Documentary

The New York Times recently posted Current TV’s “50 Documentaries to See Before You Die.”  I’m not really sure why you have to watch these before you die.  Is watching  The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters the one thing that determines whether or not you get into Heaven or Hell?  Why do none of the documentaries on the list deal with death? It seems as if the title leaves you with more questions than the finale of Lost. Hoop Dreams, The Thin Blue Line, and Roger & Me are noteworthy documentaries but considering they are from the 80s and 90s I wouldn’t really consider them current.  There are other documentaries like Exit Through the Gift Shop and Catfish that left Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie, Postal Service) Tweeting, “Seriously, did a 22 y/o intern at Current TV make this list?”  I mean I totally get why they made the list.  Banksy is so ironic.   But even with 50 documentaries to choose from there was one that didn’t make the list - One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur. The documentary explores Jack Kerouac’s semi-autobiographical novel, “Big Sur,” and his personal unraveling and struggles caused from the success of his first book, “On the Road.”  It shows the impact the novel had on society and the deep connection it made with it’s readers.  If a documentary is done well it changes the way you look at life.  If a documentary is done right it changes the way you live life.  I can’t tell you whether this is done well or right.  You are going to have to determine this on your own but I will say that the trip is worth your time.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to the film was written and performed by musicians Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar.  It’s inspired by Kerouac’s writing and sets the perfect tone for the entire film.  When this soundtrack came out I was at a point in my life where I had given up on love and was dealing with a very messy break-up.  I was in a three month drinking binge, abusing my body with cheap booze and any other substance that slowed down my mind from over-thinking about a love that I thought meant something.  The first time I heard the soundtrack in it’s entirety was the first time since the break-up that I felt that there was a chance that things would be OK.  Kerouac was my Jacob Marley and through the voices of Gibbard and Farrar, he was helping me look back on my life and reminding me why it’s worth living it.  He gave me these options:   Drink myself to death or stop torturing myself over something I had no control over.  I chose option two unless I am Bruce Willis in A Sixth Sense which explains why my creepy neighbor is the only one who talks to me.  On my road to rehabilitating my heart I made a video for, “One Fast Move or I’m Gone.”  I made it for my own selfish reasons but I also felt that it could help others going through similar situations.  So I spread the scriptures of Jack Kerouac.  Can I get an Amen?

If you want to know more about One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Kerouac’s Big Sur go to Kerouacfilms.com and don’t forget to purchase One Fast Move or I’m Gone (Music from Kerouac’s Big Sur).