Lack of good storyline.

A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

An impromptu change in their vacation schedule leads filmmaker Jeremy Workman and his then fiancé, Astrid von Ussar to a meeting with Al Carbee. A widower residing in a small town in Maine, Carbee is also a resident of his own universe, driven to endlessly create a personal landscape populated with a myriad of Barbies in countless scenes and situations which he then photographs and catalogs. His home is akin to a DIY fun-house, complete with man-made underground caverns and upper rooms where he toils in virtual solitude and anonymity.I must admit to lukewarm expectations prior to screening this documentary; too often studies of this sort are either one- dimensional or tend to present eccentric creators in a rather tongue-in-cheek, vaguely insulting way. Instead, how surprised - and delighted - I was to see Al's universe through the eyes of Jeremy Workman, how privileged I was to experience their resulting friendship and subsequent journey as their lives intersected in a way that so often happens -- quite by accident. How satisfying and uplifting and yes, heartbreaking, to see two lives forever changed and enriched thanks to a moment in time that came so close to never happening. I was brought to tears, filled with both sadness and hope and finally, gratitude to have watched what Jeremy Workman and Al Carbee gave to each other and, in a very real sense, to a wider audience like myself. MAGICAL UNIVERSE is not merely a chronicle of a widowed recluse who photographs Barbie dioramas. It is a celebration of humanity, a love letter to friendship, a reminder that, while the world may be a vast and mysterious place, we are just a single detour away, always within reach of our own magical universe.

Wistfully sad (and sadly insufficient) documentary from amateur filmmaker Jeremy Workman regarding the eccentric art and reclusive life of Maine resident, veteran and widower Al Carbee. Workman's 'movie' is really just a project, one with little visual flair, no filmmaking vitality and, surprisingly, not even a sentimental overture at the finale. Expanding a four-minute short he had previously done on Carbee in 2001--photographing Carbee's photos, collages and Barbie doll dioramas--Workman doesn't even ask his subject any probing questions (with the exception of "Are you lonely?", which seems redundant). Carbee's rambling old farmhouse (in foreclosure) is revealed to harbor decades of pictures and diaries and personal artwork, mostly semi-provocative collages he's taken of his treasured Barbies. Carbee's late wife was embarrassed by her husband "playing with dolls," yet he always told her he was working with them as an artist works with his models (and we're to assume this did little to nullify her objections). The best section of the film, when the curious come with trepidation to see Carbee's showing at a local museum--and leave with smiles on their faces--is wonderful, but there's no follow up to Carbee's triumph on Workman's part; everything is allowed to be frittered away. So, where's the magic? ** from ****

I enjoyed this film so much; my attention never wavered. Delving into Al Carbee's world is like escaping into a storybook that feels like childhood but is very much grown-up. The film evoked compassion in me for this gentle, happy, strange old man with a vivid imagination and lovely spirit. Every time I watched him on the screen, I couldn't help but feel tender towards him. I wanted to hug him! The film shows how his art is so much more than "photos of Barbies" and the essence of his work is captured beautifully. I found myself coveting some of his photos. Jeremy Workman has created a splendid narrative about an obscure artist and his wonderful little world. What a touching tribute to Al Carbee.

Jeremy Workman tells a lovely story in this film. Al Carbee was an "outsider artist", an old Maine hermit, who created oddly beautiful and elaborate dioramas with Barbie dolls, then photographing them and creating collages. His work was visually interesting and really quite compelling. This is a strangely moving and compassionate film about an interesting artist and man, and the relationships he forges in his later years, and is a meditation on making and the development of an artist through stages of life. The soundtrack is beautiful. Photography by John Monroe captures some of the sense of the mystery and amazement of meeting Al for the first time.