25 documentaries in 30 days

My girlfriend Kelsey, and myself are determined to watch as many documentaries as possible in the next 30 days. Typically, I rent movies (mostly documentaries) from the library, you can read more about how and why I do this in my invisible cage blog. In the last ten years of my life, I have leaned more and more towards watching solely documentaries (besides a few select filmmakers and films) since I value their base in truth. 

This month, Kelsey and I, have signed up for NetFlix's free first month. We are planning to cancel right before the free trial ends. In the meantime, we are getting as many good documentaries that we have been wanting to watch, and watching them. I am going to keep a running list of all the documentaries we've watched and my 1-10 rating. (1 = horrible/  10= perfect)

When the Levees Broke by Spike Lee
Rating: 8.5

My only argument with this thrilling look at America's worst natural disaster was length. Although, it was created for television, which is why it was not edited to feature length for DVD. I thought the stone cold look into the facts was extremely well done. I found the results chilling. The people interviewed were very real, and fun to watch. I consider this a MUST WATCH for anyone wanting to learn more about Hurricane Katrina and everything if affected.

I Like Killing Flies by Matt Mahurin
Rating: 7.5
I think this is a worthwhile look into a very individually brash character. The cook named Kenny Shopsin was the main character, and was the inspiration for the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. Kenny kicks people out of his store, yells at them, and has some interesting philosophies about food and the world around him. He reminds me of Francis Bacon, except instead of painting, Kenny cooks. I did not like Kenny as a person, but loved learning about his temperaments, watching how he ran his shop and cooked his food.

Microcosmos
Rating: 10
It is hard to rate a video like this, there is no storyline, there are no humans, just the simple beauty of the insect world and nature. The music and images blew me away, over and over again. It was like photos in the National Geographic came alive. Everything was shoot with a super micro lense, making moths look like birds, centapedes look like buses, and ants look like human sized crowds of city goers. Seeing nature at such large and detail scale was simply astonishing. The slug sex was jaw dropping. I am going to try to own this amazing work of film.

Best Boy by Ira Wohl
Rating: 8
A gripping look into a families struggle with giving their middle-aged mentally challenged son a chance at independence. I thought this was a great story, and a great documentary which holds up after nearly 30 years after completion (1979). This is a touching story, worth watching.

Best Man by Ira Wohl
Rating: 8
This is the sequel to 'best boy', listed above. A look into Philly's life twenty years after the last documentary. I admit, this was a good as the first. We came to love and care about the characters in the first movie, and Best Man is a new look at their progression, or in some cases a tragic look at a lonely age. The movie is centered around Philly's progression and decision to celebrate his late Bah Mitzva on his 70th birthday. As a viewer, you are along for the joyous ride.

Word Wars by Erik Chaikin
Rating: 7.5
I consider this movie to be a lot like 'Spelling Bee', and Wordplay (which is about crossword puzzles). I prefer both of the other movies to Word Wars, however I enjoyed this movie very much as well. These expert Scrabble players are quite fun to watch, much like the slightly nerdy, slightly crazy 'King of Kong' players. This genre of odd sport competitive documentaries seem to always follow the same pattern, and its the entertainment value of the individual players that make the movies so engrossing. Word Wars is the same, and if you enjoy any of the movies listed above, or think you are good at scrabble....think again and see this movie.

9/11 Press for Truth by Ray Nowosielski
Rating: 9.5
I've seen 'Farhenheight 911', 'Loose Change' and a few other 911 documentaries, and this one is the best I have seen. I really enjoyed both Farehheight and Loose Change, but Press for Truth is an astonishing look at the actions taken by four widows of the 911 tragedy and how they basically were the driving force for information that the media was not pursuing. This film had a lot of incredible information, and each time I thought the movie was going to hold back, it delved deeper and deeper into the controversy and condemnment of the US government. Brilliant.

Dark Days by Marc Singer
Rating: 7.5
This 2000 film, looks into a subculture of (literally) underground drug addicts and homeless. The abandoned subway becomes a living society, with structures, concrete yards, working electricity, jobs, pets, and relationships. This was a very disturbing insight into the personalities of the homeless. The movie was very well done, featuring some incredibly compelling characters and how and why they have found their selves living deep underneath society in the dark tunnels of New York. My only complaint with the movie, was my own desire to understand more about the layout of the tunnels, how people came and went, and basic statistics about the insane living conditions. A great look into the lives of the homeless.

Children Underground by Edat Belzberg
Rating: 8.5
I found this documentary to be a heart wrenching look into a very unusual lifestyle. A group of homeless Romanian children (ages 8 to 15) who have run away, or been kicked out of their houses live in the subway, huffing paint, begging, stealing and fighting while the rest of society turns their head. It reminds me a great deal of the beginning of 'Ender's Shadow' (a great sci fi book by Orson Scott Card). Because of the similarities between this film and that book, everything felt oddly like deja vu, except the book was science fiction, and this movie was non fiction. I don't think anyone can not fall in love with some of the children in this movie, and hope for the best for them. It is also a good look into what not to do in a society.

Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport by Mark Jonathan Harris
Rating: 8
The Holocaust is one of the most horrible event in the history of human beings. I think it is crucial that was learn as much as we can about this horrific experience and make sure we do not repeat ourselves (although I would compare GW Bush with Hitler). This film delves deep into the problem, but more specifically into the kindertransport, a program that saved 10 thousand Jewish children from certain death (1.5 million Jewish children were killed). The film featured interviews from a hand full of survivors and their experiences. It is sad, yearning look at death, hope and coping with loss.


Brothers Keeper
by Berlinger and Sinofsky
Rating:6.5
This 1992 documentary was a cross between cops, a news broadcast and a judge show. I really enjoyed getting to learn about three new york farmers, one of which, whose brother had just passed. The police accuse the brother of murder, even though he is an uneducated kind man. The story takes you into their lives as uneducated farmers, that seem to be living in a century long ago. The town jumps to the accused defense and fight back.

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple
by Stanley Nelson
Rating:8
Let me tell you, this situation is so messed up. If you are not familiar with the Jonestown cult or the Peoples Temple, this movie you need to see. I knew very little about any of this, besides a few references in the news. The entire film I was stunned to learned what an absurd and scary man Jim Jones was and how he came to force 900 people to commit mass suicide (or murder- depending on your view). The most horrifying thing about this movie for me, was watching how similar practices Jones uses on his followers are also used on the American people....and how those same practices were used by another egomaniac killer that goes by the name...Adolf Hitler.

The American Drug War: The Last White Hope
by Kevin Booth
Rating: 8.5
I found this 2007 film to be a very surprising look into the most expensive war in US history, the war on drugs. The amazing thing I learned in this movie is the corruption of the US government to sell us illegal drugs, then arrest us for it, and essentially make us slaves. It is Americas way to get rich and keep slaves. The jail industry is an industry just like any other, and neither the republicans or the democrats do anything but poor more money into the problem and enjoy the profits. I think everyone in the US should see this movie. The documentary was very well made and effective, and I am now a STRONG advocate for legalizing pot.

The Cats of Mirikitani
by Linda Hattendorf
Rating: 7.5
What a fun movie to be writing about. I myself am an artist, struggling to get known in the art world, struggling to sell art to the public, struggling to simply live my life as an artist; yet Mr. Mirikitani is one hell of a great example of the sacrifices of an artist in a tough society. A true outcast. I felt the actual documentation was a bit crude, editing, sound work was not very professional. However, I felt like I reallt understood with what Linda Hatterndorf was going through by filming this homeless artist, and eventually taking him into her life and giving him a new life altogether. Her sacrifice is truly commendable, both by taking him in, and by making this film. Mirikitani, a American Japanese artist, struggling with the aftermath of living in a country that performed the holocaust on his people. In his art, he loves painting cats, depicting concentration camps, animals, and works tirelessly to create these works no matter the situation: on the street, in the rain, in the park, in a foreign apartment. His devotion, in his very desperate minimal way of life is quite fascinating and inspirational.

F is for Fake
by Orson Welles
rating: 5
I admit I enjoyed War of the Worlds, the entire idea behind it. I did not care for Citizen Kane much. I found it odd and confusing. F is for Fake is very similarly odd and confusing. Welles seems ahead of his time with jump cutting and interesting dialogue segways from one scene to another. The overall topic, about master artist fakers, was very interesting to me, except the film did not hold my interest. My girlfriend and myself decided to end the movie once it seemed the sexism was unbearable. It was overwhelming and unneeded. I just did not get into this film, and its very possible that I just do not fully understand Orson Welles.


Genghis Blues
by Roko Belic
rating: 9
Out of all the free documentaries we got over this 30 days, which will be less than 25 as hoped, I knew less and had less expectations for this odd movie about a blind blues singer, Paul Penna and Tuva throatsinger, to be the least valuable. Boy was I wrong. Throatsinging is a great nitche in the music world, and both skillful and beautiful to hear. Konga-Ol Ondar (click his name to see him on Letterman) is one of my favorite people ever, he is talented and always smiling and laughing. Paul Penna is a great tragic character who travels to Tuva to enter a throatsinging contest. Americans are rarely permitted into Tuva, and even more rarely speak the Tuvian language AND can throatsing with any skill. Penna is a master. The movie is a gem and everyone should watch this uplifting movie, even if just to hear the amazing noises and see some amazing Tuvan fashion, with cool hats and robes. A great documentary!



More to come, check back soon.

"11th hour" movie review

11th hour: the documentary
Presented by Leonardo Di Caprio

If you care about your future, you need to see this movie. I have wanted to see this documentary movie ever since I saw the preview for it months ago. I had assumed for some reason it focused primarily on global warming, although the film did a good job of going over a number of issues and reasons why we need to take action. Here is the 11th hour website.



The film was very motivating and actually quite uplifting for a quasi doomsday warning type of film. The film featured tons of credible scientists, researchers, authors, and leaders to get across the point. The point is that we have been out of sync with our earth, and if we do not act now to reverse the damage we have caused, the earth will reject us and human beings will die.

The film struck me as powerful and right on target. I recently wrote about the film Earthlings, which was the most horrific film I have ever sat through. I had to do it in three parts, and felt physically like I had the flu during each segment. The movie Earthlings solidified the fact that I am now a vegetarian for the first time in my life, and have been without much problems for 20 days (besides the occasional craving). I wanted to recommend to everyone the movie Earthlings, but had a hard time being able to subject anyone to such a torturous film. Keep in mind the film was EXCELLENT, however far to true and brutal. It explains how human beings' treatment of animals is inexcusable and needs to end. While I feel the message is so damn right on, I know there are very few people that can sit through the entire film. I feel guilty for eating meat for 26 years of my life.

While Earthlings is something I will suggest to everyone, with a fair warning behind it; 11th HOUR is the motivational movie that I will be lending to all of my friends and family, because its message is so right on, but also much easier to digest. 11th HOUR makes you feel bad about our current state, but gives you hope for the future and solutions for ways to make change. Earthlings makes you hate human beings and their concept of superiority to other forms of life.

You can buy 11th Hour for only $4.95 at Target and I would assume other large retails like WalMart and Kmarts. The movie is well worth the money, plus you can loan it out to others and spread the hope, and not to mention the package is made from renewable energy and recycled materials.

If you enjoy documentaries that will change the way you see the world I also strongly suggest you see these movies:

The Corporation
An Inconvenient Truth
Bible Camp
Sicko
Connections (tv show)

I have become a documentary junkie in the last three years, and would gladly take recommendations from those of you reading this blog. I also really enjoy art documentaries, science documentaries, and basically any documentary that is well done. If I enjoy your comments or suggestions I may make your comment the topic of a future blog post.

The Ending was Lame (No Country for Old Men - movie review)

No Country for Old Men
The Cohen brothers are back at it with another challenging film No Country for Old Men. This movies features a baron landscape in the Rio Grande, where a drug deal gone wrong leaves the protagonist Llewelyn Moss (played by Josh Brolin) to pry a suitcase of money from the cold dead hands of the suposed lone survivor. Of course, it becomes a rat race as a killer Anton Chigurh "sugar"(played by Javier Bardem), and the mexican mafia hunt him down. I love the Cohen brothers' character names in this film.

The Ending (No Spoilers)
I am going to delicately tip toe verbally around this subject, and my main source of dissapointment in this film: the ending. I will not give away any crutial storyline, because I hate when I read a review that ruins my own experience. If you've already seent he movie, you will know what I am talking about and if not, you'll get the jist of what is causing me to groan.

I seriously can bet that a good number of the packed audience that was in attendence to see this movie with me also was daydreaming or not paying attention when the credits hit the screen. I was somewhat shocked and felt I may have missed an some juicy verbal conclusion. The movie ends with what feels like a lack of the last chapter, no real resoultion. I was daydreaming about how the movie, given its unpredictable nature up to that point, was going to wrap up. Before I was done making my guess, the movie was rolling credits.

Swimming Pitbull Chase

No Country for Old Men had suspense up the ass. I would compare it to a hitchcock movie in terms of repeated suspense that grows and grows. The sound effect, lack of a soundtrack, cinematography, acting, timing and screen composition were used very effectively to keep me on the edge of my seat. The violence was a bit extreme at times, but far more realistic than any action movie. The swimming pitbull scene was something I loved seeing, as it was very visually appealling and fun to watch.

The Cohen Brothers
Keep in mind this is not a comedy. If you enjoyed their previous work you should indeed see the masterful job they do in creating an effective suspensful action flick. The movie is good enough that I would suggest it to anyone open to new directions in film, as long as they can handle some violence and gore. I do feel the Cohen's play with audience more than most directors, and in this case the effort was worth it, despite the lackluster ending (which was definately a bold and unusual choice). I do respect their fearlessness, and therefore even though the end was not my cup of tea this is my favorite of the Cohen Brothers movies.

No Country for Old Men- Rating: 8 out of 10 (10 being the best)

How it stacks up:
The Big Lebowski 7 out of 10
O Brother Where Art Thou 7 out of 10
Barton Fink 6.5 out of 10

Into the Wild (movie review)

Why this Movie is Amazing
Into the Wild deals with tough issues like parenthood, the silver spoon effect, societies expectations, truth, faith, religion, love, spirituality, lonliness and individuality. The writing and storytelling is crafted in such a way to keep the story compelling til the end. The balance of flashbacks is delicately done with much respect to the pacing of the story. Kudos to Sean Penn and his team for the great work.

Falling into the Extreme
Into the Wild exemplifies a young mans', Christopher McCandless, struggles to contradict societies norm of being trapped in jobs, struggling to make money and own needless objects. 'Supertramp', as he nicknames himself during his voyage, disappears into the world after burning his money and deserting his car in the desert. Eventually he makes his way to Alaska and lives among the animals in a fascinating look at throwing away everything you know and own, to find true beauty in the nature around us. His statement is bold as he faces many dangers. It is never a question of whether or not he goes too far, the question is how far on the other spectrum are we?

Phenomenal Acting
Emile Hirsh gave a very impressive performance, and the rest of the cast was simply superb. I have rarely ever been so excited to see side characters appear and reappaer in a movie in a long time. Their minimal but very poignant time on screen was never wasted. Jena Malone (Donny Darko) and Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich)were very well casted and fun to see. While Brian Dierker (first time on-screen actor) was the most savory character for me, and Hal Holbrook stole the show with his heartbreaking portrait of Supertramps' newfound friend.

Voluntary Migration
Another reason this movie effected me so much, was because the protagonist's desire to be free and experience new places and new things is something I very much desire to do myself. Forcing yourself out of your own confort zone to learn about the type of person you really are deep inside. It is the reason a year ago, I decided I would go on an Art Tour in July 2008.

Into 'Into the Wild'
See the movie, read the book and learn more about Christopher McCandless.
Visit http://www.intothewild.com/.

Into the Wild Rating: 9 out of 10

Darjeeling Limited: movie review

Wes Anderson's Darjeeling Limited
Wes does not stray too far from his pattern here. Darjeeling Limited is another example of creating quirky familiar characters, with actors we all know and love, and setting up a beautiful backdrop in India for them to run amuck in. I need to mention off the bat, that even I am critical here, that I am a big fan of Wes Anderson's work to date. Especially, Royal Tennenbuams and Bottle Rocket.

Slow Motion to Boredom
I am being a little over extreme here, however, all Wes Anderson movies lately, seem to over use slow motion scenes. I will admit each one was beautiful on its own visually, but as far as advancing or improving the story it is simply too much slow motion. It also seems to me, that slow motion is normally supposed to highlight an important moment, and the moments Wes selects to slow mo the Darjeeling Limited seems relatively unimportant.

Re-Used Characters
Another problem with Wes Anderson movies for me is these repeated characters. Always white, flawed, rich, longing for family or fatherly love and acceptance, quirky. It may also have something to do with this repeating cast of actors that appears in his movies (all of which i like). Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Swartzman and many others. When you see the same actors playing similar, but not exactly the same, roles it really starts to become hard to accept them as anything but the characters you've seen them in past movies like Life Aquatic, Royal Tennenbaums ect.

India
The art direction, composition, color were all the best thing in this movie. By far worth seeing just for that. India was a great setting. It was vibrant, unique and refreshing.

Attention to Detail
I have always been impressed with the attention to detail in Wes Anderson's films. The oddball luggage and decals on trains were just two of hundreds of really interesting touches of details to look at in this movie.

Overall
I thought the performances were good. The art direction was superb. The story was subpar and predictably uninteresting. I laughed a few times, but not consistently. Therefore I give this movie a 7.5 out of 10. Just for rating reference, here are my other ratings on Wes Anderson films:
Life Aquatic: 6.5
Royal Tennebuams: 9
Bottle Rocket: 9

Rating 7.5 (out of 10)
10 being the best

My Top 5 Halloween Movies

5. Tremors
Yeah. Laugh all you want, but graboids and Kevin Bacon in tight pants is enough to scare anyone. I'll never forget when I was little, my brother and me, climbing on the furniture avoiding the ground at all costs. Those tremors are scary!

4. It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
An all-time classic. This animated video has grown to have a huge place in my heart. Maybe its because Minneapolis puts those Charlie Brown and Snoopy statues all over the place.

3. Nightmare Before Christmas
This is one of the best stop motion movies of all time. Possibly THE greatest. It's the best Tim Burton movie ever made followed closely by Edward Scissor Hands. Jack Skellington is the greatest modern protagonist since Peter Pan.

2. Donny Darko
This movie is offbeat, creepy, and moody. Something about the bloody undertones contrasted with the very realistic haazy world we live in, makes this my number 2 best halloween movie.

1. E.T
I have never been able to get over the effect this movie had and still has on me. I grew up looking up to Eliot, then feeling the concerns and the heroics of the older brother, and now being able to be effected by the movie from a parental stand-point. The halloween creepiness is there, the costumes and Star Wars references are a big plus, and E.T. is just too damn cute.

Note: Just because Drew Barrymore was in the #1 and #2 movies does not mean I like her. In fact, I'm not even a Drew Barrymore fan.

Note #2: The pumpkin at the top, I carved myself. So, I'm gloating in the footnotes.

Note #3: While I am gloating, I'd like to also mention that I won our Halloween Mini Carrot stuffing contest. Waldo likes his carrots.

Bee Movie: REVIEW

Sneak Preview
Last night a got to witness the sneak preview of the Bee Movie. Starring Jerry Seinfeld as an animated bee who has to doom, and then save the world! If you do not attend sneak previews there is this odd moment before each movie, especially odd when the theatre is filled with kids, when this huge guy steps up before the movie and in a very scary voice threatens anyone who attempts to record the movie with any digital device resembling anything that could in anyway capture the film on video, that they will be thrown out and prosecuted. Apparently they had three secret viewers hidden in the audience to watch over fellow movie goers to make sure audience members are not recording the movie for future profit. All the little kids in their black and yellow striped outfits looked terrified. Even I was; terrified; but I was not also dressed in black and yellow stripes.

Jerry Seinfeld
I have seen Seinfeld live in Minneapolis doing stand up, this was in 2002 shortly after his sitcom Seinfeld went off the air and he decided to never do old material again. He was great. I've enjoyed his show, the documentary Comedian, and his stand-up, and would consider myself a fan of his work. I was excited to see the Bee Movie.

BEEn there BEEfore
The storyline had some good undertones of serious problems; our dependance on bees, food shortages, corporations, cruelty to animals, etc. However, the characters were all stock characters and did not have much depth to them. The story was extremely predictable. Granted, that should be expected in an animated movie, but it left the story feeling very dry. Despite being a cute and quirky adventure, it really has no lasting effect. Honey on your fingers has a more lasting effect than this movie.

Cast
The cast is extremely impressive, with names like Oprah Winfrey, Renee Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, John Goodman, Kathy Bates, Chris Rock and the list goes on and on. My personal favorite Patrick Warburton aka David Putty (seinfeld), although i was not impressed with his lackluster over the top character.

Animation
One of my biggest praises comes from the animation in Bee Movie. The film looked amazing. I really enjoyed the animated faces of the main characters, especially Barry B. Benson's cute face, and most of the bees. Really impressive stuff. Also my favorite part of the movie was indeed the part when Barry gets out of the hive and sees the park for the first time, while flying through a field of kites. This sequence was phenomenal visually.

Closing Credits
I also just recently saw the animated movie Ratatouille. Both movies feature these cookie cutter Pink Panther-esque closing credits. I found both of them very unimaginative and needlessly contrasting to the rest of the film stylistically. I would much prefer credits along the lines of Shrek, in which there is benefit or addition to the story in the credits. At the very least stay consistent to the rest of the movie.

Overall
Despite the my criticism, I laughed a dozen times (mostly when others were not) and found the movie to go by quickly. I enjoyed the animation and thought some scenes were stunningly beautiful. I hope it convinces a number of kids to BEE nicer to insects. Because, if nothing else, that is a good thing to take away from this movie. Respect. Therefore I rate this movie a 7.5 out of 10.

Rating: 7.5 (out of 10)
One being the worst, Ten being the best