So I started off so well with posting reviews as I watched the movies, but slacked off after a couple. Well here is my usual (and late) round up of the rest of the docs I watched for this marathon.
Crazy Horse
I sought this out since I was a big fan of Wiseman's 'Near Death'. I appreciate his hands off approach and observational documentary style. The subject matter of 'Crazy Horse', a French nude dance show didn't particularly interest me, but I was open to see what Wiseman found interesting in it. Aside from some minor tension between the director and the assistant director there really isn't a whole lot of interest here. Seeing the construction of the show is somewhat interesting, but Wiseman spends way to much time just showing dance numbers from the live show. The most interesting bits are the behind the scenes look at the dancers. This is the story I wanted to see. Who were these ladies, where did they come from and why did they choose to perform? None of this is answered, or even asked. A bit of a let down. It's more of a 'concert film' for nude dancing.
4/10
The Invisible War
I really didn't want to watch this. Knowing that this was about sexual abuse, particularly of woman, in the army I knew it was going to be depressing. Well, it was. But in a really moving way. Every once in a while a documentary will move me so much I have to stop watching and walk away for a bit before I continue. I know that I'm being manipulated to an extent, but it also stands that there are many woman who are abused every year in the military, and they are powerless to do anything about it. It was infuriating, and moving and my view has been forever changed. That is powerful film making. Even now as I write this out a month later my ire is starting to rise just thinking about it. Fortunately the film has already spurred change, hopefully with more people watching it, this trend will continue.
8.5/10
Hoop Dreams
It's a common dream for children. You ask them what they want to be when they grow up and they say they are going to be some sort of professional athlete. They have no concept of how hard that is to accomplish. The endless practices, the personal sacrifices, the unbelievably bad odds of them actually making it, none of these thoughts cross their minds. They enjoy their sport and they can't imagine doing anything else. This is especially the case when they actually have talent, as in the case in 'Hoop Dreams'. Because of the ludicrous salaries the few who do make it earn, sports recruiting can mean big money. Everyone is looking for that next big star. Colleges are naturally heavily scouted, and High Schools are another natural incubator for rough talent. However, there are those that look even further into the future and scout the local playgrounds scoping out middle schoolers who show significant promise. These few are brought into the most competitive high schools for a chance to hone their abilities. That's where we meet the two boys who are the focus of the documentary. They were scouted playing basketball in a poor section of Chicago and both offered the opportunity to attend the prestigious St. Joseph High School. We follow their highschool basketball career for all four years, right through their college recruitment. We also spend time with their families, getting to know them and their way of life.
It was interesting following these two kids and the different paths they took, either by choice or by circumstance. Given that its been over twenty years since its release we also get a glimpse at what has happened to them since, and get a further perceptive on how basketball, and this documentary influenced their lives. It's an engrossing documentary well worth the running time. The commentary is a bit dry, but the stories are touching and go well beyond the scope of sports.
8/10
The Thin Blue Line
I always wondered how this film would hold up. I'm nervous about watching a documentary about something of the moment. The movie is about a man falsely convicted of a crime he didn't commit which was very relevant at the time since the man was still in prison. But today this has long since been sorted out so would it still hold any dramatic weight? Yes, it actually held up nicely. Errol Morris is a master of his craft, and all the techniques that hook us in and invest us emotionally in documentaries today was used by Morris to great effect here. This could have been made yesterday or fifty years ago, it doesn't matter, its still a compelling story told by a master story teller.
7/10
The Man With a Camera
There is no story in this documentary. It's a silent excremental documentary from 1929 by director Dziga Vertov. I've seen many experimental short films from this time period, and frankly this one just is not as good. I respect how influential this movie is, and how innovative it was for its time, but I can't pretend to have enjoyed it. It wasn't overly edgy, at least by todays standards, and really it was pretty dull. I appreciate it, but didn't enjoy it.
3/10
Night and Fog
A film that's certainly not on many people's list of films they are eager to watch, but its an important movie to see. It depicts the atrocities that took place at the concentration camps during World War II. Atrocity. I'd be surprised if any review of this film did not include that word. It is such a painful thing to fathom. How could human beings do this to people? The presentation is stark and unflinching. It's hard to watch, just as it should be. It's not something I want to revisit anytime soon, but one that I am happy to have seen to remind me just how horrible that time in history was.
7/10
Marathon Rankings
1.) The Imposter
2.) The Invisible War
3.) Hoop Dreams
4.) The Thin Blue Line
5.) Night and Fog
6.) The Queen of Versailles
7.) Crazy Horse
8.) The Man With a Camera