Point and Shoot (film)

Point and Shoot is a documentary film written and directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Marshall Curry. It was produced by Marshall Curry, Elizabeth Martin and Matthew VanDyke.

Synopsis

Point and Shoot tells the story of Matthew VanDyke, a sheltered 26-year-old who left his Baltimore home and set off on a self-described “crash course in manhood.” While on a 35,000-mile motorcycle trip through Northern Africa and the Middle East, he struck up an unlikely friendship with a Libyan hippie. When revolution broke out in Libya, VanDyke decided to join his friend in the fight against dictator Muammar Gaddafi. With a gun in one hand and a camera in the other, VanDyke joined and documented the war until he was captured by Gaddafi forces and held for six months in solitary confinement.

Release

The film was acquired by theatrical distributors The Orchard[1][2] and was released in theaters on October 31, 2014.[3]

Awards

Reception

The film has a 72% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[13] In the Washington Post, Ann Hornaday described the film as an "absorbing, ingeniously crafted documentary" that gives the viewer a "street-level glimpse of the realities of war."[14] Stephen Holden wrote in the New York Times that the film suggests "the addictive rush of battlefield adventure is hard-wired into the male psyche."[15] Peter Bradshaw criticized the film in The Guardian, stating that the movie focusses on VanDyke himself and fails to explore the wider geopolitical context of the Libyan conflict.[16] Other critics described VanDyke as egocentric and questioned whether his experiences in the Middle East were driven by desire for fame and adrenaline, rather than geopolitical conviction.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

References

  1. ↑ "Marshall Curry's Tribeca-Winning Doc 'Point and Shoot' Goes to The Orchard". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  2. ↑ Bernstein, Paula (6 August 2014). "The Orchard Acquires Academy Award-Nominated Director Marshall Curry's 'Point and Shoot'". Indiewire. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "See The Film". Point and Shoot Official Website. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  4. ↑ O'Connell, Max (24 April 2014). "2014 Tribeca Film Festival Winners Include 'Zero Motivation,' 'Point and Shoot' and more". Indiewire (Indiewire). Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Cox, Gordon (24 April 2014). "Tribeca Film Festival: Israeli Film ‘Zero Motivation’ Scores Two Awards". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Salovaara, Sarah (25 April 2014). "2014 Tribeca Film Festival Winners". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "IFFBoston '14 Jury Award Winners Announced". http://www.lonelyreviewer.com/''. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Malcuit, Caitlin. "IFF Boston Winners Announced". http://www.thebackstagebeat.com''. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Stephenson, Will (19 May 2014). "Little Rock Film Festival Awards Roundup". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  10. ↑ Cox, Gordon (23 October 2014). "Gotham Award Nominations: ‘Boyhood’ Scores Four (FULL LIST)". Variety. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Thompson, Anne (29 October 2014). "International Documentary Association Nominations Impact the Oscar Shortlist". Indiewire. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Pond, Steve (12 November 2014). "‘Citizenfour’ Leads Cinema Eye Honors Nominations". The Wrap. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "POINT AND SHOOT". Rotten Tomatoes.
  14. ↑ Ann Hornaday (25 Nov 2014). "‘Point and Shoot’ review: Matthew VanDyke’s story takes twists and turns".
  15. ↑ Stephen Holden (31 Oct 2014). "Look! I’m Just Like Lawrence of Arabia". New York Times.
  16. ↑ Peter Bradshaw (16 Jan 2015). "Point and Shoot review – a very selfie adventure". The Guardian.
  17. ↑ Wheeler, Brad (November 21, 2014). "Point and Shoot: A narcissist’s crash course in how to be a man". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  18. ↑ Kermode, Mark (January 18, 2015). "Point and Shoot review – profile of a macho misfit". The Guardian. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  19. ↑ Weissberg, Jay (November 4, 2014). "Film Review: ‘Point and Shoot’". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  20. ↑ Alexander, Al (21 November 2014). "REVIEW: 'Point and Shoot' documents an egomaniac's experience of war". Metro West Daily News. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  21. ↑ Heath Jr., Glenn (25 November 2014). "Matthew VanDyke searches for purpose in “Point and Shoot”". San Diego City Beat. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Dillard, Clayton (27 October 2014). "Point and Shoot". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Bovie review - Point and Shoot". BrightestYoungThings.com. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

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