Slade's Giant List of
Documentary Films
Categories on This Page:
General Interest
Art
Computers/Internet/Media/DigitalCopyright
Tattoo/Piercing/Circus/Magic
Music
Political/War
Economy/Money/Banking
Vote Fraud in the US
Civil Rights in the USA
Israel/Palestine
Immigration
Hurricane Katrina
Environment
Water/Oceans
Food and Health
Cancer
Burning Man
Drugs
2012
Fashion
Spirituality/Consciousness/Self-Help
Movies and Moviemakers
Games
Categories on Other Pages:
Feature Films
Depleted Uranium
Yoga
Bicycle Films
Documentaries About Pornography
Documentaries About Human Sexuality
Films About Cults
Crop Circles
Apollo Moon Landings
This page is under continuous development...
*** Use the FIND feature in your browser (CTRL-F) to search this page. ***
General Interest (everything I didn't put in another category)
1 Giant Leap (2002 - 155min) Duncan Bridgeman, Jamie Catto
Official Site: www.1giantleap.tv
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Giant_Leap
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0312296
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006IUJZ
Collections of little pieces, very cool. Lots of music. This is actually
kind of a part of a multimedia project, which includes a band of the same
name. There is a second DVD, What About Me?, (or 1 Giant Leap 2) but
its a bit harder to find. Seems to be available only in Europe in PAL format.
Amazon.co.uk: www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B00158FK2O
180 Degrees South: Conquerors of the Useless (2010 - 87min) Chris Malloy
Official Site: www.180south.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180_Degrees_South:_Conquerors_of_the_Useless
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1407927
Amazon (DVD 2010): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003DNLLN6
Amazon (DVD Deluxe Limited Edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003QAFNO4
9000 Needles (2010 - 87min) Doug Dearth
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9000_Needles
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1489881
Official Site: www.9000needles.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004EDSPPG
A Brief History of Time (1991 - 80min) Errol Morris
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Brief_History_of_Time_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0103882
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00003CX99
About physicist Stephen Hawking. DVD out of print!?
A Lawyer Walks Into A Bar (2007 - 92min) Eric Chaikin
Official Site: www.alawyerwalksintoabar.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Lawyer_Walks_Into_A_Bar
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0914850
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0010YSD2C
Follows potential lawyers as they prepare for the California bar exam,
one of the hardest in the country. Some are young law students taking the
test for the first time, and some have been trying to pass the test for
a long time.
A Man Named Pearl (2006 - 78min) Scott Galloway, Brent Pierson
Official Site: www.amannamedpearl.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0878134
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CQS7LU
Pearl's Website: www.fryartopiaries.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Fryar
Thorough look at Pearl Fryar, self-taught topiary artist in Bishopsville,
South Carolina. Using throw-away plants from local nurseries, and with no
prior instruction, he transformed his property into such a spectacular
display of sculpted plants that it became a tourist attraction.
A State of Vine (2007 - 60min) Don Scioli
Official Site: www.astateofvine.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1517572
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001D1DL5G
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_State_of_Vine_(film)
About the California wine industry. have not yet seen
A Tale of Two Cities: The Circuit City Story (2010 - 95min) Tom Wulf
Official Site: circuitcitystory.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities:_The_Circuit_City_Story
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1729505
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004LYKOIY
After Innocence (2005 - 95min) Jessica Sanders
Official Site: www.afterinnocence.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436039
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Innocence
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KJU1E6
Looks at the cases of 7 men who were exonerated by DNA evidence and released
from prison for rape or murder after years or decades. (DVD is out of print
10/2010).
Aging Out (2006 - 90min) Maria Finitso, Roger Weisberg
Official Site: www.pbs.org/wnet/agingout
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0395441
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBFZ1I
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003 - 89min) Nick Broomfield
Subtitled: The 2002 Interviews
Director's Website: www.nickbroomfield.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0364930
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen:_Life_and_Death_of_a_Serial_Killer
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001Z36Y6
Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992 - 88min) Nick Broomfield
Subtitled: The 1992 Interviews
Director's Website: www.nickbroomfield.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos:_The_Selling_of_a_Serial_Killer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0103634
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A2X3HA
I put off seeing this for many years, knowing I would eventually watch it,
since it is a Nick Broomfield film. Finally got to it in 2010. Of course it
is unpredictably interesting as Nick goes digging around exploring this crazy
story. I knew that Aileen was supposed to be the "first female serial killer",
but I did not know about the Christian woman who adopted her just after her
arrest, seemingly scheming with Aileen's lawyer to make some money off of the
story, or the controversty over the police officers who were discussing
movie deals with Aileen's possible accomplice before her arrest. Lots of
interviews, lots of courtroom footage. See also Broomfield's later film,
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (above), and the
award-winning feature film Monster.
All In This Tea (2007 - 70min) Les Blank, Gina Leibrecht
Official Site: www.allinthistea.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1015968
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_in_This_Tea
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001ORQSMC
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010 - 102min) Matt Harlock, Paul Thomas
Official Site: www.americanthemovie.com
Official Bill Hicks website: www.billhicks.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1179947
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hicks
Amazon (DVD 06/07/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004UA8D2I
Amazon (BluRay 06/07/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004UA8D28
DVD is 2-disc set, packed with over 5 hours of extras.
See also Just a Ride.
American Boy (1978) Martin Scorsese
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Boy:_A_Profile_of_Steven_Prince
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0077157
Scorsese interviews his friend Steven Prince. See also newer film
American Prince. American Boy is unavailable on DVD. You can
find a torrent, and maybe some or all of it on Youtube.
American Chain Gang (1998 - 56min) Xackery Irving
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0464786
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BQ5IXC
American Dream (1990 - 100min) Barbara Kopple
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0099028
Director's Website: www.cabincreekfilms.com
Amazon (DVD 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DZTKP
Looks at the struggle of union workers when they are asked to take a
significant pay cut at a Hormel meat plant in Austin, Minnesota.
Won Oscar for Best Documentary in 1991, among other awards.
See also Koppel's super-classic 1976 film, Harlan County, USA.
American Pimp (1999 - 87min) Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0179074
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pimp
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/630601232X
Amazing. Lots of interviews with real-life pimps (and some of the women who
work for them).
American Prince (2008 - 104min) Tommy Pallotta
Official Site: www.americanprincemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1372718
Revisits the subject of American Boy (see above). So far (and maybe
forever) only available as a .MOV bittorrent, which was released by the
director. See blog comments at official site for more info.
And Everything is Going Fine (2010 - 89min) Steven Soderbergh
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Everything_Is_Going_Fine
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1122614
Spalding Gray.
Anima Mundi (1991 - 30min) Godfrey Reggio
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anima_Mundi_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0101349
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6304718799
out of print
Animals, Whores & Dialog (2010 - 91min) Wayne Ewing
Subtitled: Breakfast With Hunter Vol. 2
Official Site: www.hunterthompsonfilms.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson
Review at Booze Movies: www.boozemovies.com/2010/08/review-animals-whores-and-dialog.html
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004MU67C4
Ape Genius (2008 - 56min)
Amazon (DVD 2008): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0013XZ6GG
This is an episode of the TV show Nova, first broadcast FEB 19, 2008.
Athlete (2009 - 95min) David Lam
Official Site: www.athletemovie.com/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlete_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1356996
Amazon (DVD 03/09/10): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0030U1U7E
The Atomic Cafe (1982 - 88min) Jayne Loader, Kevin Rafferty
Info on the Film: www.conelrad.com/atomic_cafe.html
Interview with Jayne Loader: www.conelrad.com/jayne_loader.html
Amazon (DVD 2-disc Collector's Edition 2008 Docurama): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B1Q3FS
Amazon (DVD 20th Anniversary Edition 2002 New Video Group): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000060MW1
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0083590
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_Cafe
Sometimes called a "nuclear Reefer Madness", this is a darkly humorous look
at the nuclear fear of the 50's and 60's as seen through clips from old
government films and newsreels.
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (1998 - 143min) Michael Paxton
Official Site: www.aynrandasenseoflife.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0118662
Amazon (DVD 2-disc 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002Q9VQ6
Ballerina (2006 - 77min) Bertrand Norman
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballerina_(2006_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0898897
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0025Z4Q4E
Baraka (1993 - 96min) Ron Fricke
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005M91K
Amazon: (2-disc special edition 2008) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CDLAT4
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baraka_(film)
A Fan Site: www.spiritofbaraka.com
No dialog, but perhaps a message in this collection of sights from the
natural and the civilized worlds. See also Koyanisqaatsi,
Powaqqatsi, and Nagoyqatsi.
Barbeque: A Texas Love Story (2004 - 46min) Chris Elley
Official Site: www.bbqfilm.com/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0403867
Review at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/reviews/5727/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GPP3HO
The Beat Generaton: An American Dream (1987 - 86min) Janet Forman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0261558
Narrated by Steve Allen. Lots of interviews. Has not made it to DVD.
Beer Wars (2009 - 89min) Anat Baron
Official site: www.beerwarsmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Wars
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1326194
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002Q7T79K
Very fun and interesting film looks at the beer industry in America.
Anheiser-Busch has about half of the market, Miller and Coors have
significant smaller chunks. The film is mainly looking at the growth of
small independent brewers, who have a hard time getting shelf space in
stores, and now have to contend with the big three introducing products to
compete with them.
Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo (2009 - 90min) Jessica Oreck
Official site: www.beetlequeen.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1339635
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004LBA05E
Explores the place of insects in Japanese culture. The universe represented
in a tiny package, like Haiku. Insects as pets, insect supply stores, beetle
video games, silkworms, dragonflys, butterflys, crickets. Very special.
Beyond the Gates of Splendor (2005 - 96min) Jim Hanon
Official site: www.beyondthegatesthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0337868
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Gates_of_Splendor
Amazon (DVD 2005): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009XT8A6
(DVD is double-sided - reverse side has 40-min abridged version of film).
Beyond the Mat (2000 - 102min) Barry W. Blaustein
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Mat
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0218043
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000189DZE
Very interesting documentary about pro wrestling. Mainly looks at Jake
"the Snake" Roberts, Terry Funk and Mick "Mankind" Foley.
Big Rig (2008 - 95min) Doug Pray
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Rig_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0462197
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014IIQCG
Director's website: www.dougpray.com
About truckers in the US. totally awesome, as expected of any Doug Pray film.
(see also Infamy, Scratch, Hype, Surfwise,
Art & Copy).
Big River Man (2009 - 100min) John Maringouin
Official Site: www.bigriverman.com
Official Site: www.amazonswim.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_River_Man
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Strel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0956101
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003TLTUBC
Wow! This is one of the most interesting films I have ever seen. About
Martin Strel, Slovenian endurance swimmer who swam the length of the Yantze,
Mississippi, and Amazon rivers. This covers the Amazon swim.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (2008 - 107min) Christopher Bell
Subtitled: Is It Still Cheating If Everyone's Doing It?
Official site: www.biggerstrongerfastermovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigger,_Stronger,_Faster*
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1151309
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B7CNW4
About steriod use among bodybuilders, wrestlers, and other athletes.
Not quite the expose you might be expecting. Very fun and interesting,
fast-paced, well-made film. Highly recommended.
Billabong Odyssey (2003 - 88min) Philip Boston
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0379713
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000WN1PE
Billy the Kid (2007 - 85min) Jennifer Venditti
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CCY434
Black and Gold (2001 - 75min)
Subtitled: The Story of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0274384
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014Z4OH0
Black Coffee (2005 - 174min) Irene Angelico
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0963976
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Coffee_(2005_film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001AEF636
Interesting and very thorough look at the history, politics and economics of
coffee. Made for Canadian TV. DVD is 3-disc set. Each disc is a 58-minute
episode. I learned a lot in each episode and was quite surprised at how much
there is know about coffee (this could have been much longer).
Highly recommended. (See also Black Gold)
Episode 1 - The Irresistible Bean
Looks at the history of coffee.
Narration begins "In this hour we see how coffee spreads from the ancient
world, becoming the dark medium through which social, sexual, economic and
political life evolves, fostering much of what is good and bad about our
civilization." States that people drink over 500 billion cups of coffee a
year. Coffee is originally from Ethiopia, where it still grows wild.
Coffee made its way to the Arab world, and then to Europe, becoming
very popular in Vienna, France, Italy, Holland, Germany and England in the
1600's. The first coffee house in Europe opened in London in 1652. By 1700
there were over 2000 coffee houses in London. Some interview clips with
Mark Pendergrast, author of Uncommon Grounds, and Bennett Weinberg, author
of The World of Caffeine.
Episode 2 - Gold in Your Cup
Looks at the history of the coffee trade, mainly at Ameirca as a consumer and
at the various South and Central American countries were coffee is produced.
Forests were cut down in Brazil long ago and over a million slaves were
imported from Africa to work the coffee plantations. The Boston Tea Party
caused Americans to switch from tea to coffee. Looks at the beginnings
of Folger, Maxwell House and other brands, who grew the worst coffee
(robusta beans) in the worst ways and processed and packaged it
in the worst ways (and still do). All coffee in cans must be "pre-staled"
so it won't explode.
Episode 3 - The Perfect Cup
Looks at the beginings of coffee houses in the US during the Vietnam War,
when people used these places to socialize and communicate and how the
interest in where the coffee came from led to the demand for better coffee.
Some fun and interesting clips from old TV ads show how Americans were
convinced to drink the stale, bitter, over-brewed coffee that most
Americans still drink. As people began to see that coffee could be an
enjoyable drink, the specialty coffee industry gave rise to the Free Trade
movement as well as organic and shade-grown coffee. This episode looks
a lot at the Starbucks chain.
Black Gold (2006 - 78min) Marc Francis, Nick Francis
Official Site: www.blackgoldmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Gold_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492447
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0011Z1SIQ
About the international coffee trade.
Blindsight (2006 - 104min) Lucy Walker
Official Site: www.blindsightthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0841084
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001HB1K1Y
Blind American mountain-climber Erik Weihenmayer leads 6 blind Tibetan
teenagers on a climb of Lhakpa-Ri (right next to Mt. Everest).
Bloodline (2008 - 113min) Bruce Burgess
Official Site: www.bloodline-themovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1190537
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DRF824
Investigates the ideas that Jesus may not have died on the cross, That his body
may have been taken to France, that he was married to Mary Magdelene,
that they had children together, that there is a living bloodline, that a
secret cave in France may contain the remains of Jesus, that all this
information has been guarded by an organization called the Priory of Scion,
and that the Vatican has gone to great lengths, including killing many people,
to keep this knowledge secret. Very interesting - perhaps world-shatteringly
important, perhaps purposeful disinformation, perhaps wacky nonsense.
Born to Be Wild: The Leading Men of American Ballet Theatre (2004 - 54min) Judy Kinberg
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001L3LWW
Bra Boys (2007 - 84min) Macario De Souza, Sunny Abberton
Official Site: www.braboysfilm.com
Official Site: braboys.com.au
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bra_boys
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0951318
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017CW5JE
Covers the surfing scene in Maroubra beach, Australia. Follows the Abberton
brothers.
Breakfast with Hunter (2003 - 91min) Wayne Ewing
Official Site: www.hunterthompsonfilms.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0367565
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_S._Thompson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003E3XCU0
See also Animals, Whores & Dialog, Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride,
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson.
Brick City (2009 - 260min) Mark Benjamin, Marc Levin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1442064
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002OIMVOE
A close look at efforts to improve Newark, New Jersey, lead by Mayor
Cory Booker. This is a 5-episode TV series. See also Street Fight.
The Bridge (2006 - 94min) Eric Steel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0799954
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000O76PXK
Looks at suicides on the Golden gate bridge.
Bright Leaves (2003 - 105min) Russ McElwee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0372806
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0008FXT6Y
Brother's Keeper (1992 - 104min) Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0103888
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother's_Keeper_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008DDJ6
Excellent film. Very strange story, a bit creepy. The directors later made
the Paradise Lost films.
Buck (2011 - 88min) Cindy Meehl
Official Site: www.buckthefilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1753549
Amazon (DVD OCT 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005E7SEMU
About horse trainer Buck Brannaman, "the real-life horse-whisperer".
Bulletproof Salesman (2008 - 70min) Michael Tucker, Petra Epperlein
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1186201
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00308CJ12
Bus 174 (2002 - 120min) Jose Padilha
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0340468
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_174
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00022FW4U
About a bus hijacking that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2000.
The youth who tries to hijack the bus is caught in the act and the ensuing
standoff is carried live on Brazilian TV. Very interesting, goes off on
some tangents exploring crime and homelessness in Brazil. Recommended.
Buy the Ticket Take the Ride (2006 - 77min) Tom Thurman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0775438
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000S6MIY4
About Hunter S. Thompson.
Cane Toads (An Unnatural History) (1987 - 48min) Mark Lewis
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Toads:_An_Unnatural_History
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0130529
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JG6X
Review from FilmVault
A very fun discovery, unusual story, well-made film, accomplishes a lot in
48 minutes. Very funny but also a scary story of another man-made ecological
disaster.
Cane Toads: The Conquest (2010 - 85min) Mark Lewis
Official Site: www.canetoadstheconquest.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Toads:_An_Unnatural_History
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1568924
Review at Sydney Morning Herald: www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/this-beast-isnt-going-anywhere-20110601-1fgdp.html
Wow - there's a sequel! Over 20 years later, of course, this problem has
not gone away. Said to be the first Australian 3D film. (have not yet seen)
Capturing the Friedmans (2003 - 107min) Andrew Jarecki
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capturing_the_Friedmans
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0342172
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000SXK0Y
Finally got around to this one in 2010. Very surprising as I did not know
much about it. Close look at a family in which the father and one of the
sons are accused of pedophilia. Confusing story raises some questions.
DVD includes a bonus disc with lots of extras.
Catching Hell (2011 - 51min) Alex Gibney
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_for_30
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1908471
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0040ZN9MW
Produced as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series of documentaries.
Catching Out - A Film About Trainhopping and Living Free (2002 - 79min) Sarah George
Official Site: www.catchingout.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0337595
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017LFKU6
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2011 - 89min) Werner Herzog
Official Site: www.ifcfilms.com/films/cave-of-forgotten-dreams
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Forgotten_Dreams
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1664894
Amazon (DVD 11/29/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005HP2J66
Amazon (BD 11/29/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005HP2JAM
Follows an expedition into the Chauvet Cave in France, to have a look at
30,000-year-old art. In 3-D.
The Charcoal People (1999 - 65min) Nigel Noble
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0235034
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005UO7H
Chronos (1985 - 43min) Ron Fricke
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0104029
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6304718764
Nonverbal IMAX film using custom-built time-lapse cameras.
(not to be confused with Cronos, a feature film by Guillermo del Toro)
The City (1939 - 43min) Ralph Steiner, Willard van Dyke
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0031160
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001LKLKKW
DVD contains 2 versions of the documentary, one with original score, and one
with rerecorded score by Aaron Copland. Narration written by Lewis Mumford.
Coal Country (2009 - 85min) Phylis Geller
Official Site: www.coalcountrythemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1603809
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002L5GQDW
The Cola Conquest (1998 - 153min) Irene Lilienheim Angelico
Official Site: www.dliproductions.ca/thecolaconquest/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000UCKMGA
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0294464
Review at DVD Beaver: www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdreview2/colaconquest.htm
Review at DVDTalk: www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10159/cola-conquest-the/
Explores the history of the Coca Cola company in 3 50-minute episodes.
The director's next project was Black Coffee (see above).
Commune (2006 - 78min) Jonathan Berman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0439511
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000U95N9E
Looks at the Black Bear Ranch, a commune founded in 1968 and still
thriving in northern California.
Confessions of a Superhero (2007 - 93min) Matt Ogens
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1016164
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000Y7ZHB6
Connections (1978 - 500min) BBC
Connections2 (1994 - 600min) TLC
Connections3 (1997 - 520min) TLC
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connections_(TV_series)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0078588
Amazon (DVD 5-disc 2007 Ambrose): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NJVY3U
Amazon (DVD 5-disc 2003 Ambrose): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DIZSF
Amazon (DVD 5-disc 2003 Ambrose): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DIZSJ
Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008 - 95min) Stacy Peralta
Official Site: www.cripsandbloodsmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0479044
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001O7R74K
A deep look at the gang violence problem in LA. Includes lots of background
history, including Watts riots of 1965 and 1992. Lots of interviews,
including lots of people working against the gang problem.
Excellent film, highly recommended. Peralta also did the awesome
Dogtown and Z-Boys.
Cropsey (2009 - 84min) Barbara Brancaccio, Joshua Zeman
Official Site: cropseylegend.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cropsey_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1277936
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004PQBYK0
Explores the urban legend of "Cropsey", specifically paying attention to
cases of missing children on Staten Island, which leads to the case of
Andre Rand. See also Unforgotten.
The Cruise (1998 - 76min - black and white) Bennett Miller
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0150230
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cruise_(documentary)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E5N65M
This is a documentary about a guy named Timothy "Speed" Levitch, filmed
while he was working as a tour guide in New York City. You'll learn a lot
about the history of the city watching this but it's mainly a close look
at Levitch, who is quite an unusual and interesting character. Also, the
director shot all of the footage by himself. This is one of my top favorites.
Resist the anti-cruise! See also Live From Shiva's Dance Floor
(DVD 2003), and Tim's book, Speedology (2002).
Levitch also appears in Waking Life and Scotland, PA.
The Dancer (1994 - 96min) Donya Feuer
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007TKORI
Looks at ballet student Katja Bjorner during intensive study at the Royal
Swedish Ballet School. Also looks a bit a ballet shoes - including the
making of them.
Dancing Outlaw (1991 - 30min) Jacob Young
Director's Website: www.dancingoutlaw.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0101655
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesco_White
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009XBR6O
This amazing cult-classic film looks at the hillbilly world of Jesco White,
"the dancing outlaw", who is following in his father's footsteps as a
tapdancer, or maybe he'll pursue Elvis impersonating. This is really a
treasure. DVD is $30 from director's website and includes both Dancing
Outlaw and Dancing Outlaw II. (See also Dancing Outlaw II,
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, The Wild World
of Hasil Adkins).
Dancing Outlaw II: Jesco Goes to Hollywood (1999 - 30min) Jacob Young
Director's Website: www.dancingoutlaw.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0202310
Tom Arnold brings Jesco to Hollywoood to appear in a Roseanne episode.
Dark Days (2000 - 94min) Marc Singer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0235327
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005NSY6
Official Site: www.DarkDays.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Days_(documentary)
JumpCut Review: www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc48.2006/DarkDays/
Amazing and award-winning documentary about homeless people living in train
tunnels underneath Penn Station in New York City. DVD includes documentary
about the making of the film. Music by DJ Shadow.
See also Voices In the Tunnels: In Search of the Mole People.
And there's also a couple of books on this subject:
The Mole People by Jennifer Toth (1993)
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/155652241X/
The Tunnel by Margaret Morton (1996)
www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0300065590
Darwin's Nightmare (2004 - 107min) Hubert Sauper
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0424024
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000O78646
The Day After Trinity (1981 - 88min) John Else
Subtitled: J Robert Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0080594
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000648XV
Dear Zachary (2008 - 93min) Kurt Kuenne
Subtitled: A Letter To A Son About His Father
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1152758
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001M564BQ
Death: A Love Story (1999 - 64min) Michelle Lebrun
Official Site: www.harkenprods.com/death-a-love-story.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0181449
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000168A96
Death By Design (1995 - 70min) Peter Friedman, Jean-Francois Brunet
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0118947
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0008FXT78
About programmed cell death. DVD includes The Life and Times of Life and
Times, another film by the same directors.
Deliver Us From Evil (2006 - 101min) Amy Berg
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0814075
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NIVJH2
Looks at the pedophilia scandals in the Catholic church.
Derrida (2002 - 84min) Kirby Dick
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrida_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0303326
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00011V872
The Devil's Miner (2005 - 82min) Kief Davidson, Richard Ladkani
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0441001
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EULK14
Looks at child labor from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy working
in a silver mine in Bolivia.
Devil's Playground (2001 - 76min) Lucy Walker
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0293088
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00007GVM0
Documents the Amish tradition of Rumspringa - when kids reach age 16, they
spend some time experiencing the outside world before making a decision as
to whether to remain with the Amish or leave. Looks to be out-of-print.
Very interesting.
Disinformation (2001 - 240min) Richard Metzger, Craig Melville
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disinformation_(TV_series)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0413562
Amazon (DVD 2-disc 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00013F2ZE
Amazon (DVD 1-disc 2006): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000DZ7XZ2
Disinformation (also called Disinfo TV or Disinfo Nation) was a British
TV series that ran in 2000 and 2001. 16 30-minute episodes, later cut down
to 4 1-hour specials. Lots of odd stories, some of more interest than others.
Special segments for me: Joe Coleman, Kembra Pfahler, Marilyn Manson,
Douglas Rushkoff, Robert Anton Wilson. The second disc in the 2-disc set
includes footage from Disinfo.con, "a counter-cultural event" sponsored
by the Disinformation company 02/19/2000 in New York City.
Divine Horsemen - The Living Gods of Haiti (1985) Maya Deren
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0123802
Voodoo dance rituals, shot in black and white between 1947 and 1952.
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001 - 91min) Stacy Peralta
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007V6IUS
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0275309
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogtown_and_Z-Boys
Super-cool documentary about the origins of skateboarding. It is a very lucky
thing that this scene was documented as it ocurred in the 70's. A group of
young surfers in the Venice, California area started a new way of skating
including riding low with bent knees and riding the walls of pools.
This predates the days of plywood half-pipes, which were later made to
simulate riding pools. These guys became the first super-stars of
skateboarding, in the era prior to Tony Hawk. Very well-done film with
lots of historical footage and cool music. Later made into feature film,
The Lords of Dogtown. Highly recommended, even you don't think you're
interested in skateboarding.
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox (2007 - 80min) Sara Lamm
Official Site: www.magicsoapbox.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0881909
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014NA52A
Super-interesting docu about Dr. Bronner and his soap (which has been sold in
pretty much every health-food store for decades). The filmmaker was lucky
enough to gain access to footage from a previous unfinished documentary
on Dr. Bronner. Follows the history of the soap company to the present day,
still being run by Dr. Bronner's family. Highly recommended.
Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click. (2005 - 95min) Canaan Brumley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0462267
Director's Website: www.canaanbrumley.com
Documents 12 weeks of Marine Corps Boot Camp (basic training) at Camp
Pendleton. Uses "fly on the wall" perspective - no narration, no featured
characters. Doesn't seem to be available on DVD as of 2009 (I found a torrent).
Easy Street (2006 - 90min) Stephen Ashton
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1198568
Eat This New York (2004 - 78min) Andrew Rossi, Kate Novak
Official Site: www.eatthisnewyork.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0376588
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002NRQSY
Close look at the restaraunt business in New York City. Follows a couple of
guys as they start a small restaurant. Talks to lots of key people in the
New York City restaurant scene. Special features on the DVD are a trailer
(1:46) and 2 hours worth of extended interviews, with Sirio Maccioni (10:16),
Keith McNally (10:58), Daniel Boulud (22:11), Tim and Nina Zagat (12:40),
Drew Nieporent (22:08), Danny Meyer (20:05), and Rocco Dispirito (20:48).
El Bulli: Cooking in Progress (2010 - 108min) Gereon Wetzel
Official Site: www.elbulliemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1696535
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Bulli
El Bulli: Historia de un Sueno 1963-2009 (2010 - 709min) David Pujol
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1961289
Amazon (DVD 4-disc PAL): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004W8A984
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Bulli
A thorough look at the El Bulli restaurant in Spain. A 2 1/2 hour version has
been shown in theatres. This DVD set is 10 55-minute episodes on 4 discs.
Emmanuel's Gift (2004 - 80min) Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0447016
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CDSS18
Encounters at the End of the World (2007 - 99min) Werner Herzog
Official Site: www.encountersfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encounters_at_the_End_of_the_World
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1093824
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DWNUD8
Looks at people who live and work at Antarctica. Includes some underwater
footage from under the ice. Excellent as expected from Herzog.
DVD is 2-disc set with extra features.
The Endless Summer (1966 - 95min) Bruce Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0060371
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6305837384
surf movie
The English Surgeon (2007 - 93min) Geoffrey Smith
Official Site: www.theenglishsurgeon.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_Surgeon
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1200060
Amazon (DVD 2009): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002LC3M8W
Looks at British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh as he struggles with many
difficulties while working in the Ukraine.
Epicly Later'd: John Cardiel (2008 - 86min)
Info: 5ones.com/epicly-laterd-389/
Official Site (for online series?): www.epiclylaterd.com/
About skateboarder John Cardiel. Epicly Later'd is an online video series.
Several issues were combined to make a DVD about Cardiel. Hard to find.
May have been distributed mainly as a free promo. Netflix has this.
Erasing David (2010 - 80min) David Bond, Melinda McDougall
Official Site: erasingdavid.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erasing_David
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1395183
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004SEUJNC
Etoiles: Dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet (2001 - 100min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AZT67
In French with English subtitles.
Every F---ing Day of My Life (2007 - 70min) Tommy Davis
Official Site: www.oneminutetonine.com/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Minute_to_Nine
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1071951
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003ES5RO4
Also known as One Minute to Nine. Looks at the case of Wendy Maldano,
who killed her husband in 2005 after enduring 18 years of abuse.
Examined Life (2008 - 88min) Astra Taylor
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Examined_Life
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1279083
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002VBQEEW
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2000 - 79min) Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eyes_of_Tammy_Faye
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0233687
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009MEBB
About Tammy Faye Bakker, the "first lady of televangelism". Very entertaining.
She passed away in 2007.
Fall From Grace (2007 - 71min) K. Ryan Jones
Official Site: www.fallfromgracemovie.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0977649
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00197POYK
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church
Looks at Reverend Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, famous for
travelling all over the place to preach hatred against homosexuality.
The Farm: Angola, USA (1998 - 90min) Jonathan Stack, Liz Garbus, Wilbert Rideau
AKA: The Farm: Life Inside Angola
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Farm:_Angola,_USA
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0139193
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00304U4JA
The Farm: 10 Down (2009 - 98min) Jonathan Stack, Nancy Novak
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1305584
Director's Website: www.hcdmediagroup.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003059RHO
Followup to The Farm: Angola, USA.
Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control (1997 - 83min) Errol Morris
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0119107
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast,_Cheap_and_Out_of_Control
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00003CX9Z
Maybe its a documentary, maybe its four documentaries in one, maybe its
an art film. Skips around between four different stories: an animal trainer,
a topiary gardener, a robot scientist, and a guy who studies mole rats.
Are these stories related? Connections between them seem to surface, some
perhaps intended, some probably not. I think the intended theme here is that
these are all people who are totally into what they do. Very interesting.
From the director of Gates of Heaven and The Fog of War.
Favela Rising (2005 - 82min) Jeff Zimbalist, Matt Mochary
Official Site: www.favelarising.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favela_Rising
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0455949
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002SAMMII
Very inspiring. Super-cool. Highest recommendation. Looks at violence in
the slums (favelas) of Rio De Janeiro. Follows Anderson Sa, who fights
against poverty and violence by starting a musical movement, Afro-Reggae,
teaching youngsters to play drums. DVD went out of print for awhile, but was
reissued in SEP 2009.
FEMA City (2007 - 70min) Jamin Griffiths
Official Site: www.femacity.net
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001UJIMIW
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1047817
The Final Prophecies (2010 - 80min) Brent Miller
Official Site: www.thefinalprophecies.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0045JJ1O8
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1834306
Errol Morris' First Person (2000/2001)
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Person_(TV_Show)
DVD Disc 1 - Season 1, Episodes 1-7 (2000 - 168min)
DVD Disc 2 - Season 1, Episodes 8-11 (2000 - 96min)
DVD Disc 3 - Season 2, Episodes 1-6 (2001 - 227min)
This is a TV series, available on a 3-disc DVD set, which includes all
17 episodes of the show. In each episode, Errol interviews an exceptionally
interesting person. He uses a device he invented, called the Interrotron.
The interviewer and the subject are each facing a camera, each of which
projects the other's face onto the lens, so that the subject is looking
at a human face, rather than at a blank lens. The episodes in the first season
are about 24 minutes each. The episodes in the second season are closer to
30 minutes, except for 4 and 5, which are almost an hour each (these 2 were
broadcast in 2 parts each).
The Episodes: (may not accurately reflect DVD order or broadcast date order)
01.01 "Stairway to Heaven" - Temple Grandin, autistic college professor
and expert on humane cattle slaughter techniques
01.02 "The Killer Inside Me" - Sondra London, serial killer groupie and writer
01.03 "I Dismember Mama" - Saul Kent, promoter of cryogenic immortality
01.04 "The Stalker" - Bill Kinsley, employer and victim of a disgruntled
postal worker
01.05 "The Parrot" - Jane Gill, victim of a murder with a possible avian
eye-witness
01.06 "Eyeball to Eyeball" - Clyde Roper, authority on the giant squid
01.07 "Smiling in a Jar" - Gretchen Worden, director of the Mutter Museum
of medical oddities in Philadelphia
01.08 "In the Kingdom of the Unabomber" - Gary Greenberg, Unabomber pen pal
and would-be biographer
01.09 "Mr. Debt" - Andrew Capoccia, whiz lawyer for credit-card debtors
01.10 "You're Soaking In It" - Joan Dougherty, crime scene cleaner
01.11 "The Little Gray Man" - Antonio Mendez, retired CIA operative and
master of disguise
02.01 Harvesting Me" - Josh Harris, internet entrepreneur (We Live in Public)
and TV addict
02.02 "The Smartest Man in the World" - Chris Langan, bar bouncer with the
alleged world's highest IQ
02.03 "The Only Truth" - Murray Richman, lawyer to New York mobsters
02.04 "One in a Million Trillion" - Rick Rosner, professional high school
student and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? contestant
02.05 "Leaving the Earth" - Denny Fitch, DC-10 pilot and hero
02.06 "Mr. Personality" - Dr. Michael Stone, forensic pathologist and
homicide aficionado
FLicKeR (2008 - 75min) Nik Sheehan
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1236194
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0026MP19K
About Brion Gysin and his Dream Machine, a flickering light device that can
induce altered states of concsiousness. Interviews with Iggy Pop, Kenneth
Anger, Marianne Faithful, John Giorno, DJ Spooky and others. Yes, it is
interesting.
Flight From Death - The Quest for Immortality (2003 - 90min) Patrick Shen
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0365215
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009NZ77E
Following Sean (2006 - 87min) Ralph Arlyck
Official Site:www.followingsean.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0479916
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KJU1H8
Fractals - The Colors of Infinity
Can watch at google video.
DVD can be ordered from www.channel9store.com
Freakonomics (2010 - 93min) Alex Gibney, Heidi Ewing, Seth Gordeon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, Morgan Spurlock
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freakonomics_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1152822
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0047UJBP4
"Six rogue filmmakers explore the hidden side of everything."
The Freshest Kids - A History of the B-Boy (2002) Director: Israel
Official site: www.thefreshestkids.com
Interview with Israel: www.evilmonito.com/013/kids/freshest.html
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006IUIP (totally stacked with 5-star reviews)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0361638
Super-cool film covers the history of breakdancing and features tons of
dance footage and interviews. I watched this film with amazement. The DVD
is PHAT - with lots of extra stuff.
Friends of God
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0953404
From The Heart of the World - The Elder Brothers Warning (1991 - 88min) (DVD 2009 - 106min) Alan Ereira
Info: www.linktv.org/globalspirit/kogi
Can Order DVD Here: www.linktv.org/globalspirit/DVDs
Or Here: www.cemproductions.com
Tairona Heritage Trust: tairona.myzen.co.uk
Amazon: (OOP VHS) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00000F89F
This has been out of print for a long time. VHS copies are rare and expensive.
(The film was produced for the BBC, later distributed on VHS in the US by
Mystic Fire, and later by Fox-Lorber). As of 2009, DVD-R copies can be ordered
for a $35.00 donation from Link TV at the link above. This disc includes a
20-minute interview with the director made in 2009. Check out the info link above,
the director has been contacted by the Kogi (in 2009) -they want to make another film,
as they think there may still be hope for the planet.
This is a very special and interesting film for sure.
See also the Tairona Heritage Trust
website (set up by the director), for more
information on the film, the Kogi, and also the book by Alan Ereira.
Here is the text from the box cover of the VHS tape:
"This is the last civilization of pre-Columbian America that vanished
400 years ago. It did not die - it went into hiding. For centries the Kogi
have watched us from their mountain fastness. This film is their message,
and their warning...
Deep in the mountains of Columbia, the descendants of an ancient Tairona
preisthood still rule. In cities more than a thousand years old, the ascetic
Kogi tribe has preserved the culture and spirituality of an ancient
civilization wiped out by the conquistadors.
Situated close to the equator, only 26 miles from the beach, their mountain
region contains nearly every ecosystem found on Earth. Evidence of
environmental damage can be readily seen from their mountainous vantage point.
Global warming has melted snow, and what was once high tundra is now dust.
After centuries of deliberate isolation, the Kogi have decided that the time
has come to speak to us about these changes.
They call themselves the Elder Brothers of the human race, and they are
convinced that we, the Younger Brothers, will soon destory the balance of life
on Earth. They believe that the only hope is for us to change our ways, and
have set out to teach us what they know about the balance of mankind,
nature and the spiritual world. Through concentrated thought and meditation,
the Kogi enter an inner-plane world called aluna and act there. Aluna was
and is the Mother, whose law is harmony and balance. The whole of Kogi life
revolves around this life force that shapes the world and makes it flower."
F**K: A Documentary (2006 - 90min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0486585
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KB488Y
Ganges (2007 - 150min) Tom Hugh-Jones
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1307922
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014VPFQI
Gates of Heaven (1978 - 85min) Errol Morris
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0077598
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gates_of_Heaven
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JL4U
Hilarious and strangely sad documentary about pet cemetaries. Goes off on
a lot of tangents as it explores the people involved. Roger Ebert says its
in his top ten of all time. Mine, too. Everything by Errol Morris is top-class.
(Here is a link to the pet cemetary featured in the film:
www.bubbling-well.com).
Ghosts of Cite Soleil (2006 - 85min) Asger Leth, Milos Loncarevic
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0479046
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TLMWNI
Gangsters in Haiti.
Girlhood
The Gleaners and I (2000 - 82min) Agnes Varda
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0247380
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005Y727
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleaners_and_I
French film. Very special - one of my top favorites. Explores waste and
ways of utilizing it. DVD includes a followup film.
Roger Ebert says - "Profound, poetic and moving!"
See also The Beaches of Agnes (below in Movies and Moviemakers section).
Gobeklitepe: The World's First Temple (2010 - 80min) Ahmet Turgut Yazman
Official Site: www.worldsfirsttemple.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1622984
As of JAN 2012, does not seem to be on DVD yet. I suspect this will be a big
release.
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2007 - 120min) Alex Gibney
Official Site: www.huntersthompsonmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0479468
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001EDFSIQ
Narrated by Johnny Depp.
Grey Gardens (1975) Albert Maysles, David Maysles
The Beales of Grey Gardens (2006)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Gardens
Director's Website: www.mayslesfilms.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0073076
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E5LEVK
Grizzly Man (2005 - 103min) Werner Herzog
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0427312
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_Man
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BMY2NS
Using the video footage that Timothy Treadwell shot on his stays in Alaska
studying grizzly bears, master filmmaker Werner Herzog creates a very
special film. Timothy probably got closer to grizzlys than anyone has. He made
the news when he and his girlfriend were killed by a grizzly. DVD includes a
really cool and lengthy special feature on the making of the music, which
features Richard Thompson.
Gun Fight (2011) Barbara Kopple
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1889394
Guns, Germs, and Steel (2005 - 180min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0475043
Wikipedia (on the book): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009GX1EM
National Geographic presents the major ideas from Jared Diamond's book
of the same name in 3 one-hour episodes on 2 discs.
H-2 Worker (1990 - 70min) Stephanie Black
Official Site: www.lifeanddebt.org/h2worker
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0123097
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001N4K6L0
Hands on a Hardbody (1999 - 94min) S.R. Bindler
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hands_on_a_Hardbody:_The_Documentary
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0116481
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00000JYWZ
Documentary about a contest at a Longview, Texas dealership to win a
new truck by seeing who can keep their hands on it the longest. Very
interesting and fun. DVD is out of print and hard to find.
Harlan County USA (1976 - 104min) Barbara Kopple
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlan_County,_USA
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt0074605
Review by Peter Biskind: www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC14folder/HarlanCty.html
Director's Website: www.cabincreekfilms.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E5LEVU
Criterion:www.criterion.com/films/777
Classic film documents 13-month struggle of coal miners' strike in Harlan
County, Kentucky in 1973. The film largely stays out of the way and lets the
story tell itself. One interesting aspect is the part played by women.
This is one of the most powerful, passionate and intense films I have seen.
It might shake you up a bit. Highly recommended.
The Harvest (2010 - 80min) U. Roberto Romano
Spanish Title: La Cosecha
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harvest_(documentary)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005FIXA6S
Looks at child workers in American agriculture.
The Harvest (2011 - 98min) Gabriel Deloach
Official Site: www.theharvestmovie.com
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt1871404
Hell House (2002 - 85min) George Ratliff
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt0301235
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000092T6A
The Hellstrom Chronicle (1971 - 90min) Walon Green, Ed Spiegel
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hellstrom_Chronicle
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt0067197
Distributor's Website:www.olivefilms.com/films/the-hellstrom-chronicle/
Amazon (DVD 01/10/12): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005ZSFY2Q
Amazon (BD 01/10/12): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005ZSFYNU
Won Academy Award for best documentary in 1972. Presents the idea that
eventually insects will take over the Earth. Not exactly a documentary,
the film uses actors to portray scientists and was sometimes billed as a
sci-fi thriller. Long out of print, finally issued on DVD and Bluray in
January of 2012. DVD has no special features. Chapter menu lists chapters:
1. Opening 2. Mysterious Creatures 3. Killer Plants 4. Ant Wars
5. Transformations 6. Termites 7. The Locusts 8. Sounds 9. Procreators
10. The Bees 11. Mayflies 12. Driver Ants 13. Credits. The film features
lots of close-ups of insects, using techniques which were cutting-edge at
the time. To take this a little further, see the 1996 documentary
Microcosmos.
Hemo the Magnificent (1957 - 55min) Frank Capra
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemo_the_Magnificent
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0156602
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AKY5V
This is one of a series of four educational science films for kids made by
Frank Capra for Bell Labs in the 50's. An indepth look at the human
circulatory system, featuring animated characters, a scientist explaining
everything, and lots of high-tech (for the time) footage of blood cells moving
through capillaries and such things. Like most of the reviewers at Amazon,
I saw this as a kid many times, and always enjoyed it. Although 50 years old,
this is still good enough that kids today and even medical students will
be fascinated and educated by it. Totally amazing, recommended for anyone.
I was very happy to find this out on DVD. The DVD pairs this with
Unchained Goddess, about weather. The other two films in the
series are available on another disc. These are all great, but Hemo is
my favorite.
Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird (2010 - 78min) Mary Murphy
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt1638979
Amazon (DVD 07/19/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004VN7RO4
High School (1968 - 75min) Fred Wiseman
Official Site: www.zipporah.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_School_(1968_film)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Wiseman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0064429
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998 - 93min) Paul Jay
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0179218
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitman_Hart:_Wrestling_with_Shadows
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NG9GZ0
Covers the pro wrestling career of Bret Hart. 2-disc 10th Anniversary Edition
DVD includes another film by the same director: The Life and Death of
Owen Hart, about Bret's brother.
Home Movie (2001 - 66min) Chris Smith
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0275408
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009XN2Y
Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County (2010 - 60min) Alexandra Pelosi
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt1706603
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004OZN9JU
Hoop Dreams (1994 - 170min) Steve James
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt0110057
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop_Dreams
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007WFYBG
Criterion:www.criterion.com/films/906
Follows 2 African-Amercian Chicago teens through their dreams of becoming
professional basketball players. Filmed over 5 years. Won many awards
including 2007 award for All-Time Greatest Documentary from
International Documentary Association.
Hoop Reality (2009 - 90min) Lee Davis
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt0803005
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002K0WBEG
Followup look at the subjects of Hoop Dreams. Note - although
Hoop Dreams is considered one of the best documentaries ever made,
as of FEB 2010, I can find almost no info on this one. Listed at Amazon
but with no reviews, not listed at Wikipedia or Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic.
This is not by the same director.
The Hooping Life (2009)
Official site: www.thehoopinglife.com
Its about hula hooping. As of 09/10, the film is not
yet done, but looks like it will be fun.
The Horse Boy (2009 - 93min) Michel Orion Scott
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333668
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00346UX5E
A couple from Texas has an autistic son. After trying all kinds of therapies,
and discovering that their son likes horses, they decide to journey to
Mongolia to visit shamans there.
House of Numbers (2009 - 89min) Brent Leung
Subtitled: Anatomy of an Epidemic
Official site: www.houseofnumbers.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1311710
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Numbers
Amazon (Regular Edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Y9GY2W
Amazon (Deluxe Edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003YA5W4C
Controversial film explores alternative and mainstream theories about the
cause and treatment of AIDS. I was very excited about this when I first heard
of it and have had high expectations. And I can say after my first viewing
that the film totally delivers. This is a very well-made film, and has been
needed for a long time. Includes lots of interviews with scientists from
various points of view. The film does seem to lean towards the side of the
AIDS dissidents (such as Dr. Peter Duesberg), but then that seems to be
the point of the film - to reveal that there is a lot of
confusion and disagreement in the world of AIDS research and treatment.
The dissident views have been largely suppressed from the beginning.
I used to read a monthly column about AIDS in SPIN magazine in
the 80's, in which journalist Celia Farber presented the alternative
viewpoint. I think these writings
have been collected into a book, and Celia is featured in the film.
All of the major issues are discussed - HIV testing, history of AIDS,
discovery of HIV, drug treaments, African AIDS, etc. Rather than just
presenting a certain point of view, the film raises a lot of questions.
The world of AIDS is complicated and there may be no easy answers at
this time. If you are very
interested in this subject, I would recommend getting the Deluxe Edition,
which includes 2 more discs full of extended interviews. Very important
film, highly recommended. And I can imagine this one being banned or
becoming hard to find, so I hope people will buy this and get it into
personal collections and libraries. I also recommend Duesberg's book
Inventing AIDS.
Regular Edition is single DVD, Deluxe Edition
is 3 DVDs, with 2 discs full of extra features exploring the issue in more
depth. (NOTE - actually the Deluxe Edition is a case with the 2 extra DVDs,
it does not include the regular film, which would be supplied in its own
case if you buy the deluxe 3-disc edition).
I Like Killing Flies (2004 - 79min) Matt Mahurin
Official site: ILikeKillingFlies.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0390109
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000S0GYOI
Entertaining and well-made documentary about Kenny Shopsin and his New York
City restaurant, Shopsin's, which has over 900 items on the menu, all made
to order from scratch. A must-see food movie, there's a lot of food in this,
but it is more about Shopsin himself. The film luckily catches (in 2002) the
last days of the legendary original location (for over 30 years), which
had to move due to losing lease. Follows the process of moving and opening
up the new location, just a few blocks away. Lots of philosophy,
lots of kitchen scenes, interviews with family (his wife and five
kids all work there), interviews with customers. Shopsin is a sharp
and outspoken character, who isn't necessarily serving whoever shows up.
Definitely could be the inspiration for the Seinfeld "soup nazi" character.
Highly recommended. (One of my top 3 food movies, along with the feature
films Big Night and Tampopo.) Also, he has a book,
published in 2008,
Eat Me: The Food and Philosophy of Kenny Shopsin
(Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0307264939)
I Remember Me (2001 - 74min) Kim A. Snyder
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0293270
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00020X942
About CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Ice People (2008 - 77min) Anne Aghion
Official site: www.icepeople.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_People
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1234433
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001LDI56G
In the Pit (2005 - 84min) Juan Carlos Rulfo
Mexican Title: En El Hoyo
Official site: www.enelhoyo.com.mx
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492464
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RW5C36
Looks at the laborers working on a massive overhead highway in Mexico City
(the second level of the Periferico freeway).
No narration, lots of scenes of workers working and talking about their work.
The film ends with a long close helicopter shot of mile after mile of this
highway in various stages of completion. This is really a huge construction
project (I think it may have been finished in 2006). In Spanish, with
English subtitles. Very cool film.
In Search of the Great Beast 666: Aleister Crowley (2007 - 125min) Robert Garofalo
Official Site: www.aleister-crowley-666.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00265T7VK
Crowley's story is told by a narrator and by a series of "interviews" with
actors pretending to be Crowley and those in his life.
The Interrupters (2011) Steve James, Alex Kotlowitz
Official Site: interrupters.kartemquin.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Interrupters
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1319744
Looks at youth violence in Chicago and the efforts of Violence Interrupters.
Jam (2006 - 85min) Mark Woolen
Official Site:www.jamthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0770774
Jesus Camp (2006 - 84min) Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
Official Site:www.jesuscampthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KLQUV2
Wow - first watched this with a bunch of friends in jaw-dropping amazement.
It is scary, funny, and stranger than fiction. A must-see for sure.
The Jesus Guy (2007 - 66min) Sean Tracey
Official Site: www.thejesusguy.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1208605
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003XMZVM4
Just a Ride (1994 - 45min) Rupert Edwards
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0004Z33FK
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0149281
Official Bill Hicks website: www.billhicks.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hicks
Sacred Cow: www.sacredcow.com
Documentary about the late Bill Hicks - some would say the greatest
comedian who ever lived!
This was very much unavailable for many years, released only as a British
PAL format VHS tape called Totally Bill Hicks which includes the
It's Just a Ride documentary plus a live performance. I didn't
know about Bill Hicks until I saw a bootleg copy of a copy of a copy.
Finally, in 2004, Rykodisc released a DVD containing 3 live performances
plus Just a Ride. The DVD is called Bill Hicks Live.
See also the newer documentary film (2011) American: The Bill Hicks
Story.
Keep the River on Your Right - A Modern Cannibal Tale (2000) David Shapiro, Laurie Shapiro
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0206187
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006CXH4
Documentary about Tobias Schneebaum, who spent a year in the Peruvian jungle
living with a tribe of cannibals. Explores other apsects of his interesting
life.
Kevorkian (2010 - 92min) Matthew Galkin
Official Site: www.hbo.com/documentaries/kevorkian
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1167512
Kevorkian: Right to Exit (2004 - 52min) Anna Terean
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0026LYMGY
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1370876
Kicking It (2007 - 99min) Susan Koch, Jeff Werner
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B3LIL0
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1157668
International soccer competition for homeless people.
The Kids Grow Up (2009 - 87min) Doug Block
Official Site: www.thekidsgrowup.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1321332
Amazon (DVD): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0049D1TD6
Kings of Pastry (2009 - 87min) Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker
Official Site: www.kingsofpastry.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1558972
Amazon (DVD 02/22/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004CSBW7G
Know Your Mushrooms (2008 - 73min) Ron Mann
Official Site: www.sphinxproductions.com/films/mushrooms/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002C68WSM
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1339111
Gary Lincoff and Larry Evans guide us through the world of mushrooms.
Koko - A Conversation with Koko (1999 - 60min) Nigel Cole
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0908651
Amazon (DVD 2004 - Out of Print): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000228E3Q
This is an episode of the TV show Nature, which first aired August 8, 1999
(Season 17, Episode 10).
Koko - A Talking Gorilla (1979 - 80min) Barbet Schroeder
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0076097
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FILVNW
Criterion:www.criterion.com/films/782
About Koko: www.koko.org
See also Project Nim, Ape Genius.
Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance (1982 - 86min) Godfrey Reggio
Official Site: www.koyaanisqatsi.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0085809
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koyaanisqatsi
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000068OCT
See also Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi.
La Lucha (2005 - 72min) Duncan Macleod
Official Site: www.luchamovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0465513
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00092ZL2G
About Mexican wrestling in Los Angeles. Gets into a bit of history. I learned
about Santo, the most famous luchadore, who starred in quite a few wacky
films.
The Last Cigarette (1999 - 82min) Kevin Rafferty, Frank Keraudren
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0210796
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000U7CZ7E
A collection of smoking scenes from movies, TV shows, TV commercials,
educational films, etc, intercut with scenes from 1994 Congressional Hearings.
Fun and interesting.
Laughology (2009 - 65min) Albert Neremberg
Official Site: www.laughology.info
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughology
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1440749
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003RHZ6GQ
Le Cirque: A Table in Heaven (2007 - 74min) Andrew Rossi
Official Site: www.atableinheaven.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1101046
Amazon (DVD 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005HE8D2G
A League of Ordinary Gentlemen (2004 - 93min) Christopher Browne
Official Site: www.bowlingmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_League_of_Ordinary_Gentlemen
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0430289
Amazon (DVD 2006): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E8N8MK
Looks at the world of professional bowling, which almost disappeared until
some former Microsoft executives brought it back to life. Features bowling
pros Walter Ray Williams, Jr, Pete Weber, Chris Barnes, Wayne Webb.
Legacy (2000 - 90min) Tod Lending
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0188028
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBFZ0Y
Lemonade (2009 - 36min) Marc Colucci
Official Site: www.lemonademovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1574624
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002YZL8HI
Looks at 16 advertising professionals who lost their jobs and what they
found to do instead.
The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (2006 - 84min) Jerry Aronson
Official Site: www.allenginsbergmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0107411
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000PHX4S8
2-disc DVD set is loaded with extra interviews.
The Life and Times of Life and Times (1998 - 59min) Peter Friedman, Jean-Francois Brunet
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0008FXT78
Explores the question of why we age. DVD includes Death By Design,
another film by the same directors, about programmed cell death.
Light at the Edge of the World (2008 - 186min) Andrew Gregg
Subtitled: In Search of the World's Lost Peoples
Wade Davis at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Davis
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001QWFVZ0
Anthropologist Wade Davis explores four different indigenous cultures.
Lightning Over Water
Little Dieter Needs to Fly (1998 - 80min) Werner Herzog
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0145046
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000M7FO0M
Live From Shiva's Dance Floor (2003 - 21min) Richard Linklater
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0343986
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000VLYW2
First of all, if you haven't seen The Cruise, check it out
(its listed above) - its about Timothy "Speed" Levitch, a New York City
tourguide. Building on his legendary status from that film, here he gets to
muse about 9-11 and what should be built on "ground zero".
The Lord of Darjeeling (2006 - 56min) Xavier de Lauzanne
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/817596605X
So far I can only find this available as included with the book The Rajah
of Darjeeling Organic Tea, $75.00 from Amazon.com, see link above.
Lords of the Gourd (2000 - 60min) Mark Lewis
PBS: www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2825657
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1106684
Amazon (DVD 2003 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000UJBY88
From the director of Cane Toads and Rat.
The Loss of Nameless Things (2004 - 103min) Bill Rose
Official Site: www.thelossofnamelessthings.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakley_Hall_III
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0399298
Amazon (DVD 2006 Cinequest): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000JLTSHQ
Amazon (DVD 2009 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001MYIPZK
The Lottery (2008 - 80min) Madeleine Sackler
Official Site: www.thelotteryfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lottery_(2010_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1515935
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003XSTS3W
Louder Than A Bomb (2010 - 99min) Jon Siskel, Greg Jacobs
Official Site: www.louderthanabombfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1540978
Looks at an annual poetry slam in Chicago, where teams of teenagers compete
by reading their poetry.
Louisiana Story (1948 - 78min) Robert J. Flaherty
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0040550
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008UALJ
Man Of Aran (1934 - 77min) Robert J. Flaherty
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0025456
Man On Wire (2008 - 94min) James Marsh
Official Site: www.manonwire.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_On_Wire
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1155592
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001E5FYS8
I'll steal the blurb from the DVD box: "On August 7th, 1974, a young
Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between
the New York World Trade Center's twin towers. After dancing for nearly an
hour on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and
brought to jail before he was finally released. This extraordinary documentary
incorporates Petit's personal footage to show how he overcame seemingly
insurmountable challenges to achieve the artistic crime of the century."
Very interesting film for sure, shows the long process of planning, which
included trips across the ocean to check out the buildings as they were being
constructed. The director is now working on his next film, Project Nim,
about Nim Chimpsky. His previous film was Wisconsin Death Trip.
The Man Who Souled The World (2007 - 87min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0924461
About skater Steve Rocco and the precedent he set by starting his own company,
inspiring others to do the same, transforming the industry.
Man's Right To Know (2002 - 30min) Kevin Hinchey
Archive.org: www.archive.org/details/wilhelm_reich
About Wilhelm Reich. Can download free or watch online at archive.org.
Also on youtube.
Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)
(2007 - 84min) Jason Kohn
Official Site: www.mandabala.com
Amazon (DVD OOP): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0012OSGV8
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0912590
Very special, unique, interesting film. Two different stories in Brazil
are presented, with the film switching back and forth between them.
One is the phenomenon of violent ransom kidnappings, which are widespread
and out of control in Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo, population 20 million.
In this story we hear from a victim who had her ears cut off (which happens
a lot in these kidnappings). We also meet a reconstructive plastic
surgeon, who has developed new techniques for makinig
replacement ears, using rib cartilage. This process is explored in detail.
We meet a kidnapper and we see actual footage from ransom videos.
Some grisly stuff. We meet Jamal, a detective in the Sao Paulo
anti-kidnapping division. He shows us his gun collection. And "Mr. M" tells
about the precautions he takes. He has 3 bullet-proof cars and is taking a
bullet-proof car driving course. The wealthiest in Sao Paulo stay above the
crime - with helicopters.
The other story is about high-level government corruption. Along with various
inteviews, we see a lot of frogs, as we learn about the frog farm scandal.
One story is the rich stealing from the poor, the other is the poor stealing
from the rich.
Lots of cool Brazilian music, providing an odd juxtaposition to the serious
subject matter. The film is banned in Brazil. Super-cool - highly recommended.
Noticing on 12/20/11 DVD appears to be out of print!
Manufactured Landscapes (2006 - 90min) Jennifer Baichwal
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0832903
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00000JRWS
Explores work of photographer Edward Burtynsky, mainly looking at
recent work in China and Bangladesh, showing lots of scenes of
industrialization.
March of the Penguins (2004 - 80min) Luc Jacquet
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0428803
Mardi Gras: Made in China (2004) David Redmon
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436569
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0018BA708
A close inside look at the factories in China where plastic Mardi Gras
beads are made.
Mario's Story (2006 - 98min) Jeff Werner, Susan Koch
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0824761
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000W1SZCM
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell (1982 - 98min) Richard Patterson
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0251231
Producer's Website: www.duckprods.com/projects/marxbrothers/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1559746718
Maybe Logic (2003 - 82min) Lance Bauscher
Official Site: www.maybelogic.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0398191
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EU1HQM
Covers the life of Robert Anton Wilson. Very cool. Lots of extended
interviews in the special features.
The Meaning of Tea (2008 - 74min) Scott Hoyt
Official Site:www.themeaningoftea.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1285167
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0616204414
Microcosmos (1996 - 80min) Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perennou
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcosmos_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0117040
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DZ3BS
Awesome documentary about insects using lots of extreme closeups,
slow-motion, and time-lapse photography.
See also Hellstrom Chronicle.
Mississippi Chicken (2007 - 82min) John Fiege
Official Site:www.mississippichicken.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1104094
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001PCNZI6
Latin American immigrants living in a rural Mississippi poultry factory town.
Shot on Super 8mm.
Modern Warriors (2002 - 56min) Peter Spirer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0330648
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000694ZL
Consists of brief interview and/or demo clips of several dozen different
mostly well-known martial arts fighters from a wide variety of styles.
We don't get too much time with any one person, but lots of interesting
ideas and amazing demonstrations of technique.
Motherland Afghanistan (2007 - 74min) Sedika Mojadidi
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0948279
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000LPS4M0
Mr. Death (2000 - 91min) Errol Morris
Subtitled: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0192335
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Death:_The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Fred_A._Leuchter,_Jr.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009MEBK
Morris's films are always super-interesting. This one is about a
self-appointed expert on methods of capital punishment.
Murder on A Sunday Morning (2001 - 111min) Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_on_a_Sunday_Morning
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0307197
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008DDJ4
A 15-year-old black boy is wrongly accused of murder in Jacksonville,
Florida. He was acquitted when it was shown that his confession was beaten
out of him. Award winning film. More on the case at Wikipedia here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Butler_case
(see also Paradise Lost)
My Father The Genius (2002 - 84min) Lucia Small
Official Site: www.smallangstfilms.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0315626
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MTEFQ4
My Name was Sabina Spielrein (2002 - 90min) Elisabeth Marton
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0333611
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBHCCI
The Mysterious Origins of Man (1996 - 343min) Bill Cote
Official Site: www.bcvideo.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0323339
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000PY52GI
Special Edition 3-DVD set from UFO TV includes 3 films - The Mysterious
Origins of Man, The Mysterious Origins of Man Part 2, The Mysterious
Origins of Jurassic Art, plus 4 hours of interviews with Graham Hancock,
Robert Bauval, Michael Cremo, Dr. Richard Thompson, David Childress,
Richard Milton.
Naqoyqatsi - Life as War (2002 - 89min) Godfrey Reggio
Official Site: www.koyaanisqatsi.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0145937
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqoyqatsi
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JLIA
See also Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi (the earlier films of the
trilogy), and the similar Baraka.
Nanook of the North (1922 - 79min) (black & white, silent) Robert J. Flaherty
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0013427
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanook_of_the_North
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6305257442
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/574
Considered the first feature-length documentary film. Fascinating footage
of an Eskimo family living happily in very harsh conditions.
The Natural History of the Chicken (2000 - 55min) Mark Lewis
PBS: www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=1428832
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0257954
Amazon (DVD 2003 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TPAR4
Lots of odd stories about chickens (and people). The strangest one has to
be the headless rooster. This is a true story from 1945. A farmer chops off
a chicken's head (Mike the rooster) and it doesn't die. So they fed him by
hand through his neck and kept him on the farm for awhile. Later they put
him in a travelling show. He lived for 18 months, apparently with brainstem
mostly intact. Here's his Wikipedia article:
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_the_Headless_Chicken
From the director of Cane Toads and Rat.
The Navigators: Pathfinders of the Pacific (1983 - 59min) Sanford Low
Director's Website: www.samlow.com
Available From: www.der.org/films/navigators.html
Needle Through Brick (2008 - 52min) Patrick Daly
Subtitled: The Vanishing Art of Traditional Kung Fu
Official Site: www.needlethroughbrick.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1313048
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0033SHEA
New York: A Documentary Film (1999) Ric Burns
PBS: www.pbs.org/wnet/amex/newyork/
PBS (Episode 8): www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/newyork/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0220924
Amazon (8 DVD set): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BITUF2
PBS American Experience TV series directed by Ric Burns (brother of Ken Burns).
Covers the 400-year history of New York City in 7 2-hour episodes
plus an 8th 3-hour episode, added later (after 9/11), documenting the
history and significance of the World Trade Center Towers.
Episode 1: The Country and the City: 1609-1825
Episode 2: Order and Disorder: 1825-1865
Episode 3: Sunshine and Shadow: 1865-1898
Episode 4: The Power and the People: 1898-1918
Episode 5: Cosmopolis: 1919-1931
Episode 6: The City of Tomorrow: 1929-1941
Episode 7: The City and the World: 1945-1999
Episode 8: The Center of the World: 1946-2003
Nureyev: Dancing Through Darkness (1997 - 51min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002VGTZM
Covers last years of the life of Rudolf Nureyev, after being diagnosed
with AIDs.
Nursery University (2008 - 85min) Marc H. Simon, Matthew Makar
Official Site: www.nurseryuniversitythemovie.com
IMDB:www.imdb.com/title/tt1213832
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001P8M9FU
The Odds of Recovery (2002 - 65min) Su Friedrich
Subtitled: The Films of Su Friedrich: Volume 5
Director's Website: www.suefriedrich.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0818867
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MRNWP6
Of Time and the City (2008 - 74min) Terence Davies
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1232790
Off the Chain (2004 - 60min) Bobby J. Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0472478
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009UVCKS
About pit bull terriers.
Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa (2007 - 64min) Jeremy Stulberg, Randy Stulberg
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0920467
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_the_Grid
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00189CZMI
Official Rejection (2009) Paul Osborne
Official Site: www.officialrejectiondocumentary.com
Okie Noodling (2001 - 56min) Bradley Beesley
Official Site: www.okienoodling.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okie_Noodling
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0294805
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000PKG6GC
This very special and unique film documents the practice of "noodling",
which is catching large catfish with your bare hands. Bradley travelled around
Oklahoma and hung out with some serious noodlers. He tries his hand at
it as well in the film. Since these guys had very little recognition for
their sport, Bradley later started the annual Okie Noodling Tournament,
in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma. This happens in July at Bob's Pig Shop. More info
on that is on the official site above.
(See also from Beesley - Okie Noodling II, The Creek Runs Red,
Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo)
Okie Noodling II (2008 - 68min) Bradley Beesley
Official Site: www.okienoodling.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1095419
PBS wanted more, so this is a followup to Okie Noodling.
Only When I Dance (2009 - 78min) Beadie Finzi
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1393744
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0037Z2JG8
Follows a couple of talented young ballet students from the slums of
Rio de Janiero as they attempt to move up in the dance world.
The Order of Myths (2008 - 77min) Margaret Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1157694
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001UE497K
Looks at the segregated Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile, Alabama.
Things may not be as black and white as expected in this complicated story.
Paperback Dreams (2008 - 57min) Alex Beckstead
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paperback_Dreams
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1337679
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001JILWJA
Looks at the struggles of independent bookstores, focussing on two stores
in San Francisco.
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996 - 150min) Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Distributor's Website: www.docurama.com/docurama/paradise-lost-the-child-murders-at-robin-hood-hills/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0117293
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost:_The_Child_Murders_at_Robin_Hood_Hills
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000AYEIY0
Amazon (Collectors Edition - both films): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CDEGWM
A real modern day "witch trial" in the USA! This film follows closely, from
the beginning, the case of the "West Memphis Three", three teenagers in
West Memphis, Arkansas accused of murdering three 8-year-old boys. Actually,
this film covers the first year, from the murders to the trials and
sentencing of the accused.
Very well-made award-winning film, produced for HBO. Includes lots of
footage from the trials. The film makes clear that there is no evidence
of any kind linking any of the accused to the crime. The boys seem to
have been convicted due to the belief in the community that the victims
were killed as part of a "satanic ritual". These guys wear black and listen
to Metallica, or at least one of them does,
so they must be in a Satanic cult, so it had to be them, case closed,
lock 'em up. After watching this film you will know the convicted are
innocent and there is some suspicion pointed at John Mark Byers.
A sequel (see below) was made in 2001. Big news - August 19, 2011, the
boys were released after entering "Alford pleas".
A third film will be released in 2012.
(See also Metallica - Some Kind of Monster and Brother's Keeper
by the same directors).
See this Wikipedia article for lots more info:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Memphis_3
And these sites for more extensive and up to date info:
www.wm3.org Concerned with freeing the innocent accused.
www.jivepuppi.com Concerned with solving the case.
www.callahan.8k.com Massive document archive.
This is a very interesting document - lengthy transcript of 2009 deposition
of Terry Hobbs concerning his defamation lawsuit against Natalie Maines
Pasdar: www.callahan.8k.com/t_hobbs_depo1.html
Check this out, I think these guys have solved the case:
www.wm3blackboard.com/forum/index.php?topic=2386.0
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2001 - 130min) Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Distributor's Website: www.docurama.com/docurama/paradise-lost-2-revelations/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0239894
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost_2:_Revelations
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005MKOU
Sequel to Paradise Lost. Also made for HBO and just as engrossing
as the first film. New interviews with the accused show that
they have grown up quite a bit during the time of their incarceration.
And largely due to the original film a large nationwide support network
has developed, which includes many celebrities (Johny Depp, Dixie Chicks,
Henry Rollins, Metallica, many more). This one spends a lot of time looking
at John Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the victims, who sure seems like
he would be the prime suspect. But there are actually many other possible
suspects not mentioned in the films. Since the time of this film, it has
become clear that the prime suspect is Terry Wayne Hobbs, stepfather of
another of the victims. In 2007 DNA testing showed that a hair found in the
bindings of one of the victims could be a match for him. In 2009, Hobbs sued
Natalie Maines Pasdar of the Dixie Chicks for defamation. Her lawyers dug up
quite a bit on Hobbs, see the deposition transcript (linked above). That case
was dismissed and Hobbs was ordered to pay $17,590 in court costs.
On August 19, 2011, the Memphis Three were released from prison after
entering "Alford pleas". For more info, check out the
links in the listing for the first film, above. There are also lots of
interesting Youtube videos on this.
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2012) Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2028530
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost_3:_Purgatory
Paragraph 175 (2000 - 81min) Jeffrey Friedman, Rob Epstein
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0236576
Director's Website: www.tellingpictures.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005YUP1
The story of Nazi persecution of homosexuals during WW2.
Pele Forever (2004 - 122min) Anibal Massaini Neto
Original Title: Pele Eterno
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0420066
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ES401S
In Portuguese with subtitles in English, German, French, Greek, Italian,
and Hebrew.
Phyllis and Harold (2008 - 85min) Cindy Kleine
Official Site: www.phyllisandharold.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1382323
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003C0NMDM
Planet B-Boy (2008 - 95min) Benson Lee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0770796
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CD6LK2
Documents B-Boying (break-dancing) around the world, while looking at crews
in various countries preparing for an international competition.
Lots of spectacular stuff. (see also The Freshest Kids)
The Plutonium Circus (1995 - 73min) George Ratliff
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0114147
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00000JW9Y
Documentary on PANTEX nuclear weapons plant. Actually more about various
interesting people in Amarillo, Texas. Very cool. Never made it to DVD!?!
VHS is out of print and hard to find.
Powaqqatsi - Life in Transformation - (1988) Godfrey Reggio
Official Site: www.koyaanisqatsi.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0095895
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powaqqatsi
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000068OCT
See also Koyaanisqatsi, Nagoyqatsi, and Baraka.
Prodigal Sons (2008 - 86min) Kimberly Reed
Official Site: www.prodigalsonsfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_Sons_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1295068
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00329PYHA
Project Nim (2011 - 93min) James Marsh
Official Site: www.project-nim.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nim_Chimpsky
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1814836
Amazon (DVD 02/07/12): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B006DBY6GE/a>
Metacritic: www.metacritic.com/movie/project-nim
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/project_nim/
Review at DVDTalk: www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/50937/project-nim/
Amazon (Book - paperback): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0553382772
Amazon (Book - hardback): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0553803832
This film is based on the book Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be
Human by Elizabeth Hess (see Amazon links above), which tells the story
of Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who was chosen for an experiment to see whether
a chimp would learn language (sign language) as a human baby would, if it
was raised by humans as a human baby. The story is complex, involving many
humans, and we follow Nim through his whole life, long after the experiment
is over. The director's previous film was the award-winning documentary,
Man on Wire. I read the book, and recommend it. Was lucky enough to
see the film at the OKC Art Museum on 09/03/11. Saw again at University
of Oklahoma 11/18/11. Released in theatres July, 2011, should be on HBO
this fall and DVD comes out FEB 7, 2012.
Incredible film, very moving, lots to think about - highly recommended.
Promises (2001 - 106min) Carlos Bolado, Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0282864
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00031TXGI
Protagonist (2006 - 90min) Jessica Yu
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0905361
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protagonist_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001512SLU
Very interesting - the extreme lives of four guys are compared to Greek
tragedy. A martial arts student, a German terrorist, a bank robber, an ex-gay
evangelist. Recommended.
Proteus (2004 - 60min) David Lebrun
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0391407
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteus_(2004_film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B2U1B4
Director's Website: www.nightfirefilms.org/proteus_home.html
About radiolarians and their discoverer, nineteenth century biologist
Ernst Haeckel. Radiolarians are
primitive one-celled animals living in the oceans. They create elaborate
silica exoskeletons which do not degrade in sea water, which means there
are lots of ancient skeletons on the bottom of the sea. Haeckel was an
artist as well as a scientist and painstakingly drew thousands of these
radiolaria. DVD includes a very interesting 45-minute making-of feature,
with the director explaining the 22-year making of this film.
Public Speaking (2011 - 82min) Martin Scorsese
HBO: www.hbo.com/documentaries/public-speaking
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Speaking_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1734477
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004MQ6W7S
HBO film about Fran Lebowitz. Funny and entertaining.
Pulling John (2009 - 72min) Vassiliki Khonsari, Sevan Matossian
Official Site: www.pullingjohn.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1289451
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0036UXG2U
Looks at the world of championship arm wrestling. Follows 40-year-old
John Brzenk, the undefeated world champion for 25 years. Also looks at
two of his close rivals, Alexey Voevoda and Travis Bagent.
Interesting film.
Pumping Iron (1976 - 85min) George Butler, Robert Fiore
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumping_Iron
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0076578
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000C3I6U
Close look at Arnold Schwarzenegger - the golden boy of the golden age
of bodybuiding - as he prepares to win his 6th world title in 1975.
Also features other top bodybuilders of the time - Mike Katz, Ken Waller,
Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbo, Ed Corney, Robbie Robinson, Frank Zane,
Danny Padilla, Serge Nubret. Well-done film, very entertaining.
Pumping Iron II: The Women (1985 - 107min) George Butler
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumping_Iron_II:_The_Women
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0089852
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008K77A
Mainly looks at Bev Francis and Rachel McLish.
Have not yet seen. DVD is out of print and goes for high dollar.
Race to Nowhere (2010 - 85min) Vicki Abeles
Official Site: www.racetonowhere.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1437364
Looks at underlying problems with America's public education system.
Racing Dreams (2010 - 93min) Marshall Curry
Official Site: www.racingdreamsfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racing_Dreams
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1152840
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VNJIW4
Interesting and engaging film follows 3 kids (2 boys, 1 girl, ages 11,12,13)
as they compete in go-kart racing, which is a step on the way to NASCAR
racing.
Radiant City (2006 - 93min) Gary Burns, Jim Brown
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiant_City
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0832937
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001139ZJC
Looks at modern suburbia.
Rat (1997 - 56min) Mark Lewis
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0124092
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002XL2R0
Documentary about rats in NYC. Fun and interesting. Lewis also made the
excellent Cane Toads.
The Reality of the Virtual (2004 - 71min) Ben Wright
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reality_of_the_Virtual
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_Zizek
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0419142
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000O76TXG
Documents a lecture by the philosopher Slavoj Zizek.
See also Zizek!.
Religulous (2008 - 101min) Larry Charles
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religulous
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001MFNB5I
Even if you can't stand the smart-ass, rude, racist Bill Maher, this is
still very funny and interesting. From the director of Borat.
The Renaissance of Tea (49min) F. Lit Yu
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000AQFTO6
Requiem for Detroit? (2010 - 75min) Julien Temple
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rkm3y
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1572190
Wikipedia - Julien Temple: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julien_Temple
Very interesting look at Detroit done for BBC TV. Detroit is the first
major American city to largely collapse into ruins. Lots of footage of
the current state of the city. But probaby there is even more archival
footage showing the history of the city, which includes the history of
automobile manufacturing and lots of racial tension. A lot is packed into
this film. There is some discussion of the new movements to reclaim
the land for urban farming, etc. John Sinclair (featured in the documentary
20 to Life) is one of the guides showing us around the ruins.
Hopefully this will be available on DVD someday. There are places online that
you can find to watch this. (and there is a DIVX torrent around).
Also there are a number of books on this subject.
(Reimagining Detroit - John Gallagher, Detroit Disassembled
- Andrew Moore, Lost Detroit). Definitely one of the most interesting
films I have seen. Check this out.
The Restaurateur (2010 - 57min) Roger Sherman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1778357
DVDTalk Review: www.dvdtalk.com/reviews//47252/restaurateur-the/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004GFELAA
The Return of Navajo Boy (2000 - 52min) Jeff Spitz
Official Site: www.navajoboy.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_Navajo_Boy
Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping (2002 - 60min) Dietmar Post, Lucia Palacios
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0790740
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Billy_and_the_Church_of_Stop_Shopping_(documentary_film)
Amazon: (Go Kart Films 2006) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GDIBS4
Amazon: (New Video Group 2008) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00197PP1C
Reverend Billy's Official Site: revbilly.com
About the anti-comsumerism activist Reverend Billy (Bill Talen), and his
Church of Stop Shopping. This German film may be a bit better than the
later What Would Jesus Buy?, also about Reverend Billy.
Riding Giants (2004 - 104min) Stacy Peralta
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riding_Giants
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0389326
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006D3HDS
Rio Breaks (2009 - 85min) Justin Mitchell
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1269704
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003ODKZW8
Ring of Fire: An Indonesian Odyssey (1987, 1996 - 331min) Lorne Blair, Lawrence Blair
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Fire:_An_Indonesian_Odyssey_(Film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001I54S4
Five films on 2 DVDs. Disc 1 - Spice Island Saga, Dance of the
Warriors, East of Krakatoa, Disc 2 - Dream Wanderers of Borneo,
Beyond the Ring of Fire. The first 4 are each 55 minutes, written
by Lawrence Blair and directed by Lorne Blair in 1987. Produced by Lorne
and Lawrence Blair together with WBGH, Boston. The last film is 56 minutes,
written by Lawrence Blair and directed by David Fanning in 1996. Released
on DVD in 2003 by Mystic Fire. (Not to be confused with various documentaries
and feature films of the same name). Totally amazing adventurous explorations
into some of the last really wild places on the planet. The focus is on
the people who live there, some of the last indigenous peoples untouched
by "civilization". The fourth film could
be seen as the basis for Avatar. Very special and highly recommended.
DVD released in 2007, seems to be out of print in 2010.
Rocks With Wings (2001 - 113min) Rick Derby
Official Site: rockswithwings.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0339591
Lady Chieftans at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Chieftans
Tells the story of the Lady Chieftans, legendary Native-American girls
high school basketball team from Shiprock, New Mexico, and their
African-American coach. Very cool. Highly recommended. DVD has been unavailable
until recently - see official site above. Probably these are DVD-R copies
from the director. Probably still waiting for a distributor to pick this up.
Was once on a Spiritual Cinema Circle DVD (2005, VOL 8).
The Rubber Room (2010 - 72min) Jeremy Garrett
Official Site: www.rubberroommovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1682999
I'm listing this one before its even released. Heard about it on NPR.
Should be very interesting. Its about a mysterious room in NYC where
schoolteachers involved in disputes are told to report. Sometimes they go
there every day for years not knowing why they are there or when anything will
be resolved. Have read that, probably as a result of this film, NYC has
closed the "rubber room".
Running on the Sun (2000 - 100min) Mel Stuart
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0236702
Running the Sahara (2008 - 102min) James Moll
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0481222
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002J6ZJKE
Salesman (1968 - 85min) Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
Director's Website: www.mayslesfilms.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salesman_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0064921
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005KHJY
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/663
Super-classic documentary about door-to-door salesmen in 1960's America.
These guys are mainly selling bibles and encyclopedias.
The Saltmen of Tibet (1997 - 110min) Ulrike Koch
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120056
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005Y728
The Same River Twice (2003 - 78min) Robb Moss
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0342956
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000742G2Y
Selling God (2009 - 85min) Carl Christman
Official Site: www.breakingglasspictures.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1535105
Review: www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/sellinggod.php
Amazon (DVD 04/26/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004MA1K1C
Seven Up! (1964) Paul Almond
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Up!
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0058578
First in the "Up Series", followed by Seven Plus 7, 21 Up,
28 Up, 35 Up, 42 Up, and 49 Up. 56 Up is
in the works. These classic documentaries follow a group of fourteen
British children, starting in 1964, when they were 7 years old, revisiting
them every 7 years. Michael Apted was a researcher on the first film, and
took over as director on the following films. I have not yet seen these,
hopefully will start on them soon.
The rest of the Up Series:
7 Plus Seven Michael Apted
Second of the Up series.
21 Up Michael Apted
Third in the Up series.
28 Up Michael Apted
Fourth in the Up series.
35 Up Michael Apted
Fifth in the Up series.
42 Up Michael Apted
Sixth in the Up series.
49 Up Michael Apted
Seventh and last (so far) in the Up series.
Shaolin Ulysses: Kung Fu Monks in America (2003 - 56min) Martha Burr, Mei-Juin Chen
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0435385
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002235H6
Sherman's March (1986) Ross McElwee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0091943
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001ADAS8
Humorous autobiographical documentary about southern women.
Show Cats (2006 - 60min) Mark Lewis
PBS: www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=2249106
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0800365
Amazon (DVD 2008 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F8OIUA
This is an episode of the PBS TV show, Standard of Perfection. Looks
behind the scenes at the International Cat Show in Houston, Texas.
Spends a lot of time with several owners of show cats in their homes.
From the director of Cane Toads, Rat, Natural History
of the Chicken. I like cats and I really like the film Cane Toads,
but somehow this didn't seem as special as I was expecting.
SICK (1997 - 89min) Kirby Dick
Subtitled: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AKY42
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120126
Director's Website: www.kirbydick.com
Wikipedia (SICK): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SICK:_The_Life_&_Death_of_Bob_Flanagan,_Supermasochist
Wikipedia (Bob Flanagan): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Flanagan
One of my top favorites. Bob suffered from CS (cystic fibrosis), which kills
most of its victims by their 20's. He lived into his 40's, probably due to
how he approached his life. To deal with the pain of the disease, he immersed
himself into S&M, marrying a dominatrix. The film can be very painful to
watch, but is so interesting and inspirational that you will want to keep
watching. Quite different. Highly recommended, but definitely not for
everyone.
Signs Out Of Time (2003 - 59min) Donna Read
Subtitled: The Story of Archaeologist Marija Gimbutas
Official Site: www.gimbutas.org
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00199PPDI
Gimbutas put forth the theory that there was a long period in pre-historic
Europe with no kings, no wars, no weapons. Some important ideas.
The Singularity is Near (2010 - 79min) Anthony Waller
Subtitled: A True Story About the Future
Official Site: www.singularity.com/themovie/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1049412
Based on Raymond Kurtzweil's book of the same name. He is one of the
producers and a co-director of this film. Part drama, part documentary.
As of 06/11, not quite out on DVD yet. Looking forward to it.
See also Transcendent Man, and Technocalyps.
Skid Row (2007 - 95min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0795381
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001152TLG
Pras Michel of the Fugees goes undercover in on Skid Row in LA for 9 days
to see what the world of the homeless is like.
The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy (2009 - 87min) Peter Liechti
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1439573
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004XEEM9O
Sputnik Mania (2007 - 87min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0018GRE8G
From the History Channel. Very interesting film looks mainly at American
reaction to launching of Soviet Sputnik, the first object to put into Earth
orbit. Lots of archival footage. Bonus disc has an hours worth of old films.
Starbucking (2006 - 73min) Bill Tangeman
Official Site: www.starbuckingmovie.com
Winter's Site: www.starbuckseverywhere.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0956358
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NA1W7W
A guy who changed his name to Winter has been travelling around since 1997
working on his goal of visiting every Starbucks in the world. Wasn't hoping
for much, so was surprised to find this to be fun and interesting. According to
Winter's website, as of 12/09, he has visited over 99.7 percent of the stores
in North America and Canada (8528 with 17 remaining).
Step Into Liquid (2003 - 88min) Dana Brown
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001FGBUC
Stepping: The Documentary (2008 - 75min) Marshall Blackwell, Norman Whiteburn
Review - BlackGrooves.org: blackgrooves.org/?p=684
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014Z4OKC
Stranded (2007 - 126min) Gonzalo Arijon
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001P9G3F6
About the 1972 ordeal of the Uruguayan rugby team, whose plane crashed on
a remote glacier. 16 of the 45 survived the 72 days.
In Spanish, DVD (released April 2009) has optional English subtitles.
Streetwise (1984 - 91min) Martin Bell
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetwise_(1984_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0088196
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JM83
Looks at street kids in Seattle.
Stupidity (2003 - 60min) Albert Neremberg
Director's Website: www.elevatorfilms.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000G1QU66
Probably wasn't that hard of a film to make (stupidity is all around). Has
some interesting (if obvious) insights from various commentators, but not
a film that will be winning awards. I watched it, it was fun.
Summer Camp! (2007 - 91min) Bradley Beesley, Sarah Price
Official Site: www.summercampmovie.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0014FAIN4
Can Purchase Here: www.cinematicapparel.com
Surfwise (2007 - 93min) Doug Pray
Official Site: www.surfwisefilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfwise
Director's website: www.dougpray.com
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/surfwise/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0479547
Doc Paskowitz's Website: www.alohadoc.com
Paskowitz Surfcamp: www.paskowitz.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00180R040
I was very happy to discover a new one from Doug Pray (Infamy,
Scratch, Hype, Big Rig). I knew this was going to be
special, but I just sat there going "Wow" over and over as this incredible
and complex story unfolded. One of the most interesting films ever.
Dorian Paskowitz went to Stanford and became a doctor.
He was also a surfer back when that was a new thing. At some point he
had been married twice and was disillusioned with his life. He found a
new wife (by systematically "testing" a number of women),
had 8 sons and a daughter, and travelled
around with the whole family for over 20 years - living in a camper. The
kids never went to school and all became accomplished surfers before they
eventually left the camper and started their own lives. Mainly a pretty happy
and amazing story, but the film does look at "the dark side" of the family.
When they split up, they pretty much stayed apart for many years, until
the reunion, documented at the end of the film. Dorian is 84 at the
time of the filming. Features present-day interviews with the whole family,
lots of earlier footage, and lots of surfing. You want to see this one!
Sweetgrass (2009 - 104min) Ilisa Barbash, Lucien Castaing-Taylor
Official Site: www.sweetgrassthemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetgrass_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1517252
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003FO80MI
Follows a group of shepherders as they take their herd up into the mountains
of Montana for summer pasture. This was the last year that this ranch was in
operation, ending its over 100-year tradition. There is no narration, which
is one reason this might not be for everyone. Beautiful and interesting film.
Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (2009 - 90min) Bradley Beesley
Official Site: www.sweetheartsoftheprisonrodeo.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1095414
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0043MMFN6
Goes behind prison walls to follow convict cowgirls as they prepare for
the 2007 Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo.
Shown on HBO Cinemax SEP 2009, DVD released 10/26/10.
Synthetic Pleasures (1996 - 83min) Iara Lee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0114597
Tabloid (2010 - 87min) Errol Morris
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabloid_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1704619
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005HP2J7A
Wikipedia (Mormon "Sex in Chains" Case): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_sex_in_chains_case
Rotten Tomatoes: /www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tabloid_2010
New York Times (Review): www.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/movies/tabloid-errol-morriss-take-on-manacled-mormon-review.html
New York Times (Joyce McKinney Protests Film): www.nytimes.com/2011/07/10/movies/joyce-mckinney-protests-errol-morriss-tabloid.html
Criterion Discussion Forum: criterionforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=362934
Newest from Errol Morris, the king of true life is stranger than fiction.
Here, he looks at the "Mormon sex-in-chains" case, which was heavily
covered by British tabloids in 1977, when it ocurred.
Tales of the Rat Fink (2006 - 76min) Ron Mann
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0491698
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000H6SY3M
All about Big Daddy Roth.
Talking Feet (1987 - 87min) Mike Seeger
Subtitled: Solo Southern Dance: Flatfoot, Buck and Tap
Detailed Info: www.folkstreams.net/film,121
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000OCY7O4
Technocalyps (2006 - 156min) Frank Theys
Official Site: www.technocalyps.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0899298
Amazon (3rd party - PAL REG2): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002W5HZMC
Google Video (Part 1): video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7141762977713668208#
Google Video (Part 2): video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2258529707984107504#
Google Video (Part 3): video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8945702810854373085#
"Three-part series on the notion of transhumanism". Very interesting, but to
me its more scary than hopeful. Looks at cutting edge technology in genetics,
artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robots, etc. Part I - Transhuman,
Part II - Preparing for the Singularity, Part III - The Digital Messiah.
Hard to find (DVD is Dutch region 2), can watch at google video. Google might
find some European websites where the PAL region 2 DVD can be ordered.
See also Transcendent Man and The Singularity is Near.
Thicker Than Water (2000 - 45min) Jack Johnson, Chris Malloy, Emmet Malloy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0432149
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000UX52K
Surfing...
The Thin Blue Line (1988 - 103min) Errol Morris
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thin_Blue_Line_(documentary)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0096257
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00094AS72
This film helped to free Randall Dale Adams from prison in Texas, where he
was wrongly accused of killing a police officer. Excellent as expected from
Errol Morris.
This is Nowhere (2002 - 87min) Doug Hawes-Davis, John Lilburn
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EBGEZ0
Looks at the subculture of older Americans who travel around the US in
RVs and like to stay in Wal*Mart parking lots.
Thrilla in Manila (2008 - 110min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00259HB5Q
HBO special Covers the Muhammed Ali vs. Joe Frazier fight of October 1, 1975.
This Way of Life (2009 - 84min) Thomas Burstyn
Official Site: www.thiswayoflifemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1480692
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984 - 90min) Rob Epstein
Official Site: www.thetimesofharveymilk.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_of_Harvey_Milk
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0088275
Amazon (DVD 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001Y4LDW
Amazon (DVD Criterion 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004GFGUDQ
Amazon (BluRay Criterion 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004GFGUDG
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/27549
Details Harvey Milk's political carreer as the first openly gay elected
official in the US (San Francisco city council and City Supervisor) and his
assassination. Issued as 2-disc DVD set in 2004. Was out of print for
a while and is reissued by Criterion in 2011. See also the
feature film Milk.
Timothy Leary's Dead (1997 - 80min) Paul Davids
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0117917
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00007KK38
Follows Leary's life up to the end. At first I was a bit confused at the
ending and later even more confused and upset as to why they did this.
It comes across as a pretty good serious documentary up until the end.
They talk about Leary wanting to have his head frozen, and then show
his head being sawed off. This was faked (as shown later, during the
closing credits). Obviously Leary (master prankster) was in on that,
so really its just a little prank. Really had me going there for awhile
(can they DO that in a documentary!?!?). Aside from that oddity (which
is supposed to be fun), a very interesting film about a very interesting
man. Looks to be out of print. (And mine is missing! Who has it?)
Timothy Leary's Last Trip (1996 - 56min) A. J. Catoline, O. B. Babbs
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0164203
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000A02TQ
Titicut Follies (1967 - 84min, B&W) Frederick Wiseman
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titicut_Follies
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0062374
Director's Website: www.zipporah.com
Classic film depicting conditions in a Massachusetts institution for the
criminally insane. Withdrawn from circulation (banned) for many years due
to privacy issues.
To Age or Not to Age (2010) Robert Kane Pappas
Official Site: www.toageornottoage.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1690536
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Y2BUXM
About new discoveries in life extension. From the director of Orwell Rolls
in His Grave.
Tongues Untied (1989 - 55min) Marlon Riggs
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongues_Untied
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0103099
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00114XLZA
Addresses racism and homophobia experienced by gay black men.
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2009 - 84min) LeAnne Pooley
Official Site: www.topptwins.co.nz
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topp_Twins
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1338687
Amazon (DVD 11/08/11 Disinformaton): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005GP7F9I
The Tradesmen (2011 - 88min) Richard Yeagley
Subtitled: Making an Art of Work
Official Site: thetradesmandocumentary.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1850451
Review at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/reviews/41065/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005EIJN4W
Train on the Brain (2008 - 50min) Alison Murray
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0018SO3CY
about train-hopping
Transcendent Man (2009 - 84min) Barry Ptolemy
Official Site: www.transcendentman.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendent_Man_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1117394
Amazon (DVD 05/24/2011 Docurama): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004MYOWYU
Thorough look at the life and ideas of Ray Kurzweil. Very interesting.
See also The Singularityu is Near and Technocalyps.
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995 - 134min) Peter Kuran
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GFRI72
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0114728
Thorough history of development and testing of atomic bombs. Lots of restored
declassified archival footage. Very good film - highly recommended.
Tyson (2009 - 90min) James Toback
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyson_(2008_film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001UV4XBA
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1032821
UltraMarathon Man (2009 - 115min) JB Benna
Subtitled: 50 Marathons, 50 States, 50 Days
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1043753
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001LRTTCG
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Karnazes
Dean's Website: www.ultramarathonman.com
Follows Dean Karnazes as he runs 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days in 2006.
Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years After Willowbrook (1996 - 57min) Jack Fisher
Official Site: www.unforgottendvd.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willowbrook_State_School
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0118042
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00375LBK8
Concerning the Willowbrook Institution on Staten Island, closed in 1987
after much controversy over the conditions under which mentally handicapped
patients were kept. See also Cropsey.
The Untold Story of Louis Emmett Till (2005 - 70min) Keith Beauchamp
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0475420
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000DZ95MQ
Vernon, Florida (1981 - 55min) Errol Morris
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon,_Florida_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0083281
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00094AS5Y
Master documentary filmmaker Morris visits a small town in Florida and
meets quite a few interesting eccentric characters. Amazing, as expected of
anything he does.
Voices in the Tunnels: In Search of the Mole People (2000 - 56min) Vic David, Kenny Chery
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1194175
Official Site: www.molepeoplemovie.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0013S7NI0
Have not yet seen. See also Dark Days.
Waiting for Armageddon (2009 - 74min) Kate Davis, Franco Sacchi, David Heilbroner
Official Site: www.waitingforarmageddon.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1372746
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0031SZERM
Looks at American evangelical Christians who are waiting for the rapture.
Examines the intersection of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam in the city
of Jerusalem, where the Muslim's dome of the rock must be removed so the
Jewish temple can be rebuilt as one of the final signs to kick off the end
times. These Christians do not want peace, they eagerly await the final
battle. Also shows how this branch of Christianity has very powerful political
influence in America. Very interesting and important film.
See also Friends of God, With God on Our Side, Jesus Camp,
Religulous.
Waiting for "Superman" (2010 - 111min) David Guggenheim
Official Site: www.waitingforsuperman.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Superman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1566648
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Q6D28C
Critical Website: www.notwaitingforsuperman.org
Warrior of Light (2001 - 91min) Monika Treut
Original German Title: Kriegerin des Lichts
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0311412
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000OIOPOK
Waste Land (2010 - 99min) Lucy Walker
Official Site: www.wastelandmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_Land_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1268204
Amazon (DVD 03/29/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004CJQVQC
Follows artist Vik Muniz as he creates art with the help of workers from
Jardim Gramacho, the largest landfill in the world, outside of Rio de
Janiero. The workers are pickers, who pick recyclable materials out of
fresh garbage. Muniz takes photos of some pickers, blows them up and uses
garbage to create a larger portrait, which is then photographed. The art
is used to raise money to help the pickers improve their living conditions.
The film spends a lot of time at the landfill with the pickers. Very
interesting. Recommended.
W.C. Fields Straight Up (1986 - 93min) Joseph Adamson
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0251468
Producer's Website: www.duckprods.com/projects/wcfields/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1559746777
Covers his whole career, many clips from films. Lots of info from WC's grandson
who is also his historian/biographer.
We Love You (2009) Jonathan Kalafer
Official Site: www.weloveyoufilm.com
About the Rainbow Gatherings.
West of Memphis (2012) Amy J. Berg
Official Site: www.westofmemphisfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_of_Memphis
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2130321
What A Way To Go: Life At The End of Empire (2007 - 123min) Timothy S. Bennett
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_a_Way_to_Go:_Life_at_the_End_of_Empire
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1413259
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0012YB9HG
Official Site: www.whatawaytogomovie.com
Highly recommended. Includes interviews with Daniel Quinn, Derrick Jensen.
What Would Jesus Buy (2007 - 91min) Rob VanAlkemade
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0939681
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Would_Jesus_Buy?
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0013K2ZDQ
Reverend Billy's Official Site: revbilly.com
See also Reverend Billy (above).
Whatever It Takes (2009 - 54min) Christopher C.C. Wong
Official Site: www.whateverittakesdoc.com
PBS: www.pbs.org/independentlens/whatever-it-takes/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0478056
Follows Edward Tom in his first year as principal of the Bronx Center
for Science and Mathematics.
The White Diamond (2004 - 88min) Werner Herzog
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0435776
White Light/Black Rain (2007 - 85min) Steve Okazaki
Subtitled: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Light_Black_Rain
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0911010
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RL6G8M
Interviews 14 Japanese survivors and 4 American military personnel.
Everyone should watch this. You might want to watch it alone.
Whiz Kids (2009 - 82min) Tom Shepard
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1303821
Wide Awake (2006 - 79min) Alan Berliner
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492502
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000N8UXTC
The filmmaker explores insomnia and creativity.
Wild China (2008 - 300min)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_China
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0884762
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0016I0AH8
BBC, 6 50-minute episodes on 2 discs.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2004 - 83min) Judy Irving
Official Site: www.wildparrotsfilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Parrots_of_Telegraph_Hill
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0424565
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BB1534
Amazon (2-disc Special Edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DXS4GA
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009 - 86min) Julien Nitzberg
Official Site: www.wildandwonderfulwhites.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1396227
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VWC4BW
Slant Magazine Interview (very interesting): www.slantmagazine.com/film/feature/interview-julien-nitzberg/227
Slant Magazine Review: www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/the-wild-and-wonderful-whites-of-west-virginia/4199
I would recommend first seeing Dancing Outlaw, the documentary about
Jesco White, which might help to prepare you for this one. I actually had to
take a break halfway through this - it is intense. Where Dancing Outlaw
could be seen as charming, this one is scary. You might have some wild and
crazy redneck neighbors, but you haven't seen a family this wild. Lots of
special features including some footage of Jesco from before Dancing
Outlaw. Julien also made the 1993 film, The Wild World of Hasil
Adkins, which also looks at Boone County (listed below in the music
section).
William Gibson - No Maps For These Territories (2000 - 88min) Mark Neale
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0269629
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Maps_for_These_Territories
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gibson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000D0YT5
Official Site:www.momaps.com
A long and interesting conversation with sci-fi writer William Gibson
("father of cyberpunk", author of Neuromancer).
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010 - 87min) Yony Leyser
Official Site:www.williamsburroughsthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1466072
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004BJLFUK
Lots of interviews, lots of archival footage.
Winged Migration (2001 - 89min) Jacques Perrin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0301727
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BI5KUQ
Winnebago Man (2010 - 85min) Ben Steinbauer
Official Site: winnebagoman.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1396557
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnebago_Man
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0041518C4
Wisconsin Death Trip (2000 - 76min) James Marsh
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0210389
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000BWVL3
Workingman's Death (2005 - 122min) Michael Glowogger (2005 - 122min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0478331
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B18752
The World of Buckminster Fuller (1971 - 85min) Robert Snyder
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0243666
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001UUBR9C
DVD Available From: www.mastersmasterworks.com
DVD Available From: www.microcinemadvd.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller
Released on DVD MAY 2010. Excellent film about the genius saint, Buckminster
Fuller.
Zizek! (2005 - 71min) Astra Taylor
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zizek!
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_Zizek
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0478338
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FII32Y
See also The Reality of the Virtual and The Pervert's Guide to
Cinema.
Circus/Magic/Tattoo/Piercing
American Carny (2007 - 99min) Nick Basile
Official Site: www.americancarny.com
Todd Robbins: www.toddrobbins.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0429572
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000WZAE68
Bizarre Rituals - Dances Sacred and Profane (1985) Dan Jury, Mark Jury
Can Order DVD Here: www.fakir.org
Fakir's Home Page: www.bodyplay.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0087117
Documentary on Mardi Gras, tattoos, piercings, and mainly Fakir Musafar and
the Sun Dance ritual. Its actually about Charles Gatewood and his work on
those subjects. Rereleased on DVD in 2004 (as Dances Sacred and Profane
Redux) after being out of print for many years. Recommended.
Body Art (2000 - 50min) Kevin Bachar
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0454790
Amazon (DVD 2002): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005Y71T
Excellent film, made for TLC (The Learning Channel).
Circo (2011 - 75min) Aaron Schock
Official Site: www.circomexico.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1541666
Amazon (DVD 09/20/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00551QQD4
About a small family circus in Mexico. looking forward to it!
Circus (2010 - 360min) Jeff Dupre, Maro Chermayeff
Official Site: www.pbs.org/circus/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Apple_Circus
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1609531
Amazon (DVD 3-disc 10/09/10): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003V6L8U6
A six-hour look at the Big Apple Circus.
Circus Rosaire (2007 - 93min) Robyn Bliley
Official Site: www.circusrosairemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1000702
Amazon (DVD 2-disc): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002X86B78
Duffy's Irish Circus (2006 - 47min) Gabriel Leif Bellman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1429036
Amazon (DVD-R): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000JYW69K
Ed Hardy: Tattoo the World (2011 - 75min) Emiko Omori
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1625092
Amazon (DVD 09/20/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004YDSNIU
Flesh & Blood (2008 - 83min) Larry Silverman
Official Site: www.fleshandbloodmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1297273
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001ESEJUE
About American body modification artist Steve Haworth.
Freaky Circus Guy (2005 - 60min) Jane Burek
Official Site: www.sideshowmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0838261
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EME3BG
Grand Illusions: The Story of Magic (2002 - 160min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0247385
Amazon (DVD 2003): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008975I
Grand Illusions: The Story of Magic - Part 2 (2002 - 175min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0247385
Amazon (DVD 2003): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000CGDQ7
Here's Looking at You: A Celebration of Body Art (2005 - 60min)
PBS: www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=3963845
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0454790
Amazon (DVD 2002): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BKDO7U
For PBS.
Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry (2008 - 74min) Erich Weiss
Subtitled: The Life of Norman K. Collins
Official Site: www.horismokumoive.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1185598
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002H083UK
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Jerry
Collins, who passed away in 1973, is widely considered to be the greatest
tattoo artist of all time. Interesting film.
Houdini: Unlocking the Mystery (2005 - 100min) Michael Meadows
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0487912
Amazon (DVD 2009): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002OLT71G
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini
Made for A&E's The History Channel.
The Jim Rose Circus Show (1993 - 35min) Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0145857
Amazon (DVD 2003): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009V2KC
(was originally titled The Jim Rose Circus Sideshow when released on
VHS in 1993)
Jim Rose Twisted Tour: The Complete Series (2006 - 300min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0421375
Amazon (DVD 2003): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CFX7BW
The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam (2003 - 90min) Ann Marie Fleming
Official Site: www.longtacksam.com
National Film Board of Canada (can purchase DVD here): www.nfb.ca
Director's Website: www.sleepydogfilms.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Tack_Sam
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0379360
The Mark of Cain (2000 - 73min) Alix Lambert
Subtitled: On Russian Criminal Tattoos
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mark_of_Cain_(2000_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0288114
Director's Website: www.pinkghettoproductions.com
Review at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/reviews/2864/
Interview with Director at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/interviews/1168/
Article at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/features/1829/
Interview at Creosote Journal: creosotejournal.com/2011/08/i-would-talk-with-anyone/
Amazon (DVD 03/25/2008 Microcinema): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0011UBDV8
Archive.org: (can watch online here) www.archive.org/details/AlixLambertsTheMarkOfCain
Wow, I just watched this (11/10/11) - incredible and amazing film. This is
definitely one of the most interesting films about tattoos you will ever see.
And as well it is probably as deep of a look at Russian prisons as there is
on film.
Modern Tribalism (2001 - 76min) Mimi George, Rick Kent
Official Site: www.lowfifilmworks.com/production.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0378372
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006IUL8
Modify (2005 - 85min) Greg Jacobson, Jason Gary
Official Site: www.modifythemovie.com
BMEzine Encyclopedia: www.bmezine.com/index.php/MODIFY
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0455980
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000R3SFGQ
Very interesting. Extensive look at the body modification subculture. Covers
all kinds of body modifications - tattoos, piercings, brandings, implants,
etc., etc. Some parts might be hard for some people to watch. I had to cover
my eyes a couple of times. Very well-done, very cool film.
The New Sideshow (2002 - 49min) Tim Miller
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0820480
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000A0DUP
Penn & Teller's Magic and Mystery Tour (2000 - 150min) Hugo Smith, Mick Grogan
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_&_Teller's_Magic_and_Mystery_Tour
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0398512
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A59POW
Penn and Teller journey around to learn more about some of their favorite
magic tricks in this Canadian TV mini-series. Three 50-minute episodes,
one in China, one in Egypt, and one in India. Made in 2000, first aired on
CBC-TV in 2003, DVD released in 2005.
Sideshow: Alive on the Inside (2002 - 104min) Lynn Dougherty
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1934391
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000A0DUN
Women in Boxes (2008 - 82min) Phil Noyes, Harry Pallenberg
Official Site: www.womeninboxes.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1268991
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002PJ4S84
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician's_assistant
have not yet seen
Computers/Internet/Media/Television/DigitalCopyright
The Ad and the Ego (1997 - 57min) Harold Boihem
Official Site: www.theadandtheego.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0115463
Study Guide (34 page PDF): www.robwilliamsmedia.com/downloads/robwilliams_adego.pdf
Review/Summary: hope.journ.wwu.edu.tpilgrim/j190/Ad.ego.vidsum.html
Explores the impact of advertising through analysis of thousands of clips
from TV commercials. The DVD is $150 for libraries, and $295 for
universities. No option for home use. Might have to convince a local
library to order it. Or google around and you might some places on the
web where you can watch it online.
BBS: The Documentary (2005 - 330min) Jason Scott Sadofsky
Official Site: www.bbsdocumentary.com
Wired Review: www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2005/06/67776
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0460402
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009NN6EA
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBS:_The_Documentary
8 episodes on 3 discs, plus many extras. Explores the history and culture
of the BBS (Bulletin Board System), which is how computers communicated
"online" before the Internet. One slow computer calls another one over the
slow phone line with a slow modem. I spent a lot of time on BBS's before
the web took off. I got to see this film - it is amazing. The director
appears to have travelled all over the place and interviewed many dozens
of the main players in every aspect of the BBS scene. This is a labor
of love. If you were into
computers back then (1980's, 1990's) or if you have any interest in the
history of computers or the Internet, this will be a great treat.
I think the price on this is $40, and if you are thinking of getting this -
yes it is worth it. You can find lots of this online to watch for free
but the DVD set is packed. This is a low-budget film, but very well-done -
its about the information, which is presented in the form of interviews.
Tons of interviews. I was way into BBS's back in the day,
but not as much as these people. This would have been amazing to see even
back then, to learn about who was behind everything. The 8 epsidoes:
1. Baud (about the beginnings) 2. SYSOPS and Users, 3. Make it Pay (about
the BBS industry in the 1980s and 1990s - pretty much every creator of BBS
software is interviewed), 4. FidoNet (the primitive pre-Internet mail
message distribution system).
5. Artscenes (ANSI art - many artists are interviewed,
mainly members of iCE and ACiD and we see a lot of art) 6. HPAC (Hacking,
Phreaking, Anarchy, Cracking - "the underground"), 7. No Carrier (the end of
the BBS as the Internet takes over) 8. Compression (the PKWARE/SEA legal
battle of the late 1980's). I think these episodes vary from 40 or
45 minutes down to 20 or 30 minutes,
and each one can be considered a separate film. The DVD includes English
subtitles and director's commentary on all the episodes. There are also
many extra features, mainly additional interview footage.
Even having been there, and even though its what the film is about, it is
hard to keep in mind watching this that most of this took place BEFORE the
Internet and mostly before Windows. Many people might find this quite
boring - a bunch of computer nerds talking about obsolete technology.
But if this is sounding interesting, check
it out - it is amazing.
Catfish (2010 - 87min) Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
Official Site: www.iamrogue.com/catfish
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1584016
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Q6D1YW
(see also Talhotblond).
The Century of the Self (2002 - 240min) Adam Curtis
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/century-of-the-self.shtml
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0432232
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002KECK1Q/
BBC TV 4-part series. Explores the history of public relations and its use
in media.
Copyright Criminals (2009 - 65min) Benjamin Franzen
Official Site: www.copyrightcriminals.com
PBS: www.pbs.org/independentlens/copyright-criminals/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1503770
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Criminals
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002WPPS5S
Good Copy, Bad Copy (2007 - 59min) Andreas Johnsen, Ralf Christensen, Henrik Moltke
Official Site: goodcopybadcopy.net
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Copy_Bad_Copy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1782451
"About the current state of copyright and culture".
Excellent film - tons of ideas packed in here and well-presented.
Girl Talk, sampling, Bridgeport v. Dimension, de minimus, DangerMouse -
the Grey Album, Don Glickman (MPAA), Russian DVD piraters, Pirate Bay,
Pirate Party, copyright compensation, Nigerian film industry
(largest in the world, pioneers in digital filmmaking and direct to video
releasing, no copyright laws), downloading, Napster, global license,
Brazilian Tecno Braga scene.
Can watch online or download DIVX torrent through the official site
above. Hopefully a DVD will become available later. See also
Rip! A Remix Manifesto, Steal This Film.
Hackers (1984 - 26min) Fabrice Florin
Subtitled: Wizards of the Electronic Age
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1191116
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_Wizards_of_the_Electronic_Age
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009RS0EM
See also Triumph of the Nerds.
Hackers are People Too (2008 - 43min) Ashely Schwartau
Official Site: www.hackersarepeopletoo.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1279942
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackers_Are_People_Too
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0962870080
Internet Rising (2011 - 53min) Andrew Kenneth Martin
Official Site: www.internetrising.net
Archive.org: www.archive.org/details/InternetRisingDocumentaryFilm
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2137990
can watch at official site or youtube. can download in MP4 format at
archive.org. would be nice if a DVD was available or at least an image file
so DVD could be downloaded.
Macheads (2009 - 54min) Kobi Shely
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1379667
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0025VLHD6
Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky and the Media (1993 - 167min) Mark Achbar, Peter Wintonick
Chomsky Archives: www.zmag.org/chomsky/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005Y726/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0104810/
About Noam Chomsky. He is a professor of linguistics at M.I.T. and is
known as the father of modern linguistics. He has also been an outspoken
political activist for several decades. This film is both a general
introduction to Chomsky and a detailed look at some of his ideas about
the media and democracy.
McLuhan's Wake (2002 - 94min) Kevin McMahon
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0391328
DVDTalk Review: www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/26670/mcluhans-wake/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000K7VIKY
McLuhan at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan
McLuhan's Official Site: www.marshallmcluhan.com
Basic overview of the life and ideas of Marshall McLuhan. Perhaps not
the best film you could imagine, but strangely enough, this seems to be
about all there is on McLuhan, one of the most important minds of the second
half of the 20th century. And since he is so interesting, this is
automatically a very interesting film.
Me@theZoo (2012 - 90min) Chris Moukarbel, Valerie Veatch
Official Site: meatthezoo.tv
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1795622
About Chris Crocker, a well-known Youtube video blogger. The title of the
film is the title of the first video ever uploaded to Youtube (which was
by one of the the founders). HBO bought early 2012, will probably show on
HBO this year before DVD comes out.
Militainment, Inc. - Militarism and Pop Culture (2007 - 124min) Roger Stahl
Filmmaker's Website: www.rogerstahl.info
Producer's Website: Media Education Foundation: www.mediaed.org
Excellent look at media and war. Highly recommended. Based on book of
same name. Put out by MEF, who for some reason keeps most of their excellent
stuff out of reach to everyone, unless you can afford to spend hundreds of
dollars. This one can be purchased "for home use" for $79.95, (regular price
is $225), its hard enough for most people to pay $20 for each DVD they want
to own or watch. No Netflix, no Amazon (but there is a torrent around).
The Net: The Unabomber, LSD and the Internet (2003 - 115min) Lutz Dammbeck
German Title: Das Netz
Official Site (in German): www.t-h-e-n-e-t.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Netz
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0434231
Otherzine Review: www.othercinema.com/otherzine/?issueid=14&article_id=22
Otherzine Interview with Director: www.othercinema.com/otherzine/?issueid=14&article_id=21
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EMGIWI
Very interesting. German film with English subtitles. Explores the
development of computers and the Internet along with the story of
Ted Kaczynski, the "Unabomber", who happened to be a test subject
in early LSD experiments. Interviews with John Brockman, Stewart Brand,
Robert Taylor, Norbert Weiner, David Gelernter. Special features on the DVD
include additional interview time with Stewart Brand and John Brockman,
and a very interesting interview with Paul Garrin, who is not otherwise
in the film. Highly recommended.
Orwell Rolls in His Grave (2003 - 103min) Robert Kane Pappas
Official Site: www.orwellrollsinhisgrave.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0410407
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orwell_Rolls_in_His_Grave
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0008237AA/
Reissued DVD has shorter runtime (84min) but includes extra footage.
OutFoxed (2004 - 78min) Robert Greenwald
Subtitled: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism
Official Site: www.outfoxed.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0418038
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outfoxed
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002HDXTQ
Amazon (Special Edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017LIDVO
The Fox Attacks Special Edition was released in 2008 and includes over
an hour of additional material. Check out the Newshounds
(www.newshounds.us), the group
featured in the film who watch Fox News everyday to keep track of what they
are up to.
Page One: Inside the New York Times (2011 - 90min) Andrew Rossi
Official Site: www.pageonemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1787777
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_One:_Inside_the_New_York_Times
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005D0RD98
Spends a year looking at the New York Times (2009-2010) as the newspaper
industry is faced with new challenges in the digital age. Spends a lot
of time with reporter David Carr.
The Power of Nightmares (2004 - 180min) Adam Curtis
Subtitled: The Rise of the Politics of Fear
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0430484
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002M3ZLX4/
BBC TV 3-part series.
Revolution OS (2002 - 86min) J.T.S. Moore
Official Site: www.revolution-os.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution_os
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0308808
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000A9GLO
About GNU, Linux, open-source and free software.
Rip! A Remix Manifesto (2009 - 88min) Brett Gaylor
Official site: www.ripremix.com
(You can download the film here for any price you want to pay)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RiP!:_A_Remix_Manifesto
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1397511
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001WB6MNK
Copyright vs. copyleft. Explores intellectual property rights, copyright law,
public domain, music sampling, remixing, mash-ups, baile funk, Walt
Disney. Features Girl Talk, Lawrence Lessig, Gilberto Gil, Cory Doctorow,
Dan O'Neil, Negativland. DON'T MISS the Stephen Colbert video at the end
of the credits. Very fun and interesting film, fast-paced and packed full
with tons of cool stuff. Highly recommended for sure.
See also Good Copy, Bad Copy.
Sonic Outlaws (1995 - 87min) Craig Baldwin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0114500
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007LBLYQ
Mainly looks at the case of Negativland and U2. Also expores issues of
digital copyright in general.
See also Rip! A Remix Manifesto, Good Copy, Bad Copy.
Starsuckers (2009 - 103min) Chris Atkins
Subitled: An Expose of a Culture Obsessed by Celebrity
Official Site: www.starsuckers.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starsuckers
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1510934
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0037Z95YW
As of 01/2012, this is available as a British PAL DVD.
Startup.com (2001 - 107min) Chris Hegedus, Jehane Noujaim
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Startup.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0256408
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005N5QV
Steal This Film Part One (2006 - 32min) The League of Noble Peers
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1422757
Steal This Film II (2007 - 44min) The League of Noble Peers
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1422758
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steal_This_Film
Official Site: www.stealthisfilm.com
Very interesting films. The first one mainly discusses the 2006 raid on
Pirate Bay's servers in Sweden. The second one covers digital copyright
issues more broadly and interviews a wide range of people, even getting
into the history of the printing press. You can download
ISO files from the official site at no charge to burn your own DVDs.
Language is mainly English, some English subtitles are included where needed.
Their next project will be called The Oil of the 21st Century.
Highly recommended.
Talhotblond (2009 - 75min) Barbara Schroeder
Official Site: www.talhotblond.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talhotblond
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1370889
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0036K9CVO
Very interesting story of a murder which came about as a result of chatting
in cyberspace. Amazing film, has some surprises. (see also Catfish).
Triumph of the Nerds (1996 - 165min) Paul Sen
Subtitled: An Irreverent History of the PC Industry
Official Site: www.pbs.org/nerds/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Nerds
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0115398
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006FXQO
Videocracy (2009 - 81min) Erik Gandini
Official Site: www.atmo.se/film-and-tv/videocracy/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1500516
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videocracy_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003TTKHIO
Looks at president Silvio Berlesconi's tight control of the Italian media,
apparently partly accomplished by providing lots of topless women on TV.
The War You Don't See (2010 - 97min) John Pilger
Director's Website: www.johnpilger.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_You_Don't_See
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1809387
We Live in Public (2009 - 90min) Ondi Timoner
Official Site: www.weliveinpublicthemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Live_in_Public
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0498329
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00337U9O4
Amazon (2-disc edition): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VSL58O
Looks at Internet pioneer Josh Harris and some of his experiments.
Welcome to Macintosh (2008 - 73min) Robert Baca, Joshua Rizzo
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_Macintosh_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1247703
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001KWT5XU
Official Site: www.welcometomacintosh.com
A fun look at the history of Apple Computers.
WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (2004 - 98min) Danny Schechter
Official Site: www.wmdthefilm.com
Director's Website: www.newsdissector.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0402577
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00074DXFS
A look at how the media covered the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Danny Schechter
is "the news dissector", he has been a journalist and a critic of journalism
for decades. Excellent film. See also Militainment for more on
this and Plunder, Schecter's latest film.
Music
Mainly just some selected stuff of interest to me that I have come across.
Agile, Mobile, Hostile (2010 - 86min) Tricia Todd, Eric Matthies
Subtitled: A Year With Andre Williams
Official Site: www.agilemobilehostile.com/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1185588
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003D7L7QI
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Williams
American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966 - VOL 1 (2003 - 76min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AYL2M
American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966 - VOL 2 (2003 - 70min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AYL2N
American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969 - VOL 3 (2003 - 66min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002KP54E
American Folk Blues Festival The British Tours 1963-1966 (2007)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000OPP7LS
Lots of rare footage of bluesmen from the sixties, recorded live in
a TV studio in Germany. This was filmed during the annual European tour called
the American Folk Blues Festival. Each disc is a collection of songs by various
artists taken from various years. Lots of very special stuff. For me, the
most special treasure is the extra track on VOL 2 - Magic Sam - about 6
minutes - a brief interview, followed by 2 short songs.
American Hardcore (2006 - 100min) Paul Rachman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0419434
Metacritic: www.metacritic.com/film/titles/americanhardcore
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hardcore_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000LPR6FQ
Thorough look at the American hardcore punk rock scene from 1980-1986.
Tons of interview segments with band members intercut with brief performance
segments. Lots on Bad Brains. Very cool film. Lots of special features on
DVD.
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2007 - 90min) Sacha Gervasi
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0419434
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002DLB1IO
Like maybe if Spinal Tap was a documentary, rather than a mockumentary,
or...rockumentary, if you will ...
Athens, GA - Inside Out (1987 - 80min) Tony Gayton
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0092591
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000C0FGW
Looks at the legendary alternative musical scene in Athens, Georgia in
the 80's. Features the B-52's, Flat Duo Jets, Love Tractor, Pylon, R.E.M
and lots more. Very special. A treasure for me just for the Love Tractor.
The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack (2000 - 112min) Aiyana Elliot
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0236008
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramblin'_Jack_Elliot
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005AAAI
Ramblin' Jack Elliot's daughter made this film about him. As well as
looking at his life, she attempts to find out why he was not a better father.
Be Here to Love Me (2004 - 99min) Margaret Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0423853
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Here_to_Love_Me:_A_Film_About_Townes_Van_Zandt
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CNF80W
A thorough look at legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt.
Well-made film.
The Beach Boys and The Satan (1997 - 59min)
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011 - 98min) Michael Rapaport
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1613023
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beats,_Rhymes_&_Life:_The_Travels_of_a_Tribe_Called_Quest
Amazon (DVD 10/18/11 Sony): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004Z29WWG
Amazon (BD 10/18/11 Sony): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004Z29WX0
Biggie & Tupac (2002 - 108min) Nick Broomfield
Subtitled: The Story Behind the Murder of Rap's Biggest Superstar
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0303356
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007TKG80
Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah (2011 - 74min) Kevin Triplett
Official Site: www.blazefoleymovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1414820
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaze_Foley
The Clash: Westway to the World (2000 - 80min) Don Letts
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0321711
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The Clash:_Westway_to_the_World
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000063UQN
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981 - 100min) Penelope Spheeris
Official Site: www.declinemovies.com
Interview with Spheeris from Onion AV Club: www.theavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=3509&f=1
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0082252
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_Western_Civilization
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JMVN
Very interesting super-classic documentary on punk rock in L.A. Long out of
print on VHS - supposedly to be released on DVD soon. I first saw this in
Dale Hall at the University of Oklahoma, probably right after it came
out - it was quite an event, largely attended, and there were many
interesting-looking youngsters there from parts far and near. I mean like
from other states. This was a major deal! (way before Internet, DVDs, etc)
The Decline of Western Civilization: Part II - The Metal Years (1988 - 93min) Penelope Spheeris
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0094980
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decline_of_Western_Civilization_II
The Decline of Western Civilization: Part III (1998 - 86min) Penelope Spheeris
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0138393
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decline_of_Western_Civilization_III
Deconstructing Dad (2010 - 98min) Stanley Warnow
Subtitled: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott
Official Site: scottdoc.com
Raymond Scott's Official Site: www.raymondscott.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Scott
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1567766
Deep Blues (1991 - 91min) Robert Mugge
Subtitled: A Musical Pilgrimage to the Crossroads
Director's Website: www.robertmugge.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0101697
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009VU35
Classic film about delta blues, or more accurately for the most part, North
Mississippi Hill Country Blues. Robert Palmer (author of the book Deep
Blues) guides us along as we see performances by R.L. Burnside,
Junior Kimbrough, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes,
Big Jack Johnson, Jack Owens and Bud Spires, Booker T. Laury, and Lonnie
Pitchford. These are some of the top saints of the blues, largely overlooked,
especially before the Fat Possum record label brought Burnside and Kimbrough
to the attention of the world at large. See also my pages on
R.L. Burnside, Junior
Kimbrough and Jessie Mae Hemphill.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2005 - 110min) Jeff Feuerzeig
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_and_Daniel_Johnston
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436231
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GNOSGS
Devil Got My Woman (1966 - 60min) Alan Lomax
Subtitled: Blues at Newport 1966
Amazon (DVD 2002 Rounder): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000067NPL
DIG! (2004 - 107min) Ondi Timoner
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0388888
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIG!
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007IO740
Contrasts the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre and their
frontmen, Courtney Taylor and Anton Newcombe.
Drums and Djembes of Burkina Faso (2003 - 26min) Patrick Kersale
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00019PCVC
The African nation of Burkina Faso was formerly called Upper Volta.
The film is just 26 minutes long, but the "Clips" section has an additional
43 minutes, which are actually the extended scenes that most of the film was
taken from. The four scenes on the 3rd menu screen of the clips section
features two complete performances from each of two djembe troupes - and
this is really some amazing footage.
Echotone (2010 - 90min) Nathan Christ
Official Site: www.echotonefilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1532946
About Austin, Texas music culture. Looks at challenges faced by musicians
in a city pushing ahead with development which sometimes is not so compatible
with the way things used to be. The supposed "live music capital of the
world" seems to be lacking in infrastructure such as music venues and other
support for musicians.
I was a bit surprised that (with one exception) all of the bands in the
film are "indie" rock bands, with no representation of the roots music that
Austin is known for. At least we get some time with Black Joe Lewis including
some live footage with the Honeybears (including some dancers). He makes
the comment - "there's no roots bands anymore, its all indie rock now".
We see him on his day job delivering fish.
I saw Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears when they played the Norman Music
Festival in 2011 and they blew everyone else totally away. (Changed my life!)
I went out and got his CDs the next day. Have not been moved to do that for
a long time. So to me this film was worth it just for the time with him.
But lots of other bands and ideas in this film. And I think the producers
are planning to turn this into a series, looking at the same issues in
some other cities.
The "DVD" has been available from the official site since SEP 2011, bit this
turns out to be a DVD-R - hopefully will be released on DVD soon. I had
trouble ordering the DVD from the official site (I think my computer is
just too old) and trouble ordering from indiepixfilms.com (I think they
forgot my order) so I called
Waterloo Records
in Austin and got it from them. Which had an extra bonus - the guy on the
phone there told me that the current ruler of the Austin scene (not mentioned
in the film) is Gary Clark, Jr. His Wikipedia article does say
that he is considered by some to be the leader of the Austin music scene.
(also called "the Savior of the Blues" and "the next Stevie Ray Vaughn").
Check him out - his major label debut will be on Warner Brothers in 2012.
So this is a good film, and I recommend it, but just don't expect it to
cover the traditional roots-rock Austin scene, which is a subject worthy of
any number of full-length films.
Elvis: Return to Tupelo (2008 - 90min) Michael Rose
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1274720
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002K2KMM2
have not yet seen
End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones (2005 - 110min) Jim Fields, Michael Gamaglia
Official Site: www.endofthecentury.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_Century:_The_Story_of_the_Ramones
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0368711
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000642JG8
Excellent and thorough documentary on one of the greatest bands ever. I first
saw this at the OKC Museum of Art - big crowd, fun time. Totally cool film.
See also Ramones Raw (below), and my
Ramones page.
Escaped Maniacs - Iggy and the Stooges (2008 - 334min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1266658
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017LZ28Q
2-disc set includes a live show in Belgium with reunited Stooges and
interviews with Iggy (1hr), Ron Asheton (20min), and Scott Asheton (20min),
AND an hour-long documentary about Iggy Pop. Super-special. If you are a fan,
you want this! See also my Iggy Pop page.
Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone (2011 - 107min) Lev Anderson, Chris Metzler
Official Site: www.fishbonedocumentary.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0840358
Metacritic: www.metacritic.com/movie/everyday-sunshine-the-story-of-fishbone
Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/reviews/22886/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B006QXT4S4
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishbone
Fishbone's Official Site: www.fishbone.net
have not yet seen - looking forward to it. I got to see Fishbone once -
in Norman OK, at Rome 90, probably late 80's - a VERY intense and
unforgetable show. DVD release is FEB 7, 2012.
Favela On Blast (2008 - 80min) Leandro HBL, Wesley Pentz
Official Site: www.favelaonblast.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1353167
Not quite out yet as of 10/10. Should be super-cool. About baile funk, from
the favelas of Brazil. Also called funk carioca or favela funk. Check out this
Wikipedia article about the music: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_carioca
The Filth and the Fury (2000 - 108min) Julien Temple
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0236216
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Filth_and_the_Fury
Footsteps in Africa: A Nomadic Journey (2007 - 67min) Kathi von Koerber
Official Site: www.footstepsafrica.com
Interview with Director: www.realitysandwich.com/footsteps_interview
For The Sake of The Song Bruce Bryant
Official Site: www.andersonfairthemovie.com
About legendary Houston music club Anderson Fair.
From Mambo to Hip Hop (2008 - 56min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DPC4KA
Fugazi: Instrument (2001 - 115min)
Subtitled: Ten Years with the Band Fugazi
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005R5G4
Genghis Blues (1999 - 88min) Roko Belic
Official Site: www.genghisblues.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0187859
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00004YKS6
Its about blind bluesman Paul Pena and his journey into Tuvan throatsinging.
Very unusual. Really very interesting.
Ghostride the Whip (2008 - 86min) DJ Vlad
Subtitled: The Hyphy Movement
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1213582
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostride_the_Whip
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017VG60O
Explores San Francisco bay area Hip-Hop culture. Lots of Mac Dre.
The title refers to the act of climbing outside of the drivers seat of a car
while it is coasting down the street and walking along side it, or maybe
dancing around or getting up on the hood or the roof. Yes, some wild stuff
here.
Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns (2003 - 102min) AJ Schnack
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigantic_(A_Tale_of_Two_Johns)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants
This Might Be A Wiki: tmbw.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0304081
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000E32YJ
Very fun film about the amazing duo They Might Be Giants - John Flansburgh
and John Linnel. Very inspiring, highly recommended.
Gimme Shelter (1970 - 91min) Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0065780
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00004YZFR
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/637-gimme-shelter
Classic film follows the Rolling Stones on the end of their 1969 US tour
which winds up with Altamont, where the film captures the violence that
signalled the end of the "Peace and Love 60's".
Girls Rock! (2008 - 89min) Shane King, Arne Johnson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CCIS36
About an annual week-long rock and roll summer camp for 100 girls ages 8-18.
The Gits (2008 - 80min) Kerri O'Kane
Official Site: www.thegitsmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0463028
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001A2B3W6
Googoosh: Iran's Daughter (2000 - 158min) Farhad Zamani
Googoosh was Iran's most popular pop singer. She began performing at age
4 with her father, doing acrobatic tricks. She sang in 5 or 6 languages
and appeared in many feature films. After the Islamic revolution of 1979,
she was no longer allowed to perform. Instead of leaving the country to
continue her career, she remained in Iran and has been silent ever since.
Some oddities in the filmmaking style but very interesting content. Lots of
interviews, but Googoosh does not appear except in older footage. Could also
file this one under political - lots of info on the culture, history and
politics of Iran. I found this at Netflix.
Groupies (1970 - 92min) Ron Dorfman, Peter Nevard
AKA Groupies: The Movie (2006 DVD)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0179205
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EWBO5Y
I'm not going to recommend this too highly. Includes a bit of Cynthia Plaster
Caster, who is better covered in the documentary of the same name
(listed on my Sex Films page). Includes
live musical performances by Ten Years After, Spooky Tooth, Dry Creek Road,
Joe Cocker and the Grease Band, and Terry Reid with Keith Webb and
Peter Shelly.
Haack: The King of Techno (2004 - 70min) Philip Anagnos
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0306836
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Haack
Amazon (DVD 2005): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007L86HG
Came across a used copy of this, looked interesting, picked it up - wow -
what a cool surprise. I had never heard of Bruce Haack, he is a bit obscure.
He was making electronic music (and his own instruments) back in the
60's and 70's, including lots of music for children. He was influential on
some the people who knew about him, such as Beck and Money Mark (keyboards
for the Beastie Boys). He passed away in 1986. Very well-done film includes
lots of archival footage (including appearance on Mister Rogers) and lots
of interviews. Fun, interesting, recommended.
Half Japanese - The Band That Would Be King (1993 - 90min) Jeff Feuerzeig
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0107071
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00003IPFA
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_Japanese
I used to hear the name, I think Mooneyham played them on the radio here a
long time ago (back when there was still music on KGOU), but I never checked
into them. Someone recently turned me onto this film. Very special. Jadd Fair,
(along with his brother and his band) is certainly one of the most important,
influential, and unknown members of the American independent music scene.
They wanted to write songs and play rock and roll, so they just did.
They wanted to make records so they just did. Very inspiring, very fun.
Super special!
The Hand of Fatima (2009 - 75min) Augusta Palmer
Official Site: www.thehandoffatima.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0882775
About late rock critic Robert Palmer and his friendship with the Master
Musicians of Jajouka. The director is Palmer's daughter.
DVD releases SEP 2011.
Hank Williams - Honky Tonk Blues (2004 - 82min) Morgan Neville
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0415490
The Heart is a Drum Machine (2009 - 73min) Christopher Pomerenke
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1198130
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0031DRVRI
Some parts are a little fluffy, like the numerous brief clips of musicians
and actors answering the question What is Music, but some segments focus
on some very interesting people. The high point for me was near the end,
where we meet Professor Milford Graves. We need a full-length film just on
him. And I loved the old Saturday Night Live skit
they dug up, where Steve Martin, playing a character from the future,
reveals that we finally got a response from the Voyager space probes, a
4-word message - "Send more Chuck Berry". Tons to think about. Check it out.
Heartworn Highways (1975 - 92min) James Szalapski
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0405963
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartworn_Highways
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009KP12
Looks at the founders of the outlaw country movement in 1975/1976, including
Larry Jon Wilson, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, David Allan Coe,
Rodney Crowell, Gamble Rogers, Steve Young, Charlie Daniels.
This is a very magical film, very unpretentious, capturing these guys on
the road, in the studio, jamming on the porch, etc. Highly recommended,
especially if you like any of these guys. Many rave reviews at Amazon.
Highlights for me were Larry Jon Wilson in the studio recording
Ohoopi River Bottomland, Rodney Crowell singing Bluebird Wine
accompanied by some buddies on acoustic guitar, Steve Young singing
Alabama Highways. DVD appears to be out of print (10/2011).
VH1's Heavy - The Story of Metal
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0840405
Excellent. Made for VH-1.
Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2007 - 84min) Suroosh Alvi, Eddie Moretti
Official Site: www.heavymetalinbaghdad.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1092007
Henry Rollins Show - Season One (2006 - 600min)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Henry_Rollins_Show
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000OCY7K8
3 discs (for the price of one), 10 hours. Not everyone will like everything,
but definitely includes some special stuff. (Such as...an interview with
Peaches, a performance by Slayer...) Complete contents listed in the
Wikipedia article.
High Tech Soul: The Creation of Techno Music (2006 - 64min) Gary Bredow
Official Site: www.hightechsoul.com/
Distributor's Website: www.plexifilm.com/title.php?id=27
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0877337/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GCFYOY
Looks at the birth of techo in Detroit. Focusses on Jaun Atkins, Derrick May,
and Kevin Saunderson (the "Originator", the "Innovator", and the "Elevator").
Also discusses history and culture of Detroit. Interesting film. DVD has
subtitles in English and German, and 17 minutes of extra interviews.
(see also Requiem for Detroit?)
Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhyme (2006 - 60min)
Producer's Website: Media Educaton Foundation: www.mediaed.org
Explores sexism, misogeny, homophobia, homoeroticism in Hip Hop.
Put out by MEF, who for some reason keeps most of their excellent stuff out of
reach to everyone, unless you can afford to spends hundreds of dollars.
This one can be purchased "for home use" for $19.95, (regular price $300).
(Also, there's a torrent around).
The Holy Modal Rounders: Bound to Lose (2007 - 87min) Paul Lovelace, Sam Wainwright Douglas
Official Site: www.boundtolose.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Modal_Rounders
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0495120
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001D5F380
Hoodoo Gurus - Tunnel Vision (2005 - 200min)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoodoo_Gurus
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000IJ7ALU
Disc 1 is a 2-hour collection of videos, disc 2 is an 80-minute
documentary called Be My Guru, which covers their history from before
they began in the early 80's up until 2004. (They put out a new record in
2010 called Purity of Essence). If you like the Gurus, this is a very
cool set. Focusses a lot on the songwriting of Dave Faulkner.
The Howlin' Wolf Story (2003 - 87min) Don McGlynn
Subtitled: The Secret History of Rock & Roll
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Howlin'_Wolf_Story_-_The_Secret_History_of_Rock_&_Roll
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0465500
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DJZ81
HowlinWolf.com: www.howlinwolf.com/dvd/dvd.htm
Hype! (1996 - 84min) Doug Pray
Director's website: www.dougpray.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype!
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0116589
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000654YK6
Interview with Doug Pray: www.filmbuffonline.com/Features/Hype/DougPray'sHype.htm
About the Seattle grunge scene. Like pretty much ALL about it. Excellent
film, the first from Doug Pray. (See also Scratch, Infamy,
Big Rig, Surfwise).
I Need That Record (2008 - 77min) Brendan Toller
Subtitled: The Death (Or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1274725
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003ENHBOS
About independent record stores. Excellent and recommended.
I Want to Destroy America - The Atomic Music of Hisao Shinigawa (2006 - 66min) Peter I. Chang
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1338616
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001659HDY
Born in Japan 10 months after the atomic bombs were dropped, Hisao Shinigawa
has been trying to make it as folk singer in the US for a long time.
Interesting, odd, unique story.
I'm Not There (2007 - 135min) Todd Haynes
Official Site: www.imnotthere-movie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0368794
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'm_Not_There
Wikipedia (soundtrack): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'm_Not_There_(soundtrack)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0013D8L7C
Very ambitious, well-respected, critically acclaimed film is a great treat
for Dylan fans but may be a bit confusing for outsiders. Features six
different actors playing semi-fictionalized Dylan in different periods of
his career. The Wikipedia article is loaded with info about the film. And
there is a separate Wikipedia article just for the soundtrack, which is also
a treasure trove.
Intangible Asset No. 82 (2008 - 90min) Emma Franz
Official Site: www.intangibleasset82.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1329371
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002SG9NAK
Australian jazz drummer Simon Barker goes on a journey to meet South Korean
shaman and grandmaster musician Kim Seok-Chul. Along the way, his guide
takes him to meet several other amazing Korean musicians and singers.
Lots of traditional Korean music is featured as well as collaborations with
Simon on drumset. We meet a shaman singer who lived by a waterfall for 7
years, singing and shouting into the waterfall for 18 hours every day. When
Simon finally reaches Kim Seok-Chul, he has but days to live. Some amazing
footage of his drumming was captured in his last days.
This is a special and magical film, highly recommended, especially if
interested in drumming, music or shamanism.
It Might Get Loud (2008 - 98min) Davis Guggenheim
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1229360
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002WNC5BU
Jack White (the White Stripes), The Edge (U2), and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
get together to talk about playing guitar. Features each of them playing
music and also jamming together.
Its A Long Way... (2010 - 44min) Julie van Schooten, Kenneth van Schooten
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1789807
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004D0AMQU
Southern Culture on the Skids, Andre Williams, Supersuckers, Nashville Pussy,
Dirtbombs... have not yet seen - looking forward to it
Jeff Beck: Performing This Week - Live at Ronnie Scott's (2009 - 100min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NP8PQM
Excellent recording of a live show in 2007. Includes some interviews.
Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (2007 - 124min) Julien Temple
Official Site: www.joestrummerthemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Strummer:_The_Future_Is_Unwritten
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Strummer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0800099
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017WI5W0
Excellent award-winning film about Joe Strummer, lead singer of The Clash, who
died in 2002.
John Lee Hooker: Come and See About Me (2004 - 87min)
Juke (1997 - 27min)
Kraftwerk and the Electronic Revolution (2008 - 180min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1289806
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001BTOE0Q
Super-interesting film about the German electronic band Kraftwerk, led by
Ralf Hutter and Florian Schnieder. The first hour establishes some perspective
by giving an overview of early serious electronic music and then detailing
the "Krautrock" scene (Popol Vuh, Can, Amon Duol, Tangerine Dream, etc). The
next 2 hours cover the history of Kraftwerk, looking at their first 7 records
one at a time - Kraftwerk (1970), Kraftwerk 2 (1971),
Ralf and Florian (1973), Autobahn (1974), Radioactivity (1975), Trans-Europe
Express (1977), The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981). Lots of
interviews with musicologists and musicians. Although this is all about
Ralf and Florian, they are not interviewed, but we hear a lot from Karl
Bartos. Lots to think about here. Highly recommended.
(see also Moog, Ohm, Modulations).
Kurt and Courtney (1998 - 95min) Nick Broomfield
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0138563
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00000JRWS
Director's Website: www.nickbroomfield.com
Uncut article: www.interlog.com/~jenj/Uncut9807.html
Uncut review: www.interlog.com/~jenj/Uncut9807r.html
Controversial and very interesting documentary about the death of Kurt
Cobain. Of course, Broomfield is always controversial (and interesting).
And yes, Courtney is the main suspect in this one.
Last of the Mississippi Jukes (2003 - 86min) Robert Mugge
Director's Website: www.robertmugge.com
Director's Notes on the Film: www.robertmugge.com/jukes_notes.htm
Starts off at Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero club in Clarksdale and talks a bit
about juke joints in general. Most of the film tells the story of the
Subway Lounge, which is in the basement of the Summers Hotel building in
Jackson , Mississippi. This is one of the last remaining juke joints and
was almost lost when the city decided the building needed to be demolished.
This led to an effort to renovate the building. Lots of blues music in this
film. Recommended to all blues music fans.
Latcho Drom (1994 - 103min) Tony Gatlif
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latcho_Drom
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0107376
Review Edwin Jahiel: www.edwinjahiel.com/latcho.htm
Amazon (VHS 1998 New Yorker): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6304263198
Amazon (DVD 2006 Australia PAL Region 4 Madman): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KKNZ7U
This is a documentary about Gypsies making music. There is no dialog and
no story line. Just lots of Gypsies in different countries
singing and making music on all kinds of instruments. Very magical.
Released on VHS in 1996. Still hasn't made it to domestic (North American)
DVD. There have been DVD releases
in France (Region 2, PAL, 2001, out of print),
Japan (NTSC, Region 2, 2002, Japanese subtitles)
and Australia (PAL, Region 4, 2006). Most newer DVD players with play
PAL DVDs and most newer DVD players can have their region code limitations
removed. Since there is not dialog in the film, the language doesn't matter,
so it could be worth getting the Japanese DVD or whatever version you can
find.
Lemmy: 49% Motherf**ker, 50% Son of a Bitch (2010 - 116min) Greg Olliver, Wes Orshoski
Official Site: www.lemmymovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmy_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1236472
Amazon (DVD 2-disc): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004FGA2NK
About Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead. Have not yet seen - looking
forward to it. DVD is 2 discs with 4.5 hours of extras.
Leo Kottke: Home and Away Revisited (1988 - 106min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0785019
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EBGEF0
Leo's Home Page: www.leokottke.com
Leo at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Kottke
Les Paul: Chasing Sound (2007 - 86min) John Paulson
Official Site: www.lespaulfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0882111
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000QGE856
Let Me Be Your Band (2003 - 76min) Derek Emerson
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0373995
have not seen, have not been able to track it down. about a favorite
subject - one man bands.
The Life and Music of Robert Johnson (1997 - 77min) Peter Meyer
Subtitled: Can't You Hear the Wind Howl?
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009VU36
Hosted by Danny Glover.
Louie Bluie (1985 - 60min) Terry Zwigoff
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0089507
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/27509
Amazon (DVD 2010 Criterion): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003N2CVQS
Zwigoff's first film (followed by Crumb), about Howard
Armstrong, an amazing 75-year old bluesman who seems younger than most
30-year-olds. Was out of print on VHS for many years, finally issued on
DVD by Criterion in August of 2010.
M for Mississippi (2008 - 60min) Jeff Konkel, Roger Stolle
Subtitled: A Road Trip Through the Birthplace of the Blues
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001JIR3KC
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1339119
Modulations: Cinema for the Ear (1998 - 74min) Iara Lee
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000844LI
Good overview of the history of electronic pop music.
Metallica - Some Kind of Monster (2004 - 141min) Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Official Site: www.somekindofmonster.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0387412
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006IIKS0
Same directors later made Paradise Lost.
Monterey Pop (1968 - 78min) D. A. Pennebaker
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Pop
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/720
Criterion (Complete Festival - 3 disc): www.criterion.com/boxsets/326
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0064689
Amazon (DVD Criterion 2006): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E5LEWE
Amazon (DVD 3-disc Criterion 2006): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006JU7P
Moog (2004 - 72min) Hans Fjellestad
Official Site: www.plexifilm.com/moog.html
Robert Moog's Company: www.moogmusic.com
Wikipedia - Robert Moog: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Moog
Wikipedia - Moog Film: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_(film)
Wikipedia - Moog Synthesizer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0378378
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00095L94W
About Robert Moog (1934-2005), inventor of the Moog synthesizer.
This was made just a year or so before Moog's death, and features him looking
back on his life and talking with lots of the musicians who used Moog
synthesizers. I had the LP of Switched-On Bach when I was a kid. Quite
a sensation at the time. (Walter/Wendy Carlos is not in the film). The Moog
synthesizer, like the LP, was analog technology, back before we had computers
and DVDs. Highly recommended.
My Blue Star: The Life and Hunchin' Times of Hasil "Haze" Adkins (2007 - 75min) Ron Smith
Official Site: www.myspace.com/hasiladkinsmybluestar
Someone told me about this and I was very excited to look into it. So far
(MAY 2011) I have not been able to find any info except that there is a
Myspace page (Yikes!) which announces that the DVD will be released in 2008.
So no telling what's up with this.
Negativland: Our Favorite Things (2007 - 78min)
Official Site: www.negativland.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativland
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TZN7LK
This is a collection of music videos from Negativland, an experimental
alternative band. Negativland uses a lot of technology and a lot of found
sounds and they do a lot of mash-ups - remixing stuff from all over
the place. They have been sued a couple of times over copyright issues and
they are on the forefront of new ways of looking at copyright in the digital
age. I had heard of Negativland for many years but didn't really know
anything about them until I saw Rip! A Remix Manifesto (highly
recommended). There are 21 videos collected here. The bonus features (an
additional hour of videos) may not be all that great. Check out the BIO
which is accessed through the Bonus Menu, just some text screens, but gives
a thorough history of the band (also see the Wikipedia article). A lot of
this may be a bit "challenging" for many people. I was totally amazed
at most of this. For some reason I find the subject of
Coke and Pepsi very interesting so it was a great treat to find that seven of
these videos are about Coke and Pepsi. This is a very special and fun
treasure of coolness. See also Sonic Outlaws, Rip! A Remix
Manifesto, Good Copy, Bad Copy.
New Orleans Music in Exile (2006 - 115min) Robert Mugge
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RIWATO
Director's Website: www.robertmugge.com
New York Doll (2005 - 78min) Greg Whiteley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E97HUS
About the influential glam rock band, The New York Dolls, focussing on
bassist Arthur "Killer" Kane, who later recovered from drugs and drinking
and became a Mormon.
Nick Drake: Under Review (2007 - 90min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TV4PZG
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake
A Review: rarerarefind.blogspot.com/2008/05/nick-drake-under-review.html
A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake (2000 - 48min) Jeroen Berkvens
Official site: www.nickdrakefilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0264013
A Review: rarerarefind.blogspot.com/2008/05/skin-too-few.html
Shown on BBC TV. This is available on DVD as part of the 2007 re-release of
the Fruit Tree CD Box Set. Can be found to watch online.
A Stranger Among Us: Searching for Nick Drake (1999 - 39min) Tim Clements
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629
Made for BBC TV.
The Night James Brown Saved Boston (2008 - 74min) David Leaf
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001L2ZSJY
James Brown was scheduled to play a show in Boston on April 5, 1968, the night
after Martin Luther King was killed. Most major American cities were up in
flames and the mayor was considering cancelling the show. It was decided to
let the show go on and to televise it. This film tells the story of that show
and puts it in the perspective of the riots. Boston was quiet for the evening.
The TV station replayed the 2-hour show to make it a 4-hour broadcast.
There is lots of archival news footage of the fires and riots in other
cities. Brown was summoned to Washington DC the next day to help calm
that city. Although James was not a pacifist, he thought it was wrong
that people would associate violence with someone who stood for non-violence.
There is some footage from the show, which has also been released in its
entirety on a separate DVD - Live at the Boston Garden: 1968.
There is a very tricky moment when people rush the stage and James asks
the police to back off. The film also shows how James became an influential
leader in the Black community in following years.
NY77: The Coolest Year in Hell (2007 - 87min) Henry Corra
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1080761
This is an episode of VH1 Rock Docs. Not issued on DVD.
N.Y.H.C. (1999 - 87min) Frank Pavich
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0296774
OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music (2005 - 150min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E6EK4C
This is kind of a collection of experimental music videos with a few
interviews. It is a companion to a 3-disc CD set of the same name. When
they say "early gurus of electronic music" they don't mean Kraftwerk.
Selections from John Cage, Morton Subotnik, Paul Lansky, Milton Babbit,
John Chowning, Robert Ashely, Alvin Lucier, Laurie Spiegel, David Behrman,
Holger Czukay, Jena-Claude Risset, Robert Moog, and others. Probably
mainly of interest to people who are really into this type of music (early
experimental electronic music). Some more accessible films in this area
would be Modulations, Moog, and Theremin.
Oil City Confidential - The Dr. Feelgood Story (2010 - 104min) Julien Temple
Official site: www.oilcityconfidential.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OilCityConfidential
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1379092
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003RU0XCK
Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com/m/oil_city_confidential/
See my Fortune Tellers page. They totally hipped
me to this band and to this genre of super-cool rock and roll music,
the real stuff. There is another Dr. Feelgood DVD called
Going Back Home, which is a live performance from 1975.
OK - looking at the Facebook page on 06/04/11, I'm finding comments that they
have decided not to do a North American DVD release. So if you want to see it
you will have to get the PAL version from the UK (which is what is being sold
by 3rd party sellers at Amazon). Most newer DVD players will play PAL
DVDs (NTSC is the North American format). There may also be region code
issues, which can be gotten around also (most DVD players can be reprogrammed
to be region-free - just google your brand and model of DVD player along with
"region code"). Now after seeing this film a couple of times, I'm going to
say that this is one of the most awesome rock and roll films ever (along with
End of the Century). This is one of the coolest bands ever and this
is their whole story. All of the members are featured, but we get to spend
most of the time with guitarist Wilco Johnson, who is quite an interesting
character. If you are into rock'n'roll and R&B, check this out.
The Old Grey Whistle Test - VOL 1 (2003 - 197min)
Official Site: www.warnervideo.com/ogwt1/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009RDHK
The Old Grey Whistle Test - VOL 2 (2006 - 146min)
Official Site: www.warnervideo.com/ogwt2/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CBG5Q0
The Old Grey Whistle Test - VOL 3 (2006 - 129min)
Official Site: www.warnervideo.com/ogwt3/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GETUDS
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Grey_Whistle_Test
Tons of single-song appearances on BBC TV show from 1971-1987. These DVDs
are now out of print. And apparently the British PAL versions (also out of
print) include some performances that were left off of the American releases.
Loaded with treasure - lots of interesting stuff on these. Hopefully someday
more can be released - I assume each of these performers had a whole episode
full of music and interviews, plus there were many episodes not covered on
these DVDs. Song lists are on the Warner Video site linked above.
As of 05/10, Netflix still has these and used ones are on Amazon.
Patti Smith: Dream of Life (2008) Steven Sebring
Official site: www.dreamoflifethemovie.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001FACHBO
A bit arty, as you might imagine, and very inspiring.
People Who Do Noise (2008 - 81min) Adam Cornelius
Official Site: www.peoplewhodonoise.com/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1340677
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001MVB77Q
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise_(music)
Wow - this was one of the most interesting music docs I have seen - largely
because I did not know anything about this genre of music. Now that doesn't
mean I liked the music - it was actually hard to take, and I don't plan to
explore any furthur in this area. It is noise - no rhythmic or melodic
elements. But cool to see that it exists and very
interesting to have all these people explaining why they do this. I could
imagine watching this just for the interview dialog - skipping over the
music segments - but that wouldn't be fair. I could also see myself getting
to like some of this stuff. Lots of very interesting ideas
and insights. And I have to admit that although on one hand, I approached
this with full respect, on the other hand I would suggest that you could
watch this with comedic interest. Also interesting that the film covers
about 15 different noise bands (or solo artists) and they are ALL in
Portland, Oregon. Here is a quote from Soup Purse: "Its like Bladerunner
music, its like what you could expect....There is a nihilist stream in
people who make this music. But for me, there's no waking people up and
causing the revolution. It's fucked. And I'm fully comfortable with how
fucked it is. And we might as well just party."
Pete Seeger - The Power of Song (2007 - 93min) Jim Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1003116
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0018PH3OC
Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune (2011 - 97min) Kenneth Bowser
Official Site: www.philochsthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1597089
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs:_There_but_for_Fortune
Amazon (DVD 07/19/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004VN7RN0
The Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett Story (2003 - 50min) John Edgington
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0368147
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pink_Floyd_and_Syd_Barrett_Story
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Barrett
Nice film about Syd Barrett and the early days of Pink Floyd. There are many
listings for this on Amazon, showing various covers, various manufacturers,
etc. The is also a 2-disc version with lots of extended interviews.
Amazon and IMDB show the runtime as 70min. The film is 50min and there are
5 extra features totalling 20 minutes - extended interviews with Roger
Waters and Dave Gilmour, Robyn Hitchcock performing It Is Obvious and
Dominoes and Grahan Coxen performing Love You.
Protesting the Dixie Chicks (2006 - 59min) Christopher Fleeger
Official Site: www.protestingthedixechicks.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0929274
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KQF9QE
See also Shut Up and Sing.
Raga Unveiled: India's Voice (2009 - 260min) Gita Desai
Subtitled: The History and Essence of North Indian Classical Music
Official site: www.ragaunveiled.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0029N1OWE
About Indian raga music. 4 hours and 20 minutes on 2 discs. have not yet seen.
from the makers of Yoga Unveiled.
Ramones Raw (2004) John Caffiero
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002NY7UO
Ramones authorized film, featuring lots of live footage. Over 5 hours of stuff.
Very raw, as opposed to more proper documentary End of the Century
(see above).
Rhyme & Punishment (2009 - 99min) Peter Spirer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1311713
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004F4HWP8
Looks at hiphop artists who have been in prison. Chapter titles: The First
Day, Marketing a Convict, Guns & Hip Hop, Proision Industrial Complex,
Prison Food, Race Relations, Recording From Prison, Calls, Letters, Visitors,
Knuckleheads, Parole Day. Very interesting.
Rhyme & Reason (1997 - 94min) Peter Spirer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120014
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyme_&_Reason_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000056N85
About rap music and hip-hop culture.
Richard Johnston: Hill Country Troubador (2006 - 57min) Max Shores
Official Site: www.maxshores.com/johnston/
Richard's Site:www.richardjohnston.com
Very cool film about Richard Johnston, who plays Mississippi Hill Country blues
as a one-man band, playing drums with his feet while singing and playing
guitar. Mainly plays on the street in Memphis. The film covers the
background of hill country blues - Mississippi Fred McDowell, Junior
Kimbrough, RL Burnside, etc. See also You See Me Laughin',
Deep Blues.
Rize (2004 - 86min) David LaChapelle
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ARFPOO
Crumpin' and Clownin' in LA. Super-cool. Also check out Favela Rising
(for another inspiring film about helping kids keep out of gangs with
music and dance), Bloods and Crips: Made in America (for another
look at South Central LA), and Freshest Kids (for a comprehensive
look at break dancing).
Rock And Roll Heart (1998 - 73min) Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6305037248
A thorough look at Lou Reed's musical career. As of 09/09 out of print,
can find used on Amazon, otherwise hard to find.
Rock My Religion (1984 - 55min) Dan Graham
Experimental, low-budget, art film. Presents some interesting ideas about
rock and roll music as religion. Hard to find, I don't think this ever
made it to DVD. You can find places on the web to watch this online
or download it. Try this:
blog.lovehowlmuse.com/2009/05/17/dan-graham-rock-my-religion/
Rock School (2005 - 93min) Dan Argott
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436727
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A50431
Paul Green's School of Rock: www.schoolofrock.com
Looks at Paul Green's School of Rock in Philadelphia (which has since become
a national chain). Sort of the real-life
version of School of Rock. Very fun. Some younger and less talented
kids work on Black Sabbath. The more advanced ones work on Frank Zappa
tunes and get to go to the Frank Zappa festival in Germany.
Roots of Rhythm (1994 - 150min) Eugene Rosow, Howard Dratch, Les Blank
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005ABEP
Originally produced in 1989 with the name Routes of Rhythm and
shown on PBS.
Runnin' Down a Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (2007 - 240min) Peter Bogdanovich
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001FWRZ0U
There is a 2-disc DVD set with the 4-hour documentary, and a 4-disc set with
additional features.
Scratch (2001 - 92min) Doug Pray
Director's website: www.dougpray.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006AL1G
About turntablists. Super-cool, as expected from Doug Pray. (See also
Hype!, Infamy, Big Rig, Surfwise).
The Search for Robert Johnson (1992 - 72min) Chris Hunt
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000050IKX
Narrated by John Hammond.
Shut Up and Sing (2006 - 91min) Barbara Kopple
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Chicks:_Shut_Up_and_Sing
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0811136
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KX0IN6
Follows the controversy that erupted after Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks
stated at a concert on London that they were against the war and were ashamed
that the president was from Texas.
Song of the Dunes (2009 - 85min) Paula Fouce, William Hougse
Official Site: www.songofthedunes.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1467081
Looks at some tribes of musicians and snake-charmers who have been trapped in
India's caste system, still in effect after being illegal for decades.
have not yet seen
Sound of the Soul (2005 - 68min) Stephen Olsson
Subtitled: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music
Official Site: www.cemproductions.org/sound.shtml
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1054511
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001FQRINK
Speaking in Strings (1999 - 73min) Paola di Florio
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaking_in_Strings
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0181835
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0005J75T
About violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg.
Stranger: Bernie Worrell on Earth (2004 - 40min) Philip Di Fiore
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0443657
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TV4QXM
Sunshine Superman: The Journey of Donovan (2008 - 180min) Hannes Rossacher
Official Site: www.sunshinesupermanthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1691878
DVDTalk Review: www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/35052/sunshine-superman/
Amazon (DVD 2-disc 2008): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005QKAZ
Donovan spends three hours telling his entire musical history, interspersed
with lots of archival clips. A second disc includes a couple more hours.
If you like Donovan (which I do), you will like this.
Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (1995 - 83min) Steven M. Martin
Wikipedia (Theremin): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0108323
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005BKZO
Thoth (2002 - 40min) Sarah Kernochan
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoth_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CCW2VG
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0299178
About the amazing street musician and performance artist S.K. Thoth. Very
special - check it out. DVD was once available separately, is now packaged
together as an extra feature with the DVD for Marjoe, an earlier
film from the same director.
To Tulsa and Back: On Tour with J.J. Cale (2005 - 90min) Jorg Bundschuh
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0452029
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBHCBY
German film released on DVD by Time/Life. DVD includes over an hour of
extras. Indepth coverage of the legendary mysterious master of laid-back,
"cool" electric guitar. Note the solid 5-star reviews at Amazon. This is
a treasure.
Tom Dowd and the Language of Music (2003 - 82min) Mark Moormann
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00011ZBOS
Totally Wired (2009? - 79min) Niamh Guckian
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002IKLV3A
About a synthesizer store in Berlin - Schneiders Buero.
Touch the Sound - A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie (2004 - 99min) Thomas Riedelsheimer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0424509
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F0UUSM
About the deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie. We'll give it an A for amazing.
Towncraft (2007 - 104min) Richard Matson
Official Site: www.towncraftmovie.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000Q6GX1I
Documents the independent punk rock scene in Little Rock, Arkansas over the
last 20 years. This scene, which arose in the late 80's was comprised entirely
of youngsters 14-18 years old, who made their own music, records, shows, zines,
everything. Definitive example of DIY (Do It Yourself). The DVD package
includes 3 discs - The DVD, and 2 CDs of music, plus a 60-page book.
Twist (1992 - 78min) Ron Mann
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000067IY8
Myspace: www.myspace.com/ronmann
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0105667
Official Site: www.sphinxproductions.com/films/twist/
Wow - this was a cool find! The story of the Twist - yes, the "dance craze"
of the early sixties. And so as well the story of rock and roll and of how
America and the world went from the fifties to the sixties, "from square
to aware". This is not only a really fun film, but perhaps full of profound
insights. Before the twist, couples danced holding onto each other, followed
well-defined steps, and did not move their hips. The Twist introduced moving
the hips, dancing free-style (although there is a simple form to the twist),
and dancing apart (or even alone or in groups). There is a clip of Marshall
McLuhan on TV, explaining that the Twist is cold, not hot, and uses the whole
body, making it less sexual than earlier dances.
Ron learns that the song the dance was based on was not originally done
by Chubby Checker, so he finds the original artist, Hank Ballard, and
interviews him. Lots of other interviews, including American Bandstand
dancers explaining how they copied dances from black people and would never
admit it at the time. I watched this 3 times in 3 nights. A top favorite.
Ron Mann also made the excellent Grass and Know Your Mushrooms.
Until the Light Takes Us (2009 - 93min) Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell
Official Site: www.blackmetalmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Until_The_Light_Takes_Us
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1014809
Amazon (DVD): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003R9K08S
Amazon (DVD 2-disc): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003V6L92I
Amazon (BluRay): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003R9K08I
All about Norwegian black metal.
Urgh! A Music War (1981 - 116min) Derek Burbidge
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0138902
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002WJHBEU
Live performances of some 80's bands. Not as interesting as I had hoped,
but has some cool stuff.
Wasted Orient (2007 - 92min) Kevin Fritz
Official Site: www.wastedorient.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1056142
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000UDZNS6
A close look (maybe too close) at a punk-rock band called Joyside in
Beijing, China.
We Call it Skweee (2009 - 60min) Iacopo Patierno, David Giese
Official Site: www.wecallitskwee.com
We Juke Up In Here! (2012)
Official Site: www.wejukeupinhere.com
Wesley Willis - The Daddy of Rock'N'Roll (2003 - 110min) Daniel Bitton
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008R9LC
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Willis
A newer film, Wesley Willis's Joyrides, comes out soon (see below).
Wesley's song, "Rock and Roll McDonalds" was used in Supersize Me
Wesley Willis's Joy Rides (2009) Chris Bagley, Kimberly Shively
Official site: www.wesleywillissjoyrides.com
Art of Wesley Willis: www.artofwesleywillis.com
Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everyone Talkin' About Him)? (2006 - 116min) John Scheinfeld
Official site: www.whoisharrynilsson.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0410907
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VZNAUS
The Wild World of Hasil Adkins (1993 - 29min) Julien Nitzberg
DVD Available from: www.appalshop.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0410907
A look at "the Father of Psychobilly". Hasil Adkins made rockabilly
records in the 50's, Fat Possum recorded him in 1998 (What Was I
Thinking?), he passed away in 2005. This film was shot where Hasil lived,
in Boone County, West Virginia, also home to Jesco and the White Family (see
Dancing Outlaw and The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West
Virginia). We get to see Hasil performing in a local bar
run by Mamie White (Jesco's sister).
As depicted and explained in the film, Hasil was a "one-man-band". He sang
and played guitar (and harmonica) while playing a drumset with his feet.
He would normally just use the bass drum and hi-hat pedals. He has inspired
quite a few modern rock and rollers, who mostly have modified this concept
a bit, usually using a pedal on the snare drum (so as to get a full beat,
bass and snare - BOOM BOOM POP). I got to see Hasil play in
1999. They said he got off the plane asking for vodka and gravy.
Check my Hasil Adkins page.
Woodstock (1970 - 184min) Michael Wadleigh
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_(film)
Amazon (Director's Cut DVD 1997): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0790729350
Amazon (Director's Cut DVD 2-disc 2009): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NXDSLQ
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0066580
Woody & His Guitar (2005 - 172min)
Wu (2008 - 79min) Gerald K. Barclay
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DHXT7K
The story of the Wu Tang Clan.
X: The Unheard Music (1986 - 84min) W. T. Morgan
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006L0LM0
You See Me Laughin' (2002 - 77min) Mandy Stein
Subtitled: The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007R8FOE
Fat Possum Records: www.fatpossum.com
Looks at some of the major guys on the Fat Possum label, including
R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford, and Cedell Davis.
Matthew Johnson's Fat Possum label started recording these guys just
in time to get them some attention before their days were done. Kimbrough
and Burnside have passed on, but not without making a stack of
ultra-cool records first. These guys are not exactly Delta blues, but
Northern Mississippi hill country, like Mississippi Fred McDowell.
A lot of the footage seen here was shot by Bradley Beasley (see
Okie Noodling, The Creek Runs red) for his first feature
documentary film, Hill Stomp Hollar, which showed a few times on
TV before Fat Possum bought the rights to it and used much of it to make
their own film. It would be cool if we got to see that one, but this
is a cool film anyway, how could it not be, with these guys?
For a while there (and maybe still) you could just buy anything
on Fat Possum and trust that you were getting a record you would
be happy with. If you're into R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough,
T-Model Ford, or if you don't know about them, you want to see this film.
You're Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erikson (2005 - 94min) Kevin McAlester
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0791268
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_Gonna_Miss_Me
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roky_Erikson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000P0J060
Environment
Lots of films pertaining to the environment can be found here:
www.greenplanetfilms.org
The 11th Hour (2007 - 95min) Nadia Conners, Leila Conners Peterson
Official Site: 11thhourfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492931
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Hour_(documentary)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005JPXA
Leonardo DiCaprio presents the global warming issue. This film is scary but
also hopeful, as it explores possible solutions.
Some interesting special features including an interview with Paul Stamets.
A Crude Awakening (2006 - 85min) Basil Gelpe, Ray McCormack, Reto Caduff
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0776794
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000PY52IG
A Different Path (2010 - 80min) Montieth McCollum
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1611806
Official Site: www.thirtymilesfromanywhere.com
Review: www.sxsw.com/node/4408
Looks at some aspects of urban design, specifically sidewalks and
transportation.
Addicted to Plastic (2008 - 85min) Ian Connacher
Director's website: www.crypticmoth.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001U0D7A4
Very interesting look at plastic. What it is, health issues, pollution of the
oceans, alternatives. Serious stuff - recommended.
The Age of Stupid (2009 - 92min) Franny Armstrong
Official Site: www.ageofstupid.net
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Age_of_Stupid
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1300563
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003JYOFB4
DVD is double-disc with many extras.
An Inconvenient Truth (2006 - 96min) Davis Guggenheim
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ICL3KG
Al Gore gives his presentation on global warming.
Bananas!* (2009 - 87min) Fredrik Gertten
Official Site: www.bananasthemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananas!*
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1452291
Amazon (DVD 05/10/2011 Oscilloscope): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Z6YMFK
Covers the lawsuit against Dole involving the use of the banned pesticide
DBCP (dibromochloropropane, also called Nemagon, Fumagon and various other
trade names). The chemical is sprayed on bananas fields and causes
sterility in workers exposed to it.
Bhopali (2011 - 89min) Max Carlson
Official Site: www.bhopalithemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1710260
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster
Beyond the Light Switch (2010 - 114) Ed Moore
Subtitle: What Will the Future of Energy Look Like?
Official Site: www.beyondthelightswitch.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0057FGD18
2-disc set, from Detroit Public Television.
Blind Spot (2008 - 86min) Adolfo Doring
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1285158
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002042LK6
Blood of the Amazon (2010)
Official Site: www.bloodoftheamazon.com
Blue Vinyl (2002 - 98min) Daniel B. Gold, Judith Helfand
Official Site: www.bluevinyl.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0303307
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006212H2
Born to Be Wild (2011 - 40min) David Lickley
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Be_Wild_3D
Official Site: www.imax.com/borntobewild/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1680059
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004EPZ0AW
Call of Life: Facing the Mass Extinction (2010 - 60min) Monte Thompson
Official Site: www.calloflife.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1002965
DVD: www.videoproject.com/calloflife.html
Carbon Nation (2010 - 86min) Peter Byck
Official Site: www.carbonnationmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1482991
The Chances of the World Changing (2005 - 99min) Eric Daniel Metzgar
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000S0GYNY
Very sad. Looks at a guy who has dedicated himself to preserving various
species of turtles. Can't quite keep it going, and has to find homes for
hundreds of turtles, many endangered. There is a whole subculture of people
trying to preserve endangered species until a time when people might be sane
enough to restore the habitats that have been destroyed.
Clear Cut: The Story of Philomath, Oregon (2006 - 72min) Peter Richardson
Official Site: www.clearcutmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492947
Cool It (2010 - 98min) Ondi Timoner
Official Site: www.coolit-themovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cool_It_(film)
Bjorn Lomborg at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bjorn_Lomborg
Bjorn Lomborg's Website: www.lomborg.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1694015
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004IN75D0
A thorough look at the ideas of Bjorn Lomborg, author of The Skeptical
Environmentalist and Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's
Guide to Global Warming. Lomborg believes that man-made global warming is
a very real problem, but that everything so far proposed by governments
has been ineffective and a waste of large amounts of money. He proposes
radically different options and seeks to find the least expensive ways to
get the most effect. He exposes the corruption, misinformation,
politicalization, and fear-mongering in the global warming arena. Very
interesting and important film. Highly recommended.
Colony: The Endangered World of Bees (2009 - 88min) Carter Gunn, Ross McDonnell
Official Site: www.colonymovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1480655
Amazon (DVD 03/29/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004CJQVN0
Looks at CCD - Colony Collapse Disorder. See also Vanishing of the Bees.
The Creek Runs Red (2005) Bradley Beasley, James Payne, Julianna Brannum
Official Site: www.thecreekrunsred.com
PBS: www.pbs.org/independentlens/creekrunsred
Can Purchase Here: www.cinematicapparel.com
About Picher, Oklahoma, one of the largest superfund cleanup sites, and
the people who live there. Showed on PBS Independent Lens in November, 2007.
See also Tar Creek, below.
Crude (2009 - 104min) Joe Berlinger
Official Site: www.crudethemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1326204
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002N7W3IA
Examines the "Amazon Chernobyl", Exxon's dumping of billions of gallons of
toxic oil waste into the Amazon river.
Crude Impact (2006 - 97min) James Jandak Wood
Official Site: www.crudeimpact.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0932519
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001N4K6KQ
Dark Circle (1983 - 82min) Judy Irving, Chris Beaver
Dircetor's Website: www.pelicanmedia.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0162269
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KJU1IW
Important film about the nuclear industry. Follows the trail of
plutonium from Rocky Flats to Diablo Canyon to Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Deep Green (2010 - 102min) Matt Briggs
Official Site: www.deepgreenmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1521752
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00419435Y
Dive! (2010 - 40min) Jeremy Seifert
Official Site: www.divethefilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1490637
About food waste and dumpster diving. Mainly looks at food waste in the Los
Angeles area by stores such as Trader Joe's and efforts to divert this food
to food banks.
The Economics of Happiness (2011 - 67min) Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steve Gorelick, John Page
Official Site: www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1687905
The Electricity Fairy (2010 - 52min) Tom Hansell
Official Site: www.electricityfairy.org
The End of Suburbia (2004 - 78min) Gregory Greene
Subtitled: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream
Official Site: www.endofsuburbia.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0446320
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_Suburbia
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000VXUVSA
END:CIV Resist or Die (2011 - 75min) Franklin Lopez
Official Site: www.endciv.com
Director's Website: www.submedia.tv
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1830585
Interview with Director: theartofdismantling.blogspot.com/p/interview-with-franklin-lopez.html
Derrick Jensen at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Jensen
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00481KM1O
Based on ideas from Derrick Jensen's book Endgame.
Energy Crossroads (2010 - 55min) Christophe Fauchere
Official Site: www.energyxroads.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1480192
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000SNWA2A
Escape From Suburbia (2007 - 95min) Gregory Greene
Subtitled: Beyond the American Dream
Official Site: www.escapefromsuburbia.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1530487
Sequel to The End of Suburbia (see above).
First Earth: Uncompromising Ecological Architecture (2009 - 87min) David Sheen
Director's Website: www.davidsheen.com/firstearth
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1380891
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1604861991
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0037YHN0Q
About houses made of earth, which are shown to be the most appropriate
house-building material for all places and situations. The director's next film
will be about how people should live in communities. Includes subtitles in
nine languages (English, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Hebrew, Slovak,
Polish, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese). See also Garbage
Warrior (below). Very interesting and important film.
Garbage Warrior (2006 - 88min) Oliver Hodge
Official Site: www.garbagewarrior.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1104694
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001CB96LK
About Mike Reynolds, who has been building "Earthships" in New Mexico
for decades. Earthships are self-contained human houses, sometimes built with
waste materials, which need no water, sewer, gas, or electric lines. Rainwater
is caught on the roof and stored under the house. Passive solar design keeps
building warm in winter and cool in summer. At some point the state started
to harass him due to non-conformance with building codes. He fought for awhile,
then gave up and went to help tsunami victims in Indonesia, teaching them how
to build houses with coke bottles and mud. Then went to help with Katrina.
Then went back to fighting legal battle in New Mexico, finally succeeding in
getting law passed to allow state to issue permits for experimental buildings.
Very inspiring. Although many of his houses are shown and explained, this
is not really a how-to-build video. There are lots of books available with
details on how to build Earthships. Just search Amazon for Earthship or
Mike Reynolds. An important film for the future evolution of
civilization. Highly recommended. See also First Earth (above).
Gas Hole (2011 - 101min) Scott Roberts, Jeremy Wagener
Official Site: www.gasholethemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gashole
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333998
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004L51CZM
Gimme Green (2006 - 27min) Isaac Brown, Eric Flagg
Official Site: www.gimmegreen.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1015986
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000V28E14
From the DVD cover: "Lawns are undeniably an American Symbol. But what do they
really symbolize? Pride and prosperity? Or waste and conformity? Gimme Green is
a humorous look at the American obsession with the residential lawn and the
effects it has on our environment, our wallets, and our outlook on life.
From the limitless subdivisions of Florida to sod farms in the arid southwest,
Gimme Green peers behind the curtain of the $40-billion industry that fuels our
nation's largest irrigated crop - the lawn." (sold as DVD-R)
As a member of the lawncare and landscaping industry (and a human who
cares about the planet) I found this very interesting and entertaining.
Lots of information is packed into this little film.
Go Further (2003 - 80min) Ron Mann
Official Site: www.sphinxproductions.com/films/gofurther/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0366522
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Further
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007XT7OA
The Great Global Warming Swindle (2007 - 120min) Martin Durkin
Official Site: www.greatglobalwarmingswindle.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001C17EVE
There's two sides to this story. The "deniers" are not saying that there is
no climate change. They are saying that there may be global cooling, there
may be global warming, there may all kinds of climate change, maybe quite
catastrophic, but that it is not due to man-made CO2 emmissions (or at least
that that has not been proven). There has always been climate change,
there just has never before been a huge population
which is totally dependent upon industrial agriculture and other structures
which can be greatly affected by climate change. The sun is the major force
behind climate change, as measured by sunspot activity. In my opinion humans
are destroying the planet as quickly as possible in every way we can, and
this needs to change. But the man-made CO2 global-warming cap-and-trade
scheme that Al Gore has convinced so many to embrace is not what it seems
and will do nothing to help us. This film may have some flaws, but so do the
arguments on the other side. Probably you can find most or all of this film
available to watch online for free.
Hauling (2010 - 95min) Sean Walsh
Official Site: www.haulingdoc.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauling_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1531677
Looks at a man named Claudines, who makes his living recycling in
Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Haynesville (2009 - 74min) Gregory Kallenberg
Official Site: www.haynesvillemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1523293
H2Oil (2009 - 76min) Shannon Walsh
Official Site: www.h2oildoc.com
Official Site: www.toxicfuels.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1337497
Helen's War (2006 - 84min) Anna Broinowski
Helen Caldicott's Official Site: www.helencaldicott.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0435005
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000I2QKQP4
Home (2009 - 118min) Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Official Site: www.homethemovie.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1014762
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0026OE2NY
Consists entirely of aerial footage of the Earth. Tells the story of how
life evolved, how life works and how humans are affecting the planet.
Narrated by Glenn Close.
Houston We Have A Problem (2009 - 82min) Nicole Torre
Official Site: www.houstonwehaveaproblemfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1400398
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004O63TW2
If A Tree Falls (2011 - 85min) Marshall Curry
Subtitled: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Official Site: www.ifatreefalls.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1787725
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0053YS9XI
This might be more accurately placed in the political category, but we'll
leave it here.
Into Eternity (2010 - 75min) Michael Madsen
Official Site: www.intoeternitythemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_Eternity_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1194612
Looks at the construction of an underground nuclear waste disposal facility
in Finland.
The Last Mountain (2011 - 95min) Bill Haney
Official Site: www.thelastmountainmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1787816
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0055V6EX6
Libby, Montana (2004 - 116min) Drury Gunn Carr, Doug Hawes-Davis
PBS: www.pbs.org/pov/libbymontana/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libby,_Montana_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0433408/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RG1HHW
Libby, Montana is the site for a large vermiculite mine run by the W.R.
Grace Company. The mining process stirs up a very toxic form of asbestos
dust which has affected all of the over 2000 residents. Shown on PBS in 2007.
Metanoia - A New Vision of Nature (2007 - 64min) Simon G. Powell
Director's Site: www.psychoactive-media.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0023W64TE
Wow - this was a mind-blowing experience to watch. Highly recommended.
The film totally explains the obvious missing point of view in the debate about
evolution between science and religion.
Puts forth the idea that orthodox science and religion both miss the concept of
natural intelligence. Science sees evolution (including life itself) as random
chance, while religion puts the intelligence outside of nature. Suggests
replacing "survival of the fittest" with "survival of what makes sense".
Uses the example of computer generated evolution to show that the intelligence
in the process of evolution depends on the intelligence in the software
and the hardware. Although a low-budget, do-it-yourself film, this is very
well made and contains some state-of-the-art animation. Can order from Amazon,
I ordered it from home site, it was about $21 and showed up in the mail from
Switzerland in about a week. (Supplied as a DVD-R).
Mine Your own Business (2006 - 66min) Phelim McAleer, Ann McElhinney
Subtitled: The Dark Side of Environmentalism
Official Site: www.mineyourownbusiness.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mine_Your_Own_Business
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1054497
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0019A35G6
The Natural State of America (2011 - 76min) Terrell Case, Timothy Lucas Wistrand, Matthew Corey Gattin
Official Site: www.naturalstateofamerica.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1748239
No Impact Man (2009 - 93min) Laura Gabbert, Justin Schein
Official Site: www.noimpactdoc.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1280011
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002RX8G5E
Not Evil Just Wrong (2009 - 90min) Phelim McAleer, Ann McElhinney
Subtitled: The True Cost of Global Warming Hysteria
Official Site: www.noteviljustwrong.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Evil_Just_Wrong
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1493038
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003FNQ0I0
Mother Jones: motherjones.com/politics/2009/11/tea-partiers-next-target-climate-bill
Oil, Smoke and Mirrors (2007 - 50min) Ronan Doyle
Official Site: www.oilsmokeandmirrors.net
Google Video: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8677389869548020370
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017W6HO8
Petroapocalypse Now? (2008 - 48min) Andrew Evans
Official Site: www.petroapocalypsenow.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1322970
Petropolis (2010 - 45min) Peter Mettler
Subtitled: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
Official Site: www.petropolis-film.com
Official Site: www.toxicfuels.com
The Planet (2006 - 110min) Johan Soderberg, Michael Stenberg, Linus Torell
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Planet
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0950758
Plastic Planet (2010 - 95min) Werner Boot
Official Site: www.firstrunfeatures.com/plasticplanet/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1292648
Amazon (DVD 04/12/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004IY3G32
Revenge of the Electric Car (2011 - 90min) Chris Paine
Official Site: www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_of_the_Electric_Car
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1413496
Amazon (DVD 01/24/12): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005T2FZK6
Sequel to Who Killed the Electric Car? (see below)
DVD releases JAN 24, 2012.
Song of the Canary (1978 - 58min) Josh Hanig
Distributor (VHS): www.newday.com/films/Song_of_the_Canary.html
Info on the filmmaker: www.newday.com/filmmakers/Josh_Hanig.html
Looks at workplace exposure to DBCP (see also Bananas!*) and at
conditions in textile factories in the American south. Needs to be
issued on DVD.
Submission (2010 - 87min) Stefan Jarl
Subtitle: In Defence of the Unborn
Swedish Title: Underkastelsen
Official Site: www.underkastelsen.se
Director's Website: www.stefanjarl.se
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1732756
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submission_(2010_film)
Explores the effects on humans of the hundreds of chemicals that we are all
exposed to on a daily basis. An international version with English narration
has been produced, so hopefully this will be available on DVD before too long.
From the director's website:
"April 20, 2010 SUBMISSION - In Defence of the Unborn
A documentary by Stefan Jarl featuring Eva Rose and 23 professors.
Thirty years ago I began shooting a documentary, which came to be called
Natures Revenge (Naturens Hamnd). It was about how humans manipulate nature
and how nature strikes back. Since that day I have been continuously collecting
material for a new film on the same theme; however, much more than a
Natures Revenge, part 2. Submission is a documentary about the chemical society,
the society we have been building since the Second World War. Back then, humans
used 1 million tons of chemicals per year; the figure today is 500 million
tons. The chemical industry is the fastest-growing industry in the world.
The film is about the 100,000 chemicals we use every day, what they're used for
and what they do to us and our health. And I don't mean food additives.
I'm talking about chemicals we are exposed to in our daily environments:
softeners (phthalates), flame retardants (PBDE), surfactants (PFOS, PFOA)
and so on. Professor Ake Bergman at Stockholm University is my guide
throughout the film, analysing the chemicals in my blood and explaining what
they are. It turns out I'm carrying several hundred foreign chemicals.
I can't hide my shock. After discovering the huge number of chemicals in my
blood, I turn to my friend Eva Rose and ask if she would like to test her
blood as well. Shes 35 years younger than me; surely she couldn't have picked
up as many chemicals as I have? Eva is pregnant at the time and has her baby
while the film is being made. Consulting a wide range of scientists from
the United States, the UK, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Finland,
Denmark and Sweden, I seek answers: What problems can these chemicals cause?
These are some of the worlds foremost experts, and they explain what we
currently know about effects and risks, the cocktail effect, hormone
disruptors and the vulnerability of unborn children. As I considered the
format for my film, I thought of Claude Lanzmann's documentary Shoah, which
is based solely on interviews. I decided to put my faith in the close-up,
the candid testimony of the human face. Rather than travelling to developing
nations and bringing home terrifying images, I chose a different path.
But why the title, Submission? Over the years I have grown to realise how
willing we humans are to submit to others terms. Its a holdover from our
earliest childhood. And commercial interests in society are quick to make
use of it. This interests me from a philosophical viewpoint. Just as Natures
Revenge showed that Mother Nature doesnt take kindly to manipulation and
strikes back at us, I now understand that humankind is prepared to submit
to whatever consequences our manipulations of nature throw our way.
The American musician Adam Wiltzie from the band Stars of the Lid made the
music. He calls the film a horror movie for the 21st century. I am aware
that this popular science essay film asks a lot of the audience, but
Like most of my other documentaries, Submission is, at the core, about
what kind of society we want to live in. This is the most important film
I've ever made. Ever. Stefan Jarl"
Tar Creek (2009 - 95min) Matt Myers
Official Site: www.tarcreekfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1478433
Tar Creek, in Picher, Oklahoma is one of the largest superfund cleanup sites,
still not cleaned up. See also The Creek Runs Red, above.
They Killed Sister Dorothy (2008 - 94min) Daniel Junge, Henry Ansbacher
Official Site: www.theykilledsisterdorothy.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Killed_Sister_Dorothy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1183701
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002HOP43U
Trashed (2007 - 77min) Bill Kirkos
Official Site: www.trashedmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1270490
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TRH4CQ
DVD-R. Very interesting. Interviews lots of people on many aspects of the
issue of waste management. Highly recommended.
Tree-Sit: The Art of Resistance (2005 - 100min) James Ficklin
Official Site: www.earthfilms.org
Very intense and interesting film about a scene that most people have
never even heard of. There is quite a subculture of folks trying to save
what little we have left of old-growth forest. Very moving film, everyone
needs to see. (original version on VHS was 120min, released maybe 2001,
current version is supplied as a DVD-R)
The Unforseen (2007 - 93min) Laura Dunn
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001BDZR2Q
Explores issues of suburban development. Focuses on Austin, Texas.
Vanishing of the Bees (2009 - 87min) George Langworthy, Maryam Henein
Official Site: www.vanishingbees.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanishing_of_the_Bees
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1521877
Amazon (DVD 06/14/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004SO26RE
Looks at CCD - Colony Collapse Disorder. Narrated by Ellen Page.
See also Colony.
Visions of Utopia - Part One (2002 - 94min) Geoph Kozeny
Visions of Utopia - Part Two (2009 - 124min) Geoph Kozeny
Subtitled: Experiments in Sustainable Culture
Official Site: Fellowship for Intentional Community: fic.ic.org/video
Available for $30 each or both for $50 from above site.
Explains and profiles intentional communities. Have not yet seen.
(no Amazon or Netflix).
What A Way To Go: Life At The End of Empire (2007 - 123min) Timothy S. Bennett
Official Site: www.whatawaytogomovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1413259
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0012YB9HG
Highly recommended. Includes interviews with Daniel Quinn, Derrick Jensen,
Ran Prieur.
Where Did The Horny Toad Go? Stefanie Leland
Official Site: www.jarofgrasshoppers.com
Wikipedia - Horned Lizard: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horned_lizard
Wikipedia - Texas Horned Lizard: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Horned_Lizard
Still in production as of summer 2011. Looking forward to this one. I
played with horny toads (Texas Horned Lizards) as a kid in Oklahoma all
the time. The babies were especially cute. Have not seen one for decades.
I bought a book a few years ago called Landscaping For Wildlife
(Jeremey D. Garret - University of Oklahoma Press 2003). It has a page on
the horny toad. It says that they have been threatened mainly by the
loss of their food source - red ants - due to pesticides. It is now illegal
to kill or capture them in Oklahoma, Texas or New Mexico, where they are
classified as a "species of concern".
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006 - 93min) Chris Paine
Official Site: www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car?
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0489037
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000I5Y8FU
There have been electric cars since there have been cars. Many successful
designs have been demonstrated. Why is it taking so long to see electric
cars on the road? Many angles are investigated in this excellent film.
Recommended. Followed by sequel in 2011 - Revenge of the Electric Car.
Water / Oceans
A Life Among Whales (2005 - 57min) Bill Haney
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0029KUHWA
Looks at whale biologist Dr. Roger Payne and issues with whales.
At the Edge of the World (2008 - 90min) Dan Stone
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1286499
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0048LVDIK
Looks at the Sea Shepard campaign against Japanese whaling ships.
Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez (2008 - 99min) Robert Cornellier
Official Site: www.blackwavethefilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1329316
Blue Gold: World Water Wars (2009 - 90min) Sam Bozzo
Official Site: www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Gold:_World_Water_Wars
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1137439
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001MWGZ6S
The Cove (2009 - 92min) Louie Psihoyos
Official Site: www.thecovemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cove_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1313104
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002PLMJ74
Won 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The End of the Line (2008 - 85min) Rupert Murray
Official Site: www.endoftheline.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_of_the_Line_(2009_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1176727
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002RB56W2
Looks at the problem of over-fishing in the oceans.
Flow - For Love of Water (2007 - 84min) Irena Salina
Official Site: www.flowthefilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow:_For_the_Love_of_Water
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001EUSYHQ
Gasland (2010 - 107min) Josh Fox
Official Site: www.gaslandthemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasland
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1558250
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0042EJD8A
Looks at the process of "fracking" (hydraulic fracturing), used in natural
gas drilling, which can result in drinking water being contaminated to the
point of being flamable. This is a very well-made, thorough and moving film.
Highly recommended.
Poisoned Waters (2009 - 120min) Rick Young
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0026HB2V6
PBS/Frontline.
Sharkwater (2007 - 89min) Rob Stewart
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharkwater
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0856008
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0013D8LHW
From some reason I wasn't excited about watching this, thinking it wouldn't
be all that interesting. But this turns out to be a really great film. The
director has been passionately interested in sharks since he was a little
kid and started swimming with them as a kid. He became a diver, an
underwater photographer and a biologist, which positions him as one of the
top experts on sharks. The film starts off with lots of very nice colorful
underwater scenes. He explains that sharks are actually not so dangerous
to humans and are usually afraid of humans. Then he goes on to show that
sharks are unprotected and are being quickly fished to extinction mainly
for their fins, which are used in sharkfin soup. As the top-level
predators in the ocean, sharks are greatly responsible for maintaining the
balance of the oceanic ecosystem. Also points out that the ocean makes
most of our oxygen. He teams up with Paul Watson and the
Sea Shepherds to try to enforce fishing laws in South America. There he
discovers that the Taiwanese mafia runs a huge secret sharkfin operation
out of Costa Rica. This is a very interesting film and a labor of love.
This film will certainly change anyone's perceptions about sharks as
dangerous useless creatures. Highly recommended.
Tapped (2009 - 76min) Stephanie Soechtig
Official Site: www.tappedthemovie.com
About the bottled water industry. See also Addicted to Plastic.
Water - The Great Mystery (2008 - 87min) Julia Perkul, Anastaysia Popova
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001EJ1WQW
Review: skepticdetective.wordpress.com/tag/water-the-great-mystery/
Looks at the work of Masaru Emoto and others. Emoto was in
What the Bleep and puts forth the idea that thoughts directed at
water will affect how the crystals are shaped when that water is frozen.
I'm a bit skeptical on this - see the link to the review above.
But - who knows?
Whales: An Unforgettable Journey (1997 - 60min) David Clark, Al Goodings, Roger Payne
Official Site: www.whalesfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120496
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/6305222509
The Whale Warrior: Pirate for the Sea (2008 - 100min) Ron Colby
Official Site: www.pirateforthesea.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Watson
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1308738
Amazon (DVD 2010): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002V19MAU
About Paul Watson.
Whale Wars (2008 - 2011)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_Wars
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1195419
Reality TV show on the Discovery Channel's Animal Planet covering
Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherds as they fight to protect whales from
illegal killing.
Food and Health
A River Of Waste: The Hazardous Truth About Factory Farms (2009 - 92min) Don McCorkell
Official site: www.ariverofwaste.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002CA68GG
American Meat (2010) Graham Meriwether
Official site: www.americanmeatfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1482980
The Botany of Desire (2009 - 116min) Michael W. Schwarz
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1421383
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botany_of_Desire
Amazon (DVD 2009 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002GXG59Y
Amazon (BluRay 2009 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002KLPAYS
The "movie version" of Michael Pollan's best-selling book of the same name.
Michael travels around to explain the natural history of apples,
tulips, marijuana, and potatoes, the four plants covered in the book.
He explores the idea that these (and other) plants may be manipulating humans
as much as the humans are manipulating the plants, each for their own
purposes.
Broken Limbs (2004 - 57min) Jamie Howell, Guy Evans
Subtitled: Apples, Agriculture and the New American Farmer
Official Site: www.brokenlimbs.org
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003AOD36G
About small farms and sustainable agriculture. have not yet seen
Dirt! The Movie (2009 - 80min) Bill Benenson, Gene Rosow
Official Site: www.dirtthemovie.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirt!_The_Movie
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1243971
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00366E1AK
Super-duper, very cool, very important film. This is a big subject for me,
as I dig in the dirt every day. I probably would have enjoyed this even if
it was a low-budget production. But this is a very well-made film and should
be interesting to almost anyone.
Earthlings (2005 - 95min) Shaun Monson
Official Site: www.earthlings.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthlings_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000QX0LE6
Farmageddon (2010 - 78min) Kristin Canty
Subtitled: The Unseen War on American Family Farms
Official Site: www.farmageddonmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1609113
DVD releases late Fall/Winter 2011. looking forward to it.
Fat Head (2008 - 104min) Tom Naughton
Official site: fatheadmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Head
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333994
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NRY6R2
This film counters arguments about obesity and fast food made in Morgan
Spurlock's film, Supersize Me. Very interesting. Now I don't feel
so scared eating butter.
Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead (2010 - 97min) Joe Cross, Kurt Engfehr
Official site: fatsickandnearlydead.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1227378
Amazon (DVD 10/01/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004O63TX6
At 100 pounds overweight, Joe Cross goes on a juice-fasting road trip to
learn how to heal. Tons of five-star reviews at Amazon.
Fed Up! (2006 - 58min) Angelo Sacerdote
Official site: wholesomegoodness.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1262033
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CNGC6G
Food Beware - The French Organic Revolution (2008 - 112min) Jean-Paul Jaud
French Title: Nos Enfants Nous Accuserant, AKA: That Should Not Be: Our Children Will Accuse Us
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1319645
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002LC3M32
Food, Inc. (2009 - 93min) Robert Kenner
Official Site: foodincmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food,_Inc.
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0027BOL4G
Food Matters (2008 - 80min) James Colquhoun, Laurentine ten Bosch
Official Site: www.foodmatters.tv
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001B3XVAW
Forks Over Knives (2011 - 96min) Lee Fulkerson
Official Site: www.forksoverknives.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1567233
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0053ZHZI2
Very well-made film presents the case for a plant-based diet.
Looks at animal foods as the cause of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and
other conditions. Highly recommended.
Fridays at the Farm (2006 - 19min) Richard Power Hoffman
Official Site: coyopa.com
The Future of Food (2004 - 88min) Deborah Koons Garcia
Official Site: www.thefutureoffood.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Future_of_Food
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0427276
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000V5IOWK
Very important film. Highly recommended.
The Garden (2009 - 80min) Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Official Site: www.thegardenmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_(2008_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1252486
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002ASVYO6
Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers - Les Blank (1980 - 51min)
Director's website: www.lesblank.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic_Is_as_Good_as_Ten_Mothers
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0080776
Rich and warm, as Les Blank's films always are, with lots of food and music. If
you like garlic, you will like this film. His stuff is hard to find, you may
need to order it from him directly. Last I checked, he was selling burned
DVD-R's, even though his website says DVDs.
Genetic Chile - (2010 - 60min) Chris Dudley
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003QHZKA4
Got the Facts on Milk? The Milk Documentary (2011 - 88min) Shira Lane
Official Site: www.milkdocumentary.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1065086
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005GX3HJM
Greens Can Save Your Life - Victoria Boutenko
Hybrid (2000 - 92min) Monteith McCollum
Official Site: www.pbs.org/pov/hybrid/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0267563
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ARXG5O
About Milford Beeghly, a guy who spent his life working on corn.
Maybe more of an art film than the usual documentary style.
Ingredients (2009 - 73min) Robert Bates
Official Site: www.ingredientsfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1352720
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004CJQVI0
"A seasonal exploration of the local food movement".
Juliette of the Herbs (1998) Tish Streeten
Official Site: JulietteoftheHerbs.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001BX10T0
Juliette passed away on May 28, 2009, at the age of 96.
Killer At Large (2009 - 105min) Steven Greenstreet
Subtitled: Why Obesity is America's Greatest Threat
Official site: www.killeratlarge.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NLAVL8
Interesting film with lots of information. Interviews some experts on
food and health. Footage of young girl having liposuction was not easy to
watch. DVD includes 48 minute abridged educational version.
King Corn (2007 - 90min) Aaron Woolf
Official site: www.kingcorn.net
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Corn_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1112115
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001EP8EOY
A couple of guys decide to grow some corn and follow it through the
production cycle.
Million Calorie March (2008 - 98min) Gary Marino, Jimmy Jay Friedan
Official site: www.millioncaloriemarch.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Calorie_March:_The_Movie
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1565961
My Father's Garden (1995 - 56min) Miranda Smith
Official Site: www.mirandaproductions.com/garden/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0245304
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00144N8LO
One Man, One Cow, One Planet(56min - 2008) Thomas Burstyn, Barbara Burstyn
Official site: www.onemanonecow.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1201582
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001F51MEM
Looks at Peter Proctor, guru of Biodynamic agriculture, and his efforts
to educate farmers on how to restore soil health. He is from New Zealand,
but now lives in India, where he does most of his work. Very inspiring.
Our Daily Bread (2005 - 92min) Nikolaus Geyrhalter
German Title: Unser Taglich Brot
Official Site: www.ourdailybread.at
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Daily_Bread_(2005_film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001N3R8WG
Scenes of industrial food production, filmed in fields, farms, factories,
slaughterhouses, greenhouses, labs, etc. No dialog.
Processed People (2009 - 40min)
Official Site: www.processedpeople.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001O49STU
DVD includes over 2 hours of extended interviews.
The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2005 - 82min) Taggart Siegel
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Dirt_on_Farmer_John
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0439774
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000WTVZ3U
Super-cool. Very interesting story. Highly recommended.
Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (2009 - 88min)
Official Site: www.rawfor30days.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1587696
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001BKLCCS
Supersize Me (2004 - 96min) Morgan Spurlock
Official Site: www.supersizeme.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersize_Me
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002OXVBO
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521
Morgan eats 3 meals a day at McDonalds for 30 days! Very entertaining film
explores the obesity epidemic in America, school lunch programs, and corporate
responsibility. A deleted scene included on the DVD reveals that his 30 days
at McDonalds generated 13 bags of garbage and that the amount of garbage
generated by the 30,000 McDonalds each day is enough to fill the Empire
State building - every day! I love this film and have watched in many times,
but I recommend also watching Fathead (see above), which presents
another side.
Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World (2004 - 90min) Cori Brackett, J.T. Waldron
Official Site: www.soundandfury.tv
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0454639
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BQ5IWS
About aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal). It is poison - don't drink diet sodas!
(See my aspartame page)
To Your Health (2011 - 52min) Jesse Pomeroy
Official Site: www.goingveg.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1846798
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005H3GY6E
Under Our Skin (2008 - 104min) Andy Abrahams Wilson
Official Site: www.underourskin.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Our_Skin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1202579
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0032JRA36
About Lyme disease.
What's On Your Plate (2009) Catherine Gund
Official Site: www.whatsonyourplateproject.org
Kids, food, and politics.
The World According to Monsanto (2008 - 108min) Marie-Monique Robin
French title: Le Monde Selon Monsanto
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_According_to_Monsanto
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1189345
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0028N3TW8
I think this can be found all over the web to watch free.
Cancer / Alternative Healing
The Beautiful Truth (2008 - 92min) Steve Kroschel
Official site: www.thebeautifultruthmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1288553
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001J66JQ8
About the Gerson therapy, which consists of eating fresh raw organic foods and
juices, along with coffee enemas (which are supposed to help detoxify liver).
The film spends a lot of time on mercury
fillings, flouridation, MSG, aspartame. Interviews with many doctors and
patients, and with Charlotte Gerson, Max Gerson's daughter. Same filmmaker
has two other films about the Gerson therapy. See below -
Dying to Have Known, and The Gerson Miracle.
All three are very interesting.
Burzynski: The Movie (2010 - 108min) Eric Merola
Official Site: www.burzynskimovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislaw_Burzynski
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1632703
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003X3CF68
Very intersting film. This is the story of Dr. Stanislaw Burnzinkski,
who has discovered a well-documented and proven cure for many
difficult types of cancer. He has been harrassed by the FDA and other
government agencies for decades. His cure involves antineoplastons,
proteins which he discovered were abundant in healthy people but lacking
in the blood of people with cancer. One thing that is missing in this film
is any discussion of how and why these chemicals are produced in healthy
people and why they are not produced in cancer patients. Burzinski's approach
is simply to administer the antineoplastons to cancer patients.
Cancer: The Forbidden Cures (2009 - 93min) Massimo Mazzucco
Official Site: www.usfilms.ea29.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003S02QII
Cancer and Diet - (36min) Cosmos Corbin
Subtitled: Using Food to Eliminate Cancer and Promote Recovery
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002L17GKS
have not seen.
Cancer Doesn't Scare Me Anymore
Official site: www.drday.com
Dr. Lorraine Day claims to have cured herself of cancer. Recommends diet and
other alternative means. She also brings a strong Christian angle into
the mix.
Cancer is Curable Now (2011 - 114min) Marcus Freudenmann
Official Site: www.canceriscurablenow.tv
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1941476
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0987086901
Cancer Nutrition and Healing - A Personal Odyssey (2005 - 85min) Jerry Brunetti
Acres USA: www.acresusa.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E425MA
Cancer survivor explains basic info on cancer, conventional treatments, and
details his personal program of raw foods, juices, and supplements.
Very good.
Crazy Sexy Cancer (2007 - 90min) Kris Carr
Official site: www.crazysexycancer.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0960749
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Sexy_Cancer
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000YV1KVI
Young woman living in New York City is diagnosed with rare incurable cancer
in 2003. Decides to make a documentary film detailing her experiences with
cancer and with conventional and alternative treatments. Excellent film,
highly recommended. DVD has some good special features. Kris also
has a book of the same name.
Dying to Have Known - (2006 - 80min) Steve Kroschel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1782426
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001J66JQI
About the Gerson Therapy.
Everything Bad is Good - (2009 - 60min) Len Richmond
Subtitled: Healing Yourself in a World of Medicine Gone Mad
Official Site: www.lenrichmondfilms.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1469282
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002D3U4OO
Fight for Your Life - (2003 - 120min) David Hoffman
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001LQL56
Dr. Siegel's website: www.berniesiegelmd.com
Dr. Bernie Siegel presents stories of four cancer survivors.
The Gerson Miracle - (2004 - 91min) Steve Kroschel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0465472
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001J66JQS
Tells the story of Max Gerson and gives details of the therapy.
Healing Cancer From Inside Out - (2008 - 120min) Mike Anderson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00132XZFQ
Director's website: www.ravediet.com
Hoxsey - How Healing Becomes a Crime - (1987 - 83min) Ken Ausubel
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006H3194
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0175753
Interesting story of an alternative healer.
The Living Matrix - (2009 - 83min) Greg Baker, Harry Massey
Subtitled: A Film on the New Science of Healing
Official Site: www.thelivingmatrixmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1499960
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002GZFG4W
Features Lynne McTaggart, Peter Fraser, Bruce Lipton, Eric Pearl,
Edgar Mitchell, James Oschman, Marilyn Mandala Schlitz,
Rollin McCraty, Rupert Sheldrake, Arielle Essex, Dean Radin,
Herman Koning, Folker Meissner, Dietmar Cimbal, Howard Martin,
Deborah Rozman, Fritz-Albert Popp, Adam Dreamhealer. New Biology, quantum
biology, bodyfield, epigenetics, bioenergy, bioinformation, etc...
Very interesting, inspirational, highly recommended.
Rethinking Cancer - (56min)
Official Site: www.rethinkingcancer.org
Serpent and the Sun - (2009 - 92min) Shaahin Cheyene
Subtitled: Tales of an Aztec Apprentice
Official Site: www.serpentandthesun.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1059316
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002QWRSU0
The Science and Politics of Cancer: A Discourse by G. Edward Griffin - (75min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00118XHPK
Vaccine Nation - (2008 - 140min) Gary Null
Official Site: www.vaccinenation.net
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1214118
Wikipedia (Gary Null): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Null
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001RFYFCQ
Political, War
A thorough filmography on the Vietnam War:
www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/vietfilms.html
A Film Unfinished (2010 - 88min) Yael Hersonski
Official Site: www.afilmunfinished.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1568923
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004EI2NWM
A Grin Without A Cat (1977 - 240min/original, 180min/1993) Chris Marker
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Grin_Without_a_Cat
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0076042
Icarus Films: www.icarusfilms.com/new2001/grin.html
Review at DVDTalk: www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2891grin.html
Review at Film Threat: www.filmthreat.com/reviews/2824/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001WYHKQK
A Time for Burning (1966 - 58min) Bill Jersey, Barbara Connell
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0062372
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BB153Y
Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story (2006 - 81min) Patty Kim, Chris Sheridan
Official Site: www.abductionfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0495060
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abduction:_The_Megumi_Yokota_Story
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DAVUOG
North Korea has been kidnapping Japanese children.
About Baghdad (2004 - 90min) Sinan Antoon
Official Site: www.aboutbaghdad.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/About_Baghdad
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0450958
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009K3I9G
The Agronomist (2003 - 91min) Jonathan Demme
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007XBLK8
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0377031
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Agronomist
Tells the story of Haitian national hero, journalist, and freedom fighter
Jean Dominique. As the owner of Haiti's only free radio station, Dominique
spent a lot of time in exile in NYC, where Demme filmed him during the 80's
and 90's. He was assassinated in 2000. Excellent, as you would expect from
this master filmmaker.
American Jihadist (2010 - 68min) Mark Claywell
Official Site: www.americanjihadist.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1508011
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004MA1K0I
The American Ruling Class (2005 - 89min) John Kirby
Official Site: www.theamericanrulingclass.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Ruling_Class
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0455906
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001HM2CE2
A "dramatic documentary musical" (don't worry there's only 3 or 4 musical
numbers and they're not that bad). Lewis Lapham takes a couple of fictional
Yale graduates around to meet various people as they decide whether they
want to try to join the ruling class or work to change the world. Lots of
food for thought. Many interesting people are in this film. I was most
happy and surprised to see Barbara Ehrenreich (author of
Nickel and Dimed) and Peter Seeger, who appears at the end of the
film. We also meet with a lot of members of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Anderson Platoon (1966 - 60min) (Black and White) Peter Schoendorffer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0062244
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anderson_Platoon
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001L4L96I
Award-winning French documentary about a platoon of 33 Americans early
in the Viet Nam war. Intense and very real footage from the frontline.
Apocalypse Africa: Made in America (2008 - 72min) Del Walters
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DB6J46
Argentina: Hope in Hard Times (2004 - 74min) Mark Dworkin, Melissa Young
have not seen. very hard to find.
Aristide and the Endless Revolution (2005 - 82min) Nicolas Rossier
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0490079
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FI8MFM
Armadillo (2010 - 105min) Janus Metz Pederson
Official Site: www.armadillothemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1640680
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005E09TGW
The Battle of Chile (1975,1976,1979 - 262min) Patricio Guzman
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0078831
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Battle_of_Chile
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002EOVWVQ
Available as a 4-disc set:
Disc 1 - The Battle of Chile Part 1 - The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie - 1975 - 96min
Disc 2 - The Battle of Chile Part 2 - The Coup d'Etat - 1976 - 88min
Disc 3 - The Battle of Chile Part 3 - The Power of the People - 1979 - 79min
Disc 4 - Chile, Obstinate Memory - 1997 - 58min
Better This World (2011 - 98min) Katie Galloway, Kelly Duane de la Vega
Official Site: www.betterthisworld.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1460739
The Big One (1998 - 95min) Michael Moore
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_One_(film)
Official Site: www.dogeatdogfilms.com/tbo.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0124295
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008L3TE
Humorous yet serious documentary about corporate downsizing in America. From
the director of Roger and Me, based on the book Downsize This!
Bhutto (2010 - 111min) Duane Baughman, Johnny O'Hara
Official Site: www.bhuttothefilm.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1524095
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004NPQB3S
Blind Spot: Hitler's Secretary (2002 - 87min) Andre Heller
German Title: Im toten Winkel
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Im_toten_Winkel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0311320
Blood and Oil: The Middle East in World War I (2006 - 112min) Marty Callaghan
Official Site: www.bloodandoil.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0828364
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000HEWH3C
Bowling for Columbine (2002 - 119min) Michael Moore
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008DDVV
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_for_Columbine
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0310793
Official site: BowlingForColumbine.com
Michael Moore's Home Page: www.michaelmoore.com
Though I'm not as much of a Michael Moore fan as I once was, I still
recommend this as a really cool film about guns and fear in America.
Won Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2002. The title comes from the fact
that the two students who did the shooting at Columbine supposedly went to
their bowling class earlier that morning. The 2-hour film covers a lot of
territory and the Columbine shootings are really just a jumping off point.
There is actually quite a bit to the Columbine story which is not covered
in this film. (For more info on Columbine, see
CRTF Forum).
As in Moore's other docu's (Roger and Me, The Big One),
serious subject matter is presented in a humorous and entertaining way.
Though things get a bit heavy with the security cam footage from the
shooting and with the story of a 6-year-old shooting another 6-year-old
in Flint, Michigan. Tons of cool stuff is woven into the film, including
a hilarious bit from Chris Rock ("We don't need no gun control, we need
BULLET control!") and an interesting interview with Marilyn Manson.
I thought he was a bit unfair in his treatment of James Nichols (who in
fact sued Moore over this). I doubt
that Moore has looked deeply into the story of the OKC bombing (check
this out).
Lots of very interesting insights about the culture of fear in America.
He interviews Barry Glassner, author of
Culture of Fear.
Broken Rainbow (1985 - 70min) Victoria Mudd
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0088857
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Rainbow_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBFZ18
About the government-enforced relocation of Navaho from their land in
Arizona, starting in the 1970's. Won Academy Award for Best Documentary.
Burma VJ: Reporting From a Closed Country (2009 - 84min) Anders Ostergaard
Official Site: www.burmavjmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333634
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_VJ
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002BWP3WU
Details the September 2007 uprising against the Burmese military regime. Some
dramtic re-enactments are used. Mainly we see video footage that has been
smuggled out of the country by activists who risk imprisonment for being
caught with a camera. Very intense, rivetting film, highly recommended.
Bush Family Fortunes (2004 - 62min) Steve Grandison
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0435612
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002T7YWQ
Greg Palast investigates George W. Bush.
Bush's Brain (2004 - 80min) Jaques Vroom
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush's_Brain
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000B5XP2E
About Karl Rove.
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010 - 118min) Alex Gibney
Official Site: www.casinojackmovie.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003L20IGU
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1540814
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Jack_and_the_United_States_of_Money
About Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the corruption of the U.S.
government. Not to be confused with the 2010 feature film Casino Jack
on the same subject.
China: A Century of Revolution (2000 - 360min) Sue Williams
Amazon (3-DVD set 2007 Zeitgeist): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000Q7ZOLC/
Director's Website: www.ambrica.com
This is actually 3 different films:
DISC 1: China in Revolution: 1911-1949 (1989)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0293034
DISC 2: The Mao Years: 1949-1976 (1994)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0293392
DISC 3: Born Under the Red Flag: 1976-1997 (1997)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0118850
Also from the same director: China in the Red,
Young and Restless in China
China: The Rebirth of an Empire (2010 - 86min) Jeremy Veverka, Jesse Veverka
Official Site: www.chinarebirth.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1521721
The Civil War: A Film By Ken Burns (1990 - 680min) Ken Burns
Official Site: www.pbs.org/civilwar/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Civil_War_(TV_Series)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0098769
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BITUE8
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer (2010 - 117min) Alex Gibney
Official Site: www.client9themovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Client_9
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1638362
Collapse (2010 - 81min) Chris Smith
Official Site: www.collapsemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003CJXJ8Q
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1503769
Not sure what to think about this one. Good to be a bit skeptical of the
"conspiracy guys". Sometimes they have the real story, sometimes they may be
spinning something for a reason that is not easy to see. Good, even treatment
here - the filmmaker just sits down with Ruppert and lets him talk. Ruppert
says he can see a collapse coming and that is currently his main preoccupation.
(Chris Smith also did American Movie and The Yes Men).
Cointelpro 101 (2010 - 56min)
Official Site: www.freedomarchives.org/Cointelpro.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1753602
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004NTDF42
Constantine's Sword (2007 - 96min) Oren Jacoby
Official Site: constantinessword.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0902270
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine's_Sword_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00181XY6M
Control Room (2004 - 86min) Jehane Noujaim
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002X8U4I
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0391024
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_Room_(film)
Looks at Al Jazeera (newly started middle-eastern TV network) right at the
beginning of the Iraq war (2003). Very cool film. Highly recommended.
Countdown to Zero (2010 - 89min) Lucy Walker
Official Site: www.takepart.com/countdowntozero
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1572769
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countdown_to_Zero
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00406UK82
Darfur Now (2007 - 98min) Ted Braun
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfur_Now
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0988102
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0015XHR6G
Declassified: Human Experimentation (1999 - 45min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0019KAQ68
This is an episode of the TV show History Undercover from the History
Channel. Barely touches this vast subject, but does go into some detail
on a few examples. Looks at plutonium injections given to hospital patients
in the 40's, 200,000 soldiers exposed to radiation in tests done throughout
the 50's, and simulated biological attacks by the army, including
San Francisco, Minneapolis and the New York subway system. Minneapolis
was sprayed with an assumed harmless chemical to track its movement
through the air. The unique chemical zinc-cadmium-sulfide (unknown in
nature) was sprayed from trucks and rooftops from 8am until midnight for
3 months in 1952. An elementary school was a specific target. I think all
of these particular incidents have been publicized (they're "declassified").
There is even a clip of president Clinton publicly apologizing.
Disarm (2005 - 67min) Brian Liu, Mary Wareham
Official Site: www.disarmfilm.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disarm_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0863013
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NHZ248
The Empire in Africa (2006 - 87min) Philippe Diaz
Official Site:www.theempireinafrica.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0495103
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MX7UXK
En Route to Baghdad (2005 - 56min) Simone Duarte
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0455943
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F6HIRC/
About Sergio Vieiro De Mello.
The End of America (2008 - 74min) Ricki Stern, Annie Sundberg
Official Site:www.endofamericamovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1294790
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001IX4CC0
Naomi Wolf's website:naomiwolf.org
Naomi Wolf parallels the loss of liberty in other countries that slid into
fascism with what is happening in America.
2-disc DVD includes over 2 hours of extra interviews.
The End of Poverty? (2010 - 104min) Philippe Diaz
Official Site:www.theendofpoverty.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0903943
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0036WK57C
Excellent film. Makes the case that the massive poverty experienced by
third world nations is caused by the theft of their resources by the
developed nations. Traces globablization back to 1492, when Spain and
Portugal began to exploit the new world. Explains how colonization,
military conquest and slavery have been used to build and maintain the
system of capitalism. Interviews with historians, economists, and
sociologists. Highly recommended.
The Fog of War (2004 - 95min) Errol Morris
Subtitled: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fog_of_War
Director's Website: www.errolmorris.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0317910
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001L3LUE
Morris interviews Robert McNamara about the Vietnam War.
Won Academy Award in 2003 for best documentary feature.
The Fourth World War (2003 - 78min) Rick Rowley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0439574
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006SFVQO
Freedom's Fury (2006 - 90min) Colin K. Gray, Megan Raney
Official Site: www.freedomsfury.net
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom's_Fury
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0322332/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DAVTQK
About 1956 Summer Olympics water polo match between Hungary and the USSR
and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Ghosts of Abu Graib (2007 - 78min) Rory Kennedy
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_of_Abu_Graib
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0912585
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NY0YK4
Looks at the 2004 Abu Graib torture and prisoner abuse scandal.
(see also Standard Operating Procedure and Taxi to the Dark Side).
Gitmo - The New Rules of War (2005 - 76min) Erik Gandini, Tarik Saleh
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0481348
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MKXF1Y
The Goebbels Experiment (2004 - 107min) Lutz Hachmeister, Michael Kloft
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0458375
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EULK1O
The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It (2000 - 57min) Judith Ehrlich, Rick Tejada-Flores
Official Site: www.pbs.org/itvs/thegoodwar
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0314116
Amazon (DVD 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004G7X5UK
Hearts and Minds (1974 - 112min) Peter Davis
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_and_Minds_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0071604
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006673L
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/711-hearts-and-minds
Hidden Wars of Desert Storm (2001 - 63min) Gerard Ungerman, Audrey Brohy
Official Site: www.hiddenwars.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0283384
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008OOTA
All about the first gulf war, including how the US tricked Saddam into
starting it.
Homo Sapiens 1900 (1998 - 88min) Peter Cohen
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_Sapiens_1900
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0176825
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002J4ZOQ
Looks at the history of eugenics.
Hot Coffee (2011 - 88min) Susan Saladoff
Official Site: hotcoffeethemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Coffee_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1445203
Amazon (DVD 11/01/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00595W3MO
Looks at issues of "tort reform" using the McDonalds coffee case as one of
several examples. An interesting clip of G.W. Bush appears at 24:36 with
this quote: "In my line of work you gotta keep repeating things over and
over and over again. For the truth to sink in. To kinda catapult the
propaganda."
Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel (2010 - 124min) Brigitte Berman
Official site: www.hughhefnerplayboyactivistrebel.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1503776
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hefner:_Playboy,_Activist_and_Rebel
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0043K8LW2
Excellent indepth film looks at Hefner's whole life. It was surprising to me
how much of a political activist he has been, especially on civil rights. He
was publicly opposing racial discrimination in the '50's and '60's. He also
fought for freedom of speech and against archaic sex laws. Covers the
history of Playboy magazine and how Hefner used it as a tool to help
change society. Looks at Playboy clubs. Lots of music. Spends a bit more
time on the "playboy" aspect of his life towards the end of the film.
Very interesting. Highly recommended.
In the Year of the Pig (1969 - 103min) Emille de Antonio
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0064482
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Year_of_the_Pig
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A88ES2
Incident at Oglala - The Leonard Peltier Story (1992 - 89min) Michael Apted
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0104504
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incident_at_Oglala
Amazon (DVD 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001FVDI2
Indoctrinate U (2007 - 89min) Evan Coyne Maloney
Official Site: www.indoctrinate-u.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1137970
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrinate_U
Amazon (DVD-R 2008): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0017OGOIA
Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers (2006 - 75min) Robert Greenwald
Official Site: www.iraqforsale.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0815181
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000HWXOT0
Iraq in Fragments (2005 - 94min) James Longley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492466
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000R4SKEM
Italian Fascism in Color (2007 - 100min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RXZIQQ
Kimjongilia (2009 - 75min) N.C. Heikin
Official Site: www.kimjongiliathemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1180311
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VZNAV2
Larry Flynt - The Right to Be Left Alone (2007 - 74min) Joan Brooker-Marks
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1127888
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001AYSFXY
Highly recommended. Wide-ranging film covers Flynt's life, mainly spent
fighting for first amendment rights in American courts and publishing Hustler
magazine. There is really a lot packed into this film. I had seen
The People vs. Larry Flynt a couple of times, so I knew that Flynt
was an interesting character and that he had fought some major court battles,
but I did not realize the extent to which he has been a tireless freedom
fighter. Amazing character, very interesting film.
Lessons of Darkness (1992 - 54min) Werner Herzog
German Title: Lektionen in Finsternis
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0104706
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000059PPP
Looks at the aftermath of the first Gulf War. Lots of images of the burning
Kuwaiti oilfields set to classical music. Sparsely narrated by Werner in
English (or can select German). 1995 2-disc DVD release is packaged with
additional DVD of Herzog's 1971 film Fata Morgana.
The Light Bulb Conspiracy (2010 - 75min) Cosima Dannoritzer
Also Known As: Pyramids of Waste
Subtitled: The Untold Story of Planned Obsolescence
Official Site: www.facebook.com/TheLightBulbConspiracy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1825163
not yet on DVD (06/11) but can be watched online at many sites.
Lumumba (2000 - 115min) Raoul Peck
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006LPHK
This is actually not a documentary (so I might move it to my feature films
page), but the special edition DVD does include excerpts from the documentary
on Lumumba by the same director (Lumumba, Death of a Prophet).
The Mafia Principle of Global Hegemony - Noam Chomsky (2010 - 140min)
Subtitled: The Middle East, Empire and Activism
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/160486303X/
The Most Dangerous Man in America (2009 - 94min) Judith Ehrlich, Rick Goldsmith
Subtitled: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1319726
Amazon (DVD 2010): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00329PYGQ/
Motherland Afghanistan (2007 - 74min) Sedika Mojadidi
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0948279
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000LPS4M0/
Mugabe and the White African (2009 - 94min) Lucy Bailey, Andrew Thompson
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugabe_and_the_White_African
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1437235
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00443TULY/
My Country, My Country (2005 - 90min) Laura Poitras
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0810983
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Country,_My_Country
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000LP5D2E/
No End in Sight (2007 - 102min) Charles Ferguson
Subtitled: Iraq's Descent Into Chaos
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0912593
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000U6YJMO/
Thorough look at the results of the Iraq invasion.
Not For Ourselves Alone (1999 - 210min) Ken Burns, Paul Barnes
Subtitled: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Canton and Susun B. Anthony
Official Site: www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0220253
Amazon (DVD 2004): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BITUIO/
The Oath (2010 - 96min) Laura Poitras
Official Site: www.theoathmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oath_(2010_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1522857
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003PTP5H6/
The Oil Factor (2004 - 93min) Gerard Ungerman, Audrey Brohy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0435710
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000YFHTV4/
Our Brand is Crisis (2005 - 87min) Rachel Boyton
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492714
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GDIBSO
The Panama Deception (1992 - 91min) Barbara Trent
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Panama_Deception
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0105089
Amazon (DVD 2007): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KJU1K0
Examines the 1989 invasion of Panama by the US. Won Academy Award for Best
Documentary Feature in 1992.
Pax Americana and the Weaponization of Space (2010 - 85min) Denis Delestrac
Official Site: www.pax-americana.com/
Director's Website: www.delestrac.com/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1553156
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Americana_and_the_Weaponization_of_Space
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003XMKUGQ/
A thorough look at the militarization of space. Very interesting. Important.
Highly recommended.
Point of Order (1964 - 97min) Emile de Antonio
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0058481
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_Order_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A59PO2/
Questions for Crazy Horse (2010 - 81min) O.W.Tuthill
Official Site: www.questionsforcrazyhorse.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1679270
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004X9LNAU/
Red, White, Black and Blue (2006 - 86min) Tom Putnam
Official Site: www.alaskainvasion.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0469169
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001AZI1WS/
Looks at the bloody battle for the island of Attu (off of Alaska), invaded
by Japan during World War II.
The Reichsorchester: The Berlin Philharmonic and the Third Reich (2007 - 90min) Enrique Sanchez Lansch
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1205076
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0012K53UO/
Remnants of a War (2010 - 75min) Jawad Metni
Official Site: www.remnantsfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1326850
Looks at deminers clearing unexploded cluster bombs leftover from 2006
war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Restrepo (2010 - 93min) Sebastion Junger, Tim Hetherington
Official Site: www.restrepothemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1559549
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0042KZJIC/
A close look at a platoon of US soldiers fighting in the very dangerous
Korengal Valley of Afghanistan over a one-year period.
Rethink Afghanistan (2009 - 75min) Robert Greenwald
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1572167
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002LFPBJM/
The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (2009 - 77min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002EIJ9DU/
In this lecture/interview, Naomi Klein explains the ideas and research
behind her book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.
The Road to Guantanamo (2006 - 95min) Mat Whitecross, Michael Winterbottom
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0468094
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000HOL67U/
Roger and Me (1989 - 91min) Michael Moore
Official Site: www.dogeatdogfilms.com/rogerme.html
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009YXAS/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0098213
Awesome documentary about Flint, Michigan - very funny and very sad.
Moore's first film. I liked him a lot back then, don't always trust him so
much anymore, but still have to admit this is an amazing and very
entertaining film.
Rush to War (2004 - 86min) Robert Taicher
Official Site: www.rushtowar.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0450494
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000S1KUNS/
Sacrificio: Who Betrayed Che Guevara? (2001 - 60min) Erik Gandini, Tarik Saleh
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0282934
Sergio (2010 - 94min) Greg Barker
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333656
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003MAKE24/
About Sergio Vieiro De Mello.
Severe Clear (2009 - 93min) Kristian Fraga
Official Site: www.severeclearthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0494826
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00414HYHI/
Shadow Company (2006 - 86min) Nick Bicanic, Jason Bourque
Official Site: www.shadowcompanythemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0762133
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_company
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000J55YLQ/
Looks at the world of mercenary soldiers.
The Short Life of Jose Antonio Gutierrez (2006 - 89min) Heidi Specogna
Official Site: www.theshortlife-film.com/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492484
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000TLONE4/
Jose was the first US soldier killed in the Iraq war. Jose had made his way
to the US to escape the hopelessness of his life in Guatamala and joined
the army to help pay for college. See also When the Mountains Tremble
for some background on Guatemala.
Sicko (2007 - 123min) Michael Moore
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0386032
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000UNYJXQ/
About health care in America.
Sir! No Sir! (2005 - 84min) David Zeiger
Subtitled: The Suppressed Story of the GI Movement to End the War in Vietnam
Official site: www.sirnosir.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir!_No_Sir!
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0469589
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000IB0DE4
Excellent documentary about the Viet-Nam war protest movement WITHIN the US
military. A very interesting and little-known story. Lots of important
archival footage. Highly recommended.
For more detail on this, see the book, Soldiers in Revolt: GI Resistance
During the Vietnam War by David Cortwright and Howard Zinn.
(Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1931859272).
And there is an excellent article online here:
www.isreview.org/issues/09/soldiers_revolt.shtml
...So Goes the Nation (2006 - 90min) Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern
Official Site: www.sogoesthenationmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...So_Goes_the_Nation
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0432337
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000K2V7EQ
Seoul Train (2005 - 54min) Jim Butterworth, Aaron Lubarsky, Lisa Sleeth
Official Site: www.seoultrain.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul_Train
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0402492
A close look at the problem of North Koreans trying to cross the
Chinese border to escape starvation and to find freedom. The Chinese policy
is to arrest the refugees and return them, where they will be severely
punished or killed. A lot is packed into this short film, including footage
of refugees and activists in the underground railroad, which attempts to
help refugees find their way across the Chinese border, across China, and
into Mongolia. The DVD I rented from Netflix had no special features,
other than a chapter menu, which had an Independent Lens logo on it, and
no subtitles. The credits indicate that a DVD purchased at the official
site has 2 1/2 hours of extra material and subtitles in 16 languages.
Excellent film. Recommended.
Soldiers of Conscience (2007 - 86min) Catherine Ryan, Gary Weimberg
Official Site: www.soldiers_themovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1217603
The Soprano State - Part One (2010) Bob Ingle, Sandy McClure
Subtitled: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption
Official Site: www.thesopranostate.com
South of the Border (2010 - 78min) Oliver Stone
Official Site: www.southoftheborderdoc.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1337137
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003XKNGLY
Stone has a look at the revolution taking place in the 21st century across
South America as one country after another has democratically elected a
reformist president and
worked to shake off US and IMF domination. The US media continues to paint
these new leaders as evil communist dictators (who might even need to
be overthrown). Stone talks to Hugo Chavez (Venezuela), Evo Morales (Bolivia),
Lula De Silva (Brazil), Christina and Nestor Kirchner (Argentina),
Fernando Lugo (Paraguay), Rafael Correa (Ecuador), and Raul Castor (Cuba).
Recommended.
Standard Operating Procedure (2008 - 116min) Errol Morris
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Operating_Procedure_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0896866
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DPHDA6
Abu Graib, etc. (see also Taxi to the Dark Side and
Ghosts of Abu Graib).
State of Fear: The Truth About Terrorism (2005 - 94min) Pamela Yates
Director's Website: skylightpictures.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0485046
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Fear:_The_Truth_about_Terrorism
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1574481428
Looks at the "war on terror" between the Peruvian Miilitary and the Shining
Path, which eventually left 70,000 people dead.
Strange Culture (2006 - 75min) Lynn Hershman Leeson
Official Site: www.strangeculture.net
Otherzine Review: www.othercinema.com/otherzine/?issueid=17&article_id=44
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Culture
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0924151
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ZDQI9Y
Street Fight (2005 - 81min) Marshall Curry
Official Site: www.streetfightfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0457496
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002SAMMLU
See also Brick City.
Superpower (2008 - 119min) Barbara-Anne Steegmuller
Official Site: www.superpowerthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1311717
The Take (2004 - 87min)
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Take_(2004_film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0426596
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CCD1X4
Taking Liberties (2007 - 101min) Chris Atkins
Official Site: www.noliberties.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taking_Liberties_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0977667
Amazon (DVD - British PAL Region 2): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000S6UZRO
Amazon.co.uk (DVD - British PAL Region 2): www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B000S6UZRO
Covers erosion of civil liberties and increasing surveilance in the UK under
Tony Blair's government.
Taxi To the Dark Side (2007 - 106min) Alex Gibney
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi_to_the_Dark_Side
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0854678
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001BEK8FQ
Abu Graib, etc. (see also Standard Operating Procedure and
Ghosts of Abu Graib). Won 2007 Academy Award for Best Documentary.
This Divided State (2004 - 88min) Steven Greenstreet
Official Site: www.thisdividedstate.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0379593
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A7BQVU
Quite a storm erupts when Michael Moore is invited to speak at Utah
Valley State College.
The Tillman Story (2010 - 94min) Amir Bar-Lev
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1568334
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004C39E3K
The Trials of Henry Kissinger (2002 - 80min) Alex Gibney, Eugene Jarecki
Official Site: www.thetrialsofhenrykissinger.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0326306
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009V7S0
The Triumph of the Will (1935 - 120min) Leni Riefenstahl
German Title: Triumph des Willens
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0025913
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E41MRC
Masterpiece propaganda film documents Sixth Nazi Party Congress at Nuremberg
in 1934. Commissioned and executive-produced by Adolph Hitler.
Unconstitutional (2004 - 66min) Nonny de la Pena
Subtitled: The War on Our Civil Liberties
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconstitutional:_The_War_on_Our_Civil_Liberties
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0427989/
Uncovered (2004 - 87min) Robert Greenwald
Subtitled: The War on Iraq
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncovered:_The_War_on_Iraq
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0420286/
This is an extended version of Robert Greenwald's 2003 film,
Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War (which is 56 minutes
long). Mainly covers the selling of the war.
Until When (2004 - 90min) Dahna Abourahme
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0466589/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CQNIYM/
The US vs. John Lennon (2006 - 99min) David Leaf, John Scheinfeld
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_U.S._vs._John_Lennon
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0478049
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000LP5CX4
Vietnam War with Walter Cronkite (1985 - 720min)
Amazon (DVD 3-disc 2008): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00009KU95
12 hours worth of CBS news reporting on the war.
Vulcans, Victors & Cuba (69min) Christopher Purcell
Looks at the development of Britain's V-Force, the bombers which
provided nuclear deterrent until that task was handed over to submarines
in 1969. Starts out coving the developent of 3 bombers, the Vickers Valiant,
the Avro Vulcan, and the Handley-Page Victor. Britain followed the US and
the USSR into the H-bomb club in 1958. Covers the Cuban missile crisis of
1962, including the role that would have been played by Britain's
bombers (dropping a bunch of h-bombs on Russian cities).
Waco: A New Revelation (1999 - 110min) Jason Van Vleet
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0259731
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco:_A_New_Revelation
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000096IAZ
Based on further research into some of the findings of Waco: The Rules of
Engagement (below). Does not seem to be available on DVD. Official site
(getwaco.com) disappeared.
Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997 - 136min) William Gazecki
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0120472
Official Site: www.waco93.com
Director's Website: www.williamgazecki.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco:_The_Rules_of_Engagement
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DIJOO
Thorough and disturbing look at the Waco seige. As of FEB 2010, the DVD
is out of print and hard to find. Recommended. (Netflix has this).
Waiting for Fidel (1974 - 58min) Micheal Rubbo
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Fidel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0196195
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002XL1P8
Said to be the inspriation for Michael Moore's Roger and Me. Against
standard convention, the filmmaker puts himself into the film as one of
the three main characters, along with Newfoundland media mogul Geoff Stirling
and former premier of Newfoundland Joey Smallwood. The film mostly consists
of interesting and vigorous discussions between Smallwood, a socialist,
Stirling, a wealthy capitalist, and the filmmaker as they await an interview
with Fidel Castro, which never happens. They are given a very nice place to
stay in Cuba and are taken around to see various sites, such as factories and
schools. This is a classic film, produced by the Film Board of Canada.
The 2004 Facets DVD includes interviews with Stirling and Rubbo 30 years
later. Interesting and recommended.
Wal-Mart - the High Cost of Low Price (2005 - 97min) Robert Greenwald
Official Site: www.walmartmovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wal-Mart:_The_High_Cost_of_Low_Price
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0473107
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BTH4K4
The War at Home (1979 - 100min) Glenn Silber, Barry Alexander Brown
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0080118
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000DI87X
War Feels Like War (2004 - 59min) Esteban Uyarra
PBS: www.pbs.org/pov/warfeelslikewar/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Feels_Like_War
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0425636
not on DVD as of 07/11, have not yet seen
War Made Easy (2007 - 73min) Loretta Alper, Jeremy Earp
Subtitled: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us To Death
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1015246
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00118SUHU
Narrated by Sean Penn.
Watermarks (2004 - 77min) Yaron Zilberman
Subtitled: The Jewish Swimming Champions Who Defied Hitler
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0405461
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BFH2D2
The Weather Underground (2003 - 92min) Sam Green II, Bill Siegel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0343168
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001LYFKO
When the Mountains Tremble (1983 - 83min) Newton Thomas Sigel, Pamela Yates
Director's Website: skylightpictures.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0421089
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Mountains_Tremble
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002HOD7W
Guatemala.
Why We Fight (2005 - 98min) Eugene Jarecki
Official Site: www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0436971
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FBH3W2
Excellent film, highly recommended.
Win In China (2011) Ole Schell
Official Site: www.wininchinamovie.com
Winter Soldier (1972 - 96min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0204058
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F3AILI
A group of over 100 young Vietnam war vets gathered at a hotel in Detroit in
January of 1971 to testify about the atrocities they had seen and committed in
the war. 18 filmmakers collaborated to make the film, which is mainly black
and white footage of the men telling their stories. A classic.
With All Deliberate Speed (2004 - 111min) Peter Gilbert
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0408338
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006GQKGB
Explores Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954 US Supreme Court case which
ordered public schools to integrate "with all deliberate speed", (which
meant take all the time you need). I attended public junior high and high
school in Biloxi, Mississippi around 1970-1974. At that time they were just
beginning to integrate (with some nudging from the courts). They
accomplshed this by bussing all the military dependent kids from Keesler AFB
to the all-black high school, effectively keeping their own kids segregated
well into the 1970's. See also Eyes on the Prize (above).
With God on Our Side (2004 - 101min)
Subtitled: George W. Bush and the Rise of the Religious Right in America
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0431468
The Yes Men (2003 - 83min) Chris Smith, Dan Ollman, Sarah Price
Official Site: www.theyesmen.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0379593
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0006N2DSI
Very funny.
The Yes Men Fix the World (2008 - 87min) Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno
Official Site: www.theyesmen.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1352852
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002ZTVQEI
Zapatista (1998 - 56min) Benjamin Eichert, Rick Rowley, Staale Sandberg
Official Site: www.bignoisefilms.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0287813
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009JE6DO
Economy/Money/Banking
The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World (2008 - 240min) Adrian Pennink
Official Site: www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascent_of_Money:_A_Financial_History_of_the_World
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1358383
Amazon (DVD - 2009 - 4hrs): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002DKGWXO
Amazon (DVD - 2009 - 2hrs): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001Q7JM2S
Niall Ferguson presents the ideas from his book of the same name. Note that
there is a 2-hour abbreviated version called The Ascent of Money: Boom
or Bust.
Capitalism: A Love Story (2009 - 127min) Michael Moore
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1232207
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism:_A_Love_Story
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0030Y11XS
Moore makes a case against capitalism and for democracy. Lots of food
for thought.
Commanding Heights (2002 - 360min)
Subtitled: The Battle for the World Economy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0319210
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commanding_Heights:_The_Battle_for_the_World_Economy
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00006HAZF
6-hour PBS documentary on macroeconomics based on David Yergin's book
of the same name.
The Corporation (2004 - 145min) Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott, Joel Bakan
Official site: TheCorporation.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corporation
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0379225
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0007DBJM8
Very important and interesting film. What are corporations, how did they
get to be so large, powerful and destructive, and what should be done about
them? The DVD includes an extra disc with over 5 hours of additional
interview footage. Highly recommended.
Debtocracy (2011 - 75min) Aris Hatzistefanou, Katerina Kitidi
Official Site: www.debtocracy.gr/indexen.html
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debtocracy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1890383
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005 - 109min) Alex Gibney
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron:_The_Smartest_Guys_in_the_Room
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1016268
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000C3L2IO
Fiat Empire (2006 - 60min) James Jaeger
Subitled: Why the Federal Reserve Violates the US Constitution
Official Site: www.fiatempire.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2040348
Features Ted Baehr, G. Edward Griffin, Ron Paul, Edwin Vieira.
Four Horsemen (2012 - 97min) Ross Ashcroft
Official Site: www.fourhorsemenfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1671513
In Debt We Trust (2006 - 98min) Danny Schecter
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0829429
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NDFLWG
Inside Job (2010 - 120min) Charles Ferguson
Official Site: www.insidejob.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Job_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1645089
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0041KKYBA
Investigates the world financial crisis, resulting in collapse of the econmy
in 2008. Won 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Released on DVD
March 08, 2011.
I.O.U.S.A. (2008 - 80min) Patrick Creadon
Official Site: www.iousathemovie.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.O.U.S.A.
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0963807
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001P9G3HE
Life + Debt (2001 - 86min) Stephanie Black
Official Site: www.lifeanddebt.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_and_Debt
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0284262
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008NNPK
Shows how Jamaica was crippled by 25 years of "help" from the IMF and
World Bank. Excellent and recommended.
Money As Debt (2006 - 47min) Paul Grignon
(revised in 2009 and packaged as a 2-disc set with Money as Debt II)
Official site: www.moneyasdebt.net
Filmmakers Website: www.paulgrignon.com
Can order from: www.themoneymasters.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_as_Debt
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1828247
Animated. Explains a lot about money, banking, and current economic problems.
Recommended to watch The Money Masters (below) first.
Money As Debt II: Promises Unleashed (2009 - 77min) Paul Grignon
(packaged as a 2-disc set with Money as Debt, revised edition)
Official site: www.moneyasdebt.net
Filmmakers Website: www.paulgrignon.com
Can order from: www.themoneymasters.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1828248
Animated. Explains a lot about money, banking, and current economic problems.
Recommended to watch The Money Masters (below) first.
Money As Debt III: Evolution Beyond Money (2011 - 138min) Paul Grignon
Official site: www.moneyasdebt.net
Filmmakers Website: www.paulgrignon.com
Can order from: www.themoneymasters.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1478462
Animated. This film is 138 minutes in 4 parts on 2 discs. Also included are
2 short features The Essence of Money (7:30) and Introduction to Digital
Coin (8:30). Recommended to watch The Money Masters (below) first.
Here is the text from the back of the DVD cover:
This third and final movie in the Money as Debt trilogy presents a
comprehensive picture of how "money" could work in the future. It is a
blueprint full of surprising specifics for creating a whole new system
applied with technologies that exist right now. Money as Debt III
demonstrates in simple terms why our primitive concept of money as a
"single uniform commodity" is the ROOT cause of money system dysfunction.
There is now, and there has long been, an alternative way to do "money".
Money as Debt III, Evolution Beyond Money illustrates in extensive and
entertaining detail, how a fundamental change in our long-held concept
of money, paired with recent breakthroughs in technolgy opens the door
to a self-generating, self-balancing and sustainable global "money" backed
by REAL VALUE and OPEN to ALL."
The Money Masters (1996 - 210min) William T. Still
Subtitled: How International Bankers Gained Control of America
Official site: www.themoneymasters.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Money_Masters
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1954955
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0018IPKCG/
If you really want to know the whole indepth true story about money and
banking, here it is - three and a half hours worth. Explains the background
of current and past economic problems. Highly recommended. See also
Money as Debt, Money As Debt II, Money as Debt III
and The Secret of Oz.
Plunder: The Crime of Our Time (2009 - 101min) Danny Schecter
Official Site: www.plunderthecrimeofourtime.com
Director's Website: www.newsdissector.com
Danny Schechter at Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Schechter
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1861401
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0033HKDZE/
Explains the collapse of the US economy as a set of criminal actions, chiefly
three interlocking processes - tons of bad mortgage loans in the real estate
arena, the repackaging and reselling of this debt by banks, and hedge funds.
The Secret of Oz (2009 - 117min) William T. Still
Subtitled: Solutions for a Broken Economy
Official site: www.secretofoz.com
Official site: www.themoneymasters.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1478462
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002WLS890/
Highly recommended. Note the 5-star rating at Amazon. This would be my
top recommendation to get an understanding of the problems with our
economy today. Could be seen as an updated version of the much longer
The Money Masters, updated with new information, shorted to 2hrs
and set in the context of explaining the symbology of the Wonderful
Wizard of Oz. The main points here are that governments can and should
issue their own money, which
would be debt-free, as opposed to letting private banks issue money
(such as the system in the US, where the money is lent to the govenment
at interest from the private Federal Reserve bank), and that banks should
be fully leveraged (they should only be able to lend as much money as they
have instead of the current system which allows them to loan ten times
the amount of deposits). Covers a lot of the history of banking and money,
especially in the US. Includes info on the Bank of North Dakota, and
the situation in Iceland. Was originally 101 minutes, appears to have been
revised in 2011 and is now 117 minutes long.
See also The Money Masters, Money as Debt,
Money As Debt II and Money as Debt III.
Waging A Living (2005 - 85min) Roger Weisberg
PBS: www.pbs.org/pov/wagingaliving/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waging_a_Living
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0455834
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GG4Y0K
We're Not Broke (2012) Victoria Bruce, Karin Hayes
Official Site: www.werenotbrokemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt2124998
Where is the World Going, Mr. Stiglitz? (2007 - 380min) Jacques Sarasin
Official Site: stiglitzfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1381134
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NJL4R6
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stiglitz
Nobel Prize winning economist explains the world economy and globalization.
Over 6 hours, on 2 DVDs.
Vote Fraud in the USA
American Blackout (2005 - 86min) Ian Inaba
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Blackout
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492443
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GYHRHE
Looks at the political career of Cynthia McKinney and at irregularities in
2000 and 2004 US presidential elections.
The Big Fix 2000: Who Runs the Show? (2004 - 58min) Daniel Hopsicker
Director's Website: www.madcowprod.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0001I5560
From Hopsicker's Conspiracy Secret History series. Looks like UFOTV has
bought the distribution rights to his films. This looks at Diebold.
Counting on Democracy (2001 - 60min) Danny Schechter
Subtitled: The 2000 Electoral Fiasco in Florida
Distributor's Website: www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/cod.html
Director's Website: www.newsdissector.com
Note: This appears to be the same film as Recount Democracy (see
below).
Electile Dysfunction (2008 - 88min) Joe Barber, Mary Patel
Subtitled: Inside the Business of American Campaigns
Official Site:www.cinemalibrestudio.com/ED/film.php
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001FQHQ82
Focusses on 2006 US Senate race between Democrat Bob Casey Jr. and
Republican Rick Santorum.
Electile Dysfunction (2005 - 58min) Penny Little
Official Site:www.electile-dysfunction.com
Focusses on irregularities in Ohio and Florida in 2004 presidential election.
Hacking Democracy (2006 - 82min) Simon Ardizzone, Russell Michaels
Official Site: www.hackingdemocracy.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacking_Democracy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0808532
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MKXF28
Bev Harris' website: BlackBoxVoting.org
(includes lots of online video clips)
Black Box Voting Book by Bev Harris -
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0963416308
Murder, Spies, and Voting Lies (2008 - 68min) Patty Sharaf
Subtitled: The Clint Curtis Story
Official Site: www.votinglies.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1341751/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001FCLQ78/
Recount Democracy (2002 - 71min) Danny Schechter
Director's Website: www.newsdissector.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0019WY6U8/
Note: This appears to be the same film as Counting on Democracy (see
above). Covers 2000 election problems in Florida.
Stealing America: Vote By Vote (2007 - 90min) Dorothy Fadiman
Official Site: www.stealingamericathemovie.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1279111/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000K6BQL6/
Can view at official site.
Uncounted (2008 - 81min) David Earnhardt
Subtitled: The New Math of American Presidential Elections
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1279117/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0019M8OFG/
Unprecedented (2004 - 90min) Richard R. Perez, Joan Sekler
Subtitled: The 2000 Presidential Election
Official Site: www.unprecedented.org
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unprecedented:_The_2000_Presidential_Election
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0346091/
Votescam: The Stealing of America's Elections (60min)
Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oA4nDuuBOg
Votescam.org,
home of the classic book, Votescam: The Stealing of America, by James and Kenneth Collier.
Amazon (Book): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0963416308
Wikipedia (Book): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Votescam
This is an interview with James Collier from a 1996 episode of the cable TV
show Liberty News Network with Walter Reddy and Jill St. James. The VHS was
once available from Votescam.org and has been out of print for awhile.
Can watch at Youtube link above.
We Will Not Be Silenced Gigi Gaston
Official Site: www.wewillnotbesilenced2008.com
Upcoming film concerning vote fraud in the 2008 Democratic primary election.
Civil Rights in the USA
4 Little Girls (1997 - 102min) Spike Lee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0118540
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000053V7G
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011 - 96min) Goran Olsson
Official Site: www.blackpowermixtape.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1592527
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005NHZAHS
Brother Minister (1994 - 115min) Jack Baxter
Subtitled: The Assassination of Malcolm X
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0109339
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000A2HA6U
seems to be out of print
Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1965 (1987 - 360min) Henry Hampton
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyes_on_the_Prize
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0092999
PBS: www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/
Amazon (DVD 3-disc 04/06/2010 PBS): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0031WNYHK
Producer's Website: www.blacksidemedia.com
Thorough look at civil rights movement in the US. Lots of crucial and
shocking archival footage and more recent interviews with key people. This
is part 1, consisting of 6 one-hour episodes, first broadcast on PBS in
1987. Super-classic, important film, highly recommended. This is the
essential document on the subject. Narrated by Julian Bond. Whole series
has been out of print much of the time since its release, supposedly due
to rights clearance issues. Part 1 finally issued on DVD in April, 2010 (see
above Amazon link). The entire series has been available on DVD for
educational use from PBS for $400 since 2006. Title for entire series
(parts 1 and 2) is Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement
1954-1985. Part 2 is listed below.
Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads 1965-1985 (1990 - 480min) Henry Hampton
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyes_on_the_Prize
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0092999
Part 2, consisting of 8 one-hour episodes, first broadcast on PBS in 1990.
Freedom Riders (2010 - 120min) Stanley Nelson
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1558952/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004AR4VRW
In Prison My Whole Life (2007 - 90min) Marc Evans
Official Site: www.inprisonmywholelife.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Prison_My_Whole_Life
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0866436
not yet on DVD as of 10/2010 (except UK PAL version).
See also Justice on Trial (above) and Mumia: Case for a Reasonable
Doubt? (below).
Justice on Trial - The Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal (2010) Kouross Esmaeli
Official Site: www.bignoisefilms.org
not yet on DVD as of 10/2010.
See also Mumia: A Case for a Reasonable Doubt? (below).
Mumia: A Case for a Reasonable Doubt? (1996 - 74min) John Edgington
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumia_Abu_Jamal:_A_Case_for_a_Reasonable_Doubt?
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0119728
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0016OKR48/
See also Justice on Trial (above).
Scottsboro: An American Tragedy (2000 - 84min) Barak Goodman, Daniel Anker
Official Site: www.pbs.org/wbgh/amex/scottsboro/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottsboro:_An_American_Tragedy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0240885
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000E0OBCO/
Covers the 1931 Alabama case credited with starting the American civil rights
movement. Two white women accused nine black teenagers of raping them on a
train. They all went to prison, eventually being released.
Up From Slavery (2011 - 315min) Kevin R. Hershberger
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1935942
Amazon (DVD 2-disc 2011): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0058KHGX6/
Israel/Palestine
5 Days (2005 - 94min) Yoav Shamir
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0491882
not yet on DVD?
American Radical (2010 - 89min) David Ridgen, Nicolas Rossier
Subtitled: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein
Official Site: www.americanradicalthefilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1475191
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Radical:_The_Trials_of_Norman_Finklestein
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0038GQRLO
Blues by the Beach (2004 - 77min) Joshua Faudem
Official Site: www.bluesbythebeachfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0783677
Amazon (2-disc DVD-R): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001OW5MHE
Budrus (2009 - 80min) Julia Bacha
Official Site: www.justvision.org/budrus
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1542411
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004J169PQ
Checkpoint (2003 - 80min) Yoav Shamir
Hebrew Title: Machsommim
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0391857
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00075K82I
The Color of Olives (2006 - 97min) Carolina Rivas
Official Site: www.thecolorofolives.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0829124
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000K0YG8W
Death in Gaza (2004 - 80min) James Miller
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0412631
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BBOU90
Demafation (2009 - 91min) Yoav Shamir
Hebrew Title: Hashmatsa
Official Site: www.defamation-thefilm.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0037BBKOY
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1377278
Diameter of the Bomb (2005 - 82min) Steven Silver, Andrew Quigley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0441754
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000Y11B9Y
Encounter Point (2006 - 85min) Ronit Avni, Julia Bacha
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0783517
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000R4SKEW
Flipping Out (2008 - 84min) Yoav Shamir
National Film Board of Canada: films.nfb.ca/flipping-out/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipping_Out_(film)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1213858
Explores the phenomena of Israeli ex-soldiers, who, having completed their
compulsory 3-year military service, move to India and dive into heavy drug
use, with some developing mental problems. As of 06/2010, I don't think this
has made it to DVD. Has been shown on Sundance Channel and BBC. From the
director of Checkpoint and Defamation.
Gaza Strip (2002 - 74min) James Longley
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0329112
Wikipedia (film): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip_(film)
Wikipedia (Second Intifada): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Intifada
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00008O35S
Interview: blogcritics.org/video/article/interview-james-longley-gaza-strip/
Documents events taking place in 2001 in Gaza Strip during Second Intifada.
Spends a lot of time with kids. Shows effects of poison gas attacks.
Recommended. out of print - Netflix has this
The Great Book Robbery
Official Site: www.thegreatbookrobbery.org
This film will tell the story of the theft of 60,000 books from Palestinians
in 1948 as part of the new state of Israel's attempt to erase Palestinian
culture. in development as of 11/2010
In Search of Peace: Part 1: 1948-1967 (2003 - 105min) Richard Trank
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0230325
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000AOV6P
Israel vs. Israel (2010 - 58min) Terje Carlsson
Official Site: www.israelvsisrael.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_vs_Israel
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1753960
About Jewish peace activists in Israel.
Israel's War History (120min) Sharon Schaveet
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002EQA102/
Jenin Jenin (2002 - 54min) Mohamed Bakri
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0363720
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003K7C6UC/
Occupation 101 (2007 - 90min) Sufyan Omeish, Abdallah Omeish
Official Site: www.occupation101.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0807956
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_101
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0012OTLIA/
Occupied Minds (2005 - 58min) Jamal Dajani, David Michaelis
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0794321
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FA5ESS/
One Day in September (1999 - 94min) Kevin Macdonald
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0230591
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BNXD6E/
Covers the incident at the 1972 Munich Olympics where 8 Palestinians
took 11 Israeli atheletes hostage. Won Academy Award for best documentary
in 1999.
Palestine Blues (2005 - 72min) Nida Sinnokrot
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1557825
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001DRF83I/
Peace, Propaganda & the Promised Land (2004 - 80min) Sut Jhally, Bathsheba Ratzkoff
Subtitled: US Media and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Official Site: www.mediaed.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0428959
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000OWHFG6/
Rachel (2009 - 100min) Simone Bitton
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1396222
About Rachel Corrie, 23-year-old American activist run over by an Israeli
military bulldozer in Gaza.
Six Days in June (2007 - 100min) Ilan Ziv
Subtitled: The War That Redfined the Middle East
Official Site: www.sixdaysmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1033631
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000RPCJPC
Suicide Killers (2006 - 81min) Pierre Rehov
Official Site: www.suicidekillers.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0830968
Amazon (DVD 2007): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000NVHWIE
Amazon (DVD-R): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00375LBJY
To Die in Jerusalem (2007 - 76min) Hilda Medalia
Official Site: www.todieinjerusalem.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Die_in_Jerusalem
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0906091
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00119XVN2
A close look at a suicide bombing involving a 17-year-old female Palestinian
bomber and a 17-year-old female Israeli victim.
Until When (2004 - 76min) Dahna Abourahme
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0466589
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000CQNIYM
Wall (2004 - 97min) Simone Bitton
Official Site: www.wallthemovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0413018
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000AYQO6A
Documents the giant concrete wall (I think still being erected) that separates
Palestinian territories from Israel. Most people don't even know about this
huge wall, which is just one reason why everyone needs to see this amazing,
powerful, award-winning film. Highly recommended.
Read about the wall at this lengthy Wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_West_Bank_barrier
Waltz With Bashir (2008 - 90min) Ari Folman
Official Site: www.waltzwithbashir.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltz_With_Bashir
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1185616
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001KVZ6AM
The director visits with former Israeli army colleagues to try to revive
his lost memories of the Sabra and Shatila massacre during the 1982 Lebanon
war. Unusual new style for a documentary, uses lots of animation.
Well-repected film - won many awards. Highly recommended.
Immigration
The 800 Mile Wall (2010 - 90min) John Carlos Frey
Official Site: www.800milewall.org
Cochise County USA (2005 - 69min) Mercedes Maharis
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0814055
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000F8DV6C
Crossing Arizona (2006 - 75min) Joseph Mathew, Dan DeVivo
Official Site: www.crossingaz.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0492453
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001N0LE1K
Farmingville (2004 - 78min) Catherine Tambini, Carlos Sandoval III
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0388935
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002V7NY8
Looks at the issue of illegal immigrants in Farmingville, New York.
The Least of These (2009 - 62min) Clark Lyda, Jesse Lyda
Official Site: www.theleastofthese-film.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1326807
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002JFMXQ8
Looks at a privately run detention center for families in Texas.
Mojados: Through the Night (2004 - 65min) Tommy Davis
Official Site: www.mojadosmovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0400647
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojados:_through_the_night
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0009GX1QA
Follows four Mexican men as they make their journey across the Texas border
into America.
The Other Side of Immigration (2009 - 55min) Roy Germano
Official Site: www.theothersideofimmigration.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1397086
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003X3BYJM
Wetback (2004 - 91min) Arturo Perez Torres
Subtitled: The Undocumented Documentary
Official Site: www.opencityworks.com/wetback/
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetback:_The_Undocumented_Documentary
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0447544
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000KF0DKM
A thorough look at the issue of immigration through the southern US border,
including Central American immigrants travelling through Mexico.
Which Way Home (2009 - 90min) Rebecca Cammisa
Official Site: www.whichwayhome.net
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Which_Way_Home
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0489342
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0042EJDGM
Looks at children immigrating to the US from south of the border by hopping
trains. DVD released JAN 25, 2011.
Hurricane Katrina
A Bridge Life: Finding Our Way Home (2009 - 57min) Joshua Grossberg
Official Site: www.abridgelife.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1413773
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003VE9WZG
The Axe In The Attic (2007 - 110min) Ed Pincus, Lucia Small
Official site: www.theaxeintheattic.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1219676
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001NHZ22K
Big Easy to Big Empty (2006 - 30min) Greg Palast
Subtitled: The Untold Story of the Drowning of New Orleans
Director's Website: www.gregpalast.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1240902
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000PAAIQ6
Some alternate views on hurricane Katrina from investigative journalist
Greg Palast.
The Big Uneasy (2010 - 98min) Harry Shearer
Official Site: www.thebiguneasy.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1702441
Burn on the Bayou (2008 - 56min) Matt Leonard
Official Site: www.burnonthebayou.com
Burners Without Borders: www.burnswithoutborders.org
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1256497
The Church on Dauphine Street (2009 - 83min) Anne Hendreen, Rustin Thompson
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001S2Q5YO
Dark Water Rising (2006 - 73min) Mike Shiley
Official Site: www.darkwaterrising.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0876103
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GH3JWI
About efforts to rescue pets left behind in Katrina. This is more of an "indy"
project than the related film Mine (see below), and mainly looks at
some of the various rescue groups. Spends a lot of time with the "renegade"
Winn-Dixie group, who banded together outside of the bureaucracy of the
more official groups. Some wild characters there, including a guy who we
could call the "gonzo dog whisperer". Lots of pit bulls. Very interesting
film.
Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008 - 67min) Dawn Logsdon, Lolis Eric Elie
Official Site: www.tremedoc.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faubourg_Treme:_The_Untold_Story_of_Black_New_Orleans
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1202562
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002OHE1OS
Hurricane Katrina Five Years Later (2010 - 99min) Alfonzo Walker, Jr.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003OUXHIA
Hurricane on the Bayou (2006 - 42min) Greg MacGillivray
Official Site: www.hurricaneonthebayou.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0868265
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_on_the_Bayou
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000O78632
Made for IMAX theatres. Narrated by Merl Streep, Tab Benoit, Allen Toussaint.
Features music by Tab Benoit, Chubby Carrier, Allen Toussaint, Martha Wright.
Hurricane Strip (2007 - 85min) Michael J. Butler, Brian Daniel Boyd
Distributor's Website: www.singahe.com/hurricanestrip.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1198589
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000WGD874
have not yet seen
If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise (2010 - 240min) Spike Lee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1587373
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_God_Is_Willing_and_Da_Creek_Don't_Rise
Amazon (DVD 04/19/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004JA99XG
Amazon (BluRay 04/19/11): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003Y5HWPO
Followup to When the Levees Broke. Made for HBO, first shown on TV
AUG 23/24, 2010 in 2 2-hr episodes. (have not yet seen - looking forward
to it)
Independent America: Rising From Ruins (2009 - 70min) Hanson Hosien
Official Site: www.risingfromruins.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1436558
Inside Hurricane Katrina (2005 - 94min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000C3L270
For National Geographic TV.
Kamp Katrina (2007 - 74min) David Redmon, Ashely Sabin
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1553678
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B001WB6NH0
Katrina Cop in the Superdome (2010 - 82min) Paul Lisy
Official Site: www.katrinacop.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katrinacop
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1680720
have not yet seen, not yet on DVD as of 12/2010 (still not as of 12/2011)
Katrina Diary (2006 - 80min) J. Justin Pearce
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0835484
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000FFL090
Katrina's Children (2008 - 83min) Laura Belsey
Official Site: www.katrinaschildren.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1243938
Land of Opportunity (2010 - 96min) Louisa Dantas
Official Site: www.landofopportunityfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1658811
Left Behind Without A Choice (2007 - 80min) Kim Walsh Borgan
Official Site: www.leftbehindkatrinamovie.com
Another film about pet rescue efforts. have not yet seen
Mine (2009 - 80min) Geralyn Pezanoski
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1326247
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002NRNZTG
Very interesting film about the efforts to rescue pets left behind in Katrina.
Recommended. Lots of issues are expored here. Mainly focusses on five or six
specific cases where dogs were found, and in most of these cases the new
owners did not want to return them. See also Dark Water Rising.
Mission to Mississippi (2007 - 46min) Lewis Stiefel
Distributor's Website: www.singahe.com/mitomi.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1543508
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002JXNQWA
Mississippi Son (2008 - 93min) Don Wilson
Official Site: www.mississippison.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1047837
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0019CO216
Though the hurricane missed New Orleans (that city was devastated by the
breach of the levee after the hurricane had moved through) and made a direct
hit on the coast of Mississippi, almost all the media attention was on
New Orleans. This film documents the devastation to the Gulf Coast of
Mississippi - Bay Saint Louis, Pass Christian, Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach,
Ocean Springs. Much of this area experienced water over 30 feet high.
Talks to a lot of musicians and artists.
Points out the lack of help from the government. As a nice touch, all
of the soundtrack music is by gulf coast musicians.
National Geographic - Inside Hurricane Katrina (2005 - 92min)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000C3L270
Nova - Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Drowned a City (2006 - 56min)
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0206501
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000BKDNYO
Prisoners of Katrina (2006 - 59min) Nick Read
This is an episode of the BBC TV series This World, investigating the story
of 7000 inmates left to die in Orleans Parish Prison during Hurricane Katrina.
Can watch free online (check Google video). There is a book of the same name.
Race (2010 - 59min) Katherine Cecil
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1568874
Saints Rising (2010 - 45min) Hailima Yates
Official Site: www.anonamissproductions.com/saints_rising.html
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1597128
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003KK5APW
Trouble the Water (2008 - 96min) Tia Lessin, Carl Deal
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1149405
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trouble_the_Water
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0027EU252
Wade in the Water Children (2007 - 75min) Elizabeth Wood, Gabriel Nussbaum
Official Site: www.wadeinthewaterdoc.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1123411
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00346I95A
When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006 - 256min) Spike Lee
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0783612
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000J10F14
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Levees_Broke
Spike Lee's epic film is the essential document of this massive tragedy.
He got right down there and captured a lot of this pretty quickly. Very
powerful and important film. I watched this when it first came out on DVD,
and rewatched in 2010. Awesome and highly recommended. The main film is in
four "Acts" of about an hour each. And then there is a fifth part, about
2 hours long, shot a bit later that consists only of interviews. This is
a 3-disc set. The first 4 parts include director's commentary and Spanish
and French subtitles. Check this out! (see also his 201 followup film
If God is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise).
Art
Art is not a major subject for me, but these are some really cool films
I have found.
Allen Jones - Women and Men (2007 - 58min) Jake Auerbach
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1146154
Amazon (UK): www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/B000XJLQOW
Wikipedia (Allen Jones): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Jones_(sculptor)
Wikipedia (Jake Auerbach): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Auerbach
Extensive look at the work of Allen Jones, controversial due to depictions
of women as objects (such as tables, chairs, coatracks). He explains many
ideas, including his techniques as an artist. Very interesting.
Hard to find. PAL region 0 DVD is available from Amazon UK (above link)
and sometimes ebay. (there is a DIVX torrent around and can also find
places to watch online).
Andy Goldsworthy's Rivers and Tides (2001 - 90min) Thomas Riedelsheimer
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002JL9N6
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0307385
haven't got to this one yet
Andy Warhol (1988 - 76min) Kim Evans, Lana Jokel
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00004STTW
Excellent documentary.
Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film (2006 - 240min) Ric Burns
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000GEIREQ
This 4-hour PBS program is a thorough coverage of Warhol's life and work.
Antonio Gaudi (1984 - 72min) Hiroshi Teshigahara
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0086907
Amazon (Criterion 2-disc 2008): www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0011U3OAG
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/2104
The Architecture of Doom (1989 - 119min) Peter Cohen
German Title: Undergangens Arkitektur
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0098559
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Doom
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00003XALS
All about Hitler and art. Covers Nazi censorship of art, theft of art in
Europe during the war, Hitler's plans for massive art galleries. Amazing
film, highly recommended. See also The Rape of Europa (below).
Art and Copy (2009 - 88min) Doug Pray
Official Site: www.artandcopyfilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1333631
Another awesome film from Doug Pray. This one is about advertising design
artists and covers some major ad campaigns - "Got Milk?", "Just Do It".
Explores the impact of advertising on society a little bit.
(see also from Doug Pray - Surfwise, Big Rig,
Infamy, Scratch, Hype).
Artmind - The Healing Power of Sacred Art with Alex Grey - (2004 - 79min) Jay Weidner
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0002HDH1K
Alex Grey's website: www.alexgrey.com
See also COSM (below).
Beautiful Losers (2008 - 90min) Aaron Rose
Official Site: www.beautifullosers.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0430916
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002PX446G
Between the Folds (2008 - 56min) Vanessa Gould
Official Site: www.greenfusefilms.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1253565
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002MWRMO0
Looks at the cutting edge of the ancient Japanese art of paper folding.
You wouldn't believe what some people can do with a piece of paper. This
film will not be what you are expecting. Highly recommended.
COSM: The Movie - Alex Grey Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (2006 - 80min) Nick Krasnic
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ICL3K6
Alex Grey's website: www.alexgrey.com
See also Artmind (above).
Crumb (1995 - 119min) Terry Zwigoff
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0109508
Official Site: www.spe.sony.com/classics/crumb/crumb.html
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumb_(film)
Metacritic: www.metacritic.com/video/titles/crumb
Amazon: (Criterion Edition) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003N2CVPE
Amazon: (Special Edition) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000ELL1RG
Amazon: (Original DVD Release) www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0767821505
Criterion: www.criterion.com/films/2104
Rich documentary about counter-culture comic artist Robert Crumb.
This wide-ranging biography covers his whole life, including bizarre
upbringing. His two interesting brothers are featured as part of the
story. Includes tons of his art. One of the coolest and most interesting
documentaries ever, for sure. Zwigoff's first docu (1985) was
Louie Bluie. He later made Ghostworld and Art School
Confidential. There are 3 editions of the Crumb
DVD available - the original release from 1999 (with white cover),
the "Special Edition", released in 2006 (with red cover), and the Criterion
Edition, released AUG 2010. The special
edition does not say special edition on the DVD cover. I am assuming that
what is different about it is the Special Features listed on the cover -
digitally remastered, commentary by Zwigoff and Roger Ebert, and a preview
from Art School Confidential (plus the newer "special edition" is
$13 cheaper). The Criterion Edition adds some more features, including a new
commentary by Zwigoff. You want to see this film!
Eames: The Architect and the Painter (2011 - 83min) Jason Cohn, Bill Jersey
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eames:_The_Architect_and_the_Painter
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1972646
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005LVO6QC
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010 - 87min) Banksy
Official Site: www.banksyfilm.com
Wikipedia (film): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exit_Through_the_Gift_Shop
Wikipedia (Banksy): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy
Wikipedia (Thierry Guetta): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thierry_Guetta
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1587707
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00470MG06
Banksy makes a documentary about a guy who is making a documentary about
street art. After Banksy suggests he should become a street artist himself,
suddenly he produces a huge amount of art and has a show in LA. There is
speculation that the film is a put-on, and that the art attributed to
Mr. Brainwash is actually made by Bansky and Sheppard Fairey, who is also
featured in the film. It's fun.
The Fantastic World of M.C. Escher (1980 - 50min) Michelle Emmer
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0133759
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EDWLQY
Thorough look at Escher's artwork. Physicist/mathemetician Prof. Roger
Penrose talks about impossible objects. Mathemetician Prof. H.S.M. Coxeter
explains some hyperbolic geometry and a bit about tetrahedrons and
octohedrons. There are a couple of interesting lengthy reviews of this at
the above Amazon link.
The Films of Charles and Ray Eames (6-discs 337 minutes) Charles Eames
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000952K92
Finding Lee Mullican (2008 - 75min) John Mullican
Official Site: www.findingleemullican.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1552021
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B003HC9J6O
A look at the late artist's life by his son. Would like to have seen a
bit more of his art, which is abstract, visionary, and ahead of its time.
(supplied as a DVD-R)
Frank Frazetta - Painting with Fire (2003 - 93min) Lance Laspina
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0363621
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00064ALNG
There is also a 2-disc DVD version, and the film is also included in the
2-disc DVD set of Ralph Bakshi's Fire and Ice.
The Genius of Design (242min)
Official Site: www.athenalearning.com/programs/genius-design/description-and-videos
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004H0ZH84
Helmut Newton - Frames From the Edge (1989 - 95min) Andrain Maben
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00005Y6ZC
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0097382
Helmut's website:www.helmutnewton.com
"The photographer of women". The 2002 DVD is out of print and hard to find.
There is a torrent around.
Helvetica (2007 - 80min) Gary Hustwit
Official Site: www.helveticafilm.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0847817
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000VWEFP8
Yes, its a movie about a typefont. In looking at the ubiquitous Helvetica
font, the film explores typography, graphic design, urban visual space, etc.
Interviews with many top designers. Released to coincide with 50th
anniversary of the introduction of Helvetica in 1957. Very interesting film.
Highly recommended. Part of a trilogy - see also Objectified and
Urbanized.
Herb & Dorothy (2008 - 87min) Megumi Sasaki
Official Site: www.herbanddorothy.com
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_and_Dorothy
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1227929
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002RB56WM
In a Dream (2008 - 78min) Jeremiah Zagar
Official Site: www.inadreammovie.com
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt1185251
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_a_Dream_(film)
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B002BNTO4M
A close look at the life and work of Philadelphia mosaic artist Isaiah
Zagar, by his son. Gets way into the psychology of the artist and his
family. Very interesting, with lots art, consisting of whole buildings
covered inside and out with stuccoed mosaics.
In the Realms of the Unreal: the Mystery of Henry Darger (2004 - 81min) Jessica Yu
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0390123
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Realms_of_the_Unreal
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00094ARX2
DVD looks to be out of print.
The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1994 - 30min) Les Blank
IMDB: www.imdb.com/title/tt0113734
Les Blank's Website:www.lesblank.com
Maestro at Les Blank's Website: www.lesblank.com/more/maestro.html<