User reviews

I was lucky enough to see Man In Camo at The Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival in Bay City, Michigan. Honestly, when I first saw the trailer I didn't really have any interest in seeing it. It looked pretty self-indulgent...which it is...it's also endlessly fascinating, There is so much going on visually that it's hard to focus at times but it all comes together and is a beautiful insight into Minkser's life and growth as an artist. I met Ethan during the festival and he's a fascinating guy and I think "Camo" is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything he's done and will do. Well worth seeing.

At first as we experience Minsker's journey we're not sure we can relate. Maybe we're not sure we even want to be there. There's darkness. It's scary. Hang in there. Stick with it. The value of the human spirit triumphs. He engages in the battle within all of us to share that which is inside us and comes out on top, over and over again. He breathes creativity.

We all know our friends for who and what they are, but never really get the whole story. We share things about ourselves but sometimes forget little details. It's not that we mean to, it just happens. To see a film with someone who is so enveloped in their medium, it was hard to miss out on anything happening in Ethan's life. This film is honest, poignant, and highly entertaining. The style is unique, and whether you know the director personally, or simply being entertained by this film, you reflect on the stories in your own life. You don't have to make it to the top to have some one else write out inaccuracies in your autobiography, you can be just as extraordinary and share some truths with a dash of cinema magic. Can anyone pull it off the same way he did? Probably not, but cheers to Mr. Minsker for paving the way and making his mark in film.

Watching this movie was like a glimpse into my own life as an artist. It was refreshing to see another artist that enjoys getting their hands in all aspects of the art worlds. Seeing footage from Ethan's youth and hearing the interviews were not only highly entertaining, but also very motivational. This movie makes me want to go out there and not just create art, but find the others who want to create art and work together to help others see their own ways of expression, especially if that was not something they had access to. I had a great experience watching this movie and meeting Ethan personally. This movie is highly recommended to those who want to see, hear and experience the sub-culture to pop-culture of music, zines, and art.

Man in Camo is a raucous explosion of multimedia and gorilla filmmaking. It is also a touching, introspective portrayal of one man's journey from angry punk rock kid to doting father, that lays bare the struggles of an independent artist trying to live his truth and support a family at the same time. If you're a child of the 80s who still looks in the mirror and wonders if you should get a new tattoo or if you ought to dye your greying hair blue, you will relate to this film.

It's hard to write a spoiler-free review of this film because as soon as you say "Ethan Minsker," you've given away a huge part of the story. Ethan has been at this for a long time-since he was a kid in many ways. At what? Filmmaking, rebel-rousing, DIYing, punk rocking, zinstering, and making, making, making. He's made a lot of movies over the years and finally made one about himself; he's earned it.

I'm a fan highly-specific stories that reveals the universality of our experience. Man in Camo is part biography, part manifesto, part self-exploration. I firmly believe everyone has a story to tell, but not everyone has the means (or gumption) to tell their own. There's a cautionary tale in here somewhere too, written and read between the lines. You don't have to be from New York to get something out of this-you don't have to be a writer or director, and you don't have to be Ethan Minsker.

We did a special screening of this film at our fest (Vidlings & Tapeheads Film Festival 2018, Hamtramck, Michigan). Ethan came out and led a robust Q&A after the film and the audience, strangers to Ethan's work, stuck around well past the alloted time and were fully-engaged throughout.

Frenetic editing, visually rich with about three dozen different animation techniques employed to liven up interviews and interstitials, Man in Camo is Minsker using everything he's learned in his life to tell the story of his life-celebrating his passions in the medium(s) of his passions.

I thought the editing style and creativity that this film has is truly unique to any other documentary I have seen. Ethans creativity and craving for a constant project really spills over into the cuts and animations that string this story along. His divergent way of thinking comes is seen throughout his relationships and projects that he develops as he grows up. I thought the way he segways his experience from being a young artist to growing a family felt very natural to watch. It is clear how he puts his all into the work he does, and watching him encorperate his daughter into what he is passion was a beautiful progression to see. The story itself is very interesting and gives a powerful glimpse into punk culture and the challenges that come with it. On a personal side, I found it inspirational how Ethan creates purely for his wanting to make art, which is a goal that can be lost easily for many struggling artists.

Ethan Minsker's films are always a joy because of the varied media he uses, and this is a crowning achievement (so far). It gives a great insider view of how art permeates his everyday life, and though it is centered around his own personal experiences, every artist can identify with his emotions and struggles. An excellent reminder of how persistence and passion are the true source of greatness.

Man in Camo was a very unique and creatively made documentary. You can tell, from the first shot of the film to the last, that Ethan Minsker is an artist. Through the film he uses graphics, animation, special effects, and even stop motion to bring his story to life. Throughout the film Minsker talks a lot about sub-culture and artiatic movements within sub-culture, and features a number of other artists as well. Minsker does a wonderful job of sharing his love of art through the screen, from showing his home films he made when he was younger, to showing his art pieces he's made throughout his life. Man in Camo is a truly authentic and artistic documentary.

I watched Man in Camo in class, and I think it is a great film that capitalizes on how much work and dedication goes into filmmaking or art in general by using any form of medium. Overall the visuals were great and captivating. The camo idea is very clever. I think Ethan Minisker is a really interesting guy and a phenomenal storyteller; I just wished it was faster-paced since it was quite a bit to get into at first, and there was a lot going on, but I am impressed that he managed to get most of his life all into one film. We got to see the development of his character from start to finish. Overall, it is a good film, but it is not something I would go out of my way to watch.

To experience Ethan Minkser's film "Man In Camo" is to share in an explosion of personal artistic explorations recorded and manipulated by him through decades. By traveling with his documentary, he enhances the experience by vising with the people who watch the film; it is personal, and he has a vibrant Q&A after his show. Ethan got people here in Bay City at #HHM13 worked up when they saw the film, and the audience had a great time conversing with him. I am wondering what he will do with the footage he recorded while here.

Ethan's unique style of storytelling & memorable animations is the film's main draw. I know how long the process of animation can be, and it is chock full with these high-effort animations, all of different styles and material.

I especially admire Ethan's ability of making a film about himself without it reeking of narcissism. Coming from a film student, I think any budding filmmaker, of any age, should watch it to prove that there is longevity in this art form.

What falls short for me is the way the information is portrayed to the audience. It's a little confusing to follow the order of events in his life as you'd imagine they were put together in chronological order, but instead it skips and jumps around. The Man in Camo still walks amongst us today, so it's hard to complain about a lack of an ending.

Despite this, I think this is a great introduction into Ethan Minsker's work, and I am interested to watch his past and future projects because of it.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film at The Gorst Underground Festival. I found this documentary, (which is Ethan Minsker's telling of his own story; his life, his art, his creative process, and background) original, inspiring, and thought provoking. This story/documentary, is not told in any kind of traditional way. It is not linear. There is a lot of material involved here, and the work has depth. The artist has done some intriguing self-examination, especially into the way his own mind works and creates. An inspiring and encouraging story for any artist and/or creative person.

I got to see this film at the Vidlings and Tapeheads film festival in Hamtramck, Michigan this past summer. It's clear how important art has been to Ethan throughout his life, and it's inspiring to see how his love for art has pushed him to connect with others. Not only is the film an incredible piece of art in itself, but it's an ode to all art lovers.

More than that, Ethan's a super cool guy. I was lucky enough to meet him at the festival, but this is something that's evident in the film itself. He's an active protagonist in this film, but it's also insightful to hear from Ethan's friends and family.

Do yourself a favor, and see Man in Camo.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ethan in Bay City at the Hell's Half Mile Festival. I was a videographer at the event and had a list of Q&A's I had to capture. I ended up sitting next to Ethan while previewing his film, it amped up the film even more. We ended up talking afterwards and went to preview another film, Thunder Road. That alone shows how down to earth of a person he is and his documentary continues to prove that and describes the work of him and many others continue to produce in this world. It's a different kind of lense you get to look through when watching this, and I love it. He does so much good and his creativity is everywhere and it's shown. He puts himself out there and he makes you know who's doing, and if you don't get the joke in that, you probably shouldn't be reviewing movies. This film represents what Hells Half Mile is about and I couldn't imagine someone else receiving the reward.

This was such a good watch. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Ethan Minsker's multimedia approach was effective and it completely hypnotized me. The film had the perfect balance of old footage, claymation, animation, photographs, and digital footage. Ethan Minsker truly captured what it's like growing up feeling separated from other people, as well as fearing death at a young age. I can really feel his love for art in this. It radiates off of my computer screen. And his love really ties everything together, he's making art about making art, nothing is more beautiful then that. (I also really admired how the interviews were set up. I've never seen an unorthodox doc interview done like that)

Ethan's autobiographical story ended up being so much more than that. It selves into the man BEHIND the camo. The film was not only about an art movement, but was an art movement in itself. I'm really glad I got to see this when I did and I can't wait for more.

This film as a whole is an incredible visual spectacle, with its usage of its various multi-media creations to form this clear picture of who Ethan Minsker is. While I think slightly self-indulgent at times, it makes sense given the nature of the project, and it paints this very proud and confident picture of the type of artist that Ethan is. It completely justifies its run time and always stays so fast and interesting, never leaving a moment without some animation or music to fill the gap. There's such a scope to Ethan's work that by the end there's no way you won't be a fan of at least some idea of visual presented here.

I saw "Man in Camo" at the Snowdance Independent Film Festival in Southern Germany. Minsker's Doc stuck with me as an uncompromising rush of thoughts, voices, visuals and music - like a 90-minute poem that got pumped into my brain like an art-injection directly from the heart of New York's Lower East Side.

In all its volatile self-reflection "Man in Camo" embraces something that seems trivial: An artist's life in all its strange influences becomes a chronicle of creation - all leading up to an emotional finale, where Minsker comes to the understanding, what his most important piece of art might be.

I didn't know anything about this film until I sat in the theater to view it. From the first moment until it ended, I was enthralled. Everything about this film is fabulous. The uncensored creativity is inspiring and overwhelming at the same time. I want to view it again, because I know there will be new things to discover and dwell on. It is a bio, but it is SO MUCH MORE. It is an in-depth look into a creative mind. A mind that must create. This will inspire so many to think outside the box and to embrace their imperfections and thrive. It certainly had that affect on me. Bravo!

I have watched almost all the movies and documentaries made by Ethan as this one is brilliantly made by him. To see footages of his and he has for many decades are surreal and fascinating to watch. It brought me back in time to see that were included in the film as I recommend and if you're an art lover or an artist and the words he expressed about creating art and what it's like being an aspiring artist and being in a art community and collecting other people's work

A week before I saw "Man in Camo," at the Anthology Film Archives, I caught a performance by Martin Rev, the surviving half of the duo known as Suicide (with Alan Vega.) Watching him, and listening to his electronic madness, I wished I could spend just one hour in his head, to experience how he sees the world around and what drives his inspiration. Ethan Minsker's film brings you into the artist's mind, and the way he lives in this world with little compromise. As Ted Riederer put it, "From the moment Ethan opens his eyes to the moment he closes them to go to sleep, he is thinking about his next creative project." His home is a place of art and his daughter is his "biggest art project" and seems to thrive mightily from it. As Ethan put it up, "How many kids get bedtime stories that are written about them?" What is also vital is his mission to bring artists together and demonstrate that an artist's life does not have to be a solitary one. In the film we see the evolution of outsider as artist to artist living in a loving community. The film is filled with friends, family and fellow artists, and is told with bravery and honesty.

Ethan Minsker's "Man in Camo" is a refreshing break from the content that floods our screens every day. It's the first look at raw creativity that I have seen in a long time. Everything about this film feels intimate because it is intimate. Ethan is sharing every aspect of his life, good and bad and it all comes together to form this beautiful story that is told over the course of an hour and a half. His unique style is extremely present throughout the film. He doesn't let the pressure of conformity threaten him in this film because it truly is unlike anything else that you will find. I found myself smiling throughout the whole film as I got to learn more and more about the Man in Camo.