Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Since the invention of cinema, the standard format for recording moving images has been film. Over the past two decades, a new form of digital filmmaking has emerged, creating a groundbreaking evolution in the medium. Keanu Reeves explores the development of cinema and the impact of digital filmmaking via in-depth interviews with Hollywood masters, such as James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, and many more.
Side by Side is a well-crafted documentary that benefits enormously from its extraordinary roster of interview subjects — virtually every major Hollywood director and cinematographer weighing in on the film-vs-digital debate gives it real authority. The conversations are genuinely illuminating and the topic was timely. However, the structure is fairly conventional for a talking-heads documentary, and Keanu Reeves as host is engaging but not a transformative presence. Cinematography is serviceable — somewhat ironic given the subject matter, as the doc itself doesn't push visual boundaries. The ending feels slightly inconclusive, reflecting the unresolved nature of the debate at the time rather than offering a strong synthesis. Novelty is moderate: the subject was fresh in 2012 and the access to talent is exceptional, but the documentary form itself is standard.