Have you ever wondered how John DeLorean, the creator of the DeLorean sports car, ended up trying to do a huge drug deal to save his company? How did this successful, enterprising, intelligent, and popular person end up sitting in a room with a suitcase full of cocaine and the FBI? Framing John DeLorean is a unique documentary style film that may answer many of your questions and provide a memorable viewing experience. The film goes beyond the sensational aspects of John DeLorean’s life to explore who the man was.
Hybrid Documentary Style
Framing John DeLorean directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce is a hybrid documentary that creatively combines nonfiction and reenactments featuring a performance by Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean. In the documentary Baldwin is also himself, in and out of character, as he prepares for the role. The documentary combines the reenactments, Baldwin and other actors like Morena Baccarin as Cristina Ferrare Delorean’s wife, with actual characters as themselves, interviews, archival photographs and video. While this technique may blur the line between fiction and actuality it creates an informative, less subjective hybrid reality.
DeLorean Sports Car
John DeLorean and the DeLorean automobile are legend. Framing John DeLorean is an innovative documentary incorporating reenactments to bring the legend into objective reality. The film goes beyond the DeLorean sports car and the drug deal to save the company. The film brings both nonfiction and fiction together to tell the story. Framing John DeLorean manages to create a space that feels like objective reality even though it uses actors to reenact many aspects of the DeLorean story. The fact that the film makes no pretense about the reenactments being reality is important. Baldwin and the other actors seem intent on staying as close to the actuality as possible.
Delorean’s Career
The film explores John DeLorean’s career in the automotive industry before he left to build his own car. Born in Detroit DeLorian earned an engineering degree before working for various automotive companies including Chrysler and Packard. He ultimately moved to General Motors where he quickly rose through the ranks. He was instrumental in bringing the Pontiac GTO to the nation.
Cinematography and editing are excellent. I watched the 109-minute film on a 13-hour flight to Beijing and did not fall asleep, so the pace must have been good. Don Argott shot the film with the Arri Alexa SXT and Scorpiolens Anamorphic Lenses according to IMDB. Archival footage includes the actual FBI drug bust of DeLorian as well as the reenactment.
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Review by James R (Jim) Martin
Jim Martin is a writer, director, professor and author. He directed independent feature documentaries seen nationally on PBS including award winning Wrapped In Steel and Emmy award winning Fired-Up!