CATFISH

CAROLINE: So there’s this new documentary Catfish that a lot of people are talking about that I was lucky enough to see a few weeks ago so no one had ruined it for me.

RYAN: I’ve heard of it, of course, and you encouraged me to see it, but I know very little about it.

CAROLINE: That’s actually a good thing. The less you know about it the better, and I went in knowing next to nothing. I just knew it was a movie about Facebook in some capacity.

RYAN: So it’s worthy of a big screen viewing?

CAROLINE: Yes, for its buzzworthiness; but probably only for folks who are way into movies and try to see everything. It’s only out in limited release at the moment. Others can wait for the DVD since it’s really low budget and basically looks like you or I could have shot it. Which is the point, because it was shot by these guys who are aspiring filmmakers and it’s the first thing they’ve done that’s gotten any recognition.

RYAN: So is the only thing you’re gonna tell me is that it’s a movie about Facebook? I might need more incentive than that.

CAROLINE: I really don’t wait to give anything away because I think the movie is more fun when you have no expectations. I didn’t even watch the trailer beforehand, and I’m so glad I didn’t because it makes the movie look like some Blair Witch-esque thriller, which it totally isn’t. It’s more of a cautionary tale and a really interesting look at the human psyche.

RYAN: Sounds intriguing.

CAROLINE: It really is. It’s a fascinating movie, even though it’s not much to look at. There’s zero production value, but the story that unfolds is crazy. And it’s all shot by these regular guys who live in NYC so you kind of get the sense that this could happen to anyone. And it probably happens all the time on Facebook, it’s just not documented like this.

RYAN: Can you give me a teeny bit of plot?

CAROLINE: It’s about this photographer, Nev, who’s in his early 20s, and the 8-year-old girl who writes him a letter. Turns out she’s a talented artist and wants to reproduce some of his photographs with her paintings. She lives in Michigan, the two of them become Facebook friends and he gets to know her whole family that way.

RYAN: Yeah, that definitely doesn’t sound like a thriller.

CAROLINE: Yes, but it’s what happens over the course of a few months that makes it a crazy movie. I think you’d really enjoy it; there’s just a lot else to see in theaters right now, so I’m not sure how motivated you’ll be to check it out.

RYAN: I’m more excited to see Devil, frankly. But I might give this one a shot too.

— BOTTOM LINE —

CAROLINE: It’s a very interesting little movie that’s getting a lot of buzz and is totally worth seeing for that reason. You also want to see it before anyone tells you how it ends and ruins it for you. It’s definitely more of a rental in terms of its scale, but it’s very timely and relevant to today’s world. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Between this and The Social Network, which comes out in 2 weeks, it’s a very Facebook autumn this year. Enjoy it!

— RATING —