Review of My Kid Could Paint That (2007) by Lester Y — 21 Jul 2009

This was exponentially more interesting than I ever thought it would be, thinking it would be a pedestrian fluff piece on a little kid doing abstract art and the praise that came along with it.

Instead, it's a fascinating look at the predatory nature of news media, exploitation of children and the emotional attachment of gullible collectors. The best aspect to me was the director's struggle whether or not to turn the movie into a piece of investigative journalism or just leave them alone, placing him in a moral dilemma. Wonderful movie that goes beyond asking "what is art?".

Personally, by the time the 60 Minutes scene came I felt really bad for liking those paintings. I think this movie helped me understand the concept and appeal of abstract art in a way, although I still have trouble not seeing modern art in face value and people in the community are so irritatingly snotty that it turns me off of the art itself completely.