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Netflix Documentary “The Last Blockbuster”

Netflix Documentary “The Last Blockbuster”

Netflix Documentary “The Last Blockbuster” the Last Blockbuster is an enjoyable, nostalgic look back at the age of video rentals and also the narrative of one small-town video store that managed to outlast a corporate monster.

Including interviews with comedians and actors with ties to Blockbuster including Adam Brody (“The O.C.”, Jennifer’s Body), respectively Ione Skye (Say Anything, River’s Edge), Doug Benson (“Getting Doug with High”, The Lego Batman Movie), Paul Scheer (“The League”, “Veep”) and manager Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jay and Silent Bob), using narration by Lauren Lapkus (The Wrong Missy, “Orange Is the New Black”).

Filmmakers Taylor Morden & Zeke Kamm follow the manager of this world’s only remaining Blockbuster at Bend, Oregon Sandi Harding, as she reflects the store’s vibrant ago and navigates the tough task of keeping a video rental store open in the age of streaming.

Taking us through the annals and subsequent rise and fall of the franchise, the documentary reveals the actual reason why Blockbuster went out of business (hint: it wasn’t Netflix) while observing the unique and defining culture it created from the’90s, honouring an easier time and also the sense of community which can be seen in Blockbuster locations around the world.

There are a plethora of documentaries in the past few years dealing with VHS nostalgia and video stores but this film specifically tells the story of the rise and collapse of Blockbuster featuring a nostalgic return with some popular faces in addition to following a very personal narrative whoever owns the exact last Blockbuster store on the world.

The filmmakers hit a fantastic balance between these diverse facets. There’s a step by step and ‘warts and all telling of the narrative of the powerful yet ill-fated rise and eventual fall of the video giant having some noteworthy interviews with individuals in the industry and ex-customers and clients, there is the nostalgia festival of individuals remembering their experiences of Blockbuster (both good and bad) however that the real shining light of this film is following Sandi Harding (the owner of the last blockbuster from the world in Bend, Oregon) as we all learn how the store has become part of the community and is very much a family business.

As a character, you are immediately fascinated by her and by the end, you’re going to soon be in no doubt why This blockbuster is your last living location in the world. The filmmaker’s fire for the subject material is evident from the creation with this film that was definitely a labour of love whilst at precisely exactly the exact same time they’re ready to poke fun and not take the subject matter too seriously which makes this documentary a very enjoyable & informative watch.

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