Wednesday, August 18, 2010

PRESS: S.L.U.G. Cleanflix Review

A review of Cleanflix by S.L.U.G. (Salt Lake Underground) Magazine Film Critic, Jimmy Martin, as part of his Salt Lake City Film Festival coverage. Direct link to the original post at the S.L.U.G. Magazine site here.


Jimmy Martin » 08.18.10 »

Salt Lake City Film Festival 2010: Cleanflix Review

Whenever residents of Utah make headlines, 9 times out of 10 it’s for some reality series where our favorite local is announced the runner-up in the season finale. However, in the last decade, a Utah-based business caused such a national media frenzy with its controversial operations it awoke the sleeping movie moguls resting quietly in the City of Angels.

When it was declared members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were not to view R-rated films containing nudity, sex, profanity and violence by their prophet, Ray Lines saw an opportunity to strike it rich by establishing a business which digitally sanitized films of their explicit content. Cleanflicks franchises soon spouted across the entire state of Utah with Mormons being their main clientele, but what Lines and his fellow business associates weren’t expecting was the wrath of Hollywood filmmakers and their enraged copyright lawyers pounding on their doors subpoenas in hand.

Co-directors Andrew James and Joshua Ligairi join forces and unleash a powerful, poignant and balanced exploration into the debate of creative control between the customer and the creator. The question of who really owns the property we purchase ignites a firestorm of emotional intrigue that captivates the audience every step of the way. With the help of video comparisons, intellectual interviews and well-crafted visuals, the duo has captured a fascinating debate for both sides, supplying each standpoint with enough screen time to allow viewers to make the ultimate judgment. You can find out more about the film’s screening dates and availability at cleanflixthemovie.com.

Direct link to the review at SlugMag.com. You can also follow S.L.U.G. and film critic, Jimmy Martin, on Twitter.