Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5
There's been a lot of debate over whether or not the events in Catfish are fictionalized. If they are, it is without a doubt one of the most well-made fake documentaries ever. While there are certain moments that seem too good to be true, I believe most critics have been made skeptical of the raw realness shown here by the wave of (often sub-par) "found footage" thrillers since The Blair Witch Project jumpstarted the movement in 1999. Besides the fact that the creators of Catfish swear to the reality of their film, there is plenty to support it. For one thing, it flows through the gamut of human emotion--from joy to desperation--in a way that even the most talented filmmakers would have difficulty fabricating effectively. There are funny moments that aren't unlike everday humor, and chilling moments that are far from unrelatable. If the story isn't fake, that doesn't mean it's not still a well-made film. On the contrary, to believe it is real makes it all the more powerful; an even more thrilling and, when the time is right, beautiful depiction of the lies that can build up and the Internet's ability to let them loose. We should consider ourselves lucky that they happened to capture it all on film.
In 2007, 20-something-year-old New York photographer Nev Schulman received a painting in the mail. It was based on a photo of his that was published in a magazine, painted and sent to him by Abby, an 8-year-old child prodigy in rural Michigan. Nev and Abby began corresponding, with her continuing to send him paintings of his photographs, and through Facebook he started to become acquainted with her family. Later that year, his brother Ariel and friend Henry Joost, filmmakers, decided to start documenting Nev's friendship with Abby. Soon after filming commences, a romance begins to develop between Nev and Abby's 19-year-old sister Megan, a songwriter. Their long-distance relationship grows more and more serious, until Nev discovers that Megan is not as perfect as he had been led to believe. Nev, Ariel, and Henry set out on a quest to uncover the truth; a mission that will test their moral and emotional grasp.
Catfish, like most great movies, has both a heart and a brain. Though they may not reveal themselves simultaneously, they are stronger than you could say for most films. Whether an extraordinarily clever work of fiction or an astounding authentic documentary, the final product is still an endlessly gripping cinematic marvel, as constantly surprising as only real life could be. On one level, it is a spine-tingling exposure of the perils of the Internet. On another, it is a sad, sweet portrait of the human condition.
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