High Cost Of Quality? ‘Waterworld’ Is Pretty Good, But ‘Crumb’ Is Better At A Fraction Of The Cost

Once again there was a long-awaited big-budget Hollywood film opening in Spokane on the same weekend as a smaller independent film. And again, both are entertaining. The “big” movie is “Waterworld,” which cost a reported $175 million to make, and the smaller one is “Crumb,” a documentary made on a fraction of the “Waterworld” budget.

“Crumb” is as interesting as it is disturbing. It is about Robert Crumb, the influential artist of the 1960s and 1970s. Crumb is the creator of Zap Comics, the notorious Fritz the Cat and that “Keep on Trucking” illustration.

During “Crumb” we see much of his work on screen; from his drawing of women he has had crushes on, to more sexually explicit creations, like the hilarious “Joe Blow” strip.

The film does a wonderful job of documenting Crumb’s life and the progression of his work. The interviews with his brothers, Charles and Maxon, are some of the most harrowing segments in the film. Charles has lived at home with his parents and been on medication for most of his life. Maxon is a panhandler who spends hours each day on his bed of nails. Each are gifted artists, but Robert is the one of the three who became famous.

Much of Crumb’s illustrations and comic books show a fear and hostility towards women. Some of his comics include women’s heads being dunked in toilets, and men removing the head of a woman so she will be more docile. Director Terry Zwigiff, a friend of Crumb’s, doesn’t let him off the hook on this. We see interviews with people who consider Crumb a pornographer, sexist and racist, and their evidence is not overlooked.

By the end, the film has made no judgment of Crumb. It only documents his life and work, and leaves it up to the viewers to decide how they feel about him.

“Waterworld” was last week’s ultra-movie offering. The word was that “Waterworld,” the most expensive film ever made, was going to flop because of script and directing problems.

That may be, but “Waterworld” is still a good movie.

While it has one too many fantastic coincidences in its last half-hour, and then sinks to the level of a standard action film, “Waterworld” is still exciting and exhilarating.

The story takes place in the future, when the world seems to be one big ocean. People float around on boats, finding food and water where they can, and stealing and murdering. Most of the murdering can be attributed to the Smokers, a band of neo-pirates who ride around on scary-looking jet skis. They are led by their brutal dictator, The Deacon (Dennis Hopper).

If you haven’t guessed by now, this is basically “The Road Warrior” on water.

The plot kicks into gear when a man known as the Mariner (Kevin Costner) has to care for a woman (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and little girl Enola (Tina Majorino). The smokers want the girl because she has a map on her back believed to show the way to dry land. The acting and action are good, but the sets steal the show. Whether it’s a floating city or an underwater city, everything is eye-popping. But in the end, all the technical excellence cannot overcome bad writing.

For an above-average evening (or matinee) at the movies, try “Waterworld.” But for a genuine experience that does more than entertain, see the masterful “Crumb.”

Grades: Crumb, A+; Waterworld, B+