True Document of a One-of-a-Kind Person: Now! More! Yes! Film Review
Still from Now! More! Yes!
The documentary form is great for many things: learning about a new subject, about spreading awareness about an event in history, or a call to action about an injustice that is happening in the present day. There are also documentaries that are just simply character studies on a colourful person who is larger than life, but at the same time you might see parts of yourself in this person being spotlighted. Max Hey’s film Now! More! Yes! is a prime example of that form, as it takes a look at “Milwaukee’s Favourite Car Salesman,” TW Hansen.
Now! More! Yes! theatrical poster.
TW (or Tim) Hansen is a car salesman, a landlord (a friendly landlord who goes above and beyond to help his tenants!), a DIY musician (under the name Economy Superstar) and filmmaker who has boundless energy, and as we meet him, he drunkenly bought an ambulance with his bosses credit card, as he wants to use the ambulance for a future film project of his.
The thrust of the film is watching Hansen both try to film this project (a music video for the band The Resurrectionists) and to sell the ambulance he bought. A lot of complications arise in the film, as you learn about his history with money (and how he hasn’t paid his boss at the car dealership back), his history as a filmmaker and a salesman. TW sums it up as such "I like cars because they are in movies and I like movies because there are cars in them. That's kind of my whole deal.” Through it all though, TW Hansen’s passion shines through, bringing to mind another Wisconsin documentary legend, Mark Borchardt making his film Coven in the 1999 documentary classic American Movie. Just as you begin to compare Hansen to Borchadt, you will see Borchadt himself interviewed in Now! More! Yes!, talking about his wonderful experiences with Hansen (“He really puts himself out there and cares for other people”) and how he has helped Borchadt with his feature films. You also hear testimonials from people like Gilbert Trejo, the son of Machete himself Danny Trejo, and how TW Hansen has helped him with his music video projects, all the while as Hansen’s life unravels from stress and trying to be there for everyone.
Like American Movie or Errol Morris’ Vernon Florida, Now! More! Yes! is a true document of a one-of-a-kind person, filled with quotable lines and memorable moments. TW Hansen’s passion for creating art will be relatable to anyone who has tried to create their passion project in the face of adversity, whether it’s financial or personal reasons. I don’t want to say too much more about the film, as I don’t want to spoil the twists and turns, but it has a real feel good happy ending and is a satisfying journey. You will laugh a lot, you will feel emotions and relate at times, and overall, it might just give you more motivation to carve your own path!