Entertainment Weekly has taken notice of the new fan created documentary, The People vs. George Lucas following its debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Click here for an interview with director Alexandre O. Philippe and if you're unaware of the new documentary, click through the related links below to catch up.


UPDATE: Quint at AICN presents his review of The People vs. George Lucas from SXSW. (via @clubjade) Excerpt below...

"Focusing on the symbiotic relationship between George Lucas and his fans the film chronicles a whole generation’s fascination with Star Wars, leading into the prequels and how those films caused a giant and negative reaction from the usually dependable and loyal fanbase.

Director Alexandre O. Philippe was able to get some impressive interviews with people like OT producer Gary Kurtz and the ever disgruntled man-in-the-suit David Prowse, but the focus is always on the fans, which is both the point and the failure of this documentary.

Failure might be too harsh of a word. It’s definitely a success at what it sets out to be, the definitive document on the arguments for and against the prequels, but the problem is that for anybody who is or was a Star Wars fan there is nothing new. It’s like listening to the discussions you’ve had with your friends ever since 1999 or even earlier… the real divide starts with the Special Editions.

There are other angles, with professors discussing Star Wars’ true impact on culture and the gray area of the creator’s artistic rights vs. the audience’s right to the art. Those are fascinating topics, but are presented and quickly moved on from so they can get a bunch of fans talking about how stupid Jar-Jar Binks is.

I’ve had these discussions, you’ve had these discussions and I’m sad to say that I think this movie’s about 5 years too late. It almost feels like its trying to open up old wounds. Most of us that hate the prequels have made our peace and moved on. Those that love them are happy anyway."


UPDATE #2: Today we have a new article about the documentary from Reuters as well as a new review from Film School Rejects. (which is pretty blatant in its ani-Lucas bias)


UPDATE #3: Rounding out some coverage of The People vs. George Lucas, we have a short write-up at The Austin Chronicle as well as the following press release and info links.


“THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS” TO SCREEN AT HOT DOCS AFTER BUZZWORTHY WORLD PREMIERE AT SXSW

DENVER, CO--March 23, 2010--After four packed and critically acclaimed screenings at SXSW last week, THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS will be presented in the World Showcase programme at the 2010 Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto (April 29 – May 9).

Hot Docs is North America's largest and most important documentary film festival, conference and market. Each year, the Festival presents a selection of approximately 150 cutting-edge documentaries; and the World Showcase programme is the Festival's immensely popular survey of the year's finest non-fiction films from around the world. With its lively mix of public and professional events, Hot Docs is the ideal North American market and meeting place for the documentary industry. Last year, the festival attracted over 2000 delegates, including documentary filmmakers, buyers, programmers, distributors, and commissioning editors from around the world.

“Hot Docs is the perfect follow-up to our immensely popular Spotlight Premiere screenings at SXSW,” says Director Alexandre O. Philippe, “and I couldn’t think of a more exciting venue to introduce our film to Canadian audiences. Hot Docs is an essential stop on the circuit for all documentary filmmakers, and we’re truly honored to be listed among the high-caliber of non-fiction films selected to compete this year.”

THE PEOPLE vs. GEORGE LUCAS, which explores the dysfunctional relationship between the great filmmaker and his fans over the past three decades, will screen at the Bloor Cinema on May 1st (9:15pm) and May 4th (11:45pm), and at the Innis Town Hall on May 3rd (4:00pm).


For more info on the ducumentary, click on the links...

Official Website - which includes trailers

Full report from SXSW debut

The People vs. George Lucas social networking links: Facebook, MySpace, Twitter