Catfish (2010 Documentary)
#1
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Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Surprised there isn't a thread for this yet, I figured it would be getting buzz (both positive and negative).
Trailer: I've never embedded video before so if this doesn't work, here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKe75Q6eVw
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The trailer makes it look like it's a Blair Witch/Paranormal Activity type movie, but don't get fooled. It's not in the horror/thriller genre at all. I don't want to give away too much but:
The barebones plot is that Abby is an 8 year old artist that was inspired by Nev's (our main character) photographs. She sends him her work and Nev begins to have a Facebook/Gchat/Phone relationship with Abby and her family, who include Angela (Abby's mother), Adam (Abby's brother) and Megan (Abby's half sister). Everything I just said you pick up on within the first 10 minutes. The story is about his relationship with them.
My feelings after seeing it:
Trailer: I've never embedded video before so if this doesn't work, here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKe75Q6eVw
<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AFKe75Q6eVw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AFKe75Q6eVw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
The trailer makes it look like it's a Blair Witch/Paranormal Activity type movie, but don't get fooled. It's not in the horror/thriller genre at all. I don't want to give away too much but:
The barebones plot is that Abby is an 8 year old artist that was inspired by Nev's (our main character) photographs. She sends him her work and Nev begins to have a Facebook/Gchat/Phone relationship with Abby and her family, who include Angela (Abby's mother), Adam (Abby's brother) and Megan (Abby's half sister). Everything I just said you pick up on within the first 10 minutes. The story is about his relationship with them.
My feelings after seeing it:
Spoiler:
#3
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
There's too much talk over whats real/fake and how horribly mis-advertised it is for me to really care about it.
#4
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Thread Starter
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
I think that's up for debate but I haven't heard anything definitive on it.. but the creators say it's all true so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and called it a documentary.
Although I don't think it matters in the grand scheme of things.
Although I don't think it matters in the grand scheme of things.
Last edited by Goat3001; 09-20-10 at 08:52 AM.
#5
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Thread Starter
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
The advertising is terrible and I feel that a lot of people will absolutely hate the movie because they were expecting something completely different. I went in thinking that it would be a Blair With style movie. I walked out disappointed and even told a friend not to bother seeing it. After I slept on it and took it all in I changed my tune (and told my friend to give it a chance). It's a lot better once you get past the mis-advertising.
#6
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Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
A friend of mine involved with the Toronto Film Festival told me this film is one to watch out for, and was one of the more popular ones at the festival. I'm looking forward to it.
#10
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Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Yeah I'm confused.
#12
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
I read in one of the reviews that Nev, the protagonist, wants to bail out at a certain point, but the filmmaking team, one of whom is Nev's brother, persuades him to continue. So they basically exploited Nev to help them get a movie out of
I'd be very pissed off if my brother pushed me into a situation like that. (But then I'm pissed off at my brothers for a lot less than that. It would never get that far in my family. Someone would bail out during the discussion phase.)
Spoiler:
I'd be very pissed off if my brother pushed me into a situation like that. (But then I'm pissed off at my brothers for a lot less than that. It would never get that far in my family. Someone would bail out during the discussion phase.)
#13
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Thread Starter
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Spoiler:
I read in one of the reviews that Nev, the protagonist, wants to bail out at a certain point, but the filmmaking team, one of whom is Nev's brother, persuades him to continue. So they basically exploited Nev to help them get a movie out of
I'd be very pissed off if my brother pushed me into a situation like that. (But then I'm pissed off at my brothers for a lot less than that. It would never get that far in my family. Someone would bail out during the discussion phase.)
Spoiler:
I'd be very pissed off if my brother pushed me into a situation like that. (But then I'm pissed off at my brothers for a lot less than that. It would never get that far in my family. Someone would bail out during the discussion phase.)
Spoiler:
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
I saw an advanced screening for this a couple weeks ago at the Metreon in San Francisco.
I enjoyed it up until the ending. Not because of what happened but because when things are revealed, the pace of the film just starts to drag pretty badly. It sort of kills all the fun and tension that is the first 3/4ths of the film.
I enjoyed it up until the ending. Not because of what happened but because when things are revealed, the pace of the film just starts to drag pretty badly. It sort of kills all the fun and tension that is the first 3/4ths of the film.
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Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Finally caught this one and yes the marketing is extremely misleading. The most disturbing aspects of the movie are Nev's tramp-stamp and over abundant chest hair.
#20
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Even with being mislead to believe that this was a "reality thriller" I still enjoyed the movie, which I saw at a press screening a few weeks ago.
I can't help but think that the mis-marketing can't do anything but hurt the film in the long run though. The topic is good enough to stand on its own even with the controversy of what or whether certain parts are real vs. fake. I actually think it's a combo of both myself.
I can't help but think that the mis-marketing can't do anything but hurt the film in the long run though. The topic is good enough to stand on its own even with the controversy of what or whether certain parts are real vs. fake. I actually think it's a combo of both myself.
#21
Senior Member
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Spoiler:
#22
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
I really enjoyed this movie. I can completely believe that these are the kind of guys that film everything they do and lucked into the material for the movie. I'm pretty sure they were skeptical early in the process and edited that out of the movie for a better narrative flow but the events were real.
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
I hope the above isn't true because that would color my opinion of the makers of this movie a great deal. But if it's true, the way everything starts and progresses rings true with the way social networking goes these days and that's kind of how I connected with the story.
#23
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Spoiler:
Maybe I am over simplifying this but that happens every day. I too was taken in by the ads thinking it was some type of cool thriller as it says don't spoil this for anyone. Looks like I will pass on it.
#25
Re: Catfish (2010 Documentary)
Spoiler:
Personally I'm of the belief that everyone in the film was playing a character, even if it was themselves who they were portraying