As robust as streaming, premium cable and PBS have made the documentary marketplace in recent years, you wouldn’t be wrong to feel that there’s a glut of similar stories being told in similar ways. If you’re a documentary about anything cult-related, good luck cutting through an ample amount of clutter.
The film — “documentary” doesn’t feel exactly right, though that’s what this is — introduces viewers to the life and music of James “JJ’88” Jacobs, who also serves as co-writer along with Gayles. Gayles tells James’ story with a foundation of traditional documentary elements, including interviews with James’ father, mother and sister, as well as his fiancée, and conversations/confessions/recollections from James delivered with the tinny audio of a prison telephone system.
Instead, JJ’88 is really good. His wordplay is exceptional and the songs are varied and catchy. If you aren’t careful, there could be a real confusion of the medium and the message at work here. James’ humanity isn’t validated by the quality of his music, nor is his music validated by the quality of Gayles’ filmmaking, which uses the songs as a far-better-than-average approach to the sort of re-enactments that are a big part of any conventional documentary fatigue.
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