The Fine Art of Separating People From Their Money

Dennis Hopper--in typical Hopperian wacky fashion--hosts this thought-provoking journey through the world of commercials, or more specifically, commercials which aspire to art. German director Hermann Vaske's film combines interviews with directors who work in features and commercials (Spike Lee, Hugh Hudson, Tony Scott, Alan Parker, etc.), with clips from classic (or merely strange) commercials: the Alka Seltzer "mama mia" campaign, the legendary 1984 Apple commercial (even more ironic today with the recent Microsoft/Apple partnering), the what-the-hell-was-that-all-about David Lynch sneaker spot, etc. Exploring how art, humor, and shock value are all used to pitch products, the program also includes some very graphic footage of commercials by the peabrain who does the Benneton ads (whose idea of running brand names superimposed over footage of Sarajevo horrors is neither imaginative nor smart). A good overview for cinema buffs, couch potatoes, and those who just can't wait any longer to hear once again that eternal philosophical question: "Where's the beef?" Recommended. (R. Pitman)