Mistaken for Strangers

I've had a lifelong dream of casually talking to the talent like a normal person and I've recently done that but seeing Tom Berninger talk to St. Vincent just casually was not only really sweet but sort of made me realize that's what I look like talking to someone famous; containing myself talking to someone who's had an impact on me but treating them like anyone else and not putting them on a pedestal. And I'm cool with that

Viewed December 18, 2014. A surprisingly funny documentary that purposely makes its legitimacy a question. Tom Berninger is an unconventional protagonist, to be sure, but the man mines plenty of sympathy out of his own failings. Watching everybody else try to process his filmmaking style never gets old, and the moments that show The National's performances are nearly as thrilling as I'd assume they'd be if I were there.

What you assume is a behind the scenes tour promotion guised as a doc, turns into a look at the ultimate little brother syndrome. It's not amazing and its raw, but it definitely seems genuine.

It's engaging but I don't know if you want a painful look at a pathetically unaware guy, well-adjusted people trying to avoid dealing with him, or hearing his mom telling him he's a hard kid to raise.

Going into this expecting a 'behind the scenes with The National on tour' - and we're getting some of that as well - but this ends up more about the director and his relationship to an older brother, the lead-singer of this awesome band, and it's quite an interesting portrait of life in the shadow of a successful brother. *Preview*#14#, subject

Brotherly bickering from the trousers of a humourless Obama-backing indie-band and the guy behind the camera, yuck.

What could be just a self-congratulatory doc looks exactly the opposite of that by the hands of someone who's not that into the band, suffers from severe self-esteem problems and lack of confidence in his art (Tom should be developing graphic novels; he's got the wit and the humor for that) and, most of all, is the brother of the group's leader. Mistaken feels like the classic loser/nerd trying to prove something for his successful/QB counterpart, but also seems as lovely as a bro dramedy.

A very interesting twist on the classic tour documentary, with a surprising honesty and candidness. It's less concerned with following The National around than it is with the relationship between lead singer Matt Berninger and his brother Tom, who struggles with making the doc and living in his famous brother's shadow. It helps that I love the band as well, so this was right up my alley.

A wonderful surprise, full of emotion, laughs. It's kinda tangentially about The National, but more about the bond between very different brothers, fear of failure and the trials and doubts which come with the creative process. Loved it.

Towards the end of the film, Matt Berninger mentions that The National started to become successful once their music was injected with the anguish, anxiety and frustration they felt after years of no one giving a shit about them. Mistaken for Strangers acts as Tom Berninger's moment to put all of those feelings into a piece of art. The consequence of this is a touching film about the complexities of family relationships and how we deal with envy.

Bought it as the 0.99$ iTunes Movie of the Week Rental. Didnt regret it. Didnt know the Band, but since this documentation isnt really about the national, more about the director and the two brothers, its irrelevant. Interesting docu

A wonderful artwork that serves both as a towering example of the rock-doc genre and as a beautifully meta deconstruction of same. Part behind-the-scenes of The National on tour; part exploration of brotherly love, fraternal bonds and what it means to be outshone; part introspective, self-referential analysis of director Tom Berninger and where he's going with his life. Layer upon layer of glorious, powerful entertainment.