TNMC
This site’s design is only visible in a graphical browser that supports web standards, but its content is accessible to any browser or Internet device.
GRASS
Movie: 8/10
Let me start off by saying that I am not a marijuana user. I had some preconceived thoughts about pot before watching this film, but afterwards, I found out most of them were wrong. You may find me ignorant for thinking that marijuana, in my mind, USED to be considered evil. However, as this film shows through documentary footage and narration that this is all one spin the the media and government put on it. Marijuana really does nothing to you, it was put under legislation to regulate the immigration of Mexicans. Through the years, the United States developed a series of propaganda films like Reefer Madness claiming that pot use caused schizophrenia, murder, men to grow breasts, and people to become losers, even communists. (It's all here.) The downfall to this well done documentary is that you start to wonder if you are watching a propaganda film going against the grain. The subject has a lot of opinions and this film is very good at evoking them as well as educating people as to what the media is capable of doing when teamed with the government. My stance has since changed. Ron Mann and Woody Harrelson give us a great look at the culture surrounding "grass" (no pun intended) and in the end produce an excellent documentary. Mann has been a big fan of mine after watching other documentaries on the media he has produced such as Comic Book Confidential. There is no doubt in my mind after viewing this that Mann's first film was not a fluke and he has become a great documentary filmmaker.
Video: 8/10
Looks great for being composed of all archival footage. A well done presentation, widescreen.
Audio: 8/10
Mixed with the music of the time, giving this documentary a powerful effect. Very cool.
Extras: 5/10
A little weak. All it has is an alternate opening sequence, a short interview with Mann, a High Times magazine gallery, and a set of laws enforced regarding "wacky tabaccky". This thing could have used a commentary track or something else. It's a fine piece of film and deserves more than this and a trailer.
Overall: 7/10
A hilarious, well done documentary looking at the culture surrounding cannabis.
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
