"The History of Concrete , John Wilson's first feature-length film, is far stranger and more compelling than the title suggests-and a perfect continuation of his oft-meandering, always philosophical practice. Yes, there are novel factoids about Ancient Rome, the removal of gum from city sidewalks and the oldest concrete road in America, but the plot often shifts and transmogrifies, in true Wilsonian fashion, before circling back to the topic at hand."
"Oddly enough, bygone ruminations of NYC's DIY music scene are parlayed into Wilson connecting with a local liquor store employee. The man is himself a gigging rocker, and the kinship he forms with the filmmaker paves a truly breakneck path that explores the creative process, the trial of rapper DMX and pretty much the entire length of Long Island. This is just one of the many tendrils teased out in ;"
The History of Concrete is John Wilson's first feature that blends odd factoids, philosophical digressions, and unexpected human encounters. The film presents Ancient Rome, gum removal from city sidewalks, and America's oldest concrete road while allowing the plot to shift and circle back. Frequent zooming-out and abrupt detours create a viewing experience like falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and can feel disorienting. A thread about NYC's DIY music scene leads to a liquor-store worker who is also a gigging rocker; their kinship examines creativity, the DMX trial, and Long Island. Wilson's deadpan voiceover, archival absurd shots, chance interactions, and convention footage remain central across three years of production.
Read at Filmmaker Magazine
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