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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Regardless of one's views on Russell Brand as a comedian, celebrity, actor and political theorist, it's impossible to deny his energy, eloquence and ebullience. But, as Ondi Timoner quickly discovers, Brand is equally driven by an egotism that has seen him pass through stages of rebellion, addiction, rehab, fame and spiritual rebirth to become a would-be revolutionary, who is only half-joking when he calls a stand-up tour The Messiah Complex. Having inherited the project from five previous directors, Timoner sometimes struggles to manage the material. The interviews with celebrities like Mike Tyson and David Lynch about happiness sit particularly uncomfortably. However, Timoner briskly dispenses with Brand's troubled youth and difficulties with both failure and success to reveal the essential humanity behind his reinvention as a philosopher philanthropist. But the gap between meaning well and making a difference is enormous and Timoner brushes aside the charm offensive to latch on to Brand's demagogic inability to debate his ideas and the thinness of his skin when faced with scepticism and dismissal. She also dares to suggest that rabble-rousing suggestible youths is merely his latest bid to find the thrill that keeps ennui and his personal demons at bay. Time will tell, but Brand's fans and foes alike will find much to delight and disquiet them in this difficult, but consistently fascinating documentary.

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Credits

Cast

rolename
Russell BrandRussell Brand
Simon AmstellSimon Amstell
Stephen MerchantStephen Merchant
David LynchDavid Lynch
Katy PerryKaty Perry
Oliver StoneOliver Stone
Mike TysonMike Tyson
Jeremy PaxmanJeremy Paxman

Crew

rolename
DirectorOndi Timoner

Details

Theatrical distributor
Metrodome
Released on
2015-10-23
Languages
English
Available on
DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
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