The Pantheon of Geniuses: Errol Morris

Documentary filmmaking is often presented as a simple, easy exercise anyone can do. Sure, to make a feature film or a narrative you need lighting, actors, technical know-how and all of that stuff, but any schlub with a digital camcorder can run out and make a documentary about their crazy next door neighbor and begin winning all sorts of prizes and acclaim for just following them around. Of course, it isn’t that simple, and while it is true that some people can do this and succeed, most documentary filmmakers work their asses off, and this is where Errol Morris comes in. Morris is, quite possibly, the most serious and dedicated documentary filmmaker around, for while others may do quick interviews, edit it together with some B-roll and call it a movie, Errol shots marathon, hours upon hours of interview footage and weeds it down to a succinct, thrilling, action packed movie. I never thought that I could be so entertained by watching long interviews, but Errol does it. His movies are dramatic, and this is something that most documentaries lack. They have a rising action, a climax, and a fulfilling end. In addition, Errol goes beyond the documentary format to experiment with new techniques. He is a documentary filmmaker, but he is also a manipulator, using staged scenes and inventive, brilliant editing to create a work that sometimes might resemble fiction more than non-fiction. His subjects are always the most fascinating people he can find. His half-hour television series, sadly lasting for only two seasons, is so chock full of interesting people that the brief, half-hour length of every episode is always disappointing. From giant squid chasers to the man with the highest IQ (a bouncer at a club) to the director of the Mutter museum, Morris knows how to find them. On top of this, he uses an innovative, multi-camera system that captures his subject from multiple angles, allowing him to intercut to show every nuance and movement in his subjects’ faces. This system, which Morris created himself, also allows both him and his subject to view each other only from specially placed television screens. For whatever reasons, this works, and Morris is able to talk to people and get them to say things that no one else can. Most likely stemming from his earlier career as a private investigator, Morris is born to talk to people, and you’ll want to listen to what they have to say.

Recommended Viewing:
A Brief History of Time
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control
Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.
The Fog of War
First Person (Television Series)
A Brief History of Errol Morris