Hot Docs Review

Title: The People Vs. George Lucas

Director: Alexandre O. Philippe

Genre: Documentary

Studio: Exhibit A Pictures

Running Time: 97 Minutes

Screens: Tuesday, May 4 at 11:45 PM

Venue: The Bloor Cinema

Reviewed By: Adam A. Donaldson

“George Lucas raped by childhood.” Back during the free spirited days at the beginning of the Internet revolution, the above phrase was borne out of the dual traumas of Greedo shooting first and Jar Jar Binks. For the re-edits of the original Star Wars trilogy and Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace were so horrific that…well, you might have seen the South Park episode with Lucas, Spielberg and Indiana Jones, and if you haven’t, I’m sure the clip is on YouTube somewhere.

Walking out of the Hot Docs screening of The People Vs. George Lucas though, I wondered to myself: Really? Was it that bad? Certainly the prequel Star Wars trilogy, released between 1999 and 2005, weren’t exactly shiny, glorious moments of cinematic triumph, but weren’t we, at least, entertained? Apparently not, since Alexandre O. Philippe not only made a documentary in the form of a mock trial about Lucas and his crimes against Star Warriors, he even got fandom itself to line-up as witnesses for the prosecution. Their evidence is presented in a myriad of clips and spoofs both live action and animated.

But the length to which people decry George Lucas and condemn him for compromising his vision only really proves one thing anyway: just how much these people still, and forever will, love Star Wars. After all, could not the prequel trilogy and fan reaction find an allegory in the story of Icarus? The file footage of people lining-up for Meet Joe Black in November 1998 just to see the Phantom Menace trailer is proof that expectations for the film were atmospheric. (And in a note to our younger readers, 1998 was prior to the advent of YouTube, so people still had to go to a movie theatre to see a trailer.)

So is The People Vs. George Lucas the Nuremberg of fandom retaliation? Hardly, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a terrific show trial. The mania, the hysteria, the cultural impact, the preternatural outrage, and the depression-turned-anger limited two-stage mourning process is palpable. However, there was an element where all the condemnation made me say to myself, Come on, just change the DVD and watch something different. You also discover that there’s a fine line between being overly critical and committing overdosing on cinematic outrage.

Interestingly, it was the French that gave the most refreshing bit of insight about the prequel trilogy as two French film critics remark of Lucas’ boldness in inserting a broadly comedic character like Jar Jar into the normally demure Star Wars universe. Now it’s true that the French have previously elevated Jerry Lewis to comedic divinity, but what an interesting new interpretation, especially inserted amongst a montage of fan films featuring everyone’s favourite Gungan being visited on by season’s worth of 24-style torture.

There were times watching this film where it felt like there really wasn’t anything new to add, rather just a rallying point for people still ticked in the years to come to say, “Look. Look at this movie. You know why George Lucas sucks? Here’s why!” Carry a grudge much? But there are a couple of things that the movie touched on that I do feel is legit criticisms, and I wish they had expanded on them. For instance, what happened to Lucas’ plan to make these small, personal films once Star Wars was “finished”? And how can the guy that stood up against Ted Turner for his colourize crazy agenda, then years later throw away the 1.0 versions of his own films and call them “imperfect”?

But those are kind of intellectual concerns. What The People Vs. George Lucas delivers really is pure fun. A lot of metaphors are made to between victims of domestic violence and Star Wars fans feelings about the saga post-1997, but I think it’s more like people who fall in love with prison inmates. You know the person behind bars has done something wrong, but you just can’t help yourself, you love them the same as you always have despite the character flaws. Or maybe you could just get over it and watch something by John Ford or Akira Kurosawa. Your call entirely.

Written by :

Adam