Becoming Bulletproof Review
By David Kempler
Proof Positive
A couple of years ago, Michael Barnett, a documentary filmmaker, attended a premiere of a Zeno Mountain Farm production (ZMF). He was fascinated by it and went to speak with them because he wanted to make a documentary about their work. They agreed. What distinguishes ZMF films is that they are about the making of films that star people with disabilities. Barnett wanted to capture the making of one such film.
Once a year ZMF brings together disabled people from all over the United States to perform in a movie. Barnett captured the making of ZMF's western, "Bulletproof". It's a very campy piece that looks behind the scenes and at the participants.
The primary actor we meet is A. J. Murray, a man who suffers from cerebral palsy, who dreams of becoming an actor. Murray is physically impaired, but his mind is just fine, and acting is something he can do well enough. He and his co-actors work their tails off in order to put out as good a product as possible and watching them, one can't help but be flooded by emotions of admiration, sympathy and happiness.
By moving back and forth between the filming of "Bulletproof" and peeks into the lives of the actors, Barnett establishes a loving, but never patronizing view of what ZMF is accomplishing. The Western scenes are at times very funny, but never deprecating. It's a tough wire to walk, but Barnett pulls it off.
At the end of "Becoming Bulletproof", Barnett shows the very lively premiere of "Bulletproof". It's a blast and it's a victory for Murray, his fellow actors, and the people of ZMF. This is far from classic filmmaking, but you probably won't be able to leave without the same good feelings that permeate throughout "Becoming Bulletproof".
