Winnebago Man

IMDb Link

A documentary about a viral video I had never heard of. But wish I had.

It's about a man who shot a video 20 years ago. We see the outtakes, where his swearing would make Faye Dunaway blush.
Then we meet him and he's zen and happy, so that's that.
But...
But then we see his true side and that's when things become interesting.

In the begining, the director shows us what a viral video can do to its 'protagonist,' we hear that we take pleasure in seeing someone make a fool of himself, even if said person ends up breaking his back on camera. That's why shows like 'Home Funniest Videos' exist. We're assholes.
This film is about that (us liking foolish people, not about us being assholes. Then again...), times ten. The director even mentions it, which makes it okay. But at this point, we WANT to see Rebney go nuts, we want to hear his rantings.
And rant he does, but it all makes sense. It's as if Grizzly Man and the Unabomber had a love child... It's sometimes painful, it's often funny, it's what we are as people.

It's about an old man whose health is fading fast, but he's hanging on, because: fuck the world. Fuck YouTube and fuck corporate America. And fuck dumb asses. Fuck Dick Cheney. And fuck you if want an autograph. Fuck your so-called culture. Just fuck everything and everyone.

Fuck, yeah!

The film truly starts to become something when the director starts questioning Rebney, when he stops being shy and provokes him. Then his subject pretty much says: 'Fuck you. You want to film me? Fuck you. Then film what I want to say. If not: fuck you. And, by the way: fuck you.'

At the end of the day... if there's a camera around, and you're being an asshole, the world will know. And you will become semi-famous. Then you'll resent it, turn into a hermit and a bitter old man. And you'll get exploited all over again... Fat popcorn-eating douche bags will queue up to see your claim to fame that you hate, they will judge you and pretend to know you. They will treat you like a freak and laugh and clap. They're so douchey, they'll even admit you're a freak, it's not even a simile. And although later they'll admit to being pricks, you'll play along and give the assholes what they want. Because, if they're dumb enough to like you, then treat them like the dumb pieces of shit that they are. And it'll actually touch you. Then dumb sluts will throw themselves at you. Then, when they share your hatred of the ex-vice president, you can say they're actually kinda cool.
Then you'll end up once again alone, with your dog, the only bitch who ever truly got you.

That's the American dream, don't you know.

I can almost hear the director saying: 'How fucking lucky are we?! Jack became blind when we were shooting! Awesome! Oh, but wait... Now we have to show him in a kind light or people will think we're assholes making fun of a blind guy... Shit.'

I can see what the director tried to do, and sometimes it works, sometimes it tries to be something deeper than it actually is. But ignoring the preachy predictable voice-over, it's about a man who just doesn't understand why people give a shit about him. So he tries to impart a message (which seems to be: 'Fuck what the US of A have become').

Best quote, although it's taken way out of context: 'Fuck you, Buddha!'

PS: I can't wait for the fictionalized version of the film, starring Gerarld McRaney as Jack Rebney. Seriously, they kinda look the same, no?