STARTUP.COM —*** — Documentary on the rise and fall of an Internet-based business, featuring interviews with Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, Tom Herman, David Camp, Jose Feliciano, Dora Glottman and others; rated R (profanity); exclusively at the Tower Theatre.
Frankly, the idea of a feature film about one of those so-called "dot-com" businesses sounds only marginally more exciting than one with extensive shots of drying paint.
Perhaps that's why "Startup.com" comes as such a pleasant little surprise. This feature-length documentary takes what could be a sleep-inducing concept and makes it as compelling as almost any movie currently playing on the big screen.
Of course, part of that is because the film plays out more like a dramatic thriller than a straight drama. And the filmmakers are smart to train their cameras on real-life characters and their struggles, instead of getting bogged down in technical jargon and complex explanations of e-commerce.
The characters are former high-school classmates Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman, who — having worked in the corporate world after college — tried to put their respective marketing skills and computer know-how to work.
So, in 1999, the two helped found govWorks.com, a Web-based company intended to facilitate interaction between the public and local government — such as providing a way to pay parking tickets online.
Not too surprisingly, their idea was received warmly, though the two were then faced with a whole new set of challenges, including how to find funding, fighting off other like-minded businesses and actually getting the site up and running. And as their fledgling dot-com continued to make progress, the once-friendly relationship between the two former schoolmates became hostile, leading to a fight for control of the company.
Kudos to co-directors Chris Hegedus (1993's "The War Room") and Jehane Noujaim (Hegedus' former cinematographer) for making this as enthralling as it is. And it helps that they have such compelling subjects.
Tuzman — whose resemblance to WWF-wrestler-turned-actor the Rock is uncanny — may emerge as one of the story's heavies, but he's also charismatic (refreshingly, the filmmakers never demonize him for that). And Herman comes off as likable, though probably a bit naive.
"Startup.com" is rated R for occasional use of strong profanity and some other crudities. Running time: 103 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com