Thierry Guetta used to be an eccentric shop owner who loved to film every and anything that he could see. About ten years ago he stumbled onto a friend who was doing street art and it got him interested in the topic and ever since then he’s spent his days documenting the art and eventually getting in contact with the infamous artist Banksy. This is that film.

When it comes to graffiti I must say that I’m as knowledgeable as an 80-year-old man in South Florida who’s been forgotten by his children. I know of it, but have never taken the time to actually study it or try to know any names attached to it. Before this movie was being advertised/talked about I didn’t even know who Banksy was. However, this film has opened my eyes to not only the popular culture that is street art, but actually makes me start to think that it’s much more than just silly things like gang tags from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

This is one of those movies which run around in the very odd category of ‘meh’ until it hits the final act. The film seems to take its eye and look into the world of graffiti art by taking us out at night and we watch people like Space Invader and Banksy actually put up their art knowing that if they’re caught it’ll be an odd moment with the police and possibly more than just taking it down and saying you’re sorry. However, when it’s all said and done I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything. Until of course we hit the third act where Banksy himself has taken over the direction of the movie and left Thierry to go and become his own street artist.

We now meet Mr. Brainwash (MBW) which is Thierry’s alter ego. Thierry, having spent years being the spectator and even just the assistant in the world of street art is finally given the chance to create his own interpretation of the art. It’s obvious that he, like any other documentary filmmakers, decides to take what he knows and puts it on display. His style is something that is obviously riffing on something that’s already there – drawing from pop culture – but never seems original. However, because I don’t know any better I just think it’s great. So when we as a viewer see the eyes of all those artists who Thierry spent the last hour lauding over and idolizing are starting to look at his work and realise what monster they’ve actually created. Then we see how this is not only subpar art being hyped up but it’s actually working. Thierry has become the example of commercializing an art that he thinks he understands, but he pretty much only knew how to exploit and do so well.

The film is one of those movies which keep you thinking as soon as it’s over and further. Especially because of the speculation online of the claims that the movie is slightly fabricated, even though Banksy has come out and said differently. Some think that this movie is another grand Banksy prank and if it is that’s amazing, but if it isn’t – like I believe – then that doesn’t hurt the movie either.

This is one of the best documentaries of the year and definitely puts forward a story and aspect of the world that I’m sure you think you know about, but you really don’t.

IMDB says 8.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes says 97%

I say 9.5/10