, when he should be drawing more focus on his points within the film. And on top of that, none of it is really all that enlightening.
Hopefully I find better documentaries this year, because after an unusual high from last year, this year starts off not with a bang, but more of a whimper.
**1/2 out of ****
He's very gleeful in giving the film a quirky, humorous tone (Especially commercials for his sponsors that randomly interject every now and then), but I think he was so focused on the humor of his film, he didn't properly tune his information.
The facts come fast and furious, and are very dense in explanation. Spurlock adds a seemingly endless trail of self references and humor, when he should be drawing more focus on his points within the film. And on top of that, none of it is really all that enlightening.
Hopefully I find better documentaries this year, because after an unusual high from last year, this year starts off not with a bang, but more of a whimper.
**1/2 out of ****
Super 'POM Wonderful' Me!
Hellmant2 June 2011
'POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS: THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Morgan Spurlock (writer/director of the 2004 breakout hit documentary 'SUPER SIZE ME') brings us another satirical critique on one of society's most influential evils, advertising. He financed the entire film with product placement while turning the camera (and judgment) on the very companies that support him in the project. He co-wrote the film (as well as co-produced it) with his usual film partner Jeremey Chilnick and interviews such notable and well known filmmakers and celebrities as Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg, Brett Ratner, Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump and Ralph Nader (as well as many others). The film is interesting and very humorous for the most part but it does get bogged down a little in repetitiveness and lack of direction.
Spurlock sets out with a goal of finding enough major businesses to fund the budget of his 1.5 million dollar movie by offering them various product placement deals (according to the size of their investment) in the film while he examines the power of such marketing. The company which invests a million dollars (the 'Pom Wonderful' pomegranate juice company) gets above the title product placement plus heavy advertising in the film (including Spurlock's agreement to only drink their juice while on film for the movie's entirety). The first half of the film he interviews various businesses and pitches them his idea (This part of the film is the most humorous and informative). Many major companies turn him down but several lesser known and striving corporations except his offer. The second half of the movie consists mostly of how the finished product (the film itself) comes together, with all it's marketing tie-ins, and whether the film (and Spurlock himself) can avoid 'selling out'. This portion of the film gets a little slow and uninteresting (in my opinion) and loses some of it's zest.
The movie is not nearly as compelling or educational as 'SUPER SIZE ME', or many other well known documentaries of it's style, but it is pretty entertaining. Although we don't learn a lot of information we didn't already know (or much of anything that's useful) it's still pretty interesting and enjoyable watching Spurlock on his venture (at least for the majority of the film). We don't really have any idea where the film is headed and neither does it, which is probably it's biggest problem. As it sets into it's third act the film begins to feel a bit long and somewhat dull. How the film all comes together might be interesting to some but it's nothing most viewers haven't seen on many behind the scene DVD special features before. The information on the power of advertising becomes pretty repetitive by this point. It does kind of pick up a little at the end though and comes to a somewhat satisfying conclusion. There's also a pretty cool theme song (during the film's climax) titled 'The Greatest Song I Ever Heard' by alternative rock band OK Go, who are also interviewed in the film (proclaiming themselves 'the greatest band to ever write a theme song'). For the most part the film works. Nothing too mind blowing or enlightening but it is very amusing and humorous (for the most part). Another pretty impressive achievement from Morgan Spurlock.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotBOLCP-Yg
Morgan Spurlock (writer/director of the 2004 breakout hit documentary 'SUPER SIZE ME') brings us another satirical critique on one of society's most influential evils, advertising. He financed the entire film with product placement while turning the camera (and judgment) on the very companies that support him in the project. He co-wrote the film (as well as co-produced it) with his usual film partner Jeremey Chilnick and interviews such notable and well known filmmakers and celebrities as Quentin Tarantino, J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg, Brett Ratner, Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump and Ralph Nader (as well as many others). The film is interesting and very humorous for the most part but it does get bogged down a little in repetitiveness and lack of direction.
Spurlock sets out with a goal of finding enough major businesses to fund the budget of his 1.5 million dollar movie by offering them various product placement deals (according to the size of their investment) in the film while he examines the power of such marketing. The company which invests a million dollars (the 'Pom Wonderful' pomegranate juice company) gets above the title product placement plus heavy advertising in the film (including Spurlock's agreement to only drink their juice while on film for the movie's entirety). The first half of the film he interviews various businesses and pitches them his idea (This part of the film is the most humorous and informative). Many major companies turn him down but several lesser known and striving corporations except his offer. The second half of the movie consists mostly of how the finished product (the film itself) comes together, with all it's marketing tie-ins, and whether the film (and Spurlock himself) can avoid 'selling out'. This portion of the film gets a little slow and uninteresting (in my opinion) and loses some of it's zest.
The movie is not nearly as compelling or educational as 'SUPER SIZE ME', or many other well known documentaries of it's style, but it is pretty entertaining. Although we don't learn a lot of information we didn't already know (or much of anything that's useful) it's still pretty interesting and enjoyable watching Spurlock on his venture (at least for the majority of the film). We don't really have any idea where the film is headed and neither does it, which is probably it's biggest problem. As it sets into it's third act the film begins to feel a bit long and somewhat dull. How the film all comes together might be interesting to some but it's nothing most viewers haven't seen on many behind the scene DVD special features before. The information on the power of advertising becomes pretty repetitive by this point. It does kind of pick up a little at the end though and comes to a somewhat satisfying conclusion. There's also a pretty cool theme song (during the film's climax) titled 'The Greatest Song I Ever Heard' by alternative rock band OK Go, who are also interviewed in the film (proclaiming themselves 'the greatest band to ever write a theme song'). For the most part the film works. Nothing too mind blowing or enlightening but it is very amusing and humorous (for the most part). Another pretty impressive achievement from Morgan Spurlock.
Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotBOLCP-Yg
Clever concept; middling to fair execution.
rscowboy200530 April 2011
Let's see. If it's a $1.5 million film and after the title, $25,000.00 is the smallest player level, at most there should have been 20 other partners, but it seemed like hundreds.
Perhaps that was the intent, but the film's unsteady follows and quick-cuts intensified the effect and left my head whirling.
Fewer scenes, cut 20 minutes from the length and it might be in a class with Supersize Me. I'm disappointed that he trotted out Ralph Nader (or maybe Ralph is a "partner" and paid to be in the film) as some counterweight to what is right before our eyes. The 2 professors got what? 13 seconds? Where are the concrete steps viewers can take?
Perhaps that was the intent, but the film's unsteady follows and quick-cuts intensified the effect and left my head whirling.
Fewer scenes, cut 20 minutes from the length and it might be in a class with Supersize Me. I'm disappointed that he trotted out Ralph Nader (or maybe Ralph is a "partner" and paid to be in the film) as some counterweight to what is right before our eyes. The 2 professors got what? 13 seconds? Where are the concrete steps viewers can take?
Advertising and entertainment go hand in hand!
blanbrn4 December 2011
The man Morgan Spurlock does it again he once again makes a true and informative, fun outrageous documentary that shows just how companies and corporate America really is. The message as seen here in "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" is that money is the main goal of company sponsors, and companies and corporate agencies go hand and hand with the entertainment industry and the movie business. It's interesting to see how all of it is a nice little greedy scratch your back you scratch mine monopoly. As it's so common when you watch your favorite TV shows, and see a big screen movie it's interesting to see the brands and products of companies that are often featured in them. As clearly it's today's media culture the showcase of these products thru film and TV and advertising leads to sales it's a must have society.
Fun and interesting with this doc, is seeing how Spurlock goes inside company boardrooms to see how far that a corporate agency will go to sponsor a film that he wants to make(that's the "Greatest Movie Ever Sold")that's the pitch and catch phrase put the advertising of my product in your movie if you will buy and do advertising for my brand also. Note worthy is the interviews with Hollywood directors saying how true it is that Hollywood entertainment and product placement advertising go hand in hand it makes the business go around. Overall interesting film that proves that business and company and corporate tie ins make the world go around in our media culture advertised driven world it's all about money and entertainment baby!
Fun and interesting with this doc, is seeing how Spurlock goes inside company boardrooms to see how far that a corporate agency will go to sponsor a film that he wants to make(that's the "Greatest Movie Ever Sold")that's the pitch and catch phrase put the advertising of my product in your movie if you will buy and do advertising for my brand also. Note worthy is the interviews with Hollywood directors saying how true it is that Hollywood entertainment and product placement advertising go hand in hand it makes the business go around. Overall interesting film that proves that business and company and corporate tie ins make the world go around in our media culture advertised driven world it's all about money and entertainment baby!
Very Disappointing
prberg230 April 2011
This movie is really bad. I was hoping there was going to be a deep look at the issue of product placement in media, but I don't feel like the director ever went there. Like his last documentary (Super Size Me), he just states the obvious and doesn't do much real documentary work. We just kept watching these mostly boring scenes without much to tie them together.
I feel like asking the director for my money back that I just spent to see this movie. I suggest you stay away from this movie. It was just frustrating and not really enjoyable at all. Maybe when it comes to rental.. but not worth going to the theater that's for sure!
I feel like asking the director for my money back that I just spent to see this movie. I suggest you stay away from this movie. It was just frustrating and not really enjoyable at all. Maybe when it comes to rental.. but not worth going to the theater that's for sure!
Cleverly making you feel like an idiot!
thomaswolfe1215 August 2011
The Brilliant thing Morgan Spurlack does with this movie, is he throws in your face, what advertisers and movie executives have hidden, (in some case very poorly) in the movies they produce. The Transformers all being GMC for example. Spurlack satirises the whole idea of advertisements and sells out his own film in the process, though he sells out only to buy in, so he doesn't really sell out. Its this ingenious and hilarious concept to the movie which makes you think "holy cow I'm an idiot" and Morgan pushes his film to show the manipulative ways of commercial giants. Another clever trick Morgan uses is the, documentary within a documentary style. The film follows Morgan as he attempts to get advertising for his film which is going to be a documentary on advertising. So essential what we see is the pre-production of a movie which then becomes the movie. This gives a real insight in to how the big Hollywood blockbusters are able to get such high budgets by selling to advertisers.
This film only really appeals to people who are interested in how the media is able to have control over consumers, as we are pretty much witnessing a prolonged documentary on how Morgan Spurlock can find a million dollars to make a pretend movie.
A cleverly put together gem that manages to patronise an audience in to realising just how we can be manipulated by the big name brands.
This film only really appeals to people who are interested in how the media is able to have control over consumers, as we are pretty much witnessing a prolonged documentary on how Morgan Spurlock can find a million dollars to make a pretend movie.
A cleverly put together gem that manages to patronise an audience in to realising just how we can be manipulated by the big name brands.
This review is brought to you by .... shoot, I want some advertising money!
nathanschubach22 April 2012
I'm still not sure what I watched after seeing this, but I liked it. Was it all just an exposé piece on the wheelings and dealings of commercialized movie-making? It was more like an "infinite-brand backscratch" of Ouroboros proportions. I thought learning about the binding, legal paperwork that Morgan received from each agreeing company was interesting. Also the CT scans of the brain releasing dopamine each time Coca Cola was mentioned says a lot about why companies are placing products in movies and TV shows all the time. Tricky bastards. Cameos by Ron English, Ralph Nader, Noam Chomsky, Outkast's Big Boi, OK GO, and Donald Trump were nice interviews to see as well. If you are avid fan of the Adbusters magazine, if you've been curious why Iron Man needs to be on a Dr. Pepper can, or if you're a fan of Spurlock's other documentary ventures, I suggest you watch this film today. It's not a clearly written documentary that you can envision easily, but it was an interesting watch.
Commits the greatest sin in cinema - it's boring.
RandyL71231 August 2011
The film follows Spurlock as he seeks out funding for the movie, which is ostensibly about product placement. However, the plot gets dull as we already know the ending, that the movie gets funding and gets made. There is no arc, no interesting advances. And talking to industry hired guns (i.e. analysts and advertising folks) gets droll and repetitive. So, the movie was simply dull and uninteresting after a while.
I had hoped that, like most documentaries where the star is the producer/director, there would be two concurrent story lines running throughout - one with the contrived plot of finding sponsors, the other with a great inner-workings of the beast sort of thing where we learn something about product placement. Instead we are shown a dozen 3-second product placement clips and told that it's everpresent. This is not new information to anyone with a working brain stem. We are not educated on the topic. It's a real shame. I'll give an example of this done correctly - most any Michael Moore film. There's the "plot" of Moore going here, doing that. But there's also an entire portion of the film where you learn a lot about the topic of the film. Be it gun control, or health care, you come away with more knowledge and certainly at least a rudimentary understanding of the broad system at work. This movie, you know nothing more than you went in with, other than you can monitor someone's brain with an fMRI machine whilst they watch movie trailers.
A serious miss, and a serious missed opportunity for Spurlock. This could have been fantastic, but his personal role in the movie took over and destroyed the entire concept. Pass.
I had hoped that, like most documentaries where the star is the producer/director, there would be two concurrent story lines running throughout - one with the contrived plot of finding sponsors, the other with a great inner-workings of the beast sort of thing where we learn something about product placement. Instead we are shown a dozen 3-second product placement clips and told that it's everpresent. This is not new information to anyone with a working brain stem. We are not educated on the topic. It's a real shame. I'll give an example of this done correctly - most any Michael Moore film. There's the "plot" of Moore going here, doing that. But there's also an entire portion of the film where you learn a lot about the topic of the film. Be it gun control, or health care, you come away with more knowledge and certainly at least a rudimentary understanding of the broad system at work. This movie, you know nothing more than you went in with, other than you can monitor someone's brain with an fMRI machine whilst they watch movie trailers.
A serious miss, and a serious missed opportunity for Spurlock. This could have been fantastic, but his personal role in the movie took over and destroyed the entire concept. Pass.
It's not a movie
valleyjohn17 September 2011
Morgon Spurlock is the director famous for the documentary about McDonalds . This time he tackles the issue of product placement in the movies. By doing so he get's companies to pay for the making of this film by cramming it with their own product placement brands.
The problem i have is that this is not a film at all. It's not even a documentary really. It compromises itself from the start and therefore it has absolutely no cutting edge. Sure , it gives you some insight into what goes on with companies and how much they are willing to pay to get their products on screen but that is not enough to keep an audience engaged.
Spurlock has a likable air about him but I'm not convinced he is movie maker at all. The title should be reported to the trade descriptions people as it's not great and it's not a movie and i certainly never bought into it.
The problem i have is that this is not a film at all. It's not even a documentary really. It compromises itself from the start and therefore it has absolutely no cutting edge. Sure , it gives you some insight into what goes on with companies and how much they are willing to pay to get their products on screen but that is not enough to keep an audience engaged.
Spurlock has a likable air about him but I'm not convinced he is movie maker at all. The title should be reported to the trade descriptions people as it's not great and it's not a movie and i certainly never bought into it.
Interesting. Funny. Informative. Not outstanding.
tward32-574-13159311 October 2012
I love Morgan Spurlock's style of story telling. He's funny, but not irreverent or disrespectful. He can poke fun at something yet doesn't get mean about it. I feel like his films have a lot of background research that goes into them.
This film doesn't disappoint. It's funny. It's extremely interesting in terms of understanding the process of getting product placement into films. It's entertaining.
It's not his best work.
The film gets a little slow and repetitive towards the middle. There's no big "I'm blowing the whistle on you" type of moment. Yeah, companies spend money to advertise to us. Artists are always looking for new ways to get paid to do what they do, i.e. make movies. I wished Morgan had spent a little more time hitting these film makers and product people about the real question: is everyone selling out? And if so, is that OK?
I would recommend this film if you like documentaries, if you like Morgan Spurlock films, or if you are yourself a film maker or film making fan and want to know more about the business side of show business.
This film doesn't disappoint. It's funny. It's extremely interesting in terms of understanding the process of getting product placement into films. It's entertaining.
It's not his best work.
The film gets a little slow and repetitive towards the middle. There's no big "I'm blowing the whistle on you" type of moment. Yeah, companies spend money to advertise to us. Artists are always looking for new ways to get paid to do what they do, i.e. make movies. I wished Morgan had spent a little more time hitting these film makers and product people about the real question: is everyone selling out? And if so, is that OK?
I would recommend this film if you like documentaries, if you like Morgan Spurlock films, or if you are yourself a film maker or film making fan and want to know more about the business side of show business.
Great, But Not The Greatest
torchwood949-166-55240417 October 2011
It's hard to imagine this documentary being present anyone other that 'Morgan Spurlock'. His charismatic nature grabs you from the get go and refuses to let go. Back in 2004 he brought us 'Super Size Me' in which he challenged himself with the task of only eating McDonalds for 30 days, now he brings us 'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold' which explores the world of product placement within films and whether or not it's a benefit. If 'Werner Herzog' were to direct this feature a more tightened and more polished experience would have been provided but Spurlock is let loose with the idea of bringing awareness of product placement to audiences in a free spirited and pop culturist way which is where the heart and fun of this film lies.
Large portions of films shown within your local multiplex are funded through product placement, which is the incorporation of perhaps a Pepsi can within the shot or a conversation about a popular deodorant. It's a subtle marketing tool used to sell that product to the audience without them realizing. Spurlock uses this a tool and for the basic premise of the film. To fund the film entirely through product placement. It's a hard feat but Spurlock rises to the challenge and with so provides us hilarious results, for example one of the products he manages to convince to fund his film is 'Mame 'n Tail' which is a shampoo not only for humans, but for horses as well.
The main sponsor however is 'POM Wonderful', the drink that is composed of '100% pomegranate juice' and even bags the films official title of 'POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold'. As Spurlock takes us through these different company meetings to raise money for his feature we are shown the amount of control he is giving up over his film and how much the corporations can dictate into the creative process. Interviews with 'Quentin Tarantino' and 'J.J Abrams' enlighten us with their experiences and their views with Tarantino explaining how his early films all consisted within the same branch of fast food restaurants and Abrams perception of product placement being that it should never interfere with the main principle of film, storytelling.
Despite these realities though, it's a comical, breezy affair and that's what it's intended to be. Spurlock has never been more engaging and fascinating to watch, he drives the film with a passion not seen by many other men and would make a great promotional speaker. We see him pitch ideas for his film and even the idea of 30-second commercials within the film for the companies that decide to work along side him from 'POM' being able to give more stable erections to a 'Mame 'N Tail' spot featuring Spurlock bathing with a horse. Half of the fun however is the awareness of product placement being shown to us and through a variety of montages we see this and becomes clearer. Having watched 'Real Steel' immediately after it was interesting to note how many placements actually laid within a big blockbuster release and after one scene had a sudden craving for a particular energy drink.
In 2006 'Kirby Dick' released a documentary known as 'This Film Is Not Yet Rated' in which he tried to expose the American film ratings board and exploited the idea of whether movies were rated fairly. The film portrayed the ratings board in a negative light so it was easy to grasp but at the same time showing representatives from both sides of the argument. Spurlock however never really nails a side of the argument and gives us an unbiased view, which is fine but then he never represents clearly what he intends to bring to the audience. Is it to show that he can in fact produce a film entirely through product placement? Are we meant to be aware of what's been shown to us? Or are we being pushed to our own side of the subject matter? With no defining conclusion other than the film being released it's hard to maintain a focused idea on what we're being shown and never works on the same levels as great documentaries do.
Despite this however it was an enjoyable way to spend the 80 minutes I sat and watched it. Through a constant bombardment of gags and comical situations it never becomes boring or dull as some documentaries ever do and at the same time is constantly informing the audience. It has certainly opened my eyes to product placement in films and that may be the whole purpose of the film, but it's never interpreted in that way and the scenes of Spurlock trying to fund his film are far more interesting than other peoples views or opinions on the matter which makes it work more on a film level rather than the documentary it intended to be.
Large portions of films shown within your local multiplex are funded through product placement, which is the incorporation of perhaps a Pepsi can within the shot or a conversation about a popular deodorant. It's a subtle marketing tool used to sell that product to the audience without them realizing. Spurlock uses this a tool and for the basic premise of the film. To fund the film entirely through product placement. It's a hard feat but Spurlock rises to the challenge and with so provides us hilarious results, for example one of the products he manages to convince to fund his film is 'Mame 'n Tail' which is a shampoo not only for humans, but for horses as well.
The main sponsor however is 'POM Wonderful', the drink that is composed of '100% pomegranate juice' and even bags the films official title of 'POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold'. As Spurlock takes us through these different company meetings to raise money for his feature we are shown the amount of control he is giving up over his film and how much the corporations can dictate into the creative process. Interviews with 'Quentin Tarantino' and 'J.J Abrams' enlighten us with their experiences and their views with Tarantino explaining how his early films all consisted within the same branch of fast food restaurants and Abrams perception of product placement being that it should never interfere with the main principle of film, storytelling.
Despite these realities though, it's a comical, breezy affair and that's what it's intended to be. Spurlock has never been more engaging and fascinating to watch, he drives the film with a passion not seen by many other men and would make a great promotional speaker. We see him pitch ideas for his film and even the idea of 30-second commercials within the film for the companies that decide to work along side him from 'POM' being able to give more stable erections to a 'Mame 'N Tail' spot featuring Spurlock bathing with a horse. Half of the fun however is the awareness of product placement being shown to us and through a variety of montages we see this and becomes clearer. Having watched 'Real Steel' immediately after it was interesting to note how many placements actually laid within a big blockbuster release and after one scene had a sudden craving for a particular energy drink.
In 2006 'Kirby Dick' released a documentary known as 'This Film Is Not Yet Rated' in which he tried to expose the American film ratings board and exploited the idea of whether movies were rated fairly. The film portrayed the ratings board in a negative light so it was easy to grasp but at the same time showing representatives from both sides of the argument. Spurlock however never really nails a side of the argument and gives us an unbiased view, which is fine but then he never represents clearly what he intends to bring to the audience. Is it to show that he can in fact produce a film entirely through product placement? Are we meant to be aware of what's been shown to us? Or are we being pushed to our own side of the subject matter? With no defining conclusion other than the film being released it's hard to maintain a focused idea on what we're being shown and never works on the same levels as great documentaries do.
Despite this however it was an enjoyable way to spend the 80 minutes I sat and watched it. Through a constant bombardment of gags and comical situations it never becomes boring or dull as some documentaries ever do and at the same time is constantly informing the audience. It has certainly opened my eyes to product placement in films and that may be the whole purpose of the film, but it's never interpreted in that way and the scenes of Spurlock trying to fund his film are far more interesting than other peoples views or opinions on the matter which makes it work more on a film level rather than the documentary it intended to be.
funny
moivieFan20 November 2019
I had never thought to much about product placement in movies before I saw this documentary. I now know more about product placement now that I watched the the greatest movie ever sold. I thought the greatest movie ever sold was funny. Not huge laughs but, chuckles. I thought the documentary was going to be a little different than it turned out to be. I should have read the title better. I am glad I watched it. I had a few laughs and learned a little at the same time.
sell everything
lee_eisenberg25 May 2011
Having taken on the McDonald's diet in "Super Size Me", Morgan Spurlock now turns to advertising. "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" is a look at product placement, completely funded by product placements. Much of the documentary features Spurlock asking people about how product placement works, as well as inquiring about the ethics of it. The big surprise to me is just how prevalent product placement is (you're going to be hard-pressed to find a Hollywood movie that doesn't feature it).
Since a lot of the documentary features talking heads -- among them Noam Chomsky and Quentin Tarantino -- it's a little repetitive at times, but it's mostly a good look at the extent to which commercialism saturates our lives. And very funny every step of the way! And remember: always drink POM!
Since a lot of the documentary features talking heads -- among them Noam Chomsky and Quentin Tarantino -- it's a little repetitive at times, but it's mostly a good look at the extent to which commercialism saturates our lives. And very funny every step of the way! And remember: always drink POM!
How long before they start making cow brands with company logos on them?
StevePulaski23 August 2011
Over the years, product placement has become increasingly popular in cinema. That is when a company, like Coca-Cola, pays a film, what looks to be a blockbuster, to feature their product in it. The actors can be drinking it or it can just be a billboard in the background, but they have to feature it in a positive manor. If used correctly, it will give the studio money, the company more revenue, and everyone is happy for a short period of time. Until the blockbuster's sequel comes out and we do it all again.
In this day and age, it's hard to walk down the street without some form of advertising screaming at you. If one were to look up pictures of Times Square in New York you may get dizzy looking at all the colorful, effervescent advertisements staring you in the face. Even TV commercials have become longer, and more obvious in their marketing schemes. Even one of the most watched Television events known as the Super Bowl has famous commercials that are seconds in length but value at up to over millions of dollars. In this world, advertising is the key to success. Ram it in the public's head over and over until they give in.
I'm sure if one saw The Greatest Movie Ever Sold in the theaters they had to watch quite a few ads for vehicles like Honda, acne creams like Proactiv, and about ten trailers before getting what they payed for. I just realized not too long ago that studios pay the theaters to run their previews before a film, which is why we get those tediously lengthy previews before what we payed to see. Ralph Nader states in the film that if you want to not see one bit of advertising you should go to sleep. Unless you have nightmares of commercials or consumer products, sleep is the last place you want to go.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is brought to us not only by POM Wonderful, the pomegranate juice that is one of the many sponsors of the film, but also by Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock directed the amazing documentary Super Size Me, the quirky, underrated Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, and had a Television series on FX called 30 Days which ran for three years and three seasons.
Here, he gives us a taste at product placement, marketing, and advertising, in a film funded by those three things. Sort of a satirical approach at a serious topic. Spurlock is known to add humor into all his documentaries, and this is no exception. He comes equipped with a cheery smile, a calm nature, and an appetite for complication as he speaks to companies like Ban Deodorant, Mane 'n Tail, JetBlue, POM Wonderful, which later when on to present the film as in the title, Movietickets.com, and various others about the method of advertising and if they will agree to help finance his film.
Interviews with Big Boi, J.J. Abrams, and Quentin Tarantino are conducted, as well as a rockin' soundtrack. So, clearly, this is a fun documentary. But how much fun can you poke at a topic like advertising until the seriousness of the issue rears its head? Morgan does a good job of not going overboard, and carrying the film out to long, but it lacks a time where the film says something like "All right, look, product placement is all around us, etc." It tries to smile at us when while we are being alienated. I admire the crew for looking at this with a comedic side, but this isn't a very funny part of our planet.
But I will give POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold a thumbs up for also recommending a shoe I've worn for many years.
Starring: Morgan Spurlock, Ralph Nader, Quentin Tarantino, Antwon "Big Boi" Patton, and J.J. Abrams. Directed by: Morgan Spurlock.
In this day and age, it's hard to walk down the street without some form of advertising screaming at you. If one were to look up pictures of Times Square in New York you may get dizzy looking at all the colorful, effervescent advertisements staring you in the face. Even TV commercials have become longer, and more obvious in their marketing schemes. Even one of the most watched Television events known as the Super Bowl has famous commercials that are seconds in length but value at up to over millions of dollars. In this world, advertising is the key to success. Ram it in the public's head over and over until they give in.
I'm sure if one saw The Greatest Movie Ever Sold in the theaters they had to watch quite a few ads for vehicles like Honda, acne creams like Proactiv, and about ten trailers before getting what they payed for. I just realized not too long ago that studios pay the theaters to run their previews before a film, which is why we get those tediously lengthy previews before what we payed to see. Ralph Nader states in the film that if you want to not see one bit of advertising you should go to sleep. Unless you have nightmares of commercials or consumer products, sleep is the last place you want to go.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is brought to us not only by POM Wonderful, the pomegranate juice that is one of the many sponsors of the film, but also by Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock directed the amazing documentary Super Size Me, the quirky, underrated Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, and had a Television series on FX called 30 Days which ran for three years and three seasons.
Here, he gives us a taste at product placement, marketing, and advertising, in a film funded by those three things. Sort of a satirical approach at a serious topic. Spurlock is known to add humor into all his documentaries, and this is no exception. He comes equipped with a cheery smile, a calm nature, and an appetite for complication as he speaks to companies like Ban Deodorant, Mane 'n Tail, JetBlue, POM Wonderful, which later when on to present the film as in the title, Movietickets.com, and various others about the method of advertising and if they will agree to help finance his film.
Interviews with Big Boi, J.J. Abrams, and Quentin Tarantino are conducted, as well as a rockin' soundtrack. So, clearly, this is a fun documentary. But how much fun can you poke at a topic like advertising until the seriousness of the issue rears its head? Morgan does a good job of not going overboard, and carrying the film out to long, but it lacks a time where the film says something like "All right, look, product placement is all around us, etc." It tries to smile at us when while we are being alienated. I admire the crew for looking at this with a comedic side, but this isn't a very funny part of our planet.
But I will give POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold a thumbs up for also recommending a shoe I've worn for many years.
Starring: Morgan Spurlock, Ralph Nader, Quentin Tarantino, Antwon "Big Boi" Patton, and J.J. Abrams. Directed by: Morgan Spurlock.
Best sold movie
evdl436 September 2012
The greatest movie ever sold.
It is not about the greatest movie ever sold. It is the most sold movie. I hope everybody is aware that it is not a documentary, but one big commercial disguised as a documentary.
Very cleaver of course.
I have been in the USA a couple of times, and I can't shake the thought that the situation described in the movie Idiocrazy (2006) is coming to reality soon (first in the USA).
And that is the brilliance of this movie. Not to watch, but it is probably worthwhile for the maker of the movie. And therefore 7 out of 10 of using the numb system and people watching this.
It is not about the greatest movie ever sold. It is the most sold movie. I hope everybody is aware that it is not a documentary, but one big commercial disguised as a documentary.
Very cleaver of course.
I have been in the USA a couple of times, and I can't shake the thought that the situation described in the movie Idiocrazy (2006) is coming to reality soon (first in the USA).
And that is the brilliance of this movie. Not to watch, but it is probably worthwhile for the maker of the movie. And therefore 7 out of 10 of using the numb system and people watching this.
I'm not sold.
JohnDeSando19 May 2011
It's time for me to downsize my adoration of Morgan Spurlock, director of the Greatest Movie Ever Sold. His Supersize Me introduced me to the horrors of too much fast food, although I suspected that were so anyway. In Greatest, I learned nothing new about product placement in movies.
Despite his vigorous pursuit of companies to sponsor his film totally in product placement, I knew it all from the beginning. Much revenue is derived from an actor holding a Coke or a Pepsi. But then I knew that the minute I heard of the idea decades ago, and Spurlock adds zero insight, such as what marketing agencies or manufacturers really think about the idea other than their fear of Spurlock trashing them.
I did learn that Morgan Spurlock is as much the center of attention as Michael Moore. Spurlock seeks it out, guaranteeing his premier place by doing the film himself and showcasing his highly-developed sales skills.
OK, maybe I learned something else: In Sao Paulo outdoor advertising is banned. Although I thought I would be pleased, the city looked strangely vacant, something out of a horror flick. Maybe it's not the advertising I dislike—maybe it's just Morgan Spurlock's advertising himself that turns me off.
Despite his vigorous pursuit of companies to sponsor his film totally in product placement, I knew it all from the beginning. Much revenue is derived from an actor holding a Coke or a Pepsi. But then I knew that the minute I heard of the idea decades ago, and Spurlock adds zero insight, such as what marketing agencies or manufacturers really think about the idea other than their fear of Spurlock trashing them.
I did learn that Morgan Spurlock is as much the center of attention as Michael Moore. Spurlock seeks it out, guaranteeing his premier place by doing the film himself and showcasing his highly-developed sales skills.
OK, maybe I learned something else: In Sao Paulo outdoor advertising is banned. Although I thought I would be pleased, the city looked strangely vacant, something out of a horror flick. Maybe it's not the advertising I dislike—maybe it's just Morgan Spurlock's advertising himself that turns me off.
Greatest Movie Sold - brief
user-142-63262529 November 2014
Watchable, though not particularly illuminating documentary on product placement. Morgan Spurlock visits image consultants and product representatives, and pitches his notion of having them fund his documentary in exchange for gratuitous advertising throughout. The consultants and executives are far more interesting than the concept. At least one of the products I had no idea was still around - so this was a win for them. Major companies who declined had me scratching my head. The budget for this film was minuscule. $1.5 million. A major corporation's investment would have been petty. Decline. One pled that documentary viewers were too few to matter. Perhaps. Spurlock remains a recognizable name, however, and documentary viewers are oft times intelligent. Film was short, humorous, and I did sympathize with company honchos. Notwithstanding, I do tune out their ads.
Good, but not great
grantss21 August 2014
Good, but not great, documentary. The idea of a movie-within-that-same- movie, basically "The making of...(the movie)" IS the movie, is brilliant. Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame) handles this part superbly, setting out from the beginning to have this Mobius Strip-like structure to the movie, and weaving a great web around this.
However, the central theme of the movie, marketing and all its disguises, is hardly revolutionary or controversial. The idea of brand positioning in movies is not new, or even subtly done. So Spurlock's movie doesn't really cover new ground in that respect, though it does neatly package and inform us on the subject.
The problem with using corporate sponsors to fund the movie means Spurlock has to pull his punches when exposing the lengths of evils of brand positioning. If he had set out to trash the concept, he would have no sponsors and no funding, thus no movie.
So the movie's own concept dooms it to being less than brilliant.
Overall, worth watching, but not as enthralling as I would have expected.
However, the central theme of the movie, marketing and all its disguises, is hardly revolutionary or controversial. The idea of brand positioning in movies is not new, or even subtly done. So Spurlock's movie doesn't really cover new ground in that respect, though it does neatly package and inform us on the subject.
The problem with using corporate sponsors to fund the movie means Spurlock has to pull his punches when exposing the lengths of evils of brand positioning. If he had set out to trash the concept, he would have no sponsors and no funding, thus no movie.
So the movie's own concept dooms it to being less than brilliant.
Overall, worth watching, but not as enthralling as I would have expected.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011)
SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain12 December 2011
Spurlock continues being a stunt-documentarian. He takes an important issue and boils it down to something easy to comprehend and entertaining. He is far more concerned with holding the audiences attention than educating or asking them to think. It's a one joke movie, but an entertaining one. Like always he touches on genuinely fascinating ideas but doesn't explore them. I was very interested in the city with no advertising, but the section was too short. The conversations with filmmakers are rather interesting, as are their stories, but again Spurlock seems scared to really offend anyone. It was funny to see companies more interested in slamming the competition than making something funny and informative. A good easy watch, but shouldn't be watched for educational purposes.
Brilliant High Concept Movie-making
varmau2 June 2012
Morgan Spurlock once again pushes the envelope of movie-making with a unique form of documentary. It's a movie-within-a-movie about product placement and it explores all the artistic and moral dilemmas that go with the territory. He gets both sides of the story from famous directors (J.J. Abrams, Peter Berg) to big time marketing execs (with often hilarious war stories from the trade). All the while, truly "showing" rather than "telling" the story of how commercialism and art intersect, and often collide. Its a meditation on the (often financial) struggle many artists feel to get their message out. Spurlock puts his reputation at stake as he did with his health in Super Size Me. He also manages to be highly educational and its a must-see for anyone who studies marketing or aspires to be a producer.
Overall, its good natured, fun movie-making that's enjoyable through every scene. Spurlock is a talented documentarian with original style and flair that gets plenty of laughs.
Overall, its good natured, fun movie-making that's enjoyable through every scene. Spurlock is a talented documentarian with original style and flair that gets plenty of laughs.
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