Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Tobias Burrows It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Lee Eisenberg Over the past decade, anonymous artist Banksy has become famous for his darkly humorous street art. Some of it functions as political satire, some of it is just for fun. In the meantime, he made this quirky documentary about another street artist. Thierry Guetta is a French-born owner of a clothing store who eventually turned to street art and adopting the moniker Mr. Brainwash. His exhibit, titled Life Is Beautiful, generated a lot of hype and turned out to be quite impressive.No doubt "Exit Through the Gift Shop" will raise the question of what we consider art. The snobs will probably disdain Banksy's and Mr. Brainwash's works as either trash or vandalism. Just a matter of opinion. After all, there can't really be a set-in-stone definition of what constitutes art.In the end, I recommend the documentary. It's a fun look at street art, and the methods that people use to create it. My favorite scene was their gag in Disneyland (which also turns out to be the documentary's most intense scene). Also interviewed is Shepard Fairey, who created the OBEY image featuring Andre the Giant's likeness, and then the HOPE poster for Barack Obama.The documentary received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature but lost to "Inside Job" (about what led to the financial crisis of 2008).

WildReview This whole mockumentary or whatever you want to call it is just Banksy's huge slap in the face to modern art and the stupid people who fall for it. Especially in a certain part of our country. Fake people buy into fake things. The image that is created around an object is more important than the object itself. These are some of the messages Banksy portrays in this film. He's giving everyone the middle finger while he's laughing all the way to the bank. Most of what you think is "art" these days is really just clever graphic design then repackaged to look like "art". A lot of what you think is "street art" or underground street companies that started from nothing are really hugely financed business tactics. It takes money to make money. If you market enough the sheeple will follow. Art is dead. This was all so well done and clever I just had to give my respect.

Elena Originally this movie was conceived as a project that was supposed to show the life and work of street-artists from the inside. But in the end this film is perceived as a comedy about contemporary art.Parts of the movie, which were dedicated to Banksy's works, are really interesting. You become a witness of the process in which the art was born. The film is interesting in a sense that you can better understand works of street-artists, not only can you see the result of their work, but you can also feel sharp social motives encouraging them to create their paintings.However, the storyline is turning an ordinary American man of French descent, Terry, into a "popular" contemporary artist. He can't draw, doesn't have clearly defined social or other reasons for creativity, he just wants to be popular, wants to be part of this creative community. Why did I call the movie a comedy about contemporary art? Because the main purpose of this latter-day "creator", in my opinion, is self-PR, enrichment at the expense of popular art direction. I would call Terry a generator of ideas . But as a street-artist he is still a fake. He pays people to realize his ideas into life and calls it his own art? I don't agree with this course of things.

stephparsons An enchanting collision between two worlds; a man obsessed with his video camera, and the elusive life of the street artist.  Exit Through the Gift Shop is viewed through the lens of the hyper but lovable Thierry Andre (or so we're lead to believe) who is never without his camera and becomes driven to follow his street art idols, day and night, through the streets of London, Los Angeles, and New York.  Thierry is sweet, self effacing,  totally eccentric (some might say, bonkers) and one can't help but like the little chap.  His energy levels are so astounding it begs the question  - is he on drugs and if so, where can I get some?!  He is able to pursue his passion mainly, it appears, because of his really understanding wife  who seems to do ALL the child care, housework, cooking, maintenance etc  with minimal complaint, while he scampers off to film everything in his line of vision.  A chance encounter with the famous but secretive British street artist, Banksy, excites Thierry enormously and leads him to follow the man, with his video camera, everywhere he goes.  Banksy, despite usually insisting on a high degree of anonymity, warms to the little Frenchman and allows him into his secretive world.  What is so charming about this film is that one has no sense of where it's going, no sense of how long it will go on, no sense of a plot and no sense of how it will end; it is just a delightful, non stop tour of two men's passions and how they collide, switch places, and live every moment of their lives pursuing their dreams to the hilt with not a worry or care.  This is living! (unlike the boring, humdrum, grinding drudgery that the rest of us pitiful rat racers go through).  That's the magic of this film - energy and passion and the drive to go with it and run.  I was genuinely amused, entertained, educated, invigorated, captivated and impressed.   I want to be a street artist and a filmmaker when I grow up!