“What a Way to Go” is Now Available on DVD!
by Giulianna LamannaWhen I first heard that someone was making a documentary exploring everything we’ve been talking about for years, I said that it “might just be the greatest thing since no bread.” Then the filmmakers sent us an advance review copy, which we promptly whored out to everyone who came over to our apartment because, guess what? It was the greatest thing since no bread. We liked this movie so much, we started planning a screening here in Pittsburgh, which will be immediately preceded by a two-day rewilding unconference. Now I have excellent news: you don’t have to wait for the “Get Tim and Sally Out of Debt” tour to come to your town to see this vitally important documentary. Now you can buy it on DVD!
It even comes in fancy recycled packaging and an “extra pocket for Upcoming Bonus Disc,” whatever that means. I’m not sure if that means they won’t be sending out the DVDs until they have the bonus disc together or if they’ll send you the bonus disc separately later, once they’ve finished it. In any case, if you buy the DVD and wonder who did the cool, creepy music for the film, it’s a band called Chamber Corps and you can download all five dark, trippy, ambient songs on their self-titled EP here. Unfortunately, none of the songs that appear in the movie are available for download or purchase, but their Reverb Nation page says that they “are in the process of compiling and reworking some of the material from [What a Way to Go] to work in an album context for release hopefully this year.” So I’m looking forward to getting my hands on that one really cool, ominous-sounding song… you know the one I mean! And if you don’t, GO SEE WHAT A WAY TO GO, DAMMIT! You no longer have an excuse!
Yay, finally some way that British viewers can get a slice of the pie
Ordering mine tomorrow.
Comment by Dan Bartlett — 9 August 2007 @ 1:56 AM
I got an email from them yesterday and promptly ordered it. Maybe I can convince my friends to put together a screening up here in northern california.
Comment by datoo — 9 August 2007 @ 2:25 PM
How far north? Tim Bennett mentioned at the screening I went to that they might be doing a screening tour in the northwest.
Comment by Luke — 10 August 2007 @ 3:29 PM
Received mine yesterday and, I hate to say it, but it wasn’t all I hoped it would be. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good film filled with excellent information. I think my only real issue with it was the style of the film. It was too… I hate to say the word… indulgent. Again, this is just a matter of taste for film styles. I enjoy documentaries, but I want the subject matter to speak for itself whenever possible. I really enjoyed the comments by the many participants, but I wondered why some of them were included (I suspect they were friends of the producers). I hoped for more “experts”, but got a few students and other folks with reasonable, but layman’s opinions. Again, nothing wrong with it, but for a film designed to change minds, I would likely include less laymen. The monologues were too long and too flowery. It often had an art film feel with the tortured director pouring out his angst. Which is fine if you get experts to do the talking rather than a perpetually perambulating director.
But, I loved the train analogy used throughout the film and I loved the use of the home movies and the, apparently, stock footage. I liked the way the information was laid out and how each theme was built. Many of the excellent interviews were by highly regarded and expert sources. I was left hungry for more of their words.
I would still highly urge everyone to purchase this film and add it to their collection. I know there are many would would be moved by the information. And, the producers worked long and hard on a subject of great importance and should be shown that we are going to back them up. My main beefs were stylistic (I’m more of a “Zeitgeist” sort of guy), so please make up your own minds and do support Bennett and Erickson.
I especially loved the Jason Godesky quote in the front. Damn! I was hoping it would have been autographed!
Comment by Frank Black — 14 August 2007 @ 8:58 PM
Woa, what quote was that?
No need to shrink away from your opinion of it, though. Yeah, like they say blatantly in the movie, they’re interested in really dealing with the emotional toll this all takes. If you’re less interested in that, then that can certainly seem, as you say, “indulgent.” Why are we listening to Random Person here? But then, if you understand it as an emotional transformation, it does make much more sense.
I would probably play it a lot more “straight,” if I were producing a movie like this, and it sounds like you’d be the kind of person I’d really be aiming for in my audience, so I understand what you mean. But there’s a real need for this, too.
Comment by Jason Godesky — 16 August 2007 @ 1:54 PM
The aforementioned quote (right on the inside front flap:
“It inspired me and brought me to tears; it lionized me and made me want to go to war; it’s completely the emotional wave the introduction warned me it would be. Let it wash over you, let it embolden you, and it will give you the courage to seize the future.”
And, yes, I do agree that the intent was a more personal work. My slight disappointment was based entirely upon the fact that this is an important topic that is covered well, but I don’t imagine would be as accessible to the mainstream given the style. That, again, is just an opinion from a guy, not that of an expert. Still, I am so glad it was made. I guess I just wanted it to take off.
And, I wish they had a Jason and Giuli clip or two in there. Nice to see Ran Prieur, though.
Comment by Frank Black — 16 August 2007 @ 8:12 PM
Though, I have to say, because of how apolitical the film makes me think that it will be more accessible to friends and neighbors. Its not like Sicko, playing to a particular political demographic. I think thats because they dealt with the subject honestly.
I got to go to a screening in Keene, NH which was a lot of fun, and I dragged my family over to it. Hoping to show it to more people now that I’m out at school.
Comment by Luke — 18 August 2007 @ 7:38 PM