Most people know MGG from his notable role in "Criminal Minds" or as the hilarious Paul in "(500) Days of Summer", so when they wanna check more of his works and they discover that his film debut was in "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" they seem shocked - specially if they're fans of the movie but somehow overlooked his minor contribution in it. Well, I can say I remember him from Wes Anderson movie, there was something distinguishable about the only of the many Zissou's interns who stayed behind even after being injured during a pirate kidnap. What I didn't know was that 1) Gubler not only acted in the movie but also was Anderson's intern, learning about the director's job on set; and 2) with those lessons, he wrote/directed his very first film, a behind the scenes documentary as if told by the perspective of his character, that's why the title "The Intern Journal". The result proves that this young man is very talented with a camera.
Gubler's register is far from those "fabricated to look good" documentaries that seem made to please film buffs with loads of interviews we pretend trusting whoever is speaking. Here, Gubler uses of his sense of humor to portray a sense of disconnection with some of his cast mates (Noah Taylor and Michael Gambon pretending to be annoyed with Matthew following them everywhere), and to capture amusing moments with the cast having a great time together whether crowded in a tiny submarine or joking around with a fuzzball table bought by Owen Wilson, or even a hilarious lipsynch/dancing sequence involving Bill Murray. Besides his narration of events, which also includes a brief detailing on how he injured himself on the set, there's some small interviews, one with the real captain conductor of the ship who doubles as the Belafonte, and like Zissou he was attacked by pirates (twice! and real reason for him to have guns on the ship).
Gee, I just wish it could be longer but at least this isn't lost with excessive information or that usual routine of having director explaining himself, then the actors and crew telling everything. The images, the day-to-day scheme of filming, the gatherings (which includes a special visit from legendary filmmaker Albert Maysles), the jokes and all the fun this team had, everything is contagious. Team Zissou was the greatest, on screen and off screen. 10/10
