Sentimental tours through a world brimming with personality, mirrored by an equally busy mind, an osmotic product of growth as much as the city's monolithic armaments. The Observer's Effect makes documentation particularly difficult, but the sheer sincerity reaching forward presents a wholly natural unfiltered glimpse of an introverted grasp of global change, a refusal to cooperate with gridlocked tedium despite crushing anxiety and self-doubt, and inspirational division from the unnecessary roots.

“Civilization is the molestation of everything we ever could be, a giant repression melting into suppression, so that you never say what you mean.”

A fascinating character piece. A personal portrait of New York presented through the lens of an eccentric Levitch.

The Cruise is a documentary with an interesting premise, but not that good execution. The subject matter is Tim "Speed" Levitch, who is an interesting man. The problem is, this would work if it was a podcast. As a movie, it is not that good. At times, I was browsing Reddit while the movie was on and was just listening to the movie. And it's better that way in my opinion.

Someone, for the love of god, invite this man to an orgy.

decent documentary showing you the POV of a unique person.

also I've now watched all films Bennett Miller has directed. Patiently waiting for his next film.

"The Twin Towers. Sometimes I like to spin in between the two towers and you make yourself dizzy and then you look up and it looks like the buildings are falling in on top of you. Yeah It's amazing, I recommend that, it's fun."

If only he knew.

american nardwuar takes you on a tour of new york city. bennett miller founded his whole career on dudes with funny voices

Timothy is a person that I worry is slowly being crushed by the homogeneity of New York City, and of the world. A Beat poet, a Jewish intellectual, an eccentric, a romantic. Maybe I’m just nostalgic, and the line between performance and authenticity is so blurred that Timothy is purposefully situating himself within that tradition. Either way. It made me feel wistful for something that feels like it’s slipping through my fingers.

As a character study, this is a fascinating portrait of a Gen X New Yorker who is so ensconced and enmeshed in his home city that he is almost literally its ambassador to dozens if not hundreds of visitors to it daily.

It is easy to see why someone would think Timothy 'Speed' Levitch to be a compelling subject for a documentary and the stints of him doing "the tour" are engaging and entertaining... but once he begins to unfurl his personal philosophies, I begin to find him a bore, quite honestly, as though he's performing for the cameras than recounting his deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings.

When all is said and done, though, he's an erudite enough scholar of New York from a bygone era that myself, as a lifelong Midwesterner, cannot possibly fathom or connect with on this particular level.

decent documentary showing you the POV of a unique person.

also I've now watched all films Bennett Miller has directed. Patiently waiting for his next film.

Sentimental tours through a world brimming with personality, mirrored by an equally busy mind, an osmotic product of growth as much as the city's monolithic armaments. The Observer's Effect makes documentation particularly difficult, but the sheer sincerity reaching forward presents a wholly natural unfiltered glimpse of an introverted grasp of global change, a refusal to cooperate with gridlocked tedium despite crushing anxiety and self-doubt, and inspirational division from the unnecessary roots.

Black and white was an excellent and almost required choice. 

The character being ‘studied’ seems to miraculously balance the line between annoying, ill, ridiculous and endearing ... almost lovable

A pure gem of a documentary following a very particular bus tour guide giving most unconventional tours around New York - what a character ! Totally anti conformist, brilliant, a pure poet...As crazy as this city used to be ! Loved his analysis about Central Park, the grid plan, the crazy urbanisation...

“In pursuit of perfection on a New York double-decker”

An amazing character portrait of a brilliant and inspiring character of New York City. Loved this.

Remarkable stuff, a trip back to 1998 and the first Manhattan I explored as a teenager. Speed Levitch is an unforgettable subject.

Sometimes all you need to make a good documentary is to find a really fascinating subject (or at least a quirky one) and just point the camera at them for an hour. Clarke figured this out with Portrait of Jason and Miller find a similar subject with Timothy “Speed” Levitch. If you want to experience the mindset of a New Yorker and the city itself this is a good doc for that.

I’ve been going through some tough times lately and this helped

Very interesting guy, although I can barely believe it’s the same director as Moneyball and Foxcatcher.

A documentary about a peculiar but interesting New York bus tour guide, Timothy "Speed" Levitch. Not sure all his information is accurate, but he's a fascinating conversationalist.