Twisted: A Balloonamentary

Twist & Shout is “America's premiere balloon-twisting convention”—not to be confused with all those other balloon conventions. I'm not being snide. In fact, I suspect there may many others, because I'm one of those weirdoes who goes to science fiction conventions, and know that you could attend a different SF con every weekend of the year in the continental United States alone. As it turns out, this documentary—in which filmmakers Sara Taksler and Naomi Greenfield visit Twist & Shout and talk to a handful of the top balloon artists—reveals that balloon artists are somewhat similar to SF fans: gregarious, creative, and often a tad odd (although usually in a pleasant way). Viewers will see a flying octopus, a Trojan horse, and a pair of 100-foot tall soccer players, as well as the work of a guy who does “Gospel ballooning,” which includes a (somewhat disturbing) Jesus-on-the-cross, complete with nails and dripping blood. Offering a cheery, friendly, and entertaining look at a little-known subculture, Twisted: A Balloonamentary, narrated by Jon Stewart, features a number of fine extras, including audio commentary by the filmmakers, a Q&A session at the film's world premiere, an instructional segment on how to make a balloon dog, deleted scenes, and more. Recommended. Aud: P. (M. Johanson)