I think what's going on with this article and many of the comments here is that movie (I hesitate to necessarily call it a documentary) takes some twists in the second half that are causing a lot of people who have seen and enjoyed it to talk about it in very vague terms so as to not spoil those twists for anyone who hasn't yet seen it. Holmes is the central figure of the movie, but the filmmakers very clearly have higher ambitions than simply informing the viewer of the facts of her life.
Completely agree. The whole spoilers thing is relatively recent and I think there's a strong argument that people who object to discussion of the narrative in any discussion of works of narrative art probably need to just avoid reading about anything. If you really don't want to know about a film or book because you're reserving judgement that's fine, but online communities these days seem fine with censoring discussion these days based on lazy spoiler grounds.
I think I would have had this position prior to seeing the movie. After seeing it last night, I'm 100% inclined to do everything in my power to not spoil the experience. It's truly, truly that wild.
To others out there wondering, I offer the counter-perspective that this “twist” is not nearly as profound or even unexpected as folk are making it seem.
This was one of the most engrossing theatrical experiences I have ever had and everyone that I know whose seen it has said they can't stop thinking about it. At the moment, it's literally the highest rated movie of all time on Letterboxd with 74% of ratings being 5 out of 5 stars with 98% of ratings being 4 stars or higher.
People are just trying to thread the needle of how to handle discussing this movie in this short window so soon after release. We want others to watch the movie so we can both have more people to talk about it with and so we can eventually talk about it more openly. But as is, the movie just came out a few days ago so people are trying to not diminish anyone's experience of watching this movie for the first time without knowing what transpires. I realize this likely all sounds frustrating to someone with little interest in the movie, but it's all a good intentioned way of engaging with a very special piece of art.
> the filmmakers very clearly have higher ambitions than simply informing
I’d expect nothing less from Nathan Fielder. With his involvement, anything less than surprising weirdness taken to extremes would be a disappointment.
I have revisited this thread, after having originally left despairing of the weird conversation. Thanks so much for clarifying what's going on! I hadn't followed this film and assumed people were afraid of being picked off the streets by the government if they spoke articulately about it. It's the "spoilers" problem then--online people who aren't used to how creative works are discussed thinking they have to use tradecraft. Ze beef iz in ze butchers!
