What Would Jesus Buy? is a documentary produced by Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me fame, that addresses the US’s rampant consumerism at Christmas. The film follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they take their mission to prevent the Shopocalypse to the malls of America. At the outset it is not clear that Reverend Billy is a fictitious character, especially given all the strange tele-evangelists in the US. But once it is made clear the film becomes a lot more fun rather than slightly disturbing. This is not a religious campaign but rather a moral one. From a British viewpoint some of the scenes are absolutely mindboggling in the excesses of rampant materialism. There are messages about sweatshops and human rights although they could be explored further and possibly from both sides of the argument. What I found particularly disturbing, and which was not pursued is how the group were not allowed to protest. Whenever they turned up at shopping malls or stores they were quickly, and physically ejected. In the so-called land of the free it seems you have freedom of speech as long as it isn’t against consumerism and corporate greed.
Although the film took a lighthearted look at the subject it really needed to be more hard-hitting if the producer wants to make any serious impact on the masses. But it’s a start.
I tried to watch Lovely by Surprise but it was trying to be too clever for itself and I switched it off after 15 minutes, which meant I’d gone past the crucial first 10 minutes and was left unconvinced.
After that last failed attempt I decided to call it a day and went for a bit of light relief at the Fringe, taking in Patrick Monahan’s stand-up show, Feel the Love at the Underbelly. His performance is infectious and his interaction with the audience is superb, which he manages to integrate nicely with his material about being an Irish Iranian growing up on Teeside. He must be one of the few comedians on that can still get a laugh without having to swear or be rude.
Jury members for the Michael Powell Award gather at The Filmhouse. From left: Jonathan Coe (writer), Jan Weissberg (film critic), Natalie Priest (actress), Kate Dickie (actress) and Chair Geoff Gilmore (Director of Sundance Film Festival).
Jury members for Sky Movies Best Documentary from left: Penny Woolcock (Director), Chair Jeffrey Blitz (Director), Pawel Pawel Pawlikowski (Director)
