“The Ringmaster” is an engaging documentary about moviemaking. It follows nascent filmmaker Zachary Capp’s obsession with a subject so mundane that his quest becomes unintentional comedy — like Werner Herzog’s “Fitzcaraldo” directed by Christopher Guest. But Capp’s authenticity and enthusiasm, his desire to document a personal passion, makes “The Ringmaster” both an irresistible film-within-a-film and a cautionary tale.
The lesson that the newbie filmmaker learns too late is pretty basic: know whether your subject is willing and interesting enough to carry a film. Capp decides to make a movie about the best onion rings in his Minnesota hometown. The central figure is the second generation cook, Larry Lang, who holds his family’s secret recipe. Except the taciturn Lang seems disinterested in having a film crew follow him as he quietly fries up onion rings in the kitchen of a local pub.
But Capp, a Las Vegas resident and recovering gambler, is convinced he’s got a great movie and invests much money and time over several years. Eventually his crew, out of self respect, survival but also genuine fondness for the sincere Capp, start making their own movie about his Quixotic quest for a satisfying ending. Dave Newberg and Molly Dworsky took over directing and editing chores. The film follows Capp and Larry to Badlands Motor Speedway in South Dakota where Capp is courting a deal to market Larry’s onion rings. First, KISS band members who are performing at the venue sample them with a thumbs up. When Capp asks Larry whether he knows who Gene Simmons is, Larry’s priceless response is “a movie star” presumably thinking of Jean Simmons.
The film raises ethical questions as members of the crew start to feel uncomfortable about Larry’s obvious reticence. Is Capp exploiting him for the sake of the film? By the time Capp flies Larry and his sister Linda to Las Vegas to serve the onion rings to the owner of the Oakland Raiders in another attempt to land a concessions deal, things really go off the rails. It’s fascinating to see such a well intentioned idea go so terribly wrong.
Capp emerges as a decent if compulsive guy who admits his gambling addiction propelled him and skewered his judgement. He also seems simply in over his head. “The Ringmaster” is an entertaining and ultimately touching film about obsession and knowing when to quit.