If you ask the film’s subject, the answer is ‘real’. The LA Times, distrustful of men who wear hats, did a thorough investigation into Thierry Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash. The paper researched his finances, travels, and records and everything checks out. He also tests negative for Banksy, meaning he and the mysterious street artist are not one in the same. So that’s one mystery solved. Nice work, LA Times. There’s definitely no way these artists/pranksters could forge documents. **leans back in chair proudly after adding Frying Pan Michael Bay to Wookie’s Johnson’s MIT diploma**