Review: ‘Point and Shoot’ looks at contemporary thrill-seekers

Some folks will go to extraordinary lengths to find themselves.

Matt VanDyke, a shy 26-year-old with obsessive-compulsive disorder, described his journey from his Baltimore home to Libya as a “crash course in manhood.” Armed with an automatic weapon and his trusty camera, he joined rebel fighters rising up against dictator Moammar Kadafi.

VanDyke’s extensive footage and his unusual story have been shaped into “Point and Shoot,” a curious documentary by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Marshall Curry that makes interesting observations about contemporary thrill seekers.

The subject here is driven by a childhood love of Indiana Jones, Lawrence of Arabia and Alby Mangels, the real-life Crocodile Dundee whose “World Safari” shows had a cult following. VanDyke initially intended to make his own travel-adventure films before getting caught up in the Libyan cause.

His involvement came with a price — an arrest by Kadafi forces and solitary confinement for almost six months. But as powerful as some of his eyewitness footage is, it can also be quite revealing.

After seeing those victorious rebels brandish an AK-47 in one hand and a cellphone in the other, one gets to wondering just how much Facebook, as well as freedom, can be a motivating factor for adrenaline junkies. For the selfie generation, even a noble gesture can have a “look at me!” quality to it.

“Point and Shoot.”

No MPAA rating.

Running time: 1 hour, 23 minutes.

Playing: Landmark’s Nuart, Los Angeles.