Magical Universe

Wistfully sad (and sadly insufficient) documentary from amateur filmmaker Jeremy Workman regarding the eccentric art and reclusive life of Maine resident, veteran and widower Al Carbee. Workman's 'movie' is really just a project, one with little visual flair, no filmmaking vitality and, surprisingly, not even a sentimental overture at the finale. Expanding a four-minute short he had previously done on Carbee in 2001--photographing Carbee's photos, collages and Barbie doll dioramas--Workman doesn't even ask his subject any probing questions (with the exception of "Are you lonely?", which seems redundant). Carbee's rambling old farmhouse (in foreclosure) is revealed to harbor decades of pictures and diaries and personal artwork, mostly semi-provocative collages he's taken of his treasured Barbies. Carbee's late wife was embarrassed by her husband "playing with dolls," yet he always told her he was working with them as an artist works with his models (and we're to assume this did little to nullify her objections). The best section of the film, when the curious come with trepidation to see Carbee's showing at a local museum--and leave with smiles on their faces--is wonderful, but there's no follow up to Carbee's triumph on Workman's part; everything is allowed to be frittered away. So, where's the magic? ** from ****

The compulsion to create was innate in Al Carbee and so his art, if odd, also feels necessary and natural. Even though each piece was painstakingly contrived and crafted by him, his body of work feels inevitable.

This film feels similarly motivated and is therefore one of the more moving documentaries I have seen.

This making of this film was clearly a labor of love. It is a great movie, and not a mere "project" as one IMDB user reviewer falsely describes it. The filmmaker, Jeremy Workman, had to walk a tightrope between pity and piety, and only his honest and fearless love for his subject, a mysterious, bizarre and eccentric old gentleman, Al Carbee, kept him aloft. The result is a MUST SEE for audiences of all kinds. This film is not political; it doesn't have an agenda; it doesn't have a cause or an ax to grind; it is neither mean-spirited nor sarcastic; it's just plain weird fun, that pulls you in, engages you, but then, most surprisingly, leads you to ponder the most profound questions that one can ask. Fact is stranger than fiction, and the story of Al Carbee illustrates this strange fact perfectly. Mr. Workman's brilliance is evident in his artful slow peeling back of the layers of the endless onion that is the bizarre enigma of Al Carbee. You have to see this movie for yourself to understand why it keeps affecting people so deeply, and has garnered such a following, a growing following. The real mystery is this: was Al Carbee a silly old fool, or a sly mystical sage? What did Al Carbee actually know? Where did he actually go? And most important, what is and where is Epicuma?

Magical Universe is an inspiring documentary and a must see for any person who considers themselves creative. Al's mantra that "a creative person has to create" rings true for anyone who's ever faced difficulty in pursuing their passion. Despite difficulties throughout his life, Al doesn't think twice about spending all of his money on supplies and dedicating his entire life to his artwork. I was so inspired by his lifelong dedication to pursue something widely considered bizarre (Barbie doll photography) and throw aside all judgment. It's truly incredible to witness one person's passion that has been contained for years released into the world and embraced by it.

You can't help but fall in love with Al Carbee and his way of approaching the world. We could all benefit from looking at life a little bit more like Al - that no matter what life throws at you, a creative person has to keep creating..

What an interesting journey this documentary takes you on! I grew up collecting and playing with Barbies, but the star of the film, Al Carbee, takes it to a whole other level, and it's truly fascinating. Throughout the many rooms of his house, Carbee crafts complicated vignettes with Barbies and photographs them. The fact that the world would never know about Carbee's work if filmmaker Jeremy Workman hadn't happened upon him accidentally and realized the incredible story and friendship he stumbled upon, is incredible. Carbee had literally been quietly working alone for years and years, tucked away in his house. In Workman's hands, Carbee's "magical universe" truly comes alive, and it inspires the viewer to create something great too.