Popatopolis

This documentary is a riot from the first frame to the last. From the musical numbers to Jim's repetitive outbursts, I was completely entertained and enthralled the entire time. The way the documentary was set up almost mirrored the quirky tendencies of the director it followed, and truly that only furthered the magnetism the film let off. But not only was it hilarious, but it was borderline inspiring. How could someone set out to succeed at such an impossible task of filming a movie in 3 days? Seeing who Jim is and how he works, you begin to understand how he makes it possible. Then, after seeing (on various occasions) Jim's enthusiasm for the bimbo scantily clad, you hate yourself for thinking him a genius. But, that's what he is. There's a rare breed that can be so passionate, angry, and strange at the same time whilst creating a feature film, and it's something that the man exceeds at. This documentary perfectly captures the essence that is Jim W. and the movies he so loves to create.

You wouldn't expect a documentary to have a twist in it, but for my viewing experience, I can truly attest to the film going to a place that I did not expect. Up until about 20 minutes left in the film, I thought I was watching a mockumentary. I truly never for a second believed I was watching a documentary about a real man named Jim Wynorsky. I didn't think Jim couldn't not be a written character, and all his antics, whether just reflections of his personality or his let's say questionable decision making when it comes to filmmaking could represent reality in any true sense. Boy was I wrong. The documentary took on an entirely different reality to me when I looked the film up and discovered that everyone featured was not playing a part, but was a real person going through real experiences on a 3 day movie shoot. With that information in mind, this documentary takes on a whole new meaning and can't be rated high enough as an examination of the state of the "B" movie and the impact one Jim Wynorsky has had on it.

Popatopolis (2009)

*** (out of 4)

I think it's fair to say that director Jim Wynorski will never win an Oscar but he's become known for being one of the better people out there making low-budget "B" and "C" movies. Some of his films include CHOPPING MALL, BIG BAD MAMA II, SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE II and DINOSAUR ISLAND. This documentary follows Wynorski as he tries to film THE WITCHES OF BREASTWYCK in just three days. I've always been a fan of Wynorski so that helped add to my enjoyment of this film but I think that even if you've never heard of him you can still be entertained by this thing. We've all heard stories about Roger Corman and others making movies in a few days so it was fascinating watching this documentary as it shows someone trying to do this. We get a lot of time with the director as he's having to deal with certain issues that come up and this ranges from actresses forgetting their lines to a porn star doing her first "normal" movie and not knowing how far to go in a simulated sex scene. There's even a funny moment where the director and his actress argue about wearing panties during a sex scene. We get interviews with Wynorski, Corman, Julie Smith, Monique Parent, Julie Strain, Stormy Daniels and Antonia Dorian among others. I think fans of the director are obviously going to enjoy this look at his career but others should also find themselves entertained just by watching someone try to do a hundred different shots in one day.

B Movies are known for their absurdity, weak story, cheesy visual effects, and ... acting, but how does a product like this get made, and more perplexingly, how does it become popular? Somehow we love watching these films BECAUSE of how bad they are.. the worse they are, the more often we watch and talk about them, even making them part of our holiday traditions. Popatopolis gives us at the underbelly of the underbelly of cinema, and the results are, well, not that surprising. You see low budgets, little-no preparation, and an almost nonexistent passion for the art. What truly shines about this documentary are the personalities, which seem so genuine, and how all the arguing, the disorganization, and the minimal forethought defies probability to result in a finished product.

Jim Wynorski is a character in himself. This documentary is more than a notorious B-Movie director attempting to film a movie in three days, its about the director behind it all. Jim is funny, angry, talented, and some might say a bit crazy. His famous catch phrase, "Hate It!" is a definite theme throughout the film. Watching this short-tempered director bark orders at his crew of two, and D-list actors is often uncomfortable but also entertaining. You learn about Jim's past from his adorable mother who says,"He was always a loner." and "He's a director..right?". I found this documentary absolutely hilarious and interesting. The film maker in me really needed to know HOW was this man going to make a feature, even a B-movie, in THREE DAYS?! And with a two man crew?! The concept seemed so absurd to me, and probably most people. But to see how resourceful he is was a learning experience. The documentary will definitely make you laugh and is a must see for anyone who is into the now dying genre of B-Movies. Popatopolis is also perfect if you are a aspiring or even successful film maker.