The Amazing Johnathan Documentary

I've never heard of the Amazing Jonathan, I'm not sure anyone in the UK has, thankfully the movie became less and less about him and more and more about making the documentary. I would have stopped watching if it had of been totally about him. With all these kind of films they seem to be made in the edit. It's hard to work out what's true but I enjoyed the overall film and Ben made the film enjoyable.

I watched this movie this past weekend at the Boston Independent Film Festival. The entire theater full of people received it so well. The energy in the theater was palpable and you could tell everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. It had a PERFECT mix of mystery, comedy, poignancy, and wonderful story-telling. Ben Berman absolutely nailed this film given his many obstacles and dilemmas while filming. It was funny, entertaining, interesting, and just an overall wonderful watch. I'm giving it a 10 out of 10. There is nothing that could have been done any better.

Bravo, Ben!! I tried to find your email address to write you a direct message, but this is the best I could do. Amazing job at your FIRST EVER FEATURE FILM! You nailed it.

Tantamount to walking into the 'Hall of Mirrors' the local {annual} state fair, usually held early fall, in virtually every hometown-city USA, and then, w great expectation & abject certainty, spending the next 15-20 minutes, in search of a common-denominator, (before that inevitable carnival-barker appears & shouts.... This Way Folks......This way to The Exit!

Admittedly, although there were a number of jumping off spots, littered throughout this film & met w the temptation to act accordingly... There exists (in all candor), an intrinsic & worthwhile redeeming value, for those that, make the approx., 90-minute time-investment {e.g. Leaving w a deeper understanding & compassion, for experiencing & connecting w humanity}. ...No Foolin'.

Though this documentary sets out to be the story of "the amazing Johnathan", it's a better story about when the subject of the documentary gives you lemons, make lemonade! The subject of the documentary, though interesting, was less interesting to me than Ben Berman who made this documentary. A lot was occurring in relation to making this, and we feel the struggles that Berman goes through after learning he wasn't the first or even second person making this. Then the question remains on who knew what and, really, who was being hoodwinked about many things. I give a ton of credit to Berman on the process (and many struggles) in seeing his way to making this, and his VERY clever approach to making this documentary! This is NOT your "average documentary". Way to go, Ben, with your amazing ability on story telling (and telling the story ABOUT telling a story!!)

Spoiler Alert: This is not a documentary about the Amazing Jonathan, this is a movie about a film maker's attempt to make a documentary about the Amazing Johnathan. People are giving this movie low reviews because it feels like a bait and switch when halfway through the film the focus changes from what we assume are the Amazing Jonathan last days to the director's Ben Berman's plight as a documentary maker. If you go into the film with the understanding that this is not a film about the Amazing Jonathan, you will enjoy the film much much more. The producers would have done a much better job if they had just named it Not The Amazing Johnathan Documentary.