Retrospective: Finishing Heaven (2008)

[Jerry Saravia]

FINISHING HEAVEN (2008)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Four stars

Mark Mann's "Finishing Heaven" is a sad, mournful film of a life that
could've been, or could it? Robert Feinberg is a former filmmaker who
shot one film yet never finished editing it. I knew a guy once who was
working on a short film, a comedy, for Public Access and had been
editing it for three years and still wasn't remotely finished. One may
also be reminded of Orson Welles who through the 50's right up until
his death in 1985 had several unfinished films. He famously said that
he didn't like to finish anything. This is one of the few
documentaries I can think of that truly illuminates the task of
completing something artistic, without knowing when it can be or
should be finished.

"Heaven" is the name of the film and Feinberg, under the former
tutelage of Martin Scorsese (his former NYU teacher), worked on a film
that can't be easily classified in the late 60's. Andy Warhol and a
slew of others come to mind describing the film "Heaven," an
underground, experimental, free-form picture made with style and flash
and dubious content (we see brief glimpses of visual tropes of the
era, like midgets and bubble baths with red-haired divas singing).
Eventually, things go wrong as days and days are followed by
inconsistent ideas and mixed emotions (Scorsese eventually abandoned
the project altogether). Feinberg pretty much abandoned his film as
well, in addition to his former girlfriend and leading lady, Ruby Lynn
Reyner. Now in present day New York City, Feinberg argues with Reymer
about completing the film, and she wishes for co-writer, costume
designer and casting credits. Their arguing of who gets credit for
what, not to mention Feinberg's affair with another woman that killed
their relationships, informs most of "Finishing Heaven." If you can
put up with these two neurotic people, then you can endure the sadness
chipping away at Feinberg.

"Finishing Heaven" is not just another documentary about an
independent filmmaker trying to make it - it is about a fiftysomething
ex-filmmaker, now a cruise ship greeter (is that an actual job?) and a
father, trying to resolve his early life in some context by finishing
and editing his first and only film. The fact is that if Feinberg ever
finishes it (and I doubt it), he may not resolve much of anything. He
was an impassioned film school student, perhaps fueled with more
anxiety and passion for film than even Scorsese, but he never quite
set his sights on completing anything - I gather he just loved
shooting reels and reels of film. One gets the impression that his
high level of anxiety coupled with early drug addictions self-
destructed his artistic side, thus lacking the confidence to complete
his film.

I don't know what to take away from Mann's "Finishing Heaven" except
that it is sad yet hopeful, and tinged with a lot of regret but not
necessarily remorse. It is less about finishing a film than it is
about the realization of what Feinberg once had and how he can
complete and close his past demons. Judging from recent festivals and
comments made by Feinberg, he remains a filmmaker paralyzed by his
silver screen opus.

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