Charles Manson - Superstar
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Movie Reviews of Charles Manson - Superstar
Movie Review: A blunt curiosity
Summary: 2 Stars
A bumbling work, the 1989 documentary "Charles Manson - Superstar" attempts to portray Manson in sympathetic rays - a man whose philosophy was too revolutionary for the conservative American machine. The film hints he was a radical prophet jailed more for his beliefs rather than the murders committed by his cult of wayward kids. It's shockingly naive, lacking in knowledge of the crimes. A distractingly low-budget documentary forged with minimal skill, the film does provide rare on-camera access to Manson's unique ramblings, and he truly puts on a show for director/interviewer Nikolas Schreck.
For 60-plus minutes, we see Manson genuinely trying to make sense of his notoriety, stroking his graying goatee, staring into space before abruptly standing up to perform his now-legendary shtick. He's quite animated, doing a jig here, karate chop there, inching towards Schreck with a wink and a smile. It's a first-hand look at the Manson con, formed during endless decades of incarceration staring from the windows of numerous cells. There has never been a doubt as to his charisma, and he hovers over Schreck and mumbles, "You and I are connected. I can see we have a lot in common." You realize you are witnessing first-hand the very rap he used to entice numerous kids into his brood.
There's some good footage of the Barker Ranch compound in Death Valley, with several haunting shots of the abandoned vehicles and trash still remaining from the days the Manson commune lived there in 1969. There's some nice footage of what's left of Spahn Ranch circa 1989. Schreck's narration, stiff and pretentious, attempts to make intellectual sense of the Manson aura, at times connecting his influence to current movements including the skinheads. Sadly the narration, undoubtedly penned by Schreck, exposes what an amateur mess the documentary is. His exaggerated proclamations and insinuations serve as evidence as to the shallow perception fueling the work. It's fairly easy to see through the propaganda.
As many know, Schreck is the leader of the latest version of the Satanic Church started by the late Anton LaVey, and he's married to his daughter. Not sure what they are calling the group today, the Werewolf Order or the Left Hand Path. These counterculture movements were hip in the late 1960s and Manson devotee Susan Atkins was in fact a dancer in one of LaVey's San Francisco productions. This minor connection is documented in the film and supported by urban legends to create a "wow" factor for the uninformed. Schreck's awkward questions during the Manson interviews are harmless, possessing the power of lobbed cotton balls.
In addition, Schreck's knowledge of the crimes is shockingly ignorant. Then again, had he known the facts, would Manson have allowed him such access? Oh well, even as far back as 1989 it was genuinely known Manson was a major instigator in the LaBianca slayings, choosing the very house and victims himself. Today, additional evidence seems to point towards Manson visiting the Polanski/Tate household following the murders (and just a couple of hours before dawn) to inspect the crime scene. So for Schreck's documentary to attempt to portray Manson as an innocent bystander jailed for his beliefs causes the film to slide into the neighborhood of UFO abductions.
To Schreck's credit, he's gone on record to say his documentary was incorrect in assumption and he believes he was conned by Manson. Surprise, surprise.....A blunt curiosity, lacking skill or insight.
Movie Review: What A Waste Of Time (And Film)!
Summary: 1 Stars
If you feel like watching a looney-toon talk gibberish for a little more than an hour and forty-five minutes, then this is the perfect DVD for you! Otherwise, I cannot recommend it. Charles Manson, the mythic architect of the August 1969 "Tate-LaBianca Murders" in Los Angeles, California, is interviewed in prison for this 1989 program, with very little (to none) in the way of what could be termed "useful" or "enlightening" information being revealed.
Charlie talks and talks...and talks some more during the program, seemingly coming up with answers off the top of his head...all of which have absolutely no coherence whatsoever. Not a sentence he spoke in this program made a grain of sense.
I think it's a safe bet to say, as has been said of him in the past, that Charles Milles Manson (Maddox) is a supreme master of obfuscation and double-talk.
This program, overall, has fairly rock-bottom production values too, featuring shrill sound, slow menus, not exactly top-notch video quality, and several errors by the narrator/filmmaker, who was obviously reading his spoken words straight from a written "script" (which I think would have been acceptable if not for the boring-like monotone quality in which its delivered in this presentation).
I'm fascinated by the subject of Charles Manson, but I wish I had skipped this program in favor of something more compelling and far less rambling and just plain nutty (which is how Manson comes across here).
If you're looking for quality Manson material on video, I'd opt for the A&E Biography on Manson, which is quite good IMO.
Movie Review: Evil director with an evil subject= trash!
Summary: 1 Stars
What a piece of garbage! As a fan of true crime, I was hoping for something interesting. I was wrong. All I got out of this is the director being a fan of Charles Manson, a supporter of the church of satan, and garbage making Manson look like some sort of folk hero. And the backgroud sounds of people chanting "praise satan" was twisted and went on a little too long in my opinion. Subliminal?? Charles Manson is a scum who, along with his killer family, belongs in jail the rest of their lives! Charles babbles on and on and on and on and never makes a bit of sense. This is nothing more than trash!Movie Review: You must be desperate...
Summary: 1 Stars
This is one of the the worst documentaries I've seen, regardless of subject. Manson is an extremely romantic character and a pop culture icon and while that explains the interest it does not explain this film. The quality is incredibly poor, that audio is sometimes incoherrent and the interviews are cut poorly with no editing to speak of. If you are incredibly curious and fanatical you will pursue regardless of any review, but if you want a good documentary, try elsewhere.Movie Review: Horrible documentary!
Summary: 1 Stars
I guess you'd have to be on drugs to get this. Collectors will need it for the collection but this documentary was absurd. A big waste of time. I found myself wanted to fast forward often. I expected more from Nikolas Schrek.