The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters Review

I have had this documentary on my watchlist for quite some time but I kept pushing it off to the side mentally because frankly, how good could a non-fiction film about some dudes playing arcade games be?

Turns out it can not only be good, it can be really, really great.

What really makes The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters work is the fact that on its side is a prototypical Hollywood fictional narrative, just set inside the world of old school gaming. Billy Mitchell has been the king of arcade games for almost his entire life, setting numerous world records in the 1980's and he remains an icon of the gaming world in 2005. Mitchell is cocky, brash and sometimes rude, and he clearly doesn't want his records broken. He is the villain. Across the country in Washington, a man named Steve Wiebe has recently been laid off from his job and he sets his sights on the Donkey Kong record score set by Mitchell as an achievement he can aim for. Sure, it's a way to pass the time but it is so much more to Wiebe, who has come in second place in everything throughout his entire life. He needs a win. His wife knows it. His children know it. They may roll their eyes at the amount of time he spends playing the game, but they still support him and even shed tears for him during his quest to set the record. It is impossible not to root for Steve Wiebe. He is the hero.

This is a documentary that is funny, compelling, heartfelt, and is only 80 minutes long. Don't make the mistake of thinking this wouldn't be very interesting and ignoring the film like I did. The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is terrific entertainment, and I'm betting you will be just as emotionally invested as I was.

4.5/5

Wild Strawberries Review

If you aren't familiar with the work of filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, this review may not make a lot of sense. Hell, if you are familiar with his work this review may not make a lot of sense. Wild Strawberries is only my third Bergman, so I am not exactly an expert on the man and his style, but my limited history has taught me that I have a lot of trouble finding the words to describe how I am feeling after a film of his.

My other two Bergman experiences were probably two of the more popular and predictable, The Seventh Seal and Persona, and both were the type of films that would keep me up that night, although if asked why I wouldn't really be able to explain it. The man creates these worlds that are both abstract and yet real and familiar, like I am constantly walking a tightrope between realism and a chilling nightmare. It is an enlightening tightrope to navigate, although I usually need an Advil and a willingness to accept some extra fatigue the next day.

Wild Strawberries is easily the most accessible film I have seen thus far by Bergman, and perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, it has instantly become my favorite of the three. That isn't a knock on The Seventh Seal or Persona, those are both wonderfully crafted works, but those left me wondering exactly how I felt for some time after they were over. I know exactly how I feel about Wild Strawberries, a life affirming joyous film that, for me given my brief Bergman history, is surprisingly optimistic. The plot revolves around a grumpy 78 year old professor named Isak Borg and the long car ride he must take from Stockholm to Lund in order to receive the degree of Doctor Jubilaris as recognition for his 50 years since he had received his doctorate. Traveling with him on this journey is his daughter-in-law Marianne whom is pregnant with a baby causing marital conflict, and her relationship with her father-in-law Isak is tense to say the least.

Borg goes on both a literal journey and also one internally, a quest for comfort and peace as he deals with his troubled past and reevaluates his life as a whole. I found myself to be highly emotionally invested in what was taking place on the screen with these characters, which is something I cannot say for the other two Bergman films. With those I admired absolutely every aspect of the film except I lacked that deep, personal connection that lifts a great film to one I would refer to as a favorite. Wild Strawberries has that missing piece. Wild Strawberries is instantly a favorite.


5/5