I am trying an experiment with documentary coverage for 2018 and have already decided I don’t like it. I am going to review each documentary in a few sentences all in one post starting way back with what debuted in January. At this late date I am committed to getting it done this way but for 2019 I will be going back to reviewing each documentary as they air instead. So, let’s do this.
DAVID BOWIE: LAST FIVE YEARS
Overview: In the last years of his life, David Bowie ended nearly a decade of silence to engage in an extraordinary burst of activity, producing two groundbreaking albums and a musical. This documentary explores this unexpected end to a remarkable career. The film includes revealing interviews with many of Bowie’s closest creative collaborators, including Tony Visconti, his long-time producer; musicians who contributed to his last album, Jonathan Barnbrook, the graphic designer of both albums; Robert Fox, producer of Bowie’s musical Lazarus, along with cast members from the show and Johan Renck, director of Bowie’s final music video, “Lazarus,” which was widely discussed as foreshadowing his death.
Expectations: David Bowie has always been an enigmatic sort; finally I may be able to understand just who he was as he intimately reveals himself through his last works.
https://youtu.be/RiVWBGj03Lo
Gut Reactions: Alas, it was interesting to hear from those who were close to Bowie in his creative mode but I still left the documentary not sure who David Bowie was. I guess he was meant to be forever a chameleon, though a mortal one. I also can’t figure out why I was drawn to understanding him, but I enjoyed the effort to try to do so.
MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS
Overview: Filmed with extensive access over more than two years, MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS is an inside look at the North Carolina band, from its origins to a recent collaboration with legendary record producer Rick Rubin. The film, produced and directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, depicts a lifelong bond and unique creative partnership, as band members experience marriage, divorce, parenthood, illness and the challenges of the music business, offering a meditation on family, love and the passage of time.
Expectations: I much rather delve into the creative process of artists I don’t know, like these guys, than big name celebrities like the upcoming Elvis, etc., so let’s see what you are all about Avett Bros.
Gut Reaction: I’m not a country music fan but these guys can create & play with the best of them. In fact, I was more interested in seeing their creative process than I was their family dynamic; nothing special there. The Avett’s were just like many a family; they just get to write songs about it. I will admit though I was tired of their tale & their music after almost two hours of it.
THE NUMBER ON GREAT GRANDPA’S ARM
Overview: When ten-year-old Elliott asks his 90-year-old great-grandfather, Jack, about the number tattooed on his arm, he sparks an intimate conversation about Jack’s life that spans happy memories of childhood in Poland, the loss of his family, surviving Auschwitz and finding a new life in America. Directed and produced by Emmy winner Amy Schatz, this 19-minute short film interweaves haunting historical footage and hand-painted animation to tell a heartbreaking story of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, sharing memories and lessons of the Holocaust with a new generation.
Expectations: The story just must be told so it won’t be repeated. How effective is this telling?
Gut Reaction: The execution of this sensitive subject is spot-on and 19 minutes is just the right amount of time to tell it to children. The youngster Elliot is a good one to get the story told as well. A stylized watercolor journey though great-grandpa Jack’s early life is also just right. The live-action moments between both of them illustrate that moving on to happier days is as important as not forgetting the past. A lot of care went into this piece to make it just right for those children who need it and those families who want it.
ATOMIC HOMEFRONT
Overview: Directed by Rebecca Cammisa, this documentary exposes the lasting toxic effects nuclear waste can have on communities. Focusing on a group of moms-turned-advocates in St. Louis and filmed over the course of three years beginning in 2014, this documentary looks at two communities seeking answers from corporations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government agencies. The film spotlights everyday citizens, including moms Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel, who form the group Just Moms STL and go on to confront the EPA, state regulators and Republic Services, the owner and operator of the landfill.
Expectations: Nothing riles me more than environmental destruction & animal cruelty. Sadly, the communities here are likely fighting a losing battle, but I’m rooting for them.
Gut Reaction: There are a few slow moments which hurts the pacing of this film, especially the early years of Arthur Miller’s life, but once daughter Rebecca gets behind the camera and we see the home movies and sit in on their conversations and the full life and thought of the playwright and father comes to like. In the end, it proved interesting enough and I was surprised that it did so.
TRAFFIC STOP
Overview: In 2015, African-American schoolteacher Breaion King was stopped for a minor traffic violation in Austin, Texas — and what should have been a routine encounter quickly escalated into a harrowing arrest that was captured in detail by police dash cams. From the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning team of director Kate Davis and producer David Heilbroner (HBO’s The Newburgh Sting) and nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject, Traffic Stop illuminates timely, resonant issues of race and law enforcement while offering an intimate portrait of one woman in the wake of her traumatic arrest.
Expectations: So, there must not be much actual footage from the dash cam because this documentary is only 31 minutes long. But I am assuming from the trailer a lot of food for thought stems from those brief images. I am looking forward to mulling over want this documentary stirs up.
THE ZEN DIARIES OF GARRY SHANDLING
Overview: When Garry Shandling passed away in 2016, he was widely remembered as a top stand-up comic and the star of two of the most innovative sitcoms in TV history. But to those who knew him, the “real” Garry Shandling was a far more complex person. Now, Judd Apatow has created a remarkable portrait of this iconic comedian in the four-and-a-half-hour documentary. It features conversations with more than 40 of Shandling’s family and friends, including James L. Brooks, Jim Carrey, Sacha Baron Cohen, David Coulier, Jon Favreau, Jay Leno, Kevin Nealon, Conan O’Brien, Bob Saget, Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Silverman, and four decades’ worth of TV appearances, along with personal journals, private letters and candid home audio and video footage that reveal his brilliant mind and restless soul.
Expectations: I least favorite kind of documentary is the celebrity biography type. I am just not that into celebrity lives much. So, when I saw that this work was a four-hour epic of Apatow’s tribute to a friend I blanched. Oh boy, this is not what I needed. But here we are.
Gut Reaction: I watched every feakin’ frame of THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW on HBO and loved every bit of it, as did many. Having said that though, I never had any urge to find out everything about the genius behind it all. Now watching both parts of this documentary I feel I now know Garry Shandling. Many adored him and come forth here to say so. Judd Apatow has given the most sterling eulogy one could hope for. Now, I am not a fan of his but he truly showed all facets of the man, who was his friend and mentor. Surprisingly, the four hours went by fast enough. Though the clips from all his appearances & shows were fun what captures you most is the private moments of Shandling delving in life, spirituality and what this man chose to put forth about himself in life. It proves that not only was Garry Shandling a great talent but an inspiring and unique individual deep down inside.
KING IN THE WILDERNESS
Overview: Dr. Martin Luther King’s leadership during the bus boycotts, the sit-ins and the historic Selma to Montgomery marches is now legendary, but much of what happened afterward – during the last three years of his life – is rarely discussed. It’s a time when Dr. King said his dream “turned into a nightmare.” From the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 to his assassination in 1968, King remained unshakably committed to nonviolence in the face of an increasingly unstable country. Under the direction of Peter Kunhardt, this documentary Draws on conversations with those who knew Dr. King well, including many fellow members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It also features archival footage, behind-the-scenes video of Dr. King’s private moments and phone conversations recorded by President Johnson, who was both an ally and an adversary.
Expectations: I appreciate the fact that this film is not attempting to gloss over the whole life of the man but instead focuses in on the last three years of his life. That time in the USA’s history was volatile and he stood large & proud in the midst of it. Surely, as all MLK documentaries do this piece will capture that too, but I hope it offers something more or different. We will see.
Gut Reaction: Just when you thought there was no more to be said about this man or no more ways to tell it Kunhardt manages to do just that or at least he edits it in a way that seems fresh. Some of the opinions of the man & sound bites from the day are great when you come across them. Plus, there is the fact, and I don’t know why it is, but one never seems to tire of hearing Martin Luther King speak.
ELVIS PRESLEY: THE SEARCHER
Overview: This three-hour, two-film presentation focuses on Elvis Presley the musical artist, taking the audience on a comprehensive creative journey from his childhood through the final 1976 Jungle Room recording sessions. It includes stunning atmospheric shots taken inside Graceland, Elvis’ iconic home, and features more than 20 new, primary source interviews with session players, producers, engineers, directors and other artists who knew him or who were profoundly influenced by him. It also features never-before-seen photos and footage from private collections worldwide, and an original score by Pearl Jam lead guitarist Mike McCready. Among those offering insights into Elvis are: Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ ex-wife; his guitarist, Scotty Moore; childhood friend Red West; historians Bill Ferris, Bill Malone and Portia Maultsby; writers Alan Light, Preston Lauterbach, Nik Cohn and Warren Zanes; music executives John Jackson, David Porter, Ernst Jorgensen and Bones Howe; and musicians Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris and Robbie Robertson.
Expectations: While I appreciate the contributions of Elvis Presley to the culture and have learned much about him already my mind is just not ready for a three-hour barrage on his life. The angle here, based on the title of the film, is that Elvis was in search of some sort of fulfillment, understanding or validation through his soulful & raucous musical style and it was that quest that drew audiences in as it was tangibly seen on his face and in each quivering word of his performances. Will I get lost in that awe too?
Gut Reaction: I didn’t get lost in the awe, as I put it, but my appreciation of Elvis surely did not wane either. It ran long for me and didn’t seem to offer shocking insights. It did offer a thorough and definitive telling of his life & influence and the influences that affected him. In fact, reaching back into archives to reshow his gospel & blues influences proved the most exciting to see. The voice-over of original jam session artists and music executives was colorful as well.
Though the large contingency of Elvis fans must surely appreciate this epic examination of the entertainer I am not sure this deep dive into it all was a necessary piece. The charismatic, entertaining, soulful, energetic, unbiased, always-on persona of Elvis Presley strongly lives on without it.
I AM EVIDENCE
Overview: This documentary exposes the shocking number of untested rape kits in the United States today, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Despite the power of DNA to solve and prevent crimes, these kits containing potentially crucial evidence languish untested in police evidence storage rooms. Behind each of these kits lies an individual’s unresolved sexual assault case. The film introduces viewers to several of these survivors, who still await justice, as well as the prosecutors, investigators, advocates and journalists fighting on their behalf. The film explores why the rape kit backlog exists and highlights the law enforcement officials who are leading the charge to work through the backlog and pursue long-awaited justice in these cases.
Expectations: You always hear about the backlog of rape kits just sitting around. It is a misuse of justice to not weigh through this physical evidence and testimony in order to do what is right. It will be interesting what this documentary reveals about the matter and all the promotional information surrounding the film can only help.
Gut Reaction: This is just total injustice upon rape victims that these kits are tossed aside. The 1-hour 26-minute film with the aid of Law & Order SVU’s Mariska Hargitay calls to light quite effectively the issue with the backlog. The time after the assault is taken to collect the results is invasive and off-putting and the kits are collected and then stored for years before they are opened & processed. It cost $1200 to $1500 to process each one at the expense of the system and so they sit.
Showcased here are some victims who voice their concern and some advocates who are working through the system to test thousands or kits across the country. One strong point that even made it into the trailer was that you could understand a backlog in a major city, but we are talking of an entire country. I AM EVIDENCE is a solid documentary drawing much-needed attention to the issue. I hope the efforts continue.
A DANGEROUS SON
Overview: One in 10 American children suffer from serious emotional disturbance and more than 17 million have experienced a psychiatric disorder. This documentary focuses primarily on three families in crisis, each struggling with a child’s severe mental illness, desperately seeking treatment in the face of limited resources and support.
Expectations: I’ll admit that I am a bit uncomfortable with the topic of mental illness. It can be unsettling to witness the affliction in action and here are parents who face it every day. I know I’m not alone in that opinion and I hope that what I witness in this film can build a better understanding. I watched documentaries on the topic many times but the trailer for this one drew me in; perhaps it is because of the fact that the focus here is on children with the problems.
Gut Reaction: This is the stories of William, Eric and Ethan and I am mighty proud of them and their equally brave families to allow the cameras in to address the issues their lives represent. It helps dispel all the evil notions about mental health issues. Liz Garbus does a great job of treating the illness and the afflicted families fairly and you hope they have the fortitude to keep going. This is my favorite so far.
THE FINAL YEAR
Overview: Award-winning filmmaker Greg Barker (HBO’s Manhunt) offers a unique insider’s account of President Barack Obama’s foreign-policy team during its last year in office. Featuring unprecedented “fly-on-the-wall” access inside the White House and State Department, the film offers an uncompromising view of the inner workings of the Obama Administration as it prepares to leave power after eight years.
The film revolves around top members of Obama’s foreign policy team: Secretary of State John Kerry, UN Ambassador Samantha Power, and Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, as well as National Security Adviser Susan Rice and President Obama himself. The Final Year follows each of these personalities as they travel the world over the course of 2016, attempting to solidify and “lock-in” policies that they believe will define their legacy, promote diplomacy, and fundamentally alter how the U.S. government confronts questions of war and peace – all while preparing to hand over the machinery of American power to a new administration.
Expectations: I am not sure why this is even necessary, but here it is anyway. It clocks in at 90 minutes so I am sure it is quite detailed. But I’m still stumped on why it is necessary.
Gut Reaction: Does it make sense when I say that I can deal with politics but hate politicians? Does it make better sense if I used the analogy that I love filmmaking but hate celebrities? Yeah, I can get into the process just have little interest in the players. That is what I am thinking about after the long slog watching this documentary. I can get into the issues of foreign policy I just am ambivalent about the players in the room. It just wasn’t that necessary a film.
JOHN MCCAIN: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Overview: Six-time Emmy winner Peter Kunhardt (HBO’s JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY and KING IN THE WILDERNESS) presents an illuminating, exclusive profile of one of the most influential forces in modern American politics. Serving 31 years, the six-term senior Arizona senator agreed to participate in the film shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer, providing unprecedented access to his daily life in Washington, D.C. and Sedona, Arizona. This account combines the senator’s own voice, culled from original interviews, commentary and speeches, with archival newsreel and television footage and previously unseen home movies and photographs. The film also features interviews with family, friends, colleagues and leading political figures.
Expectations: I know this man is high on many lists as a standout American. I sit here, however, truly neutral on whether I see a documentary about him or not. I’ve certainly seen enough of him in his political life and am quite aware of what he is facing in his personal life. Especially in light of his terminal illness, I am sure that this will be more of a glowing tribute of the man instead of a true examination of his place in history.
Gut Reaction: And yes, this is a glowing tribute indeed. At 1 hour 44 minutes, it barely scratches the surface of the complete man with his flaws and mistakes alongside his achievements and highlights. I mean come on the man was both beloved and controversial at the same time. Part of this film is spent having McCain explain away any negativity about himself. I don’t know, I guess I am saying that I want a biography to be an unbiased complete look at a person and their life. Many describe this film as a ‘pre-death eulogy’ and that is just not what I want. I want a more ‘bare before God’ look. Despite that grumble, there is no mistaking that McCain led an exciting life filled with impassioned endeavors that make him one of the interesting people worth noting above anything else.
IT WILL BE CHAOS
Overview: This film offers a personal look at the human consequences of the refugee crisis spanning the Mediterranean, as told through the stories of asylum seekers, as well as the Italian locals who cope with the influx of newcomers. It is a look at what refugees go through when forced to escape war and terror at home. This revealing documentary highlights some of the troubling anti-immigrant populism and logistical issues they encounter after reaching the shores of Europe, which prevent them from living in freedom and safety.
Expectations: I’m thinking that this story needs to be told. You’ve seen news clips of the wave of immigrants on the move. I’m thinking this should be a deep dive examination of the issue from all angles. The trailer gives me the impression however that it will be more about the personal stories of immigrants and that the political issues involved will not be as pronounced.
Gut Reaction: The Morman Church’s stance on LGBTQ rights and the alarming suicide rate for people of LGBTQ orientation in Utah is taken seriously to heart by Dan Reynolds. It is clearly a solid issue to discuss and he does so too little resolve; instead, he does what he knows best and makes a music festival to raise awareness of the issue in his state. It is not a wrong move to make and proves effective. This film follows the process that took over a year to film and the LoveLoud concert was born and awareness was raised. It was a good chronicle of his and Imagine Dragon’s efforts.
ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND
Overview: A funny, intimate and heartbreaking portrait of one of the world’s most beloved and inventive comedians, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind is told largely through Williams’ own words, and celebrates what he brought to comedy and to the culture at large. The film explores his extraordinary life and career, revealing what drove him to give voice to the characters in his mind. With previously unheard and unseen glimpses into his creative process through interviews with Williams, as well as home movies and onstage footage, this insightful tribute features in-depth interviews and underscores what made him so unique.
Expectations: Of the celebrities heavy on the documentary list this year Robin Williams is going to be a fun one to reflect back on to a certain point. Don’t forget that while he was manic & zany onstage in his personal life, he faced mental illness and ultimately suicide. I suspect this documentary will balance both to offer up the complete picture of his life.
Gut Reaction: This is truly a tribute to the comedic genius of Robin Williams. Everyone wanted to talk to him and engage in his style of humor. The clips of his various works were a treat to enjoy again. So were the loving words from colleagues defining him. Of course, the words you hang on the most were from his son Zak Willians. In the ends, a nice tribute.
SWIPED: HOOKING UP IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Overview: After New York Times bestselling author Nancy Jo Sales wrote the 2015 Vanity Fair piece “Tinder and the Dawn of the Dating Apocalypse,” she went deeper into the subject. In Swiped: Hooking Up in the Digital Age, she investigates the online dating industry’s impact on gender issues, examining how it has changed the way people date and mate and think about the apps on their phones, and exploring how the act of swiping affects the ability to find true and lasting connections. This film looks across the entire landscape of online dating, offering startling revelations about this billion-dollar industry.
Expectations: In industry surveys, 80% of dating app users say they are looking for a serious relationship, yet nearly the same percentage has never found a long-term connection on any swiping app and yet the habit continues. Here is a 1-hour 27-minute look at the practice.
Gut Reaction: This film talks to people from Tinder, OKCupid, Bumble and Hinge and professionals in social sciences to explain how the system works and why we engage in it. At its center though is young Americans who use the dating apps to find a lasting connection. I could not really relate to any of this as I found my mate in an age before any of these apps and their matching algorithms even came about. It is a practice worth a look but I don’t know if it needed near to 90 minutes to do so.
THE OSLO DIARIES
Overview: In 1992, with Israeli-Palestinian relations at an all-time low and any communication between the two sides punishable by jail time, a select group of Israelis and Palestinians gathered secretly in Oslo for a series of clandestine meetings that would dramatically change the political landscape of the Middle East. A comprehensive, dramatic account of the negotiations, The Oslo Diaries draws on previously unseen footage shot from 1992 to 1995, as well as excerpts from and re-creations based on the negotiators’ diaries, which are the only available accounts of what happened behind closed doors.
Expectations: To me, the convoluted struggle of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship can always use clarification. Examining what transpired at the sitdown in Oslo can only help do that. I hope it is a well packaged and understandable film.
Gut Reaction: 96 minutes to seem to crack the understanding of the relationship under the microscope here is suffice. I like the angle approached in the film which is the use of excerpts and even reenactments of diary entries that the participants in these important talks wrote at the time. That devise allowed this film to look at each side of the historic conflict equally & fairly. I could post the ten or so names of the interviewed players but they are names no one will recognize and yet the conversations of these people put the world closest to a resolution than anybody…and yet twenty-some years later the conflict still rages. I appreciated this documentary, though it was hard to get past some segments of the work, it left me with a clearer understanding of the attempt at peace. That is all you can hope for out of a historical documentary piece – a better understanding of a confusing topic.
JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS
Overview: Girl next door, sex kitten, activist, fitness tycoon: Oscar-winner Jane Fonda has lived a life marked by controversy, tragedy and transformation, and she’s done it all in the public eye. Directed and produced by award-winning documentarian Susan Lacy, this film is an intimate journey through Fonda’s life as “Hanoi Jane” through today at 80. It goes to the heart of who she really is, a blend of deep vulnerability, magnetism, naiveté and bravery, revealing a life transformed over time. The documentary draws on 21 hours of interviews with Fonda, who speaks candidly and frankly about her life, her missteps and the “beginning of her last act.”
Expectations: Oh, boy do I miss Shelia Nevins. I have learned that I just don’t much care for the types of works Susan Lacy brings to HBO upon Nevins’ departure. Here is yet another celebrity biography. Haven’t we had enough of them this year? And apologies to Jane Fonda (as if she’ll see this); if this documentary had dropped at another time, I might be more excited for it, but since we’ve had looks at Spielberg, Bowie, Shandling, Elvis, Robin Williams and Avett Bros. (fairly not all by Lacy) I’m getting tired of it. Plus, JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS clocks in at 2 hours 14 minutes long. Okay, let’s do this.
Gut Reaction: I’ll admit two things up front. First, I watched this on HBOGo and, due to its length, I watched it in little snippets never making it the whole way through a segment in one sitting. The second admission is that this documentary is not as bad (though I still would not be able to watch it in one sitting) as I thought it would be. It was a clever device to set this film up in ‘acts.’ We move through Fonda’s lifeline via her strong influences which include her father Henry Fonda and three former husbands Roger Vadim, Tom Hayden & Ted Turner. The final act is all her.
I’ll admit another truth. Though Fonda talks that she has been conflicted and confused over her life about her true self, she has become clear to me during this film. Jane Fonda is a brave, intelligent and savvy woman. Through her words and Lacy’s work a documentary I never thought I needed to see defined Jane Fonda perfectly.
QUEEN OF THE WORLD
Overview: Produced by Oxford Films for the ITV network in the U.K., Queen of the World, a landmark documentary, will offer unique insights into Her Majesty The Queen’s role as a figure on the global stage, and the baton she is passing to the younger members of the Royal Family as they continue a long legacy. Filmed with privileged access to The Queen, her family, her staff and her residences, this landmark documentary tells the story of how the Commonwealth has been a central focus and passion throughout Her Majesty’s life. It features behind-the-scenes moments with The Queen and other members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Princess Anne; Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; and the Countess of Wessex.
Expectations: Every year without fail a documentary comes along that I have an absolute disinterest in. I thought that SWIPED was going to be that documentary until this one showed up. Truth be told, I am not an Anglophile. I do not care for anything about the British Royal Family. I don’t follow their work or watch their weddings. Though they do a lot of charitable work for the United Kingdom I see them as just a sad tourist attraction. Now, here I am facing the central character of the all thing in their Queen.
Now I just groused about my disinterest in the Jane Fonda documentary and ended up surprised enough to tolerate it. I am sure the end result of this film might be or hope it will be close to the same. Before I even get into it I will say that the U. K.’s Queen is just as brave, intelligent & savvy as I found Jane, but I just don’t want to find out. But, of course, I will all 1 hour and 3 minutes worth.
Gut Reaction: First off, that trailer was crap. It didn’t say anything or set up what was to come very well at all. Anyway, more to the subject; a charming woman I am sure but I fail to see the fascination as a venerated persona. Everyone seems to be in awe and afraid to misstep or misspeak. I just don’t get it or any of the Royal fuss. She is not the Queen of the World, the U. K. just thinks she is. I don’t even think she thinks she is. If you are so entranced in it all then, by all means, watch it, but I don’t think you will walk away knowing much about Elizabeth II as much as you did knowing Jane Fonda.
THE SENTENCE
Overview: First-time filmmaker Rudy Valdez’s The Sentence tells the story of his sister Cindy Shank, a mother of three who received a 15-year mandatory sentence for conspiracy charges related to her deceased ex-boyfriend’s crimes. The documentary offers a searing look at the consequences of mandatory minimum sentencing and received critical acclaim when it premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. This film draws on hundreds of hours of footage shot by Valdez, who initially copes with his sister’s incarceration by filming the family moments Shank misses in prison. In the midst of Shank’s sentence, Valdez discovers his voice as a filmmaker and activist.
Expectations: I’m hoping, beyond understanding all the players and the dynamics of the crime, to be schooled on this whole “mandatory minimum sentencing” and the “conspiracy charges” at the crux of Shank’s case. And will also wonder, of course, if it tells the whole story. The more of these types of documentaries I watch the leerier I get about the truth in them.
Gut Reaction: This is quite an impactful story. It does clearly set up the issues regarding unfair sentencing and the actions taken to draw attention to that problem and why President Obama looked at clemency for worthy cases. (I was schooled on those endeavors via a VICE Special Report with Shane Smith a while back.) However, this film was unclear, for me, on whether Shank’s case was a worthy one or not. She explains, even in the trailer, that she had no part in any drug trade; she was just the girlfriend. Did she drive with drugs in a car ever, did she reap benefits form drug money? Did she truly have zero contact with illegal drug trade? Of course, the real victim here was the family. Without the efforts of her brother Cindy Shank would have been in for 15 but got out in 9. the film illustrates quite well how he fought for her and keep her grounded. You can only hope upon her clemency that she truly changed her ways. In the end, an emotional viewing made this one interesting; depending on where you sit in life your emotions may run differently from mine and that it because of the good true-life issues at hand here.
RX EARLY DETECTION: A CANCER JOURNEY WITH SANDRA LEE
Overview: In 2015, after 48-year-old Sandra Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer, she met with a range of doctors and cancer experts to help her understand her options. Eventually, with the support of her partner, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and her sister, Kimber Lee, she came to the decision to have a double mastectomy. Deciding to document her journey, Lee allowed cameras to chronicle her most private moments over several months. Rx: Early Detection, A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee features unrestricted access to doctors’ offices, treatment rooms and Lee’s home. Now cancer-free, Lee hopes to spread a message about the importance of early breast cancer detection.
Expectations: The challenges of cancer are no stranger to anyone. If not affected yourself then you know someone close who has dealt with it. Here is one such journey worth a look.
Gut Reaction: Hey, if it takes the bravery of a celebrity to expose their life & body this way to rally others to be checked for cancer, ask the right questions and seek help as early as possible than it is a good thing. Sandra Lee was indeed a compassionate & brave person to chronicle this; she certainly didn’t have to do so. So, kudos and continued well-being for you!
STOLEN DAUGHTERS: KIDNAPPED BY BOKO HARAM
Overview: In 2014, 276 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria and hidden in the vast Sambisa Forest for three years by Boko Haram, a violent Islamic insurgent movement. Ultimately 82 were released. This documentary tells the story of the girls’ time in captivity and follows their lives over the past year. Granted exclusive access to the freed girls, who upon their release were taken to a secret government safe house in the capital of Abuja, the film shows how the young women are adapting to life after their traumatic imprisonment and how the Nigerian government is handling their reentry into society.
Expectations: I’ll admit that this is more my type of documentary. I have been aware of the actions of Boko Haram, in fact, one of my favorite docs was TERROR AT THE MALL from 2014, which was about their evil actions. I’ve heard of the kidnapped girls in news reports only so I am looking forward to this encapsulation of the incidents and especially the testimony from those since released.
Gut Reaction: First, this documentary is not a complete examination of the entire political issue. It sets up the whole action taken by Boko Haram but the real story to tell is of the after effects for survivors of the ordeal. There are indeed missing parts of the story including the destruction of villages and the murder of countless males in those places in the wake of the violent party. The media & celebrities focused on the kidnapped women and documentarians Karen Edwards, Fiona Stourton and director Gemma Atwal, where then able, after some of the girls negotiated release, to film their lives post-trauma. To great effect, however, are the stories of young women not a part of the government-protected Chibok group. The film also looks at “Forgotten Girls” from around the region that also had unwanted ties to Boko Haram and how their lives are treated quite differently from the “Chibok Girls.” The angle to talk to all of these women opens up the incident in a way no news report ever did and makes for an interesting documentary.
WE ARE NOT DONE YET
Overview: Directed by Sareen Hairabedian and produced by Jeffrey Wright (Emmy winner for HBO’s Angels in America, two-time Emmy nominee for HBO’s Westworld) and David Holbrooke (HBO’s The Diplomat), this documentary profiles a group of veterans and active-duty service members as they come together to combat past and current traumas through the written word, sharing their experiences in a United Service Organizations writing workshop. In workshop sessions and rehearsals, men and women confront the best and the worst of their lives in the military, opening up about ongoing struggles with PTSD and the challenges of readjusting to civilian life. Each veteran and active-duty service member brings unique experiences and hardships to the stage, but they find common understanding and hope through the difficult work of addressing their pasts.
Expectations: it has been observed here before that one thing that runs strong in America is a patriotism & pride for our military service personnel. Any assistance in facing their injuries and traumas is welcomed. Mr. Wright clearly feels this way. It will be interesting to observe them through these workshops as they transition and heal.
Gut Reaction: In the 40 minutes it takes to watch this the viewer feels for those working through their process. They have already taken courageous actions to defend our principles, now they need time for themselves to work out whatever plagues them and causes friction in their moving forward as a person, as a citizen. Everything falls into place, with the aid of Wright and others, to get their feelings heard through poetry and it is a powerful thing. They affirm WE ARE NOT DONE YET and you’re glad that they are not.
OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE: ON THE ROAD WITH ALEXANDRA PELOSI
Overview: Alexandra Pelosi sets out on a cross-country trip to engage in conversations with fellow Americans in an effort to gain an unfiltered understanding of other perspectives. Directed, produced and filmed by her, she visits hot spots in America’s political and culture wars for frank discussions about issues that seem to be dividing us as of late. The filmmaker emphasizes the importance of getting outside our bubbles and listening to others, in the process learning to accommodate different narratives and viewpoints. This documentary marks Pelosi’s 12th collaboration with HBO, following such documentaries as The Words That Built America, Meet the Donors: Does Money Talk?, Diary of a Political Tourist, Citizen U.S.A.: A 50 State Road Trip and the Emmy-winning Journeys with George.
Expectations: This writer has followed those films as they’ve aired and there is no question that Pelosi tries to get the pulse of what is happening in everyday America. This entry indeed comes at the proper time as she opens her eyes to what is happening outside her world; that’s is one thing she seems to have over her mother Nancy Pelosi, I think. I’m interested to see where she goes and what she experiences.
Gut Reaction: And she’s off to discover what the mainstream feels about Guns, Jobs, Climate Control, Immigration, Women’ Rights and Race. This is no epic lesson here, but Pelosi does make a strong point that the liberals need to have a better understanding of conservatives and mutually the other way as well and both sides need to even understand the extremes as well. It’s never easy to step outside your comfort zone. the filmmaker shows us people & their opinions from places like Sutherland Springs, Texas to talk Guns, in a place that had a mass shooting, to Port Arthur, Texas, one of the ground zeros for severe weather lately to talk Climate Change. Discussions of Women’s Rights in Alabama, Jobs in Pennsylvania coal country Immigration along the border wall & the Race in the hotspot of Charlottesville, Virginia are also had. Simple truths abound here – you can’t debate & talk out issues if you truly don’t understand all sides of that issue. Nothing, of course, is resolved here but a great lesson in going outside one’s bubble is a great practice to take up.
THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING
Overview: Exploring the labyrinth of the contemporary art world, this documentary examines the role of art and artistic passion in today’s money-driven, consumer-based society. Featuring collectors, dealers, auctioneers and a rich range of artists, from current market darlings Jeff Koons, Gerhard Richter and Njideka Akunyili Crosby to one-time art star Larry Poons, the film exposes deep contradictions as it holds a mirror up to contemporary values and times, coaxing out the dynamics at play in pricing the priceless.
Expectations: I’ve said it before and I say it again – though I appreciate various expressions of art I certainly don’t understand the business of art. I’m certainly not an art collector, at least not the kind that can afford the big prices at big auction houses for those ‘must-have’ items. Nor am I near any of the big-name artisans. Hell, I don’t even recognize any of the names listed above and are likely featured in this film. Once again, however, I am faced with peering into that world and struggling to figure out why their works are valued what they are.
Gut Reaction: 1 hour and 39 minutes is an awfully long time to sit through something you don’t understand. But, the documentary prior to this one tells us to go outside our bubble and so I did, plus it is my job to just that. By the documentary’s end, I can still say I still don’t get it but there was quite an unexpected amusement in watching it nonetheless. That’s right, it was fun to see these people caught up in the painting & displaying and the buying & selling of such artwork all the while thinking in what they are dealing in is just phenomenal stuff that any civilized person should want at any price. HA! Now that is all unintentionally funny. But it is no different from the fanatics craving their long-awaited GAME OF THRONES, but then again, I don’t count myself one of those types either. An analogy to be had there – I appreciate & enjoy but am not overly fanatic about it; same holds for this documentary. I enjoyed trying to understand the world but ended up just laughing at it.
THE TRUTH ABOUT KILLER ROBOTS
Overview: An eerie, eye-opening work of science nonfiction, The Truth About Killer Robots considers several automation cases, from a factory in Germany to a bomb-carrying police droid in Dallas, raising questions of accountability and morality. Exploring the provocative viewpoints of engineers, journalists and philosophers, the film goes beyond sensational deaths to examine more subtle but pervasive ways that robots affect humanity. Narrated by Kodomoroid, a lifelike Japanese android, The Truth About Killer Robots focuses on the growing use of robotics in manufacturing, the service and life-and-death policing matters. The film visits Germany, China, Japan and the U.S. to gain insights into the ways robots are impacting jobs across cultures.
Expectations: As we technologically move forward more and more discussions will be had on the topics of automation, robotics and its effect on humankind, even down to hosting a documentary and hurting people indirectly & directly.
Gut Reaction: This is not actual speculation of what might develop, but more a history of automation into society and the impact of job displacement it has caused. It also explains some instances where robotics has harmed people including a noted death in a Volkswagen factory and the case of the first self-driving Uber accident. There are no hardcore resolutions to any of these matters, it is more of an attempt to tell us that the start of a robotic age is now not in the future and we need to examine the practices & relationships with the techno-assistance to come. That is all wrapped up in a sensationalistic title and slowly played out in 80 minutes that could have been addressed in 40.
SAY HER NAME: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SANDRA BLAND
Overview: It explores the death of Sandra Bland, a politically active 28-year-old African American who, after being arrested for a traffic violation in a small Texas town, was found hanging in her jail cell three days later. Dashcam footage revealing her arrest went viral, leading to national protests. The film team followed the two-year case beginning shortly after Bland’s death, exploring the questions of what really happened to her, and what we may learn from her tragedy.
Expectations: I recall the news surrounding this incident; I am interested in the particulars. It is always intriguing to examine the misuse or the failings of the justice system. It, like any facet of society, does not run perfectly every time. But what caused this failure? What did happen to Sandra Bland? What are the logical steps that took Sandra from a minor traffic violation to death in a jail cell hours later?
Gut Reaction: The filmmakers, Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, saw the mystery & the message in Sandra’s ordeal as the protests over her wrongful death ramped up. Over two hours, even though there were crucial video clips played over and over, this viewer was quite attentive. It held my attention strongly and held it to no resolution. The loss of her life remains a mystery. All of this despite family inquiry, rally and protest ended another senseless needless death under suspicious terms. It is a prime example of how the system fails us. Regardless of whether you feel the officers were guilty or murder or not at the very least, they failed to look after her while she was in their care. Was she penalized for her attitude & opinions? Was she mentally ill & distressed enough to end her own life? What a brave and committed family to keep her memory alive and to literally keep her name out there. This is a strong documentary that fills you with a lot of questions to mull over for a while.
BLEED OUT
Overview: Questioning whether his mother received adequate care in surgery and in the hospital’s “e-ICU” unit, in which doctors sometimes monitor patients remotely by camera, Burrows consulted friends and lawyers, eventually deciding, with his family, to sue for medical malpractice. This is his harrowing, eye-opening account of the 10 years that follow — an endless cycle of medical bills, emergency-room visits and insurance-company red tape. Part medical mystery and legal thriller, part investigative journey and meditation on family, this is a revealing, cautionary tale.
Expectations: Ah, America’s healthcare and red tape could & would just about choke anybody, wouldn’t it? It is indeed a broken system and this documentary should service that point quite nicely. It is unfortunate that it has to do just that.
Gut Reaction: Wow. This is not the first story I’ve heard like this. I mean, I’ve heard about it in my own rural neck of the woods, in my own little borough. This documentary is one of the best ways I’ve ever heard it laid out and explain what is happening in healthcare today. Without plotting out all the details here, an overly long hospital stay for Steve Burrows’ mother led to neglect and malpractice. But, with that more woes were ahead. He chronicled a 10-year battle of medical bills, emergency-room visits and insurance-company red tape to fight the trauma to his mother. They drew out her illness to bleed her dry of money as long as they could before she literally nearly bled out. It serves as a wakeup call to us all that there is yet another system broken and flawed that endangers us all. Be warned, be leery and fight for your life for it is all you have.
And finally, that is all the documentaries for 2018. Time to move on to 2019 offerings.
