Truth may often prove stranger than fiction. A lot of the time it's just much more interesting, as well.
The Day the '60s Died (2015)
Fastball (2015)
John Denver: Country Boy (2014)
If you remember his heyday of the 1970's, or even if you're familiar with him at all, it seems that you're bound either to love or hate pop music legend John Denver. There's little sentiment in-between.
I fall into the former camp. I came of age with Denver's songs as a virtually uninterrupted soundtrack on both radio and television. In fact, it was my dad, hardly a fan of contemporary music, who turned me on to the promising singer/songwriter by way of an 8-track tape of the stunning yet under recognized album "Aerie".
The BBC documentary "John Denver: Country Boy" delivers a brief but informative look at the life of a man whose personality was both magnetic and moody. The highlights of Denver's remarkable rise to superstardom are given their just due along with the dark downside of becoming world famous. However, short shrift is dedicated to his issues with alcohol in the years leading up to his tragic death in the accidental crash of an experimental aircraft he was piloting off the California coast in 1997.
It is most unfair and minimizing that Denver is considered by many to be little more than an innocuous nerd. Still, if that be the prevailing opinion (and, as you may have gathered, it is certainly not that of this reviewer), there should be minimal debate that he was unquestionably one hell of an enormously gifted geek.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
"The Battered Bastards of Baseball" is a documentary chronicling the last ever independent Major League Baseball affiliated minor league franchise. Owned by eccentric ex-actor Bing Russell (dad of Hollywood veteran Kurt, who actually played for the club), it tells the story of the unlikely genesis, and subsequent ascension to prominence, during the mid-1970's of a wacky bunch of misfits aptly christened The Portland Mavericks.
What it's actually about, however, is the glorious notion that baseball is a kid's game to be played and appreciated for fun. We laugh, marvel and cheer as a rag-tag gang of rejects, has-beens and never was's who weren't supposed to actually win collectively shame the corporate wet blankets and the "Bonus Babies" they were funding by kicking them rich boy's bee-hinds all over the diamond, much to their ire and shame. It is these same killjoys who would eventually put this crew of non-conformist nuisances out of business-this despite the fact that the Mavs consistently entertained sell-out crowds while taking in a ton of cash as they did so.
May wanna take note here MLB powers that be. Baseball can be a spirit-soaring celebration and reap righteous revenues to boot. What a revelation. But hey, we sure wouldn't want to go and risk upsetting the rigidly commercial cart that carries the golden apples now, would we?
Awww, to hell with the bastards.
Play Ball!
Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
Perhaps the most prevalent feeling generated while watching the "amateur" porn industry documentary "Hot Girls Wanted" is an unshakeable sense of despair. What is that these young women are searching for when they surrender both their bodies and their self-worth to this insidious industry, one which they fully realize is exploiting them for absolutely nothing but profit? Is it a miserably misguided attempt to find there place in a world they view with unvarnished cynicism as both unfulfilling and uncaring? It's difficult to extract an easy answer through any of the spirit-deflating scenes contained in "Hot Girls Wanted".
The only hope seems to be that more of these "raw recruits" than not will discover the strength within, and the value innate in the preciousness of life, to leave the business and bring dignity to their purpose, as one teenager does near the conclusion of this uncompromisingly sad and sobering story.
However, just before the final credits roll in their film, the female Co-Director team of Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus leave us with a message as clear as it is stark.
There will always be a fresh crop of lost and willing souls to more than make up for her absence.
Red Army (2014)
"Red Army" is the consistently riveting chronicle of the Russian National Hockey Team and it's world domination of the sport throughout the 1970's and '80's. While laying waste to all in their path (with the notable exception of a bunch of American college kids in upstate New York in the winter of 1980), the Red Army brigade was as invincible on the ice as they were oppressed in their own beleaguered home country amidst the tumultuous socio-economic and political climate of the era in the USSR.
While Writer/Director Gabe Polsky does a more than commendable job of documenting the story of one of history's greatest athletic dynasties, there are times when it certainly seems as if he should have pushed for more. One glaring example stands out in particular. It is the moment in the film when Polsky is clearly reluctant to press revered Soviet superstar Defenseman Viacheslav "Slava" Fetisov to uncover an explanation for the Russian government's virtually overnight decision to permit him to leave the Red Army for riches and fame in North America's NHL after years of forbidding Fetisov to jump ship and fraternize with "the enemy". Fetisov certainly didn't want to offer forth anything in detail, but for Polsky to make the final editorial call to present these scenes without offering any manner of satisfying payoff is nothing short of curious.
And yet, even with these at least somewhat disappointing lapses in ambition during select segments in his story, Polsky gives us in "Red Army" a richly fascinating look inside a meticulously trained machine. One in which we come to learn that there were the hearts of men harboring and spilling blood every bit as red as the idiosyncratic "CCCP" uniforms they wore with pride.
And very often times in spite of those in power who drove them unmercifully to unparalleled success.
Milius (2013)
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2006)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
Altman (2014)
No No: A Dockumentary (2014)
Sound City (2013)
The Day the '60s Died (2015)
It really doesn't matter if you consider yourself Liberal, Conservative, Moderate or don't give a crap. If you decide to see the PBS documentary "The Day the '60s Died" I submit that you maintain a balanced perspective throughout. The horrific shooting deaths of four and wounding of nine (including one paralyzed for life) Kent State University students by Ohio National Guard Troops during a demonstration against the Vietnam War in the viciously volatile month of May, 1970, in our country is eternally unconscionable and unforgivable. But as this film so poignantly makes clear, this is a tragedy that certainly did not come to pass within a vacuum.
Highly recommended viewing as both a vivid American history lesson and a stark discourse on disquieting political machinations.
Fastball (2015)
At it's core, baseball is the primordial battle between the pitcher and the batter. But the thrill of the game springs from that classic confrontation only 396 milliseconds in the making. The mysteries and memories of baseball's greatest legends are vividly revealed in “Fastball,” a documentary featuring interviews with dozens of former players ranging from Hall of Fame icons to present day All-Stars.
Writer/Director Jonathan Hock (ESPN’s roundly lauded “30 For 30” series) peppers “Fastball” with archival footage of some of baseball's most immortal moments, supplementing as he does so with original high-speed 4K footage and motion graphics that unlock the secrets hidden within a ball blazing at over 100 mph. While players, historians and scientists will forever debate who was actually the fastest pitcher in history – and yes, this doc does the physics and delivers a clear verdict – “Fastball” ultimately focuses on telling the enchanting story of the game itself.
The archival moments Hock presents by way of film footage, video tape and still photography are both classic and spellbinding. The images of such all-time great fireballers as Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan are purely reverential. I found myself instinctively wincing, actually turning my head, nearly every time one of their frightening fastballs was shown screaming past a hitter's head, missing his face by mere centimeters. I was unremittingly riveted listening to these baseball idols talk about both throwing and trying to hit pitches hurled near or in excess of 100 miles an hour.
Renowned baseball enthusiast Kevin Costner provides the voiceover talent for "Fastball" and is quite commendable in the role.
I was particularly touched by the segment on Steve Dalkowski, "The Fastest That Never Was". While Dalkowski's story is certainly a sad one, it nonetheless drives home the harsh reality that not every man is meant to be in control of this unusual ability to throw a baseball as hard as humanly possible. This regrettable tale of potential greatness never realized makes it starkly clear that what many consider to be a gift can also be a devastating curse.
You may be wondering if this is a film that will appeal to an audience wider than only those devoted disciples of baseball like yours truly. It's not. You pretty much need to be a fan of the game, at least to some meaningful degree, to fully engage with and genuinely appreciate that which is being explored. Maybe not to the extent of being a full-on "seamhead", but pretty damn close.
Also, I found that there are points during the nearly hour and a half running time that seem to drag noticeably, bogging down what is for the most part a consistently captivating narrative flow. Specifically, too many soundbites that too often times extended for too long and that really didn't add much to the proceedings.
And one is left to wonder why the magnificent Sandy Koufax was not among those interviewed, even though the sensational southpaw was rightfully featured prominently in the film. Even though Koufax is renowned for his proclivity to shun all things spotlight, the absence of his personal recollections and observations from "Fastball" is still a considerable disappointment.
As a lifelong lover of baseball, "Fastball" was a real treat for me. Except for one part. Nolan Ryan's final game was covered near the end of the film. I was there under The Kingdome in Seattle that night as my eternal hero ripped his elbow up and walked off the field for the last time ever to a standing ovation. I honestly felt as though I'd almost lost a family member I was so completely heartbroken. Ryan's final pitch was clocked at 98 miles per hour. It was, as "The Express" concedes, not the way he wanted to end his brilliant 27-year career. And yet, in a way, it was entirely fitting.
For he went out not with a whimper but with a bang.
John Denver: Country Boy (2014)
If you remember his heyday of the 1970's, or even if you're familiar with him at all, it seems that you're bound either to love or hate pop music legend John Denver. There's little sentiment in-between.
I fall into the former camp. I came of age with Denver's songs as a virtually uninterrupted soundtrack on both radio and television. In fact, it was my dad, hardly a fan of contemporary music, who turned me on to the promising singer/songwriter by way of an 8-track tape of the stunning yet under recognized album "Aerie".
The BBC documentary "John Denver: Country Boy" delivers a brief but informative look at the life of a man whose personality was both magnetic and moody. The highlights of Denver's remarkable rise to superstardom are given their just due along with the dark downside of becoming world famous. However, short shrift is dedicated to his issues with alcohol in the years leading up to his tragic death in the accidental crash of an experimental aircraft he was piloting off the California coast in 1997.
It is most unfair and minimizing that Denver is considered by many to be little more than an innocuous nerd. Still, if that be the prevailing opinion (and, as you may have gathered, it is certainly not that of this reviewer), there should be minimal debate that he was unquestionably one hell of an enormously gifted geek.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
"The Battered Bastards of Baseball" is a documentary chronicling the last ever independent Major League Baseball affiliated minor league franchise. Owned by eccentric ex-actor Bing Russell (dad of Hollywood veteran Kurt, who actually played for the club), it tells the story of the unlikely genesis, and subsequent ascension to prominence, during the mid-1970's of a wacky bunch of misfits aptly christened The Portland Mavericks.
What it's actually about, however, is the glorious notion that baseball is a kid's game to be played and appreciated for fun. We laugh, marvel and cheer as a rag-tag gang of rejects, has-beens and never was's who weren't supposed to actually win collectively shame the corporate wet blankets and the "Bonus Babies" they were funding by kicking them rich boy's bee-hinds all over the diamond, much to their ire and shame. It is these same killjoys who would eventually put this crew of non-conformist nuisances out of business-this despite the fact that the Mavs consistently entertained sell-out crowds while taking in a ton of cash as they did so.
May wanna take note here MLB powers that be. Baseball can be a spirit-soaring celebration and reap righteous revenues to boot. What a revelation. But hey, we sure wouldn't want to go and risk upsetting the rigidly commercial cart that carries the golden apples now, would we?
Awww, to hell with the bastards.
Play Ball!
Hot Girls Wanted (2015)
Perhaps the most prevalent feeling generated while watching the "amateur" porn industry documentary "Hot Girls Wanted" is an unshakeable sense of despair. What is that these young women are searching for when they surrender both their bodies and their self-worth to this insidious industry, one which they fully realize is exploiting them for absolutely nothing but profit? Is it a miserably misguided attempt to find there place in a world they view with unvarnished cynicism as both unfulfilling and uncaring? It's difficult to extract an easy answer through any of the spirit-deflating scenes contained in "Hot Girls Wanted".
The only hope seems to be that more of these "raw recruits" than not will discover the strength within, and the value innate in the preciousness of life, to leave the business and bring dignity to their purpose, as one teenager does near the conclusion of this uncompromisingly sad and sobering story.
However, just before the final credits roll in their film, the female Co-Director team of Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus leave us with a message as clear as it is stark.
There will always be a fresh crop of lost and willing souls to more than make up for her absence.
Red Army (2014)
"Red Army" is the consistently riveting chronicle of the Russian National Hockey Team and it's world domination of the sport throughout the 1970's and '80's. While laying waste to all in their path (with the notable exception of a bunch of American college kids in upstate New York in the winter of 1980), the Red Army brigade was as invincible on the ice as they were oppressed in their own beleaguered home country amidst the tumultuous socio-economic and political climate of the era in the USSR.
While Writer/Director Gabe Polsky does a more than commendable job of documenting the story of one of history's greatest athletic dynasties, there are times when it certainly seems as if he should have pushed for more. One glaring example stands out in particular. It is the moment in the film when Polsky is clearly reluctant to press revered Soviet superstar Defenseman Viacheslav "Slava" Fetisov to uncover an explanation for the Russian government's virtually overnight decision to permit him to leave the Red Army for riches and fame in North America's NHL after years of forbidding Fetisov to jump ship and fraternize with "the enemy". Fetisov certainly didn't want to offer forth anything in detail, but for Polsky to make the final editorial call to present these scenes without offering any manner of satisfying payoff is nothing short of curious.
And yet, even with these at least somewhat disappointing lapses in ambition during select segments in his story, Polsky gives us in "Red Army" a richly fascinating look inside a meticulously trained machine. One in which we come to learn that there were the hearts of men harboring and spilling blood every bit as red as the idiosyncratic "CCCP" uniforms they wore with pride.
And very often times in spite of those in power who drove them unmercifully to unparalleled success.
Milius (2013)
John Milius was once a Hollywood heavyweight, having had a hand in writing, directing and/or producing such cinematic classics as "Dirty Harry", "Jaws", "1941" and "Apocalypse Now", among a host of other readily recognizable flicks.
While he was certainly a titanic talent, the documentary "Milius" pulls no punches in chronicling the fact that he was also a ginormous jerk, as well. It was the latter personality trait that got him booted from Tinseltown's forever fickle "A List" after pissing off far too many of the power brokers who maintain the sacrosanct directory.
Milius, now in his early '70's and recovering remarkably from a stroke suffered in 2010, is to this day doggedly pursing a long-standing goal of bringing an epic "Genghis Khan" biopic to the silver screen. While such an ambitious project may or may not prove to be a pipe dream for Milius, the reality of his substantial creative accomplishments in the movie biz he so adores will persevere in perpetuity.Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?) (2006)
It makes me a little sheepish to confess that I always thought Singer/Songwriter Harry Nilsson was English. Perhaps this is because The Beatles singled him out as one of the legendary British group's favorite musicians. The captivating documentary "Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)" not only reveals that he was one of the most important American pop-rock artists of the late 1960's into the early '70's, but that he was widely regarded as hands down the finest vocalist in the business.
Director John Scheinfeld presents the portrait of Nilsson as an overwhelmingly insecure soul who inexplicably chose to waste his awesome talent, throwing it all away on a life wasted on an insatiable pursuit of drinking and drugging. It was this doomed routine that conspired to cause a record label to pay him three million dollars to no longer work for their company, and then inevitably kill him well before his time in 1994 at the age of 52.
What could have been. What should have been.
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room"? A more apposite title would have been, "Enron: The Smarmiest Guys in the Room"!
My God. The hucksters who headed up this criminal consortium posing as Energy Brokers are as absolutely despicable as life form comes. For the loathsome likes of these unconscionable Enron ring leaders, namely the late Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, bankruptcy, prison and public humiliation are too fine a fate.
But these oily creature's ultimate retribution knows no finite terms. It is eternal. And it sure as hell ain't gonna include any finely appointed cushy corner offices, either.
Altman (2014)
"Altman" documents the "movie in itself" journey of the late iconic rebel film maker Robert Altman. It is a fascinating Forest Gump-like tale of a World War II vet who started in "the biz" directing oil company industrials and cheesy '50's crime serial TV.
Then in 1970 Altman brought the counterculture classic M*A*S*H to the screen. Suddenly the adjective "brilliant" became almost a permanent prefix every time his name was mentioned.
What followed were years of offbeat and unconventional productions, some heralded hits ("Nashville"), and some dreadful disasters ("Popeye"). But literally right up 'til the end, Altman did it all his way.
And that was the only way he would ever do it.
No No: A Dockumentary (2014)
You don't have to be a fan of baseball as I am to appreciate the captivating tale of redemption candidly and affectingly told in "No No: A Dockumentary". Before seeing the film, I had always regarded the fact that gifted yet troubled Major League All-Star pitcher Dock Ellis once hurled a no-hitter while tripping on acid to be cool. Almost cutein a way.
Learning that Ellis was a severe drug addict and alcoholic, and that he claims to have never pitched a game during his 12-year big league career when he wasn't "high as a kite", just absolutely broke my heart. This guy was such a favorite of mine and my friends when we were growing up in the '70's.
However, it is after watching "No No" that Ellis emerges as a genuine hero. We are privileged to witness the all-in investment of this man's total soul in supporting fellow addicts as they navigate through a new world, having emerged as he had done from the hell life becomes when substance abuse becomes your only purpose for existing.
Ellis left us in 2008, his liver having failed, the organ finally succumbing to decades of self-inflicted torture. His passing, while certainly before his time, was nonetheless preceded by years of humility and humanity.
It is this legacy, and not that which he accomplished "between the white lines", that Ellis will forever be remembered with undying gratitude by those he touched, and who were in desperate need of both his guidance and his grace.
Sound City (2013)
Fast paced and chock full of kick ass music, "Sound City" pays homage to the hole in the wall southern California recording studio which produced albums from a diverse array of artists ranging from Fear to Fleetwood Mac to Barry Manilow.
Director/Musician Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) organizes an all-star Sound City jam to close out this fundamentally fun film with an exhilarating bang featuring rock and roll royalty Paul McCartney in a rollicking performance.
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Addicted to Fame (2012)
Writer/Director David Giancola makes one wretched last-ditch attempt to make a buck off the sad and sordid legacy of the late Centerfold/Celebrity Anna Nicole Smith with "Addicted to Fame". Giancola documents the making of one of the worst movies ever conceived, "Illegal Aliens", which he also directed and which starred Smith, who died of a drug overdose just as the film was being released. The buxom blonde bombshell is willingly recorded on and off set literally barely capable of formulating a complete sentence, let alone be the feature performer in a motion picture, such as it was.
It is profoundly difficult to grasp what made Anna Nicole Smith so ferociously famous, or why she was such a fascinating personality to so many. But what is even more incomprehensible is how the bottom-feeding Giancola is able to sleep.
He certainly didn't cause Anna Nicole to pass from this earth before she reached 40. But he sure as hell is gonna reap whatever he can in the wake.
He certainly didn't cause Anna Nicole to pass from this earth before she reached 40. But he sure as hell is gonna reap whatever he can in the wake.
Helvetica (2007)
How on earth can a film entirely about a font (that's right, I wrote "font") possiblybe considered enjoyable? When it's this movie.
"Helvetica" is a helluva lesson on how and why the title sans-serif typeface (there's another phrase you don't read too often) evolved into the most widely used lettering style on earth. Director Gary Hustwit takes what could have been a dreadfully drab documentary and manages to keep it both educational as well as entertaining. Hustwit (who explores similarly unlikely cinematic territory in two other docs, "Objectified" and "Urbanized") deftly employs engaging interviews with experts on the topic, fascinating photography, thoughtful editing and mesmerizing music to tell the story of this ubiquitous typography.
And in the end we discover that "Helvetica" (which you may have noticed is the font style this review is written in) has succeeded, in it's own decidedly subtle manner, in delivering us to a place of unexpected appreciation.
Undefeated (2011)
"Undefeated" grabs you from the start and doesn't ease it's grip until long after this emotional roller coaster of a documentary has ended.
I don't believe that you necessarily need to be a sports fan to appreciate this film. It's true that Co-Directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin follow a high school football team stocked with kids from "the wrong side of the tracks" through an entire, and entirely poignant, season. However, just being a fan of watching young men realize their spirit, their potential and their dreams is sufficient in order to connect with the overriding message of "Undefeated".
That powerful point is this: You CAN rise above your circumstances, no matter how dire. You ARE better than you believe you are. Or others tell you that you aren't. And your future is a time to look forward to with hope and expectation, and NOT trepidation and resignation.
Manassas High Head Coach Bill Courtney clearly gets this. And we bear witness as he gets this, and much more, across to the boys he not only "coaches up" but cares deeply about beyond preparing his Tigers for victory versus the next opponent. It is so much more consequential and enduring.
He's mentoring them to win for life.
Best Worst Movie (2009)This is a really good doc.
I've never seen "Troll 2", and I don't even know that I ever will. But just experiencing the genuine human spirit that went into this strange and woe begotten film is a treasure.
I don't know that this type of film will, or can, ever be made again. And that's somehow not the "Best Worst" thing.
Air Guitar Nation (2006)
You either understand the deep-in-your-soul inspiration to air guitar with your favorite rock songs. Or you don't. Either way, you'll probably find something to enjoy in this flick. It is a fun, and funny, ride.
And it expresses the true essence of why any real rock fan fiercely loves their music.
Sweetgrass (2010)
Nothing much really happens. And still this film is constantly mesmerizing. Fascinating. Breathtaking. Primal.
Watching these Montana Cowboys (and Cowgirls) engage in the grueling work of herding sheep long distance that they and their ancestors have done for generations, you'll likely come away feeling much like I do.
Like a city-fied wussy-fied wimp.
Sweetgrass (2010)
Nothing much really happens. And still this film is constantly mesmerizing. Fascinating. Breathtaking. Primal.
Watching these Montana Cowboys (and Cowgirls) engage in the grueling work of herding sheep long distance that they and their ancestors have done for generations, you'll likely come away feeling much like I do.
Like a city-fied wussy-fied wimp.
Metal (A Headbanger's Journey) 2005
This is an outstanding doc-much better than I anticipated.
I am not a fan of most Metal per se, but I certainly do admire this guy's academic and fanatical approach to the music and mentality he explores and embraces in this film.
Scope this one out. And, as you do, certainly feel free to BANG-YOUR-HEAD!!
Get Thrashed (2006)
I am not the biggest Thrash Metal fan. In fact, I'm not really a fan at all. But I am a fan of this documentary.
It's not that I hate Thrash or anything. Some of the stuff is actually pretty cool. I just will never spend an inordinate amount of time listening to it.
I do, however, fully connect with full-on passion for that which one truly and intensely loves. And Producer/Director Rick Ernst clearly and genuinely cherishes the music he features and traces to it's origins in his detailed labor of love "Get Thrashed". And this kind of spirited devotion and unwavering commitment comes across fiercely in this homage to one of rock's most raw genres. Just like the film's featured musician's total immersion in their craft came through to me as I watched and listened to the explosive power of their primal performances.
Get Thrashed (2006)
I am not the biggest Thrash Metal fan. In fact, I'm not really a fan at all. But I am a fan of this documentary.
It's not that I hate Thrash or anything. Some of the stuff is actually pretty cool. I just will never spend an inordinate amount of time listening to it.
I do, however, fully connect with full-on passion for that which one truly and intensely loves. And Producer/Director Rick Ernst clearly and genuinely cherishes the music he features and traces to it's origins in his detailed labor of love "Get Thrashed". And this kind of spirited devotion and unwavering commitment comes across fiercely in this homage to one of rock's most raw genres. Just like the film's featured musician's total immersion in their craft came through to me as I watched and listened to the explosive power of their primal performances.
This post first appeared on The Quick Flick Critic (***LATEST NEW CONTENT Added To "Documentaries" On 6/6/16***), please read the originial post: here
