Very straightforward documentary unfolds the making of a bomb. I haven't seen Eye of the Beholder, it seems some people just loved it but even they find it difficult. So whether it is an uncompromising artistic vision or self-indulgent drivel is something I look forward to discovering on my own.
A number of comments here suggest the movie was destroyed by the suits, but it doesn't really look that way to me. Yes, the suits wanted changes and additions and made the director re-shoot some stuff, but it did not look like (from what is seen in the documentary) that they wanted huge changes; they just wanted it sexier to be more commercial. So when the test audience loathed the film, it was probably loathing more-or-less Stephan's vision.
I think it is also important to note that Stephan made it perfectly clear in the documentary that he had basically conned his backers. He told them he was making a commercial thriller when he was planning to do nothing of the kind. If you promise something specific to someone in exchange for money and then deliver something else, you have to expect them to want you to change it to what they were expecting. So it was a calculated risk; get the money, make the movie he wanted and hope it succeeded. One of the most interesting parts of the movie is seeing how nervous Stephan is as the time comes near when he's going to show the film to his backers with every expectation that they are in for a shock.
The movie is mildly interesting throughout but only really interesting in the last part as things increasingly fall apart. I doubt anyone not interested in the film industry would find it especially interesting.
A number of comments here suggest the movie was destroyed by the suits, but it doesn't really look that way to me. Yes, the suits wanted changes and additions and made the director re-shoot some stuff, but it did not look like (from what is seen in the documentary) that they wanted huge changes; they just wanted it sexier to be more commercial. So when the test audience loathed the film, it was probably loathing more-or-less Stephan's vision.
I think it is also important to note that Stephan made it perfectly clear in the documentary that he had basically conned his backers. He told them he was making a commercial thriller when he was planning to do nothing of the kind. If you promise something specific to someone in exchange for money and then deliver something else, you have to expect them to want you to change it to what they were expecting. So it was a calculated risk; get the money, make the movie he wanted and hope it succeeded. One of the most interesting parts of the movie is seeing how nervous Stephan is as the time comes near when he's going to show the film to his backers with every expectation that they are in for a shock.
The movie is mildly interesting throughout but only really interesting in the last part as things increasingly fall apart. I doubt anyone not interested in the film industry would find it especially interesting.