Movie Review: The Great Buster: A Celebration (2018)

The Great Buster: A Celebration (2018) written and directed by Peter Bogdanovich

In an interesting blend of biography and analysis, film director Peter Bogdanovich looks at the life and films of Buster Keaton. Buster was born to vaudeville parents and by the age of four was part of their act. He learned timing, risk-taking, and how to take a fall from his father. When Buster reached his twenties, he moved to New York where he was drawn into film, working with Fatty Arbuckle on comedy shorts. Arbuckle moved to feature length comedies, so Keaton took over the production. He spent a good decade and a half producing shorts and feature films independently, making his greatest and most creative works, like Sherlock Jr. and The General. He took a contract with MGM which took his creative license away. The studio system ran by the script and by the schedule. Keaton's career went into a long decline and he faded into obscurity. Still, his films are remembered fondly and his impact on comedy, cinema, and art is undeniable. The movie features interviews with Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke, Richard Lewis, Mel Brooks, Quentin Tarantino, and Werner Herzog.

This film looks at Keaton's life first and then, in the last third, delves more deeply into Keaton's major feature films from the 1920s. His energy, creativity, and daring are amazing. He did all his own stunt work and some of the stunts are almost unbelievable--buildings falling down on or around him, Keaton swinging out over a waterfall to catch a falling woman, etc. Even though he was nicknamed "Stoneface" for his deadpan reactions, Keaton is physically expressive and his eyes (if not the rest of his face) show intelligence and emotion. He's an artist that doesn't get enough credit or enough play time these days.

This documentary is a fine introduction to Keaton and his work.

Recommended.