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ASHLAND INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 4:41 PM Updated Apr 10, 2015 at 4:42 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 4:41 PM Updated Apr 10, 2015 at 4:42 PM » RELATED CONTENT • What was your favorite film? • Ashland Independent Film Festival movie review: 'A River Between Us' tells compelling st... » Social News After tippling the tasty wines and noshing the yummy cheeses and meats of the Rogue Valley at the grand opening bash of the Ashland Independent Film Festival Thursday night at Ashland Springs Hotel, many moviegoers slipped off to immerse in the zany life of comic revolutionary Russell Brand.  The masterful doc, “Brand: a Second Coming,” by Ondi Timoner immerses you in the loud, crazy life of this Brit who has become a famous and influential social critic by the simple feat of calling out all the hypocrisy, cruelty, greed and violence of our global culture and shouting it in their face. Relentlessly. Loudly. Wittily. Non-stop.  As a movie, it’s too long — two hours. Much of it is lost in his accent and the endless ranting on his handful of themes, which have become so familiar from the Occupy movement and daily links on Facebook. We get it: the corruption, folly and lies of so many politicians, preachers and talk show barkers.  He struts the stage in leathers, long necklaces and spotlights, just like a rock star but, instead of a guitar, his instrument is his wily brain and sassy mouth. He’s candid about everything, including himself and his own anger, ego and angsty drive for a huge shift in consciousness, so that regular people, like the working poor he grew up with, can get in recovery from drugs and booze (he’s been there) and put together a society that works for the 99 percent.  Young females throw themselves on him and he admits his addiction to that, too. And he explores it in his wild-eyed rants. He’s charming, amazing. His radically honest stream-of-conscoiusness is like the finger-painting of a chimp on speed, yet it makes sense and you find yourself agreeing, nodding yes and wanting him to speak the unspoken.  On stage and flashing through this compelling flick, you see big pictures of Jesus, Malcolm X, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, all thought criminals of their day, all variously pilloried by drugs, alcohol, hatred, jail and early death. Brand was going to tour the Mideast but they made it clear they would kill him, so, not wanting to court death, he says he’s not going.  The highlight of the film is Brand’s encounter with three talking heads on the live set of "Morning Joe." He took them apart, even stepping into the role of show host, speaking to the camera and voicing the subtext of arrogant nonsense which, he said, that and so many other shows present every day. Timoner was the sixth director to take on this film, she says, and she did much of the editing while nursing her new baby — hard work. She has created an important work, one that needs to be seen by major markets — but only after she cuts out a third of it. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Apr. 10, 2015 at 4:41 PM Updated Apr 10, 2015 at 4:42 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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