What's Up, Doc?

Documentary reviews

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Four Falls of Buffalo (2015) ESPN Film’s 30-for-30 / NFL Films

Directed by Ken Rodgers

An intimate, behind the scenes look at the Buffalo Bills four consecutive Super Bowl losses during the early 1990’s.

Yet another beautifully composed installment of ESPN’s 30-for-30 series. Couldn’t steer my eyes away for the entirety of the documentary. Excellent b-roll, mainly consisting of long-shot landscapes of the town of Buffalo in western New York. Contains many interviews with Bills Super Bowl-era alumni such as Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurmond Thomas, and Head Coach Mark Levy. Other interviewees include Bill Belichick, Troy Aikman and Jimmy Johnson.

Crammed with loads of what is now vintage footage of the Bills 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons as well as all four of their trips to the Super Bowl during those years.

ESPN definitely does it once again.

4/5 ****

[whatsupdocumentaries]

The Making Of Star Wars (1977)

Directed By: Robert Guenette

Originally Aired as a TV special on September 16th 1977. This Hour long documentary special takes you through the making of, at the time, the Greatest movie ever made. It’s told by R2-D2 & C-3P0, which is kinda lame and makes the whole thing seem aimed at children (Which it is) and if you know anything about Star Wars in the slightest, this will be remedial.

The behind-the-scenes photos really add life and dimension to the movie you thought you knew and seeing George Lucas before he became too stressed out for words is a breath of fresh air. This is him truly in his element and he’s making something he truly believes in.

Watching this, and THEN watching A New Hope is really great, but watching the original trilogy is only okay if you can find the unaltered versions or the theatrical releases. The digital remasters that are on the Blu-Ray do not do the movie justice since it’s been tinkered with to oblivion. It looks as though it came out in the 90′s and what makes them great is no longer present.

2/5

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Making A Murderer (2015) Season 1 Created By Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos  Starring Steven Avery Produced and distributed by Netflix Available 12/18 on Netflix

True Crime has become a complete power house and Making A Murderer is just the latest and greatest, shining example of that.

The first season was shot over the course of 10 years (2005-2015) and covers the story of Steven Avery: a dim-witted, but big-hearted Wisconsin man wrongfully accused of sexual assault in 1985 but was released with the help of the Innocence Project in 2003. However only two years later in 2005, Avery is caught in the middle of yet another brutal crime and must prove his innocence for the second time. The first season is 10, 50-60 minute long episodes and each one is absolutely transcendent. The show was released on Netflix on 12/18 and the first night it was available, I was up until 4:30 am and had watched the first 7 episodes. The show in it’s most basic components, is about corruption and nothing but corruption. Corruption within two different county Sheriff’s Departments and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Killer cinematography, excellent B-roll, time-lapse heavy. The show at points does show some age in terms of it being filmed over the course of 10 years, but doesn’t have a negative impact, rather, shows the dedication of the show’s creators. I am looking forward to see a second season of Making A Murderer.

5/5 *****

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Submarines

My favorite sandwich

[whatsupdocumentaries]

No Half Measures: Creating The Final Season of Breaking Bad (2013) 

Directed By: Stuart Richardson

If you’ve ever watched Breaking Bad, this is a must. An Insight into the making of the Final 8 episodes, walking you through every asset of production from Table reads, the writers room and finally shooting with some of the best directors in the business such as Rian Johnson, Michelle MacLauren, Michael Slovis and Vince Gilligan 

4/5

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Jodorowsky’s Dune (2014)

Directed By: Frank Pavich 

The story of cult film director Alejandro Jodorowsky's ambitious but ultimately doomed film adaptation of the seminal science fiction novel.

-via IMDB

5/5

[whatsupdocumentaries]

The Hacker Wars (2014) Directed by Vivien Lesnik Weisman Starring Andrew 'weev' Auernheimer

Ripped from international headlines, The Hacker Wars takes you to the front lines of the high-stakes battle over the fate of the Internet, freedom and privacy. -via IMDb 3.5/5 ***.5

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage (2010) Directed by Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen

An in-depth look at the Canadian rock band Rush, chronicling the band's musical evolution from their progressive rock sound of the '70s to their current heavy rock style. -Via IMDb

Excellent documentary. 5/5 *****

Available on Netflix as of 10/24/15

[whatsupdocumentaries]

Deep Web (2015) Directed by Alex Winters  |  Narrated by Keanu Reeves

Directed by Alex Winter, this doc chronicles events surrounding Silk Road, bitcoin and politics of the Dark Web.

Covering the trial of Ross Ulbricht, the documentary features interviews with Wired writer Andy Greenberg and developer Amir Taaki. Via Wikipedia

4/5 ****

[explore-blog]

A totally weird and wonderful documentary about the influential folk singer Michael Hurley and, erm, kombucha. Stick through the initial weirdness – it’s well, well worth it. 

[thedocumentarian-blog]

The Occult Experience, by Frank Heimans, 1985

This 1985 survey of practising occultists is a one way ticket to lolzington via blisstopia.

Merci bien MarieAntoinne.

[thedocumentarian-blog]

Satanis: The Devil’s Mass, by Ray Laurent, 1970

This doco about about Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan is just plain lolzy.

[thedocumentarian-blog]

Dunkelheit - The Story Of Varg Vikernes of Burzum

[thedocumentarian-blog]

Don’t Look at Me, by Guy Girard, 1988

If you don’t know who David Lynch is, and you don’t want to watch this early early documentary about him, then you were probably looking for The Sockumentarian and keyed the address in badly. This is not The Sockumentarian. Now get off my site. 

All thanks to Ben Reed. A guy from the internet.

[thistourist]

Taxi to the Dark Side (2007) 

Written & Directed by: Alex Gibney 

A documentary film that takes an in-depth look at the torture practices of the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, focusing on an innocent taxi driver in Afghanistan who was tortured and killed in 2002. 

It’s a true eye-opener that reveals all the long kept dark secrets about the US Military’s actions in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

The revelations might be truly shocking for those who never saw it coming. 

It’s nice to see such movies making its way to the public, without any actions by the government. I feel happy to see the freedom of speech United States practices that enables the people to make films like this. 

It made me wonder how much I crave for the same type of freedom of speech, which is non-existent in my country. 

Taxi to the Dark Side won the Academy Award for the Best Documentary Feature. 

Definitely one to watch if you wish to know the hidden dark truths. 

[01sentencereviews]

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015), dir. Alex Gibney

[blushm-deactivated20151210]

Paul Haggis and Hana Eltringham (both former scientologists) summing up the BS of Scientology in “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” (Alex Gibney, 2015)