Re-watching some of my favorite documentaries today. Just watched Second Skin again and it was just as interesting. A documentary about online gaming addiction and how many people are becoming completely absorbed by mmorpgs. The film follows a group of friends who play WoW and convinced a guildmate to move from CA to IN to be closer to his guildmates. A couple that fell in love playing Everquest and meet up for the first time as well as a couple of other sad/interesting characters. If you game or have ever gamed you should give it a chance. I watched it on Netflix on demand but I'm sure it's other places as well.
Confessions of a Superhero has been out for a while but I just got around to watching it (I blame the person explaining it to me having NO idea what the movie was really about). Ever consider what happens to all the people that go to Hollywood to become movies stars but don't make it? Some of them panhandle out in front of the Chinese Theater dressed as superheros posing for photos with tourists. Some of these superheros are also batshit crazy.
Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice An awesome BBC documentary on Polar Bears, with a ton of footage taken with hilarious remote control "hidden" cameras. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wylng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wylng</a> I laughed my ass off, and give it a solid 9.5/10
American Movie (1999)- "On the northwest side of Milwaukee, Mark Borchardt dreams the American dream: for him, it's making movies. Using relatives, local theater talent, slacker friends, his Mastercard, and $3,000 from his Uncle Bill, Mark strives over three years to finish "Coven," a short horror film. His own personal demons (alcohol, gambling, a dysfunctional family) plague him, but he desperately wants to overcome self-doubt and avoid failure." That's what the IMDB description says, at least. In reality, it follows a 30-something, drug-addicted, redneck loser and "budding filmmaker" who leeches off his relatives while arrogantly preaching to them about his brilliance and future success. He lives with his parents, counts on them to pay his rent, has them cook his meals, and essentially steals their money to make his shitty film, all while putting on airs and blowing smoke up their asses. It's not funny and it's not educational. The only thing more pathetic and dull than a chemically dependent loser pissing away his life is to WATCH him pissing away that life. I held out for 25 minutes, but that was all the torture I could take. Fuck this garbage. 15/100
Sicko – Michael Moore I have never really thought or cared overmuch about the health care of other nations, past making sure I’m insured before I visit them anyway. Also not really a fan of MM. I hate looking at his bloated jowly face as he lumbers around wearing clown sized pants and trainers, the bloke is a disgraceful mess. But I had a copy of Sicko lent to me and after having it laying around for over a month I chucked it on last night, made me feel really bad for you yanks. Drove home how a lot of the things we take for granted over here in Aus and view as a basic right are denied to you. Also how badly are you guys raped on meds! Is it a good docco? If you like MM’s style you would probably think so, I think he’s a cock so it didn’t really do it for me. The message however is as compelling as it is distressing so I’m a bit torn. Also the problem isn’t one that effects me so it’s less impactful than it might have been. 6/10 -1 for MM being a lumbering, gravy sweating jowl monster dressed like a homeless person.
I recommend the Up series. These 7 documentaries (so far) follow the lives of 14 English people checking in every 7 years. The series started when the participants were all 7 y/o in 1964. (Not all 14 individuals have participated in every installment). The next installment is due out in the next year or so. The ostensible purpose was to explore the effect of class on the lives of English people. Several of the children were from very wealthy families and others from poverty. (One of the rich kids is asked at 7 y/o what he reads and he responds "the Financial Times.") It is facinating to hear peoples' dreams and plans and then find out what happens. There are many surprises and much that is predictable. The film director Michael Apted has produced and directed all of the installments since the first, I beleive.
Just watched Exit Through The Gift Shop. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. I had an idea of where it was going to go when there was a shot of a random artist spray paint saying "Bansky is a fucking sell out." As artist conversations always turn into if the medium/style/whatever is played out. The last 25 minutes or so are worth the price of admission. The major theme is the commercialization of art. All taken from hand held video footage of a random french guy who decided to follow street artist around for no particular reason other than he liked them. I won't give away the big turn but you have to wonder if Banksy's unintended "creation" was some how very intended and he pulled one over on the whole art world on film.
BBC's "Space" with Sam Neill. It's a six part mini-series made a few years ago. Overall, it's exactly what you'd expect from the BBC: high-quality, dramatic images, interesting interviews with the people working in the field, digestible analogies to complex scientific topics and a genuinely well done show. I thoroughly enjoyed each episode and also I learned new stuff. Not a bad way to spend three hours, thirty minutes at a time. BBC's "Through the Wormhole" with Morgan Freeman. Another mini-series, this time featuring the Voice of God himself. This one explored more fringe topics, such as "is time travel possible?" and "are we alone in the universe?". This stuff is harder to make into a television show, but it is still worth watching. The only downside to this series was Freeman's "childhood in Mississippi" examples in each episode, they just were pointless. Added bonus: the scientists they interview are the most stereotypical adult nerds you can imagine. They are hilariously awkward on camera. You can just sense the Star Trek jokes and cat stories they tell behind the scenes.
Reel Injun: I watched this one for my Indigenous Politics class. It's about how Native Americans have been portrayed in film in the U.S. Very eye opening as this is something that many people know very little about. This film clearly has a bias but is still excellent. The U: I know others have posted ESPN 30 for 30 films but this one is my personal favorite. It chronicles the rise of the University of Miami football team from nothing to national champions. Great interviews with Miami and NFL greats. I'm not a Miami fan but this completely changed the way I view the program and puts in perspective what they were able to accomplish during the 80's.
Restrepo is playing on National Geographic right now. Looks like it's on again later tonight, in case anyone wants to catch it.
Not quite sure if this is considered a documentary, but today I watched a show by Natural History NZ called "X-Force Extreme Adventures: Sailing The Sydney to Hobart Race" I've always liked sailing, have a small 20' Hobie that I've had fun on, and like to casually follow a few of the big races. This show was INSANE. It showed some pretty awesome footage of some stuff you just don't see every day; 18' skiff races being run in 35+ knot winds, a racing yacht being chased by water spouts, a competitor actually going THROUGH one and surviving, a hull falling apart during the race and below-decks footage of them MacGuyvering temporary supports to try and get them to land, and more. I mean, they looked over their shoulder, and this was chasing them down. Fuck me. Well worth the watch if you have any interest in sailing at all.
Decided to watch a supposed "classic"; Pumping Iron (1977)- The lead-up to the Mr. Olympia body-building world championship in Pretoria, South Africa, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, and Franco Columbu, among others. It's an amazingly bland and colorless documentary. We don't learn a single damn thing, and are instead treated to endless shots of competitors working out and practicing poses, all to 70's porn music. I'm also not fond of them creating artificial villains by forging the facts, the worst example being Ken Waller. The only redeeming feature is Arnie, whose funny, vivacious, incredibly charismatic persona provides the sole entertainment in the picture. Still, mediocre and disengaging. However, do check out this hysterical story from Arnie at 4:28 of the following video, easily the highlight of the picture; <a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndgT091cqdg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndgT091cqdg</a> 44/100
Probably one of the most inspiring documentaries I've watched. Entertaining as fuck too. A couple of climbing and surf junkies head down the Pan-American highway back in the 60's to find the ultimate spot and stumble upon Patagonia. Now these two off the grid friends are multimillionaire activists (founders of the gear company Patagonia) fighting to keep Patagonia unspoiled as power companies and logging syndicates push progress for South America. A documentary filmmaker decides to mimic their journey with his own by sailing from Mexico to Patagonia. The trip does not go according to schedule which makes the journey far more interesting. Beautiful scenery, fantastic message, and a very enjoyable watch. Available on Netflix streaming.
If anyone saw Louis Theroux's documentary on the Westboro Baptist Church posted in the youtube thread a while back he's done a follow up. They've lost a few members since his last one so he interviews those who've left and asks those still in the church how they feel about it. It shows how many of the young members are trapped and how it's actually really difficult for them. You feel angry when they talk about their beliefs and what they've done to offend people but then realise how sad it is that they have to think that way. If they challenge their parents beliefs they'll be expelled from the family. 4 parts His done quite a few good documentaries - his one on the porn industry is quite funny to watch.
I recently heard an Adam Carolla podcast with Phil Rosenthal. In case you didn't know it, he's the creative mind behind Everybody Loves Raymond. During the podcast he discussed the documentary he put out last year, called Exporting Raymond, that documented his efforts in spinning off a Russian version of the show. He basically went to Russia as a "creative consultant" and was promptly ignored. I just finished watching it, and have to say that it's pretty funny, and definitely worth a watch. The way that they try to convert comedy/humour from the US headspace to the Russian is fascinating, and the train wreck is a fun thing to experience. <a class="postlink" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1356763/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1356763/</a> I'd give it about an 8/10 or so.
Citizen USA Refreshingly non-bias and upbeat documentary about why people immigrate to the United States from their home countries. Americans that watch this film ought to feel true flattery listening to the many people the film introduces us to as they recieve their American citizenships. They lovingly talk about the freedoms so many take for granted and why they love their new homeland, from middle eastern women escaping harsh abuse and few rights to a Canadian who immigrated to Texas because of his love of shooting and firearms. Most of the people are colourful and likeable, and the film has a happy and hopeful flow to it. Watching it, sometimes it puzzles you if you don't know America really well. For instance, a Muslim family immigrating to the heart of Mississippi. Then, they explain how and why they love living there. Not for cynics and simple, but straight forward and enjoyable even for non-Americans. 7.5/10
Exporting Raymond I caught this one recently myself and it was decent. More quirky than funny (although a few laughable moments), it gives a pretty good inside look of Russian TV and sitcoms as well as a larger picture of Russian-style humor as well (which sucks). It could have used a little more setup and the ending was a little abrupt. However it was an interesting documentary that would not have been as good if Phil Rosenthal wasn't so likable. It was worth the 90 minute watch. 7/10
Bumping an old thread, I know. Heaven Adores You (2014) I am a big Elliott Smith fan, and I was excited when I found out that there was going to be a documentary made on his life and music. For those of you who aren't familiar with Smith, he was an indie rock artist who struggled with alcoholism, drug addiction, and very severe depression during his life. He died in 2003, at the age of 34, from two stab wounds to the chest. His death was originally ruled a suicide, but the autopsy was inconclusive as to whether or not the stab wounds were self inflicted. The documentary features recordings of interviews that he did, some clips from live performances, and interviews with people who were close to him from times that ranged from his childhood up until his death. A lot was discussed about his music, but the film did not delve very deep into his very troubled personal life, and that was probably how Elliott would have wanted it. If you're a fan then it is definitely worth watching, and if you're not familiar with his music then I recommend checking him out. 8/10