As "Big Mack - Gangsters and Gold" (2023 release from Germany; 90 min.) opens, we are introduced to Donald Stellwag, a very tall and very obese guy. We go to "Nuremberg, 19 December 1991", and a very tall and very obese guy robs a bank, literally a quick smash and grab in broad daylight. The bank's security cameras have plenty of footage. Next thing we know Stellwag is arrested, despite his strong claim that he was hundreds of miles away when the robbery took place. At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.
Couple of comments: let me admit up front that I had never heard of this true story. If you are in the same position (i.e. Not familiar with this tory), I don't want to reveal too much about what all happens. I will say this: I felt let down when all was said and done. The movie sets you up for something that then never quite develops, or certainly not in the way that I had expected it. Beware: the film makers do a LOT of reenactments of scenes where there is no historical footage. In the end, it feels like this documentary is a missed chance, and that this could and should be much better than the end result we now have.
"Big Mack - Gangsters and Gold" premiered on Netflix this past weekend, and I watched it last night. I'm a sucker for documentaries and for true crime, so I took a chance on this, literally not knowing the first thing about it. If you like true crime documentaries, I'd suggest you check it out and draw your own conclusion,
