Forgotten Silver

Rating:
Summary: "Here's this forgotten genius."
Review: "Forgotten Silver" by filmmaker Peter Jackson starts off well enough. Jackson narrates how he unearthed old 35 mm reel film locked up in a trunk. Jackson explains that the film is the work of forgotten filmmaker, Colin Mackenzie. And then Jackson proceeds to tell the tale of this chronically unlucky filmmaker. But this is a mockumentary--the filmmaker never actually existed. This is tongue in cheek very dry humour. At first, it's amusing, and quirky, but then as the film continues, the joke becomes old.

Mockumentaries have picked up in popularity recently. I think it's a tricky genre, and it seems to succeed rarely. For me, the film did not succeed. Jackson's presentation of the filmmaker's life put New Zealand on the map in many innovative ways, and that was fun, but after a while, the idea fizzled. Mockumentaries "Best in Show" and "Waiting for Guffman" succeeded for me because the films examined phenomena--whereas "Forgotten Silver" focused on the life of a person. "Forgotten Silver" remains for me, an interesting idea that failed to hold my interest--displacedhuman

Rating:
Summary: A little white lie from beginning to end (but don't tell)
Review: Continuing my quest to screen all of the films of director Peter Jackson, in order to see how a guy who started out making bloody zombie flicks in New Zealand eventually got to be a three-time Academy Award nominee for best director who is the favorite to finally bring Oscar home for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," I have come to "Forgotten Silver," the 1997 mockumentary made by Jackson and Costa Bostas. The obvious comparison is to the work of Christopher Guest and his cohorts, who brought us "This is Spinal Tap," "Waiting for Guffman," "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind. But given the dry wit that runs throughout "Forgotten Silver" the film that springs to my mind is Woody Allen's "Zelig."

How dry is the wit? Well, when "Forgotten Silver" aired on New Zealand television it convinced quite a few Kiwi that they had a new national hero in Colin McKenzie, the lost film director who is the topic of this effort. This happened even though McKenzie is played by Thomas Robins, a New Zealand actor who was the original Host of the New Zealand, Saturday morning Breakfast show, "Squirt" (his only other film role has been as Deagol in "The Return of the King").

There is fun to be had in showing "Forgotten Silver" to unsuspecting friends, family and people dragged in off of the street, to see at what point they catch on that there is something amiss here. The idea is that Collin McKenzie was a cinematic innovator who came up with the first mechanized camera, the first full-length feature film with sound, and the first color film. Unfortunately while doing these things he forgot to invent subtitles and accidentally invented the porn film. Hopefully these people will be amused by what happened and not end up being outraged like the New Zealand viewers who bit hard on the proceedings and complained bitterly to the network and the press afterwards (excerpts are provided on the DVD's feature). But then I recall having to inform my oldest daughter that "The Blair Witch Project" was not "real," so I know you how dicey these things can be.

The hoax works for several reasons. First, nobody ever winks at the camera, including talking heads Sam Neill, Leonard Maltin, Harvey Weinstein. Their remarks are skewed only slightly and if you are not in on the gag you might not get it (How many of you got the joke of the Russian woman named Alexandra Nevsky?). Second, the documentary weaves in real history and historical footage from the start of the 20th century. Talking about the Battle of Gallipoli is always going to resonate down under. Third, all of the footage for "Salome," Colin McKenzie's lost silent classic, is done "straight" (an idea that has to be taken with a grain of salt when you are talking about acting in silent movies). Finally, Jackson and Bostas do the entire production from start to finish in true documentary fashion. If it looks like a documentary and it sounds like a documentary then chances are you have the audience hook, line and forgotten silver.

Rating:
Summary: Don't read this review. don't even read the box. Just watch
Review: First of all, there is so much to say about Peter Jackson himself, but I'll leave it off. I originally got this as a christmas present because it had Peter's name on it. I just popped it in when I got it because, often enough, even looking at the cover can screw up a movie for you(there's a certain anchor bay release of a Herzog movie that even looking at the dvd itself will totally ruin the movie for you. Stop it!).
Anyway, I hope I'm not giving too much away to say that I was buying the lie for a little while. It may have been the bicycle scene that started me chuckling. Hell, all the reviews say it, so ......it's all fake!
I didn't tell my girlfriend this, nor did I tell anyone else. She was having a hard time watching it seriously, but at the end(I told her it was the only serious documentary that Pete did) she had a look on her face that was priceless. Wow! what a discovery! Then I told her.
New Zealand bought it, too. They REALLY bought it. Watch the feature "Behind the Bull" feature to see how far it actually went. It will blow you away.
The best part, I think, of the whole thing is that the "lost" set of the fictional Colin Mackenzie's version of Salome was actually filmed in downtown Wellington. In plain view. The terrific lying talents of NZ resident Sam Neill, (Hollywood Producer)Harvey Weinstein, and famous reviewer Leonard Maltin just add to the believability of what becomes an incredibly ludicrous story. Unfortunately, most of the lies are New Zealand lies. Americans won't identify with most of it. Not to the point of credibility. After all, it wasn't made for them, anyway. What you end up with is a genius story full of real history. You get the first? credible archive footage that actually looks old and dated. That alone is genius. And they don't play it all silly. Some of it is very sad. Just watch the lost footage and final chapter of Colin's story if you don't believe me. You can just tell that they had alot of fun just inventing lies. For instance, did you know that the first flight was actually by a New Zealander, and not the Wright Bros.? Colin had the proof on film. I could tell you the whole thing and ruin it for you, but I'll just say that apart from what he's doing now(does anyone know what pj's up to?), this is by far my favorite movie from Mr. Jackson. Note, it is also Costa Botes' film. If it's true that it has become rare, I hope that they re-release it. I'm on my second copy now, since I made everyone I know watch it with the instruction: don't even look at the cover, just watch the movie from beginning to end. You'll be amazed. (then you can watch the "making of" after)hahahaha.

Rating:
Summary: Like it's subject, a little-known treasure
Review: Forgotten Silver is one of those films you've probably never heard of but once you see it, you'll wonder why. This mockumentary produced in the late 1990s for broadcast on New Zealand television is funny, clever and thought-provoking -- one of the true cinematic pleasures of the past 10 years, blending wit, technology and the products of a relatively little-known culture.

The film is the creation of Peter Jackson, best known today as director of The Lord of the Rings, and actor Costa Botes. Jackson, playing himself in the movie, claims to have discovered a collection of old films in a neighbor's shed, revealing that New Zealander Colin McKenzie (Botes) invented motion picture cameras, color film, sound technology and other landmarks of cinema in complete obscurity before others who are regularly credited for doing so. His ultimate achievement, a biblical epic called Salome, is the lost treasure of film history.

Jackson enlists the aid of other well-known film personas, including critic Leonard Maltin, to explore the life of Colin McKenzie and reveal just how sensational this discovery is. Most of the humor is subtle and tongue-in-cheek, as it is in Peter Jackson's other films. However, the subject matter is treated with the utmost seriousness and therefore hard to discern from fact. Similar to the effects created by Woody Allen in Zelig, Jackson creates extremely authentic-looking black-and-white nitrate footage in which Colin's achievements are well documented. A sequence in which the filmmaker sets out in search of the ruins of the Salome set feels like an episode of "National Geographic Explorer." In fact, the overall film is so utterly believable that it caused a minor scandal in its native land upon its original airing. The populace of New Zealand demanded to know why one of its native sons had never received the recognition he so clearly deserved.

The DVD's special features serve to enhance the already-convincing documentary aspects, even though they open up the whole bag of tricks like magicians revealing their secrets. In addition to a commentary audio track by Jackson and Botes, the DVD includes interviews detailing the production of the film and the controversy Jackson and Botes created by doing their jobs so well. What truly enhance the overall viewing experience are the inclusion of footage outtakes and a demonstration of the special-effects test shots. The outtakes invigorate the film's impressive mystique, and the test shots are illuminating inside looks at the tools of the film trade and the progress that has been made.

Rating:
Summary: Forgotten Silver - Discover It!!!
Review: Here is an interesting DVD. If you were a Peter Jackson freak back before LOTR, you might be lucky enough to have a copy of this wonderful film on DVD. Peter Jackson is obviously a great storyteller, and he has conjured up a beauty with this "forgotten" gem! A great, original take on documentaries.....and starring Peter Jackson himself! The discovery of the incredible filmaker from New Zealand, Colin MacKenzie, who worked making films in obscurity for years..... creating many firsts for early cinema....lost for years until his films were re-discovered by Mr. Jackson in a backyard garden shed......this has to be seen to be believed!
So well done, even with its tongue in its cheek, that you really can't tell if they are pulling our legs or are dead serious....such a fun film to "discover"
If you can find a copy, you must see it. It helps to see why I think Peter Jackson is one of THE BEST storytellers in film to come along in a long time....he just keeps getting better and better. We are so lucky to have films like this to watch, and to be able to look forward to more from this talented filmaker and storyteller.

Rating:
Summary: Passafist Reviews Forgotten Silver
Review: I was amazed. This production (like most by Peter Jackson) just oozes fun. I have watched and recommend this to all my friends and even strangers on the street. Watch it.

Rating:
Summary: The episode on Richard Pearse (did I spell it right?) ......
Review: might just be historically correct, that is, beating the Wrights into the air by a couple of months.

(a kiwi would say that, wouldn't he?)

PS You get a look at Peter Jackson long before he became Lard of the Rings (he's merely pudgy here.)

Rating:
Summary: Superb mockumentary
Review: Peter Jackson, he of Lord of the Rings fame, filmed this sharp as a razor, short (50 minutes) mockumentary about Colin MacKenzie, New Zealand's first great film maker, in 1994. The script was co-written by Jackson with Costa Botes, another New Zealander, and the two have a ball chronicling all kinds of fictional events that are so skillfully interwoven with real ones (e.g., New Zealand's participation in WW I) that it really does seem to be the case that MacKenzie did exist and did make his epic film Salome in the New Zealand jungle.

The frequent interviews with and sound bytes by Leonard Maltin, Sam Neill, MacKenzie's "wife", film archivists, and others contributes to the feel of authenticity which, of course, only adds more to how much fun this all is. Especially interesting is the featurette "Behind the Bull" in which Jackson and a host of others talk about how the film was made--in particular, the lengths to which the filmmakers went to make "archived" footage look as old as it does.

This, along with Heavenly Creatures, stands as Jackson's best work and should be seen by those who really love a good pulling of the leg. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Making Myth for Mirth
Review: Shortly before he begun filming "The Frighteners," director Peter Jackson helped deliver this clever tribute to the greatest New Zealand film pioneer that never was. Appearing in the project as himself, he unravels the life of one of film's earliest mavericks, Colin McKenzie. Mixing impressively faked footage and stills with poker-faced interviews from experts and film scholars, the fictional director's legacy is revealed to include numerous milestones that predate many landmark achievements in movie history. Among other triumphs that were trumped by fate, he engineered the first talking picture, developed the first color motion picture film, invented the closeup, and created the first feature length epic. Testimonies from film critic Leonard Maltin, actor Sam Neill, and Miramax's Harvey Weinstein give a sense of authority to the affair. The whole thing is played very straight and the unknowing viewer may fall for it entirely (as did the majority of New Zealanders who watched its initial airing on television). Although it certainly has its humorous moments, the film ranks closer to classic scams like "The Blair Witch Project" or Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast than more obvious mockumentary comedies like "This Is Spinal Tap" or "Waiting for Guffman." The DVD includes both a running commentary by co-director Costa Botes and an enlightening featurette ("Behind the Bull") that details the genesis of the idea, what went into the making of it, and the public's reaction to being had). There's also a collection of deleted scenes featuring a few additional interviews that were filmed but not used. Whether or not you're a film history buff, this amusing parody of public television documentaries is a lot of fun, especially if you watch it with someone who doesn't know about the joke. Fans of this sort of thing should also check out the overlooked 1994 mockumentary "...And God Spoke."

Rating:
Summary: No CGI needed to see the brilliance of Peter Jackson!!
Review: To fully appreciate this film, you must consider two things. First, this is a MOCumentary. It is not a real story, but instead something created through the imagination of a very rich storyteller. Second, this film was released to the general New Zealand public without them knowing that this was a mocumentary and they completely felt that it was a real occurrence. They took the bait ... hook, line, and sinker. It reminded me of the fear that Orson Welles was able to conjure when he did "The War of the Worlds" broadcast in 1938. Welles was able to create a mythological occurrence that was packaged so well that audiences bought it. This is the same with Peter Jackson's creation, Forgotten Silver. Jackson's attention to detail and excitement behind this project is seen with every digitized photo, every sound bite, and every word of the story.

The great idea behind mocumentaries is that you have the opportunity to create a world from the ground up. I think this was an aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed about this picture was every creative angle that Jackson took with his characters. They were flawed, but in a good way. They were real, yet in a sense very cartoonish. They gave you this dream about life that is normally missing in most films, yet these guys were never alive for you to believe in. It was funny how deeply rooted you could become with this film until you had to pull yourself away and say that it was just a work of fiction. For anyone to say that about a film means that the filmmaker is doing a spectacular job. The only director that I can think of that closely able to pull this off today is Christopher Guest, but even in his work you can tell that it is a mocumentary from the beginning. Jackson never gives you the opportunity to find the truth. Everything he hands to you has been researched and tested giving us the chance to believe in our man Colin throughout all of it.

Perhaps what I am trying to say here is that Jackson doesn't just create a story, he creates a world filled with emotion and chaos. It is easy to create a story, books are released everyday, but to put visuals with this story AND build a main character that the average Joe can relate to is much harder. While only pushing 60 minutes, Jackson had quite a bit of work on his hands. This was not an easy project. Jackson not only had to play director, but also put himself into the film that I think only helped build the mirage of truth. You kept forgetting that he created this story, yet was in it himself. It honestly takes away that feeling of cinematic rubbish that Hollywood releases daily and builds a true story.

The interventions between Harvey Weinstein, Sam Neill, and Leonard Maltin only help build more of that "truth" to the film. You hear these men from the industry talk about this fictitious man named Colin McKenzie, you begin to believe that perhaps he was alive and Jackson is just trying to tell the truth.

While I have spoken heavily about the amazing fake factoids that Jackson disperses through the film, what I found funny was the type of humor that Jackson placed intermittently throughout the film. The idea of Stan the Man is brilliant and his "Rodney King" moment proved that it is always possible for history to repeat itself. The jail time that Colin faced due to his "smut" film had me rolling in my seat. The exuberant size of the extras needed for this film kept me smiling throughout. There was just something about this humor that made me excited about my educational background.

Finally, I would like to say that the fact that the New Zealand public never realized that it was a mocumentary should already prove the worthiness of this film. I do not see why it didn't receive more press than it did, but this has been the biggest film enjoyment of the week. I remember a line from a film that went something like this, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist". Think of this line as you witness Jackson's film Forgotten Silver. It will make you curious.

Overall, I thought that this film was beautiful. Midway through this film you will loose track of reality and think that you are watching a true documentary, and that is when you can realize that you have a master director giving you a perfect "gem". This was not a film filled with violence and annoying Gollems, but instead cunning wit and satire. Jackson continually proves that he can handle so much more than just The Lord of the Rings with this film. No CGI is needed to see the imagination and brilliance behind this visionary. For those of you that are huge Lord of the Rings fans, you may not enjoy it as much, but for me this was Jackson in his truest form.

Bravo!

Grade: ***** out of *****