BuzzSugar

Oscar Movie Preview: The Betrayal For Best Documentary

BuzzSugar — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:30:32 -0800

Since it can often be hard to see some of the Oscar-nominated documentaries in theaters, it's nice to get a taste of them before Oscar night - not to mention that it might help you when you fill out your Oscar ballot. So this week I'll feature as many of the Best Documentary previews as I can.

The New York Times writes that while the topics in The Betrayal are big and heavy (war, revolution, immigration), the film maintains an "intimate mood and a lyrical tone." The review goes on to say that the movie "is quiet, contemplative, and impressionistic, which makes the story it has to tell all the more powerful."

The documentary was shot over 23 years and follows the life of Thavisouk Phrasavath whose father was a Laotian military officer who fought alongside Americans and faced execution after the US military withdrew. Thavisouk's family decided to escape to America where they'd hoped to find safety, but instead they found the difficult reality of life on the streets. From the war in Vietnam to gang violence in America, the scope of the movie looks enormous but the buzz is it's one of the most intimate documentaries you'll see all year.

To check out the trailer for yourself, just read more.

Gonzo: Focusing on the Work of Hunter S. Thompson

BuzzSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:30:46 -0700

Hunter S. Thompson isn't always associated with terms like "brilliant writer" or "inventor of gonzo journalism" or even "patriot." By the time his famous work Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was adapted for film in 1998, he was becoming a caricature and a symbol of a bygone era. Just as there is irony in one of history's most complicated revolutionaries, Che Guevara, being boiled down to an Urban Outfitters t-shirt, it is equally reductive to oversimplify Thompson as some kind of drug-addled delinquent without a cause.

Now that I've seen what will likely be referred to as the definitive documentary about Thompson's life by the Oscar-winning director of Taxi to the Dark Side, it's clear that reducing him to a kind of hipster icon who lived only to push the boundaries of consciousness with extreme substance abuse is terribly simplistic and inaccurate. Through the folks who knew him well (Jimmy Carter, publisher of Rolling Stone Jann Wenner, George McGovern, his first wife, etc.) the picture that emerges from this movie is of a man who was a walking, talking challenge to the status quo.

To read what surprised me about the good doctor's life and why this is an entertaining jaunt through recent history, read more.

Sure, the guy enjoyed ingesting large amounts of drugs. Yet, the most striking part of the documentary is that his drug abuse wasn't your run-of-the-mill self-destructive cycle of an addict, but rather the fuel used during this extraordinary man's most productive years to pump out pages of writing that was, at that point in history, unlike anything anyone had ever read.

The movie is bookended by the requisite biographical details of where he was from and how his life ended, but the most entertaining and historically interesting part of the movie is the period in which he was riding high on his talent (roughly 1965-1975). And if there is a nit to be picked, it's that the movie is probably too long. Focusing on his most productive years could have been enough. The downward spiral ending in suicide, followed by the lavish, celebrity-studded memorial services might have been better told in some ending text and pictures during the credits.

During this productive period he was pretty busy: riding and living with the Hell's Angels, writing and publishing books and articles, running for sheriff of Aspen and covering the 1972 election for Rolling Stone.

The movie is narrated exclusively through Thompson's words, either from old footage or readings done by Johnny Depp (who befriended Thompson when he was preparing to portray him in Fear and Loathing). It's clear from these words that, in addition to being madly, bitingly hilarious, he was deeply committed to certain ideals. The film is nostalgic and informative, but what makes it also tragic is how much Thompson cared for this country. It feels as though everything he did came from a deep love and fascination with the American dream. Even more compelling was his laser-like obsession with the people he saw as a threat to that dream.

Enemy number one: Richard Nixon. Some of the most side-splittingly funny moments of the documentary come from readings of his most acerbic prose directed toward Nixon, a man he basically regarded as the root of all evil. My other favorite moment is his run for office in Aspen where he brings "freaks" and "hippies" to the small town, and shaves his head so he could say he was running against the long-haired guy. Make no mistake about it: this movie has a point of view, with the director often visually depicting the parallels between Thompson's world then and what's going on now.

It's the emphasis on Thompson's words, his work, and his hope for the forces of good to triumph in America that makes this documentary riveting. It might have been easier to focus on the drugs and the hilarity that often ensued wherever he went. But more than just being a blast to hang out with, Thompson was a transcendent talent who ruthlessly criticized the establishment.

Photos courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Shine a Light: Long Live the Rock Doc

BuzzSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:30:51 -0700

When I realized that Martin Scorsese's new rock doc Shine a Light chronicles two Stones concerts from 2006, I was slightly disappointed. Don't get me wrong: I devour rock documentaries (Scorsese's The Last Waltz is one of my faves), and I love me some Rolling Stones. But I've never had much interest in seeing the band live in its modern incarnation (or in paying the high-ticket price for a stadium show). But Shine a Light makes me realize I was sorely mistaken. The modern-day Stones are well worth seeing live, and after screening this movie in its full IMAX glory, I feel like I have.

With camera work conducted by a team of Oscar winners, Shine a Light covers two nights of benefit shows at New York's Beacon Theatre. Like its concert-film forebears (Woodstock, Rattle and Hum), Scorsese's two-plus-hour odyssey is comprised mostly of performance footage. There are, however, archival clips sprinkled in, as artfully chosen as the intimate moments captured by Scorsese's crowd of cameras. For the details, read more

The concert, like the Stones' career, careens through different phases, from flashy hip-shaking numbers to pedal-steel-infused country tunes. The set list is mostly stellar, though oddly, there is no footage of the Stones performing the namesake tune. Seeing the legends up close, you realize how much the Stones truly love what they do, and the archival footage suggests a common theme: From the beginning, the most commonly asked question of the band was, how long do you think you'll do this? The impossibly spry Mick Jagger, who somehow still has the figure of a 25-year-old hipster, continues to prove his doubters foolhardy.

Unlike The Last Waltz, which is a movie about a concert and a band, Shine a Light is merely a film of a concert. Aside from some bland footage of Scorsese and the Stones setting up, there's very little behind-the-scenes access. And while The Last Waltz stood out for its cameos - a parade of legendary performers who influenced The Band - this documentary tepidly imitates that trope. Buddy Guy adds to the entertainment, but Christina Aguilera and Jack White don't even look like they think they deserve to be there.

But as a chronicle of a concert, the movie succeeds, particularly when capturing quiet moments you'd miss as an audience member: a flirtation between Jagger and his backup singer, a lingering, pensive shot of Guy resting between beats, and the Pirates of the Caribbean brooch on Keith Richards' lapel. Honestly, seeing this movie on an IMAX screen with a stellar sound system was so much like the real thing that I occasionally had to glance around to make sure it wasn't the movie audience roaring with applause. Shine a Light is the closest I'll ever come to seeing an intimate Stones concert, and thankfully, it's all I'll need.

Photos courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Sundance Review: American Teen

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:30:00 -0800

What is it about teenagers that fascinates us so? In the case of many TV shows - from The O.C. to My Super Sweet 16 - there's an obsession with wealthy teens, kids who seem to have way too much way too young. We love seeing the spectacle these kids provide, their outrageous demands, their bratty tantrums that make us tsk-tsk even as we turn up the volume. We love affirming (in certain cases) that money doesn't solve everything, nor does it make anyone a better person.

The documentary American Teen, however, never focuses on this kind of outrageous opulence. The main idea is to get a glimpse at four Indiana kids from different backgrounds and social circles. Yet while everything in the film is completely ordinary, it still fascinates us.

American Teen was one of the best-received documentaries at Sundance, as evidenced in part by the various studios that courted filmmaker Nanette Burstein before Paramount Vantage bought up the rights. I admit I was driven to see the film partly out of curiosity to see these kids go through this delicate, difficult, and intense time of life that I've already experienced in my own way. Is this curiosity the thing that drives the desire to see American Teen? If not, why do we want to see these relatively normal stories so badly?

What to Netflix: Red Without Blue

BuzzSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:30:00 -0700

The premise of Red Without Blue pretty much sells itself: The documentary follows two identical male twins as one of them undergoes gender reassignment surgery to become a female. I attended the local premiere of this movie last year, but since it was made by three first-time filmmakers from SF, I didn't expect to be blown away. Boy, was I wrong: Since then, it has become the little documentary I cannot stop recommending to people.

That's because Red Without Blue, which came out on DVD last week, goes so much deeper than its already fascinating premise. The film explores everything from the cosmic connections between twins to the blurry definitions of homosexuality in small-town America to how hormone therapy is like constant PMS. The film chronicles three years in the lives of Mark and Alex (now Clair) Farley, who grew up in a seemingly picture-perfect family in Montana. But by their teenage years, the twins had attempted mutual suicide, and their now-divorced parents had become unaccepting of their sons' sexual orientation.

When the movie opens, the situation is downright bleak. What's fascinating is how Alex's decision to have the surgery brings the family back together. The father, at first, finds it odd that he suddenly has a daughter, until he realizes that it's someone he already knows and loves. And watching Mark and Clair's mother get excited about having a girl to buy jewelry for is utterly heartwarming. Check out the trailer online, or just trust me and put it in your Netflix queue.

Source

What to Netflix: The Times of Harvey Milk

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:24:46 -0700

Okay, all you documentary fans, have I got a recommendation for you. The Times of Harvey Milk, winner of the 1985 Academy Award for Best Documentary, left me speechless and filled with mixed emotions. In the 1970s in San Francisco, good-natured camera store owner Harvey Milk was elected onto the board of city supervisors, becoming the first gay city official in the U.S.

At a time when civil rights were still at the forefront of peoples' minds, Milk, along with his colleagues and friends, worked hard for tolerance. Among other things, Milk fought to make it illegal to fire teachers based on their sexual orientation. This was a huge win for Milk and his supporters, and his career at city hall was picking up speed.

At the apex of this success, however, Milk was shockingly assassinated, along with the mayor at the time, the highly respected George Moscone. The murderer was a fellow board member whose defense claimed, among other preposterous things, that he was rendered insane from eating too much junk food. That's not nearly the end, however, so read more

This story is so intriguing and sad that it made me wonder how I'd never heard about it, and here's why: Milk's murder occurred almost immediately after the story broke about the Jonestown massacre, another San Francisco-related tragedy in which approximately 900 people died (which became fodder for another jarring documentary). Thus, Milk's story garnered very little press.

The whole thing seems too crazy to be true, and sure enough, there is a Hollywood movie in the works, The Mayor of Castro Street, helmed by Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and scheduled to come out in 2009. Before then, though, check out The Times of Harvey Milk.

Do You Go to the Theater to Watch Documetaries?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:30:00 -0700

In recent years, documentaries (like today's Sicko) have enjoyed a surge in popularity, perhaps due to the genre becoming more entertaining, or because bigger studios are now seeing the genre as a viable money-maker and are pumping more funds into the production.

Whatever the reason, I'm happy about it because we've been treated to intriguing documentary fare like March of the Penguins, Murderball and An Inconvenient Truth.

Now the question has become: To shell out money on a theater ticket, or to rent?

Movie Preview: Sicko

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:33:01 -0700

Along with the animated rat chefs and dying ladies with stories to tell this Friday, there is Michael Moore and his latest documentary, Sicko, in wide release. The film explores health insurance in the U.S. and how it compares to that of other countries.

Back at Cannes the film got a ton of attention - and a surprising amount of praise. Assuming that critics and audiences alike had tapped out on Michael Moore, it piqued my curiosity when I saw the reviews roll in calling Sicko an indication of a steadier, wiser and more mature Moore. If you haven't seen the intriguing trailer yet, you can check it out if you read more

Adrian Grenier's Dad-umentary

BuzzSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:31:36 -0700

Before he was Vincent Chase on "Entourage," Adrian Grenier was a kid who wanted to know his dad better. In 1999, Grenier set out to reconnect with his estranged father, and filmed the process as his first directorial project.

The result is Shot in the Dark, a documentary which the publicity materials describe as "a poignant, often-amusing road trip from New York to Ohio, spiced by interviews with strangers and relatives about the meaning of fatherhood – and a parent's impact on one’s sense of self."

The trailer looks sentimental but promising. Adrian is pretty easy on the eyes, and the fact that he did this before "hitting it big" makes the project seem more truthful.

Premiering not long before Father's Day, you can catch Shot in the Dark this Sunday June 3 at 10:30 pm, right after "Entourage" on HBO. To watch the trailer, read more

Planet Earth Miniseries: Just ... Wow

BuzzSugar — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:08:28 -0700

I watched the first three installments of the Discovery Channel's 11-part Planet Earth miniseries on a friend's 42-inch high-definition TV last week, and I can say hands down that it is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen on TV.

No, seriously. It's amazing.

Alternating between sublime panoramas and unbelievably intimate animal moments, Planet Earth uses high-tech photography to capture images you never imagined you'd see. In one scene, aerial cameras follow hundreds of elephants as they migrate across Ethiopia, then zoom in so closely that you can see one baby elephant, temporarily blinded by the dust, run smack dab into a tree. Honestly, it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen.

But this nature documentary on steroids - five years in the making - is more than just cute, and Discovery is airing five hours of it this weekend, so read more

In the BBC/Discovery production, we see sandstorms moving across deserts, great whites leaping from the ocean, and a monkey mincing across a river like he hates to get his fur wet. I found my jaw dropping every few minutes, so it's no surprise that it's kicking ass in the ratings.

Discovery is rebroadcasting the first three installments on Sunday, starting with Pole to Pole - my favorite so far - at 11 a.m. EDT, then continuing with Mountains and Deep Oceans. Two new installments, Deserts and Ice Worlds, will air tomorrow night at 8 p.m. EDT. Planet Earth continues on consecutive Sundays through April 22, so check the full schedule online.