2016 : Obama's America

This is not a film that is going to draw a wide audience. When it comes to politics you have Right and Left, but rarely Center. I consider myself and my views Right. Not because of my politics, but my general being. I am a quite accurate person. Anytime I speak it tends to correct. In that sense, I am right. As for Politics, no one is ever right - correct. Politicians always have their own agenda and the person who gets elected is the one that makes the most believable promises. Delivering on those promises is more rare these days than finding a pack of unicorns. What I wanted to know about this film is how little I actually knew of the man who is our 44th President. I knew almost nothing about him and that is scary. It is a fact based documentary. Not much speculation or theories, but it all seems black and white. I also was interested by the fact that this is based on the book written by Dinesh D'Souza. He is an immigrant himself who has seen the best and worst of The U.S., and I was interested on his perspective. I really enjoyed the architecture of his documentary. At 90 minutes long, it breaks down like this - Opening 20 minutes are about Dinesh himself. His beginnings, how he came to the U.S., and his career during and after his college years at Dartmouth. The next 40 minutes focus on Barack Obama. From birth till now, almost nothing is left out. This is important, because he is an unknown person who lives in the White House and runs the country. We are given information not released in the media, and this interested me. It chronicles his relationship or lack thereof with his Father, follows him to Indonesia where he lived as a teen for a few years, and it closely dissects his relationships with several radicals in the world that have very different views about life and liberty as we have come to know here in the U.S. Finally the last half hour is where it does get very Real and very Scary. It poses the question of what state our country will be in by 2016 if he gets re-elected. In my opinion, all Americans, Left Right and Center should watch this portion. The history of Barry is important because we see his allegiances and how he views "What America should be", but if everyone watched the last half hour with a completely blank and open mind, and forgot about Political Parties and all that,  the 2012 election would turn out very differently. I think Dinesh put together a great documentary without slamming Obama, accusing him of not being born here, and not downright attacking him. We get facts, some opinions, and we should do with it what we will.

NBM rates 2016 - A Must See before November 6, 2012

Alien Autopsy

When a trusted movie lover recommended a film I had never heard of, I was intrigued. So much so, It sat on my dresser for 3 weeks. Wah Wah. Then the glorious day came where I decided to start it, only to be left with the conclusion that I must own a copy to pass on to everyone I know who loves to be entertained. Alien Autopsy is based on the true story of what may have been one of the most elaborate hoaxes the world has ever known...or was it? This film is part documentary, part comedy, completely absurd, but because it is primarily a British film, you know the absurdity is going to be very well received. It follows two men on the accidental discovery of a lifetime. Ray Santilli is a street smart video pirating salesman in 1995, when his business comes to an abrupt end. His best mate, some may say frenemy, is Gary. Gary is a legal aid who is all about work and responsibility. These two don't see eye to eye ever, but Gary always goes along. When Ray's idea of flying to Cleveland, Ohio to buy Elvis memorabilia is his newest get rich quick scheme, Gary is very skeptical. Then Ray is offered the biggest golden goose egg he has ever seen. Literally, it is a film. A documented alien autopsy film from 1947 Roswell. He is shown the film one time then drops 30 grand on it. 30 grand he got from a shady investor who likes to kill people who disappoint him. This is where is gets awesome and funny. After watching only the one time, no one believes his story of what he watched. He then has a small viewing party who are ultimately disappointed when the film he watched has been eating itself through an oxidation of sorts. Now Ray is in a pickle. He now has to come up with a solution to save everyone's, mostly his, life. He has seen the footage and remembers it vividly, so the brightest idea in the room is to recreate it. Bill Pullman plays the documentarian taking in their story 10 years after the fact, and the story telling is so brilliant. Flashbacks to present day and so on. It's all done so well and this little indie flick made quite an impression on me, and it is hilarious. Harry Dean Stanton only has a couple of scenes but he is awesome as he always is. I can't wait to loan this out to whoever wants it, to see their reaction as well. Will Ray be able to pass off his reproduction to the general public? This is the million dollar question and the answer is well worth the wait. 
NBM rates Alien Autopsy - Phenomenal

Catching Hell

Dean-O here.

I need to disclose a few things before I start:

1. I grew up in the Chicago area
2. I am a devout Cubs fan
3. I drove 8 hours from Orlando to Atlanta early on Sunday, October 5^th, 2003 and sat down the 3^rd base line at Turner Field that evening as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves in Game 5 of their Division Championship Series, putting them 4 wins away from making their first World Series appearance since the 1940’s. After the game, I drove back home and went to work without sleeping…or without a voice.

Needless to say, I was consumed with the ensuing Cubs chase for the National League pennant against the Florida Marlins. I was elated after the Cubs took a commanding 3-1 series lead after 4 games. And I was on the borderline of hysteria as I watched Game 6 unfold on my TV. The Cubs were up 3-0 going into the 8^th inning. Mark Prior was on the mound and he was dominant. A lifetime of dreams was in our grasp. The Cubs were on the cusp of making it to the World Series.

Then, a fly ball went down the left field line, and everything changed.

It became known as “The Bartman Ball”. Steve Bartman, an unassuming 20-something fan ended up touching the ball as Moises Alou, the Cubs left fielder, reached up to try and catch it. Alou didn’t make the catch, and he immediately reacted with outrage. The ensuing collapse by the Cubs is epic, legendary, and still makes me sick to my stomach. Bigger than that, though, is the reaction to Bartman that occurred during the game. He was isolated, taunted, vilified, and became the symbolic scapegoat for the Cubs failure.

Last month, ESPN Films released a documentary by Alex Gibney titled “Catching Hell”. In his film, he examines the notions of “curses” and “scapegoats” while providing an in-depth perspective on that fateful play and the subsequent fall-out. ESPN Films has produced many impactful documentaries as a part of their “30 for 30” series, and this was no exception. Obviously, this film brought back some painful memories, but I was fascinated by two aspects of his film in particular. First, he incorporated footage from two amateur documentarians – one guy behind the video camera, one guy in front of it. They recorded the experience of arriving at the ballpark that day, getting to their seats in the left field bleachers, and giving their own “fan reaction” running commentary of the events as they unfolded. What this footage captured that Fox TV Network coverage did not was the raw emotion of the fans as the 8^th inning unfolded. The feeling in the stadium went from jubilation to confusion to disbelief to anger and hatred…all within a span of 30 minutes. Most of that anger was directed at the kid in the left field seat…not to the product on the playing field. To watch that “gang mentality” play out so clearly on film and tying it to the coverage that Fox provided – essentially fueling it without fully appreciating the impact they were having – it was a masterful presentation on Gibney’s part. Equally as enthralling was the “behind the scenes” footage – the interviews with the Fox TV producer and commentators, with security personnel at the stadium that day, and with those in the seats around Bartman. They all played a part in the way that the events unfolded around this young man, and hearing first-hand accounts of how he had to be hidden, disguised and escorted to a temporary location before eventually going to his hotel room was captivating. Above all else, though, hearing the story of Bartman’s confusion over what had transpired, his watching the replays of the events in the bowels of Wrigley Field’s security office, his remorse and his outright fear – it was compelling.

While there were parts of this film that I could have done without – specifically the preacher who goes into a diatribe on scapegoating and blowing up the “Bartman Ball” – I was really impressed with this film. Going into it, I thought I knew what to expect. After all, I lived through these events. Gibney managed to give viewers a comprehensive perspective on the incident and the fallout from it. I learned more about the event and the person it impacted than I knew going in, and it made me reflect back on those events in a new light. This film is as much a study in human behavior as it is a dissection of an unfortunate event in a historic baseball series, and I would recommend it to anyone – Cubs fan or not!

NBM rates Catching Hell as Awesome.     

Talihina Sky

Being a Kings of Leon fan, I was not going to miss this documentary, which debuted on Showtime this week. Since Showtime was airing it, I knew it would be uncut, and sure enough it was. Talihina Sky follows the band on their rise from unknown to super stardom and everywhere in between. The band is comprised of 3 brothers and their cousin. When i see documentaries, they always seem a little bit fluffy. By that, I mean, they seem to not be honest to themselves or us in the fact that these films can be edited to make everyone win. This does not do that. It does not paint a pretty picture, or a glamorous one either. What I did not expect was the amount of old footage we get to see. In 2003-04 These guys were unknown, so why would a camera crew follow them? I don't know, but I also don't care. This is a true doc following the band for 7 years. That is amazing. It really does more than just band Q and A. It goes down home. They interview the Kings family members...and not just Mother and Father. I'm talking Oklahoma backwoods Uncles, grandparents, cousins. They even drop in a Followill Family Reunion, which is quite comical. I think it is so brilliant, because we all have family like this. They may not speak proper, but they love their kin. I already was well versed in most things KOL, but I learned a few things that made me go, "Huh". Nathan is the oldest of the brothers and he plays Drums. Caleb is next on guitar and vocals. Jared is the youngest of the three. He is on Bass. The cousin is Matthew on rhythm guitar. Matthew was only 17 when he went out on tour with them for the first time. The funniest thing I learned was that Caleb and Nathan were the ones that got a record deal. With that, they needed the rest of an actual band. Caleb said, how about Jared on Bass, to which the new manager asked if he played bass. The answer was no. Jared basically locked himself in a room and learned as fast as possible. That is impressive to me. Then they needed another guitarist, so the logical choice was to stay in the family. The suggested Matthew. Fearful of the same answer he got with the "Jared" question, he reluctantly asked it again. Can he play? The boys responded this time with, "I don't know, we have only heard him play over the phone. To be able to put together a band that sells out stadiums with half of its members unable to play at the time of signing is impressive to say the least. With the KOL recently cancelling the rest of the North American tour without warning, the speculation is that the band is breaking up. As much as I don't like to hear that, Talihina Sky really opens the fan's eyes to what kind of struggles this band has dealt with over the past decade. After watching some of the knock down, drag out arguments we are shown, it is no surprise it would happen eventually. I do not see any of the members starting new bands, ala the Oasis boys, but I do see an extended Hiatus. Probably at least 2 years, upon which time several songs will be written in the current depressive state by all the boys on their own terms. Everyone needs a break, and after seeing how hard these guys work, they deserve one. I do wish it came on better circumstances, like actually finishing your tour. At least you are not coming near me this time, because I would have my tickets, and I don't know what kind of damage that would have done to my opinion of them. I don't know how this film would come across to someone who is unfamiliar with the band or their music, but for me, it was the tops. I also love the title of the film. Talihina Sky is an untitled hidden track on their first album. It is also the name of the place they grew up. I do recommend this band to anyone who likes music that may be a little different from what they are used to. They now have five albums, and they have progressively grown musically. There first album, "Youth and young manhood" is very raw, ripped up, and thrown down. The second album is as far from a "sophomore slump" as anyone can be. Ah Ha Shake Heartbreak is my favorite album of all 5. With their 3rd, they hit way more mainstream, and tracks off of this album are the first time I remember hearing them on the radio. "On Call" and "Knocked Up" are those tracks. Super stardom set in with their 4th album and the track "Sex on Fire" started it all. It was a lot more pop than they had ever been and it caught on. This album produced 5 tracks that everyone knows due to the overwhelming air play. Come Around Sundown is their latest, and it feels almost like an entirely different band altogether. As you can tell, I am a fan, but this film shows the darkest minutes of the darkest hours of the band's existence. I do recommend this film as entertainment only. It is full of salty language, which may surprise you because the boys grew up very religious as their Father was a preacher. If you don't love them already, this will not help with that. I don't see this film having the same effect that Walk the Line did. When that film came out, Johnny Cash record sales boosted. This film does not focus on the music, it focuses on the family behind the music.

NBM rates Talihina Sky - A Work of Cinematic Art.

Foo Fighters : Back and Forth

So as a self proclaimed "Foo Fan" I was stoked to see this new 2 hour documentary about my favorite band and how the recording process of their most recent album "Wasting Light" went. Boy was I wrong about the content. I'm glad I was wrong, because it turns out it was an entire film documenting the entire history of the Foo. The first 20 minutes or so was strictly about Nirvana which I found very compelling. I guess the film focused more on Dave Grohl, and his journey through the Rock scene over the last 20 years, which makes sense, since Foo wouldn't exist without him. The footage of Nirvana was absolutely euphoric to me. It made me think about where they would be if Kurt hadn't...you know. Dave is famous for not talking about Kurt, but he opens up more than I've ever seen, and even 17 years later he still struggled talking about it. After this segment we get into how the Foo were started. It was really more of an accident than a purpose. Dave had to free his mind for life after Nirvana, so he laid down a few tracks, played all the instruments, and printed the cassette. He didn't know what he wanted to do with these new demo's, but after being invited to play with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, he realized he did want his own band, so he turned down his idol for the unknown. Turns out he chose the hard path. He quickly put together the rest of his band and then they went. Its funny because Dave had Cred and $$ from the label due to Nirvana, but his new band mates hadn't had the same luck, so this turned out to be winning the music lottery to them. They went from playing shows for a few hundred to people to a few thousand. Dave really struggles with the fans in the beginning. They were mad at him and he didn't know why, but eventually he just stopped listening. It follows the trials and tribulations of each album and all the drama involved with said album. Their second album, "The Colour and the Shape", (their best album) almost didn't get made. Dave was struggling with his drummer, who he liked as a person, but he couldn't meet Dave's demand for what the drum tracks should sound like. How do you perform in front of the best drummer of all time and not feel the pressure? Either way, band members came and went because Dave couldn't get the formula right. He eventually does find what he's looking for, but with any long term relationship there will be bumps in the road. The band have had the best of times, but more worst of times and this film is a really honest look at the whole she-bang. What is scary for me with a film like this is the content. My favorite band of all time along with Dave, who I idolize could show me something that could possibly change my outlook on the whole thing. I have always heard the Mr. Grohl is the nicest man in rock and Roll, but I bet there are a few ex members that wouldn't agree. I think at times he would disagree as well. The one on one interview segments of the Documentary really shows Dave as open book filled with regret and even more remorse to the musicians he may have wronged in the name of perfection. The last 30 minutes really brings it home. It is about the newest album and how they decided to record it in analog on tape, which just seems tedious. It also shows the 40 year old "Fighters" with their families and kids which just cracks me up. Especially the scene when Dave is layin down a guitar riff and his daughter comes up to him poking him in the back. Its so real, and so funny. I appreciate the effort they constantly give to improving on their craft. I can also tell how much more loud and ragged the new album sounds compared to the previous ones. I love every second of every track. It also solidified my jealousy for my younger brothers for his back stage encounter where he met Dave and shook his hand. I would love to have a beer with that guy (Dave, not my brother...I hate that guy). I also had to listen to most of the albums today. It just got me in the "Foo Mood".


NBM rates Back and Forth - A Work of Cinematic Art
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Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

I'm not saying this will be the first and last documentary I ever review, but don't be surprised if it is. I never liked Joan Rivers. She just annoyed me, and she looked funny. It wasn't until I watched her on The Celebrity Apprentice did I grow a fondness for the woman. She's rude, crass, says what's on her mind, and she revolutionized comedy for women to the point of banishment from several clubs. She is a brilliant American and now I cannot get enough of her. She has the "shock" factor. By that I mean you never know what she is gonna say or who she will offend. This film documents her struggles as a stand up comedienne going strong with 40+ years in the business. I enjoyed the time frame it spanned. It's short at only 90 minutes, I actually didn't want it to end. It begins before her Celebrity Apprentice fame and ends well after. Its amazing to me how hard she has to work. She works that hard for a couple reasons. She needs the cash, and she doesn't ever want to be forgotten. She is a very vain woman. I still can't stand her daughter Melissa, but what are you gonna do. The documentary shows so much awesome vintage footage of her stand up act back in the 60's, 70's, all the way to present day. The segment on how NBC, (or Johnny Carson) black balled her from ever appearing on that network was astounding. Celebrity Apprentice was her first appearance on the network since she pissed off Carson. She was his co-host and friend, but when someone offered her her own show she jumped at it. Expecting him to be happy for her as they were such close friends, he actually never spoke another word to her EVER. He felt betrayed. It took a year and a half to film the footage that only spans 90 minutes. To hear her comedy today and see her act decades ago, you realize why she is so special. She will make a grown man blush without even trying. She will piss people off, but she doesn't care. That's why she has lasted. Thick skin, and a brilliant wit, along with an insane work ethic, I don't see her stopping any time soon. This Doc made me realize if she is ever in town or nearby doing her act, I won't miss it. She is a living legend and at her age, you just never know how much longer she will be around. Its such a fun movie to watch. It feels like you are watching a comedy show with reality mixed in. Her joke catalogues are the craziest thing I've ever seen. She has every joke she has ever written logged away and categorized like a library does with its books. Amazing film, and an amazing lady.

NBM rates Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work - Phenomenal

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