Hands on a Hardbody

Zatoichi's Review

We went to see the documentary Hands on a Hard Body when it came to town for a short run here at the film society. My wife and I just moved from Austin where the movie has broken attendance records (and earned more than half its gross) while playing at the same multiplex theater since June 1998. Even though we had heard raves from friends we never made the effort to see it in Austin. It sounds like a boring story, not easy to imagine that it could be very entertaining. Wrong! I wish now that we had seen the movie sooner. It's surprising, suspenseful, funny and touching.

The contest held in 1995 by a Nissan dealership in Longview, Texas pitted participants in a marathon battle of will. In the pursuit of winning a new $15000 Nissan "Hard Body" pickup truck, 23 East Texans placed one hand each on the vehicle's shiny body. The goal: to stand in the dealership lot, hand on truck, as long as possible, until one person, was left. Apart from short breaks at one- and six-hour intervals, contestants stand in place for up to four days at a time.

Interspersing live contest action with interviews of the contestants, director S.R. Bindler and crew let the people who are the story tell the story. Bindler shows affection, compassion, empathy and respect for his subjects, and a talent for editing so that the film has a pleasing and effective flow. You really get to know Benny, Norma, JD, Janice, Kelli, Paul and the others. Some of these people are really characters! You laugh with them, understand their motivations, and come to admire their grit as the tiresome hours of the contest wind on. At the end, you are pulling for them, thrilled to learn who is left standing, sad for those who tried and failed.

Bang for the Buck: Worth full price. Keep an eye out and catch it on the art house circuit if you can. Or fly to Austin and see it at the Dobie Theater.
Movie Mood: Fun movie
Recommend to friends? Yes
HSX recommendation: Not listed.

Zatoichi January 10^th, 2000