You won't be disappointed!

All that we are seeing on the screen is happening with real people, real action sequences in the background, forcing the eye to watch as if we were there.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

This film means I no longer feel bad about how many films I watch. It's a rather depressing tale about how far obsessions really can go, but also how they can comfort those with mental disorders. Clearly there's some debate as to what is normal. The people themselves justify their actions by saying that normal is just what everybody else is like, and who wants to be like everyone else. While this is certainly true, there are limits. They live on the cheap, have very few social skills, and even plan their diets to make sure their bathroom stops are predictable. There are some genuinely sad moments, such as Roberta's reaction to being comforted about the horses dying. She seems genuinely taken aback and devastated when she is told "They weren't really hurt, it's just a movie." "Why would you say that?" comes her response "You can't suspend disbelief for everything else and not that.". We also hear testimony about her physically attacking a woman that tore her ticket stub. When it reaches a point that dreams are films and nightmares are on video, and saying that sex with real people would be disappointing because it wouldn't be in black and white, it all gets a bit sad. Cinema should be an escape from life, these people need a life to escape cinema.

Before I start into the film, I should point out that there are two versions of this documentary about cinema addicts living in New York City. The first I saw was a little less than a hour long and there is a longer version that was for theatrical release. Having now seen both, I actually prefer the shorter TV version because the interviews work so much better because of the editing--with less "dead time" and a tighter focus. Still, both are well worth seeking.My love for this documentary is for two main reasons. First, I teach psychology and have used this film to illustrate Obsessive-Compulsive behavior, various personality disorders and the recently identified phenomenon of "collectors"--people who hoard items of practically no intrinsic value in a reaction against the shallowness of their lives. Second, with the third largest number of reviews on IMDb as of 12/07, I myself am a bit of a cinemaniac--but not nearly to the degree of those featured on the films. While I do watch a huge number of films (almost exclusively on VHS, DVD and cable TV), I also have a good job, healthy family life and don't think I'm THAT screwed up yet--and the documentary is a great way to warn me against the dangers of compulsively watching films. This was especially brought to my attention when I noticed that almost all the odd art films they mention in the movie are ones I have seen and often loved. In particular, the one man who adores THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG said a lot of brilliant things about this masterpiece. Scary, huh?! I have a bit of a kindred spirit out there! However, in the case of these rather sad individuals, enjoying the films in a traditional sense isn't possible. They are so obsessed with the details that often they don't stop to enjoy the film itself! One man has memorized the running times of practically every film (like a Savant) and it tears him apart if the film is shortened by even a minute! Another so obsessively saves every film ticket that she becomes violent if the ticket taker actually rips the ticket in half. And, even more sad, most have no lives or jobs because of this disability or mania. Some of this is because some of these people are indeed mentally ill, but most are not in a legal sense "crazy"--just possessing very disturbed personalities (meaning therapy or medication would probably do nothing to change their odd behaviors).This film opens up so many discussions for psychology students and sociologists. Much of it is because these people are all a bit different--with different styles of their obsessions, different mental illnesses or personality disturbances. In a way, a psychology student taking a class on diagnosis could almost make a game of spotting the pathology.As for how this documentary was made, it was made in Europe but is completely in English. Plus, oddly, there is no narration--the subjects and those who know them are just encouraged to speak for themselves. This was a wonderful choice since it was edited so well--and narration often ruins a good documentary as it isn't always helpful or needed.Brilliant, shocking and a bit disturbing, this is not for everyone's tastes, but a wonderful film nonetheless. By the way, many who did NOT like this documentary had valid reasons but many did not--not liking the subjects personality is NOT a valid reason nor that it wasn't a comedy nor was the knucklehead who was angry because the films the obsessed people liked (mostly art films, foreign films and classics) were not the same films they themselves liked!!! Hello....anyone out there.....this was NOT the purpose of the documentary. Liking the people or their choices of films was certainly NOT the reason for this great film--but the pathology and detrimental effects on their lives was (as most of them did NOT work but were on the public dole due to someone considering this a true disability).

I love the topic of this documentary and was interested enough to buy it. I was hoping I could identify just a little with these people, being a movie buff myself but they were too different and we don't really get to know them well.One of the problems I personally had was that all these people loved older films, black and whites, European classics, that sort of work. I have never been very interested in those. Also, their insistence to go to the cinema instead of watching a DVD I could not identify with.I thought it would also have been interesting to see what made these people what they are, what it is they're afraid of and escaping from. How people around them, family and friends have dealt with their behavior. These topics are neglected way too much. I think it would have been interesting to hear more other people, from outside the little movie buff circle, voice their opinion of the cine-maniacs.Also, if you want to see a documentary about loneliness this is not it. All of them had (seemingly) at least one friend and they didn't seem like they were hermits. They were all obsessive but not depressed or anything, they just like going to the movies way too much.We don't get to see their inner conflicts, what they are struggling with. They don't seem to struggle with anything anymore, maybe they decided to give that up long ago and decided for a simple life that consists of going to the cinema. It must be extremely boring, even for film lovers. What's going on with these people? We don't get the answers, too bad.

Manhattan is a mecca for the lonely. Nowhere in the world can people survive for years without the need of communicating with other people. Some of them have absolutely no life, or in the case of these five characters in this fantastic documentary, these are people who put all their energy into escaping from the real world. Their refuge is the many film theaters of Manhattan that show non commercial programs such as the ones that attract them. How much can they absorb? How much can they really enjoy the same films that attract them?. Watching this documentary one can't really say. Of all five people analyzed in the film only Jack comes close to a normal person. He is a walking encyclopedia. He knows about cinema. I have seen him in numerous occasions and have talked to him. He is the source one wishes to have when one is thinking of an obscure passage of a forgotten film, domestic or foreign. His whole life revolves around the different showings around the city. His life is a mess, but at least, he gives the appearance of normalcy in comparison to the others.Roberta is an eccentric lady whose whole life revolves around collecting programs wherever she goes. She appears to go to films out of duty, not because she really enjoys what she is seeing. Her own anecdote of taking off her blouse during an air conditioned failure is a hoot. Talking to her after a film will give you no clue if she liked or disliked what she saw. She would be much better off staying home sorting out a whole lifetime at the movies and straightening the mess she lives in. I hate to see a fire in that tenement, or in some of the other apartments, for that matter.Co-directors Christlieb and Kijak know these people very well. They give us a bit of their world; they have captured the essence of these five lonely souls in the big city.