THEY ARE

ALMOST POSTERS.

ASSORTED

BOX OF DOCS:

THE 6th MONDAY.

This is part of an ongoing series. The previous entries:

The 1st Monday

The 2nd Monday

The 3rd Monday

The 4th Monday

The 5th Monday

Here’s what I recommend this week…

The life of Howard Ashman, the mastermind behind the “Little Shop of Horrors” musical and all your favourite songs from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” - to name only a few achievements of his short life. This movie is presented in a really unique way, simply using voice-overs rather than cut-aways to what they call “talking heads”. It keeps the focus entirely on Ashman, who deserves all the attention he can get.

The always brilliant Laura Poitras looks at the occupation of Iraq, primarily focusing on an Iraqi doctor with political aspirations. You might be surprised, as I was, by how much his family’s dynamic reminds you of your own. Poitras’ signature fly-on-the-wall approach is especially effective here as it rightfully humanizes all involved. In my humble opinion this is one of the most essential war films ever made.

Watch Rick Zakowich, who has always struggled with his overweight appearance, come to the profound and moving realization that, rather than losing weight, acceptance is the best form of self-care. I highly recommend that everyone, and I mean everyone, watch this documentary. It’s available for free on the National Film Board of Canada’s website.

Two guys wonder what they’re made of… to the extent that they have their hair analyzed to see what’s growing out of them. The answer? Corn.

Behind the scenes look at Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, refreshingly starring the real brains behind the operation, George Stephanopoulos and James Carville. You don’t have to be a political junkie to enjoy what is, at its roots, a great work-place character study. Although, knowing what we know now, there’s an impending sense of doom looming over the whole thing; history has made this one extra compelling.

Young men and women get jobs working on a cruise ship along the longest river in Asia. They navigate both a changing China and being thrown into a world of Western wealth. It’s all very relatable - whether you’ve ever tipped someone carrying your bags or received a tip for carrying bags. Ultimately unbiased, introspective, thought-provoking and presented with a calming delicacy.

Merciless look at how most food makes its way to our tables. Not only does it highlight all that’s concerning about the process, it tinkers around with solid solutions as well. It’s startling to realize that we, as consumers, resemble cattle in a herd as much as, well, cattle in a herd. There are no shortage of docs that examine the very modern problem of manufacturing our food - but this one is so compressive and well made that I consider it definitive.

ASSORTED

BOX OF DOCS:

THE 5th MONDAY.

This is part of an ongoing series. The previous entries can be found here...

The 1st Monday

The 2nd Monday

The 3rd Monday

The 4th Monday

Here are this week’s picks…

Didion’s nephew, who happens to be Griffin Dunne, attempts the impossible - to sum this woman up (her life, grief, impact, legacy and more) in 94 minutes. He does just good enough and, as a family member, spares no intimacy. It’s an absolute must for any fan. In addition, since her death, it’s become a prime example of: thank GOD they made this when they did.

Although in desperate need of a narrative thread, this is considered the definitive history of “Fiddler on the Roof” for good reason. It spends as much time looking at the actual making-of as the cultural impact, which is a two-way street. For die hards: there’s a separate documentary entitled “Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen”, which strictly explores making the 1971 film (although its poster is the best thing about it).

I had never heard of designer Bruce Mau before I saw the trailer for this. Now, I’m not only a little obsessed, but have a kinetic road map for how to move forward as an artist and, dare I say it, as a human being.

This traces the Coppola family tree, from its origins in the little Italian village of Bernalda right down to Mr. Coconut Records himself. What I especially appreciate is that it doesn’t just become “The Francis Show”, as any lesser filmmaker would’ve inevitably turned it into. In fact, it makes his grandfather, Agostino, the central figure of the story. A true treat for movie buffs and average movie-goers alike, as it’s endlessly entertaining learning about, and from, this lineage.

The Holy Grail for musical theatre fans: the once-thought-lost made-for-TV-movie, directed by the great D.A. Pennebaker, that documents the cast album recording of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company”. It’s a fascinating look at the collaborative creative process in general, but more specifically how hard it is the recapture that magic energy one brings on stage once they’ve stepped off. Elaine Stritch for the win. 

In 1973, four young Black men tried to steal guns from a sporting goods store to protect their families. Things got extremely tense (and violent) when a series of seriously unfortunate events triggered the longest hostage siege in NYPD history. Then along came NYPD psychologist Harvey Schlossberg, who believed every conflict in life can be resolved using words - not guns… and the process of “hostage negotiation” was born.

Larisa Shepitko is a legend. She directed four brilliant feature films and was working on her fifth when she was tragically killed in a car accident. A year later her husband made this short documentary to honour and celebrate her. She had a zestful, unflinching approach to life and uncompromising views on the responsibilities artists carry to be true to themselves - no excuses.

In a lot of ways, this portrait of Oates barely scratches the surface. But it’s ultimately worthy of its subject by giving us the invaluable gift of getting to know her a little better. It’s an absolute joy to spend any time with this extraordinary woman (and her cats). This movie and the first documentary recommended here today make a great double-bill.