Edited and shot with a syncopated style mimicking the work of his subjects, Pray turns the idea of the documentary on its head, making it rousing, invigorating fun lacking any MTV puffery.
Comment
03/08/02
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Scratch (2002)
93
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:46
Fresh:43
Rotten:3
Average Rating:7.3/10
Consensus: Whether you know anything about turntablism or not, Scratch makes for fun and informative viewing.
Rated: R [See Full Rating]
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Theatrical Release:Feb 15, 2002 Limited
Synopsis: Director Doug Pray (HYPE!) pays tribute to the innovative art of deejaying in the electrifying documentary SCRATCH. Featuring the most legendary figures in the deejay scene, Pray's film is at once... [More]
Starring: Mixmaster Mike, DJ Shadow, Afrika Bambaataa, Jurassic 5
Director: Doug Pray
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Reviews for Scratch
...Pray doesn't have a passion for the material. He nonetheless appreciates the art and reveals a music scene that transcends culture and race.
03/08/02
Does what a fine documentary does best: It extends a warm invitation into an unfamiliar world, then illuminates it fully and allows the larger implications of the journey to sink in unobtrusively.
03/01/02
Top CriticThanks to so many articulate DJs and terrific footage, the documentary is a must-see for hip-hop fans ...
03/01/02
[A]s entertaining as it is to watch the wheels spin back and forth, it's a closed world. Viewers not already acquainted with hip-hop and deejay culture might feel a little lost here, like watching a foreign-language film with no subtitles.
03/01/02
It's a smart, funny look at an arcane area of popular culture, and if it isn't entirely persuasive, it does give exposure to some talented performers.
02/23/02
Triumphs by profiling a vibrant, underground culture that is as innovative as it is misunderstood.
02/23/02
If you, like me, have never been convinced that spinning and mixing other people's records requires a musical skill, these guys will educate you as they twiddle and tweak like amped-up octopi.
02/15/02
The notion that hip-hop is much more than rapping is a persistent theme, and anyone seeking a solid introduction -- or re-introduction -- to that ever vibrant culture shouldn't miss it.
02/14/02
Dense, exhilarating documentary.
02/14/02
Top CriticNot only an exuberant portrayal of hip-hop's self-healing, it's a compelling meditation on the future of making music in America.
02/12/02
There's plenty of footage here of some of the world's best DJs at work, and it's impressive, even for someone uninterested in the genre.
02/09/02
An energizing, intoxicating documentary charting the rise of hip-hop culture in general and the art of scratching (or turntablism) in particular.
02/01/02
You'll be left with the sensation of having just witnessed a great performance and, perhaps, give in to the urge to get on your feet and shake it.
01/04/02
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