Documentaries and Independant Films

[sophia jane]

I've been watching more indy films and documentaries lately, so I thought I'd start a thread for recommendations. I know I can't be the only one who enjoys them, so post your recommendations and reviews here.

Today I watched the US vs John Lennon. I'm a huge Beatles fan, but I really didn't know a whole lot about Lennon's more political years, so for me it was a great film, very enlightening. The music was great, of course. I've read some criticisms of the movie, that there wasn't enough of the proof of the government's attacks on Lennon, that it was too political and tried to parallel too much with Bush, but I didn't see it that way. There was one person who made a reference to Bush and that was Gore Vidal, so any other parallel is going to be made by the viewer.

Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to hear from y'all!

 

[CharleyH]

I've been watching more indy films and documentaries lately, so I thought I'd start a thread for recommendations. I know I can't be the only one who enjoys them, so post your recommendations and reviews here.

Today I watched the US vs John Lennon. I'm a huge Beatles fan, but I really didn't know a whole lot about Lennon's more political years, so for me it was a great film, very enlightening. The music was great, of course. I've read some criticisms of the movie, that there wasn't enough of the proof of the government's attacks on Lennon, that it was too political and tried to parallel too much with Bush, but I didn't see it that way. There was one person who made a reference to Bush and that was Gore Vidal, so any other parallel is going to be made by the viewer.

Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to hear from y'all!

I could present to you a lot of doco titles, but what kind? There are a lot of niches in this genre.

 

[kendo1]

.....

 

[cloudy]

The Business of Fancydancing

It's such a powerful film that I had to watch it twice, back to back, so that I was sure I didn't miss anything.

It won tons of awards at the Durango Film Festival, the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and the Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival (Best Narrative Feature Film, Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film, Outstanding Screenwriting, Best Feature - twice - and Audience Favorite).

Here's the summary from IMDB:

Seymour Polatkin is a successful, gay Indian poet from Spokane who confronts his past when he returns to his childhood home on the reservation to attend the funeral of a dear friend. Based upon Sherman Alexie's book of poetry of the same name.

A review:

The acting was powerful, the writing was strong and the images were beautiful and haunted me for days following my first viewing of the film. Specifically, the character of Mouse from the Spokane reservation of Polatkin's birth, with his beautiful and painful renditions of TEN LITTLE INDIANS and THE STARSPANGLED BANNER chilled me to the bone. Also, the subtle references to culture, literature and humor commonly found in Alexie's writing were done in a way unique to any film I have ever seen. Hope other people have a chance to view this beautiful and unforgettable film.

It's one of my favorite films of all time, it's that good. In the credits (I love this), it says, "A film by at least 62 people, Indigenous and otherwise."



eta: Alexie's film Smoke Signals is more mainstream, and isn't nearly as intense, but it's also well worth the time to watch. It has some absolutely hilarious lines:

"The only thing more pathetic than Indians on TV is Indians watching Indians on TV."

"It's a good day to be indigenous! "

Randy Peone: Good morning, this is Randy Peone on KREZ radio, the voice of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation. And it's time for the morning traffic report on this rainy Bicentennial Fourth of July. Let's go out to Lester Fallsapart in the KREZ traffic van broken down at the crossroads.
Lester Fallsapart: Big truck just went by... now it's gone.
Randy Peone: Well, there you go folks. Looks like another busy morning

and:

Thomas Builds-the-Fire: Hey Victor! I'm sorry 'bout your dad.
Victor Joseph: How'd you hear about it?
Thomas Builds-the-Fire: I heard it on the wind. I heard it from the birds. I felt it in the sunlight. And your mom was just in here cryin'

 

[sophia jane]

I could present to you a lot of doco titles, but what kind? There are a lot of niches in this genre.

I honestly didn't know there were that many niches. I've only just become a fan of the genre, so...I'm pretty much open to suggestions, I think. Probably not Kendo's wild-life films, tho.

 

[Liar]

I recommend Riot On!, about the rise and fall and complete madness of a dotcom spawn - in Finland.

 

[transendrabbe]

For a good independent flick, I'd recommend "Pi". It's an ambiguous psychological thriller with theological and socio-philosophical undertones, and just a spritz of film noir for taste. There's a description to leave you completely curious and confused.

For a good documentary, I'd recomment "Supersize Me". While it's one of the more mainstream docs, it really is a good and entertaining depiction of Morgan Spurlock's experiment to eat only from the McDonald's menu for 30 days. The bonus rule is, if he is ever asked to be "Supersized" he must say yes. Along with "Super Size Me', I'd also recommend Spurlock's series, "30 Days". Similar to the feature film, he and other attempt various ways of life for 30 days. One had a border patrol officer trade with a poor Mexican family for 30 days, another one had Spurlock and his wife attempting to live on minimum wage, and in yet another, Spurlock went to prison for 30 days. Good stuff.

I'm glad to see this thread, too....I am going to check out some of these great suggestions!

 

[sophia jane]

I put Cloudy's suggestion in my netflix que and I think Supersize me is already there. Liar- I can't get your suggestion thru Netflix but it sounds interesting.

I just finished watching the bonus features of US vs John Lennon- some really interesting political commentary on there (probably more interesting for liberals), comparing the political mood and the government then and now. They did give show some conservative viewpoints, too, tho.

An indy that I watched recently that was kinda...interesting was Greendale. I had to watch it for school or I'd probably never have seen it. The whole thing was written and sung by Neil Young. There's no dialoge (outside the music), but his commentary on politics was right up my alley.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

I love indie films and foreign films.
Right now, the titles escape me.

I did see Supersize Me....I now avoid McDonalds.

 

[cloudy]

I put Cloudy's suggestion in my netflix que

You'll have to let me know what you think of it once you've watched it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

You'll have to let me know what you think of it once you've watched it.

Shaun of the Dead...LOL.

 

[cloudy]

Shaun of the Dead...LOL.

Don't forget to kill Philip!

 

[Guest]

It's is significant to note a sort-of-independent film is nominated for Best Picture this year "Little Miss Sunshine". If you haven't seen it--do!

On the other side of independent film making, it is interesting to note how cheap it has gotten to make a film. Production quality cameras are now available for about $8,000. Editing can be done on recent PC's. Editing suites of software are available for a couple thousand of dollars each including the ability to do special effects, animation and editing.

There's a good book on the subject. The DV Rebel's Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap (Paperback) - Amazon Link


The movie, Sky Captain, World of Tomorrow was a major production, but the fledgling director made the first six minutes of the all Blue screen film in his apartment using neighbors as actors and creating sets in After Effects. He then showed the six minutes around, and received a production deal.

I read one report, that he continued the home production and used it as a video storyboard. When then shooting a scene with say Angelina Jolie, he could show her the scene already shot with his neighbors, and using roughed out special effects.

It is daunting to think I have much of the same software on this PC. I should be doing something.

Edited to Add: just read an interview with the professional film makers who made a Dorito ad for a contest. His was one of two submitted commercials that aired during the Super Bowl. In all, he made four commercials in one day, all for under $1000. Interview

 

[Arafura]

Documentaries I enjoyed:

Supersize Me
An Inconvenient Truth
Jesus Camp
Control Room
What The Bleep Do We Know
Cry Freetown (about civil war in Sierra Leone)
Who Killed The Electric Car?

 

[sophia jane]

I watched a documenary I loved last night called The Heart of the Game.

 

[oggbashan]

Night Mail

I still like this ancient documentary: Night Mail

And two by Leni Reifenstahl:

Olympische Speile, about the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and

Triumph of the Will.

Both are considered Nazi Propaganda. The second one certainly is. A good copy of the film, seen on a large screen almost makes anyone want to join the Nazi Party.

Given the limitations of the 1930s technology, both are masterpieces.

Og