- Directors
- Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson,
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 97 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Hot Docs Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.
He was forgotten through mainstream music. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, R&B and Soul music is easily The Supremes, The Jackson 5, and Curtis Mayfield, among other legends. But if one were to dig just a bit deeper, diamonds can be found. This is the case of Little Jerry Williams, otherwise known as Swamp Dogg. He is a revolutionary writer, singer, and producer who may not be on the consensus 70’s R&B Mount Rushmore, but he brought freshness and style to the game.
Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson’s Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted uses his pool renovation as a starting point to analyze the inside out. His house. His roommates, Shorty and Moogstar. He has all of his televisions throughout the house, as he is addicted to them, having three in his kitchen. These small details about his intimacy help paint who he is. He is a generous artist and person who shares his house and knowledge with others. Not only borrowing a room of his place but mentoring and conversations by the pool.
Meanwhile, its 1970s visuals are well-placed throughout. The logos are reminiscent of that era, and the segments deepen Swamp’s hobbies, such as cooking, inspired by Soul Train TV show segments. All these elements build a nostalgic bridge to that period when culture, especially music, was different, especially when intersecting with society. His political views were seen as radical, placing him on the FBI’s subversive list. Furthermore, his obsession with using rats as a symbol on his album covers was also considered transgressive by the public. It all adds to his disruptive psychedelic R&B and soul artist persona. For those who need creativity and groove to their song, it would be Dogg’s one would want to recruit to produce it.
Despite some narrative inconsistencies and abrupt editing, Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted successfully captures its titular subject’s essence. Swamp Dogg, a guru from the mainstream era, continues to push boundaries, experimenting with auto-tune and green screens in live streams. His story serves as a potent reminder that creative talents should be nurtured and supported, even in their later years. Swamp Dogg’s journey is a testament to his enduring passion and ability to transform ideas into musical masterpieces.
In the end, Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted uses the basic premise of renovating his yard to give audiences an intimate look into his life. He is a fascinating icon who has influenced so many artists and still has much to contribute to our art.
still courtesy of Hot Docs
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Brazilian film writer. He is also a producer and executive producer for Zariah Filmes. Member of the International Film Society Critics Association (IFSCA), International Documentary Association (IDA), and Gotham and Media Film Institute.