I Think You're Totally Wrong: A Quarrel

Two writers meet for a feature-length argument in James Franco's My Dinner with Andre-inspired documentary. Seattle novelist David Shields describes former student Caleb Powell as someone who actively dislikes his work. As Shields puts it, "He's one of the most quarrelsome guys I've ever met." Shields first contacted Powell in 2010 about collaborating on a 2015 book in which they argued about life and art, and this film is an extension of that project. Judging only by appearances, these bald, white, middle-aged men have more in common than not. Nonetheless, Powell is a stay-at-home dad with three kids, while Shields's prodigious output hasn't left any time for children. Throughout the film, Franco uses split screens to depict their arguing, whether in a car, a cabin, or while walking around a lake. If Powell is more combative, Shields is more pedantic, correcting Powell when he mispronounces Jackson Pollock's surname or accidentally uses the word "attention" instead of "tension." Shields also makes a joke about Powell's sexual orientation, which backfires when Powell points out that his wife's first husband was gay (not him). Mostly, they argue about the differences between popular art and fine art. Powell wants to make a difference through his work, while he believes that Shields would rather flatter the intelligence of his audience. The way Shields sees it, Powell initiates projects through the chaos of life while he does so through the cathedral of art. Franco enters the fray on three different occasions to serve as a mediator, but for the most part, this is just two guys arguing about art and life, and that turns out to be pretty interesting. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)