Audience of One (2007)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Mike Jacobs

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A documentary following a Pentecostal minister who receives a vision from God to create an epic science fiction movie based on the biblical story of Joseph, sending him and his followers on a journey of extreme faith.

Plot Keywords:

Minister | Religious | Number In Title

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company:

Revolve Productions

This observational documentary tests the limits of faith

You're in the audience and you're waiting. Perhaps you're waiting to see if this science- fiction/faith film will ever get made, if it will be a total failure. Maybe you're even wondering if the filmmaker can wait himself without going mad. Mostly, however, you find yourself waiting to have your suspicions confirmed that Richard Gazowksy is in fact crazy, manipulative and this is all a giant scam. But that answer never comes.

Mike Jacobs, in his debut as a filmmaker, has created something that is so scarily objective when looked at on the whole, that you can't ever truly say that the whole film is a lie. His film, "Audience of One" follows a pentecostal preacher in San Francisco named Richard Gazowsky who for ten years has been following a divinely-inspired idea to start a film production company and create a multi-million dollar science-fiction film with biblical overtones so that he can reach an "audience of one."

At first you are thrust into the film's production process. As much as any non-pentecostal would doubt the divine nature of the film at first, you almost fully believe that WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Productions is going to make this film. You see all kinds of equipment, professional costume design, sketches, everything to make you believe they are funded and they will do this. As the film progresses and the absurdity continues, Jacobs balances out by showing the true nature of the production team's faith and deep religious connection to this film. You want to laugh at it all, but there's a sincerity Jacobs is sure to capture to create an objective film.

Of course there comes a point in the film where it seems impossible, that the hurdles are too high for them to make this happen, which is where the film shines. Jacobs captures just how serious they are, just how far faith will take these people through the most perilous and concerning of situations. They are so convinced that it is all part of God's plan that you as a viewer still empathize with their understanding of the situation.

While certain aspects of the film feel untapped or not pursued further, it is all sacrificed to create this effect in which the viewer must admit there are truly two sides, two ways to see Gazowsky and his crew and his church. If you can let go of the aggressive documentarian impulse than this film is truly enjoyable. If your true nature is to probe and make bold assertions, you're best suited to watch a Michael Moore documentary.