Documentaries I've Just Seen ....

[Secret Agent Gal]

I love documentaries because they open doors to the unknown! Share documentaries you've seen lately, and why you liked or disliked them. Also let us know what's next up in your queue.

Recently I've seen:

Jimmy Carter: Man from Plains

Next up for me:

Time Machine: True Story of the Bridge on the River Kwai

[Meredith]

I've been watching Simon Shama's The Power of Art after really enjoying his History of Britain.

Next up I've got This Film is Not Yet Rated.

[macroman]

Three docs I watched last week I can recommend:

1. King Corn=GMO corn and its ubiquitious use. Informative and entertaining.
2. Music from the Inside Out=Behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of the musicians in the Philadelphia Orchestra.
3. Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues=great doc on the man nicknamed The Country Shakespeare.

Next doc up in my queue is:
Pipeline Masters=History of the legendary surfing hotspot, the Banzai Pipeline.

[tseeks]

I just watched "King Corn". It was interesting, but I expected more about the troubles the two guys went through growing and selling the corn, when it is really just about how corn is everywhere and in almost everything. Parts were interesting, but just an average film.

[Drom John]

Recently viewed:
The Searchers: Bonus Material was solid.
The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till was politically important.

Next up, due in the mailbox today:
Smothered. I wonder if Phil Ochs will be mentioned.

[Drom John]

Smothered. Phil Ochs wasn't mentioned but they sang the Draft Dodger Rag. 4 stars, but there's so much context on this Tommy Smothers versus the CBS Practice and Standards censorship, that I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who doesn't remember the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. If you do remember, this is a solid documentary.

Next up: Naqoyqatsi, 16th in the queue.

[macroman]

McLibel. David vs Goliath documentary about two working class English people who are sued by McDonald's for criticizing them in leaflets they hand out on the streets.
They have to represent themselves in court against McDonald's highly paid legal team and win. They go on to challenge English libel law as restricting free speech and also not entitling them to legal representation in Europe's highest libel court, but I won't give away the ending to that.
There is an 82 minute version(which I watched) and a 52 minute version. There is one 5-minute Extra feature called Interview with a Spy that is worth watching.
4 to 4 1/2 stars.

[VIP Club]

I've just finished watching The Edward R. Murrow 4-Disc series.

[beeswax]

I saw Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired a couple days ago on a friend's HBO.

I have a long-running amicable disagreement with a close friend about the Polanski case. We both admire his work tremendously, and have sympathy for the serious tragedies and hardships of his life. But she maintains that in the notorious case discussed in this documentary, that a) he was railroaded, and b) she would no longer be able to respect him if he were really guilty of rape. I believe he may be guilty, that the case was handled badly, that he never finished "paying his debt," and that he is still a genius even if he has been a hideous person. This film gives both of us plenty of ballast for our sides of the argument, and gives plenty of context to anyone else previously unfamiliar who wants to join in the debate.

Like Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam this is a fascinating and grisly look at how "celebrity justice" doesn't always swing in favor of the celebrity. And like The Kid Stays in the Picture it is a pretty glamorous but also fairly seedy look at one of the great eras of moviemaking.

I gave it four stars and I recommend it.

[tseeks]

I watched American Movie. A film about a guy from Milwaukee, WI trying to make his own horror film, with no money and no luck.

I went back and forth between thinking he was an idiot to thinking he was pretty insightful. But it was an interesting film.

[macroman]

American Drug War: The Last White Hope. 4 1/2-5 stars. Great documentary on our failed and very expensive war on drugs. The Bonus Features, esp. the interview with Tommy Chong(of Cheech and Chong), are also excellent.

[Robert R.]

I have seen many documentaries, but there is one I like best even though it is also the shortest one I have seen. The name of this documentary is Nuit et Brouillard (Night and Fog). It originates from France and released in 1955. It tells a brief story of the Nazi-Era Holocaust and reenacts with real-life footage. The very trait that makes the film unique from other Holocaust films is the vividness of the footage. It will disturb any sensitive individual who watches it and may even traumatize those whom possess the naiveté of a toddler.

[Drom John]

Saw Naqoyqatsi this weekend. Very good music video, very art house, not much of a documentary. Four stars. The music of Glass featuring Yo-Yo Ma, five stars.

Next up: The Corporation #12 in queue.