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Fast, Cheap and Out of Control
Columbia/Tri-Star // PG // September 24, 2002
List Price: $24.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
A somewhat stranger cousin to Michael Apted's similar 1997 film "Inspirations", Errol Morris's well-recieved 1997 documentary feature "Fast, Cheap and Out Of Control" looks at a series of professionals who are leaders in their rather unusual fields. In this case, Morris examines the lives of: a lion tamer, a gardener who trims shrubs so that they look like animals, an expert on the habits of the naked mole rat and a man who designs robots.
The film offers an interesting viewpoint into the lives of these people while also occasionally breaking into the same style as Godfrey Reggio's "Koyaanisquatsi"; while there's dialogue and other sound effects here, I felt as if Morris's film used Caleb Sampson's score to achieve sort of a rhythm with the editing that sometimes reminded me of Reggio's film.
Although it doesn't seem entirely possible, the film is able to tie the lives of these very dissimilar people together, although even then, the comparisons and overall themes are left to be pondered by the viewer. Personally, the "out of control" aspect of the title (although meant for space traveling robots in the film itself) is the easiest to see in the final piece: each of the subjects are attempting to find control over their subjects, but also have the potential of losing that control at any moment. All four also seem under their own control - all of the four seem largely independent and seeking their own success on their own terms.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is presented by Columbia/Tristar Home Video in a new, very pleasant 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. With the film's beautiful cinematography by Robert Richardson (who has worked with Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone), this documentary certainly is more visually interesting than most in the genre. Although the varying styles and varied footage (35 mm, 16mm and 8mm) can occasionally make the picture appear slightly on the soft side, there are also sequences that have above-average sharpness and detail.
Most of the usual flaws do not appear: the picture remains free of edge enhancement and any artifacts. However, print flaws are visible, although they largely seemed to pop up only in the interview segments. While no serious wear was spotted, a fair amount of small specks and a mark or two were seen. The film's bright, lively color palette showed through superbly, looking well-saturated (although very slightly smeared once or twice) and crisp. If it wasn't for the print flaws scattered throughout this presentation, it would really move from simply being good to excellent.
The film certainly moves quickly; at 82 minutes and containing eccentric, funny and interesting subjects, "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is always involving. While there have been several terrific documentaries over the past several years ("The Kid Stays in the Picture", the documentary on the life of producer Robert Evans, is still my favorite film so far in 2002), "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is certainly one of the best and also one of Morris's most accessable features.
SOUND: The 2.0 soundtrack reproduces dialogue and the score crisply and clearly. There's little else going on.
MENUS: Very basic, non-animated main & sub-menus.
EXTRAS: Bonus trailers for: "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould", "Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels" and David Mamet's "The Spanish Prisoner".
Final Thoughts: An excellent documentary feature that focuses upon four amusing, quirky individuals, "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" also offers dazzing cinematography and a fast pace. Columbia/Tristar's DVD edition is a disapointing, bare-bones effort, though: While audio/video quality is fine, this is a film where a commentary from Morris or some other materials would have been appreciated. Still, this clever, entertaining film is highly recommended.
A somewhat stranger cousin to Michael Apted's similar 1997 film "Inspirations", Errol Morris's well-recieved 1997 documentary feature "Fast, Cheap and Out Of Control" looks at a series of professionals who are leaders in their rather unusual fields. In this case, Morris examines the lives of: a lion tamer, a gardener who trims shrubs so that they look like animals, an expert on the habits of the naked mole rat and a man who designs robots.
The film offers an interesting viewpoint into the lives of these people while also occasionally breaking into the same style as Godfrey Reggio's "Koyaanisquatsi"; while there's dialogue and other sound effects here, I felt as if Morris's film used Caleb Sampson's score to achieve sort of a rhythm with the editing that sometimes reminded me of Reggio's film.
Although it doesn't seem entirely possible, the film is able to tie the lives of these very dissimilar people together, although even then, the comparisons and overall themes are left to be pondered by the viewer. Personally, the "out of control" aspect of the title (although meant for space traveling robots in the film itself) is the easiest to see in the final piece: each of the subjects are attempting to find control over their subjects, but also have the potential of losing that control at any moment. All four also seem under their own control - all of the four seem largely independent and seeking their own success on their own terms.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is presented by Columbia/Tristar Home Video in a new, very pleasant 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. With the film's beautiful cinematography by Robert Richardson (who has worked with Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone), this documentary certainly is more visually interesting than most in the genre. Although the varying styles and varied footage (35 mm, 16mm and 8mm) can occasionally make the picture appear slightly on the soft side, there are also sequences that have above-average sharpness and detail.
Most of the usual flaws do not appear: the picture remains free of edge enhancement and any artifacts. However, print flaws are visible, although they largely seemed to pop up only in the interview segments. While no serious wear was spotted, a fair amount of small specks and a mark or two were seen. The film's bright, lively color palette showed through superbly, looking well-saturated (although very slightly smeared once or twice) and crisp. If it wasn't for the print flaws scattered throughout this presentation, it would really move from simply being good to excellent.
The film certainly moves quickly; at 82 minutes and containing eccentric, funny and interesting subjects, "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is always involving. While there have been several terrific documentaries over the past several years ("The Kid Stays in the Picture", the documentary on the life of producer Robert Evans, is still my favorite film so far in 2002), "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" is certainly one of the best and also one of Morris's most accessable features.
SOUND: The 2.0 soundtrack reproduces dialogue and the score crisply and clearly. There's little else going on.
MENUS: Very basic, non-animated main & sub-menus.
EXTRAS: Bonus trailers for: "32 Short Films About Glenn Gould", "Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels" and David Mamet's "The Spanish Prisoner".
Final Thoughts: An excellent documentary feature that focuses upon four amusing, quirky individuals, "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" also offers dazzing cinematography and a fast pace. Columbia/Tristar's DVD edition is a disapointing, bare-bones effort, though: While audio/video quality is fine, this is a film where a commentary from Morris or some other materials would have been appreciated. Still, this clever, entertaining film is highly recommended.
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