Hookers Inc.

The title of Michael Selditch and Rob Tate's lively and suspenseful "Eleven Minutes" refers to the time allotted aspiring designer Jay McCarroll to show his first line of clothing at New York's Fashion Week in Bryant Park. McCarroll was heralded in 2004 as "the next great American designer" when he won that season's "Project Runway" reality show. But it wasn't until 2006 that he was able to mount his first collection. Between February and September, it is a flurry of nonstop activity, constant decision-making, a tug of war between McCarroll, a talented novice with a vision, and his experienced, dedicated publicist, Nancy Kane. The filmmakers cram their slice of the fashion world with no detail overlooked, and in doing so they capture that brisk, intoxicating New York atmosphere of smart, no-nonsense professionalism.
As the show draws nearer, the tension increases. McCarroll is a strong personality but a vulnerable man, admitting to bouts of angry insecurity, loving fashion and the creation of it, but aware both of its financial realities and its absurdities. For his first collection, he takes inspiration from architectural fantasies, creating clothes that are simple and beautiful but that are vibrant with color and distinctive motifs. By the time of his debut, the campy, witty McCarroll has us rooting for him.
Da The Los Angeles Times, 20 febbraio 2009