Billy Mitchell ain't no 'son of a gun,' ex-champ speaks on King of Kong
Mitchell and cohorts recently spoke to MTV about Seth Gordon's reality-based film. Gordon and crew whittled away more than 300 hours of footage to forge a playful drama detailing Donkey Konger Steve Wiebe's journey to the top of the record books -- all, of course, at the expense of Mitchell's image. And, according to former Twin Galaxies referee Robert Mruczek, The King of Kong is also "full of holes." For example, Mitchell and Wiebe had rubbed shoulders back in 2004 (before the documentary was filmed), during the Classic Gaming Expo -- they even played Donkey Kong! Whereas, the film implies that Mitchell has avoided almost all public interaction with Wiebe and has shied away from playing Donkey Kong in his rival's presence. More surprising is that Billy Mitchell wasn't even the Donkey King high score holder at the time shooting for the movie began. That honor had belonged to no-name Tim Sczerby, who is conspicuously absent from Gordon's film.
It's easy to confuse documentary filmmaking with fact-based accounts. But don't be fooled, these cost-effective movies can be just as contrived as VH1's next B-list reality gimmick. Unfortunately, the "actors" can end up being the victims. But maybe Mitchell should heed a friend's advice and cash in on his new reputation. America loves its villains ( ...and loves to pay to see 'em villainate).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dopple Boppler @ May 31st 2007 8:12PM
That picture really really really (really really) looks like a bearded, long haired Sylar to me. Actually, they should have cast Mitchell as an actual villain in the movie where he cuts people's heads open and steals their abilities to play various old school arcade games, and it all comes down to a final Donkey Kong confrontation with Mitchell and Wiebe. "Save Pauline, save the world."
edog lost @ May 31st 2007 8:32PM
I’ve seen this film and I can tell you that although Billy Mitchell might be made out to be more of a villain through editing, all the evil lines and general pompous persona come straight out of him. The Hair, the attitude, everything makes him out to be such a douche. The man might have held this title for years but to hear him talk about it makes you want to puke. I heard him a few weeks back on Major Nelson's pod cast, he still comes off as this self centered ass. You should all go see this movie it just kills you after a wile to see him on screen. He really is the perfect villain.
Rubang B @ May 31st 2007 8:34PM
Haha, I was at the Classic Gaming Expo in 2004 and dropped about $60 on NES games. I saw Billy Mitchell there in his awesome stars and stripes tie, but back then I only knew him as the king of Pac-Man after he got the world's first perfect game, and I didn't know he was also the king of Kong, let alone an evil villain.
That trailer already makes Billy Mitchell look like an evil king whose destiny is to be dethroned by the lowly science teacher who fights for justice. I'm going to watch it anyway, but now I'll take it with a gram of salt. A gram!
fwacce @ May 31st 2007 8:35PM
Pretty sad that this film is that inaccurate. I didn't even know Michael Moore was doing a video game documentary.
Nick @ May 31st 2007 9:12PM
I saw the headline and thought it was talking about Billy Mitchell of USAF fame, not some random guy trying to steal the thunder of such an actual hero by using his name.
samred @ May 31st 2007 9:13PM
I wish that people who haven't seen the movie wouldn't file these blog reports without some sort of perspective for the majority of people who haven't been to a film fest and seen this extremely limited release.
Quote from the article: "Mitchell hasn't seen the film"
HELLO?! Is this not a raging red flag? Don't judge without seeing this truly compelling film. Billy Mitchell's actions are not twisted or turned with creative editing in this movie. And in a Q&A after the film screened, the director made it very clear that he didn't have to edit or change anything to paint Mitchell in a certain way. The director said (paraphrased) that he was amazed how trapped in the early 80s Mitchell truly was, in terms of dress, attitude and selfishness.
The movie was not begun with any agenda...and furthermore, the director makes sure to connect the dots of Wiebe's less-than-clean connection with "Mr. Awesome," a renowned foe of Billy Mitchell, so he doesn't shy away from reminding viewers that perhaps nobody's innocent here.
Grog @ May 31st 2007 10:08PM
It's interesting that the previous post (which was linked here) has just about the opposite things to say as this post, both by the same blogger.
dirge @ May 31st 2007 10:37PM
I've seen Billy's mom. She most definitely IS a gun.
Rob @ May 31st 2007 11:31PM
wow, who cares?
mannythedog @ Jun 1st 2007 12:23AM
Yuppiepunk has a review of the film here: http://www.yuppiepunk.org/2007/05/film-review-the-king-of-kong.html
They mention that the documentary is about to be made into a Hollywood feature. Sounds like maybe the director started fictionalizing already? Naaaahhhh...
indie-napolis @ Jun 1st 2007 8:03AM
I HAVE seen the movie and can echo what was mentioned earlier about Billy's appearance in it. Although docs can be edited all sorts of ways to paint a certain picture, Billy cannot help but come off as a pompous ass. Even if you were to watch his footage without the backdrop of him trying endlessly to deny the achievements of Steve Wiebe, he still comes off as very full of himself and kind of a jerk. Those who haven't seen it should. It is a clever little documentary. And those, including Billy, who want to decry it, should defnitely see it before they go around talking about it. The world doesn't need more uneducated prejudgement.
Tony @ Jun 1st 2007 9:20AM
If you actually read the article, Mitchell says like two things. That he comes off as a "son of a gun" (which has been confirmed by people who saw it ) and that he doesn't think he did anything wrong... I mean, he's not sitting around coming up with insane rumors based the film.
I don't know if he is a jerk or not, but he's not exactly running around with his head cut off about this movie, regardless of whether he saw it or not. It's like words are being put in his mouth.
Most of the other stuff argued against in that article aren't even from him.
Will M @ Jun 1st 2007 10:58AM
He is making a bad name for all of us people named Billy Mitchell.
edog lost @ Jun 1st 2007 11:46AM
Newline Cinema is no longer going to turn this documentry into a "Hollywood feture" film. They may do some editing to tighten it up. But the film will stay in documentery format for release.
Morgan @ Jun 1st 2007 1:18PM
I saw this film last week, so I feel comfortable talking about it.
There may well have been a time when those two met in public, that's fine. But there's a scene in this film where Billy full on snubs Steve right in front of the camera. Steve says "Hi Billy" and Billy turns to his wife and says "There's some people I don't want to spend time with" and walks away.
Every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like more of a jerk.
racingfreak92 @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:12AM
Billy Mitchel is a jackass. Mr.Awesome(record holder for missile command) is being kept out of the record books because of Mitchel. The company making the records is funded by him and hes keeping the rightful champion out of the books and putting Wiebe in instead because of personal hatred
Let me finish!
-AGI FTW!
racingfreak92 @ Jun 2nd 2007 11:15AM
oops, not weibe, its Tony Temple