MAXINE’S BABY: THE TYLER PERRY STORY (2023, doc)

November 17, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. For those who have scoffed at the “Madea” movies, or the periodic screen appearances of Tyler Perry in supporting roles, this documentary from Gelila Bekele (she and Perry share a child) and Armani Ortiz will open your eyes to the money-making machine and unstoppable force that is Tyler Perry. Clearly more of a tribute to his accomplishments than a deep dive into the man, his business, and his life, the film leaves us with full respect for what he has accomplished, as well as an understanding of an industry mogul who maintains complete control of his projects.

The opening credits play like a four-minute trailer for the movie we are about to watch, and that’s likely for the benefit of those who haven’t been paying attention to Perry’s ongoing success and his building of a media empire over the last two decades. Time is spent on his childhood in New Orleans, where sadly, he was so severely mistreated by his father that he later changed his name from Emmett Perry Jr to Tyler, in order to create the emotional distance he needed.

His close friend Oprah Winfrey states that Perry “turned pain into power”, and most of the film details how he went from self-financing a small theater production to constructing the sprawling Tyler Perry Studios on a 330-acre site in Atlanta that was originally the Confederate Army base, Fort McPherson. In fact, the 2019 grand opening of the studios is used as a bit of defining structure throughout, although it times, bouncing back and forth gives a sense of redundancy.

The studios are quite impressive, as is the fact that Perry accomplished this outside of the traditional Hollywood system. And other than the remarkable ‘rags-to-riches’ story, it’s Perry’s ability to blaze his own unconventional trail that garners the most respect. He recognized the underserved and underestimated Black audience and committed to providing material for “his audience”. Beginning with his first movie, DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (2005), Perry worked his plan. While the critics bashed, the film cashed. Lionsgate President Michael Paseornek took notice, and again, Perry bucked the system by demanding creative control, ownership of his work, and establishing new parameters for TV series and syndication.

Perry’s work ethic is dwelled upon here, as is his love for his mother Willie Maxine Perry, who shows up in some clips and photos. Cousin Lucky Johnson offers the most insightful personal observations of what Perry’s traumatic childhood was like, lending credence to the remarkable success. Perry’s determination is beyond reproach, as is his mental toughness and ability to stick to his focus on control and ownership. The music/score of the film is frequently intrusive and overbearing, often distracting from the story, and the film is probably 20 to 30 minutes longer than it should be. However, taking a love-fest approach makes sense in this case, as Tyler Perry has progressed from dreamer to achiever, and the lessons are crystal clear.

Releases on Prime Video on November 17, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE STONES AND BRIAN JONES (2023, doc)

November 16, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Nick Broomfield has been making documentaries for nearly 50 years. The list of subjects is quite diverse, yet his interest in musicians seems to recur periodically, but even in these, his focus is mainly on the person rather than the notes on the scale or the performances on stage. A perfect example is his 2019 doc, MARIANNE & LEONARD: WORDS OF LOVE. His latest on Brian Jones again fits the description.

Brian Jones formed The Rolling Stones in 1962 as a British Blues Band. Here we are more than 60 years later and in 2023, the band has recently released a new album and single … yet very few remember or even know the name Brian Jones. Director Broomfield sets out to tell the story of this enigmatic and talented musician who was ultimately kicked out of his dream band, leading to his much-too-young death shortly after. On the surface it’s a tragic rock ‘n roll story, but deep down, it’s the story of Jones’ personality and substance abuse.

Former Rolling Stones’ bassist Bill Wyman is featured here and provides a great deal of backstory. For more on Wyman, I recommend the 2019 documentary, THE QUIET ONE, which portrays his obsessive attention to collections and history. Alongside Wyman’s input, there is archival footage from Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Marianne Faithfull, and Eric Burdon. Even the older interviews and clips help us understand Brian Jones’ difficulty as the band evolved from blues to rock. We also learn more about his ability to father kids at the level of an NBA player. But what really strikes is his problems stemming from an abuse of alcohol and drugs (and women).

Andrew Loog Oldham pushed the band towards commercial success with rock ‘n roll and away from Brian’s beloved blues. So he lost his position as band manager and his preferred style of music, as Mick Jagger’s on stage persona took over and Jagger/Richards compositions filled a role that Brian couldn’t. He was fired from the band after the “Let it Bleed” album and prior to the band’s next U.S. tour. It is mentioned that Brian lost the one thing that mattered to him … the band. He lost his life a few weeks later, and kudos to Broomfield for not dwelling on the conspiracy theories around his death.

Included here are interviews and clips of early Stones’ live performances that you’ve likely not seen before. I can’t help but contrast Brian’s story with that of Robert Fripp in the recent documentary I watched on King Crimson. Two original architects of long-standing bands – one lost everything, while the other remained and rebuilt the band a few times. Two musical geniuses with opposite paths.

In theaters November 17, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE (2023, doc)

November 16, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Little bits of movie trivia are always fun to learn, and this documentary throws out a doozy. I must be late to the party because I had no idea Shere Hite was the model for the Bond girls on the poster for DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971), the James Bond film starring James Bond and Jill St. John. More people surely know Shere Hite as the writer of the groundbreaking best-selling book, “The Hite Report on Female Sexuality”, the 600-page tome first published in 1976 that inspired much discussion and debate.

Documentarian Nicole Newnham serves up a remarkably detailed and encompassing look at Ms. Hite and the impact of her writings and interviews. She opens with a clip from a 1976 interview author Hite gave, and inserts a clip of Hite’s commentary in 1994 while re-watching her own interview nearly 20 years later. Throughout the film, we see significant archival footage of Hite appearing on talk shows and at other venues, and actress Dakota Johnson recites some of Hite’s written comments and observations.

Hite faced constant criticism of her writing and was forced to defend her research at every turn. Was her questionnaire biased? Was it even scientific? The label of ‘sexologist’ was ridiculed by many, despite her approach of expounding on The Kinsey Report from years earlier. What began as a frowned-upon graduate school thesis, grew into a cultural phenomenon and made Shere Hite a celebrity … something that her modeling career never did, despite posing for Playboy and numerous paperback covers for romantic novels.

Hite faced the backlash. She even appeared on Oprah’s show in front of a hostile male-only audience that belittled her and tried to discredit much of her work. To her credit, Hite followed with other books, and only wore down for the criticism after many years – leading her to ultimately renounce her U.S. citizenship and move out of the country.

Regardless of one’s thoughts about Hite or her writings, she sold over 20 million books, and her most popular is listed as the 30th best selling book of all-time. She was certainly a trail blazer and inspired discussion and debate on what had been a previously taboo topic. Newnham’s documentary provides a fitting retrospective to the late Shere Hite.

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

MEDICINE MAN: THE STAN BROCK STORY (2023, doc)

November 13, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. You know how an overachiever can make you feel like a worthless slug? Well, that’s nothing compared to how you’ll likely view yourself once you learn the story of Stan Brock. If you recognize the name, it’s likely due to the 31 episodes of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” he co-hosted with the legendary Marlin Perkins. His matinee idol good looks were right at home whether he was exploring in the desert or wrestling an Anaconda in the Amazon. Documentarian Paul Michael Angell gives us Brock’s backstory, but the focus here is on the amazing things he accomplished after his animal corralling days.

The film was completed in 2020, two years after Mr. Brock passed away. Despite playing some festivals, the film is just now gaining some well-deserved traction. We learn of his childhood, and how at age 17 he began working at the Dadanawa Ranch in British Guiana (now Guyana). He was a barefoot vaquero (cowboy), and clearly excelled in the no-frills close-to-nature environment, as he was supervising men much older than he. He later co-hosted the TV series, made three movies, wrote three books, and ultimately sold his belongings and founded RAM – Remote Area Medical in 1985.

Much of the film details RAM operations and how Brock coordinates the operation, along with the assistance of the organization’s long-time director, Karen Wilson. We are along for some of the “expeditions”. The first one was in Mexico, and Brock’s last was number 957, although RAM has since far exceeded that number. Providing free medical treatment for folks with no insurance and little money means things like dental work and necessary x-rays can be handled, and if you doubt how crucial this service is, we learn that people in desperate need of tests and care will camp out for three days in hopes of receiving treatment.

Mr. Brock was not a medical professional, and he certainly wasn’t a glory-hound. In fact, he admits to poor social skills (he had to learn to hug) and a distaste for asking people for money. He gives credit to the tens of thousands of volunteers who made RAM a success. We do learn that many states have laws preventing doctors from crossing state lines to provide free medical care, and Mr. Brock succeeded in convincing twelve states to change this law so that more doctors could help.

Stan Brock dedicated the last phase of his life to providing healthcare to those who needed it most. He did this despite his own personal health issues. His inspirational legacy is a shining example of community service and altruism. His was selfishness in a world that barely recognizes it … well, except for those most appreciative folks (over one million now) who received treatment. If we are to idolize heroes, it should be people like Stan Brock who sacrificed so much for so many – even if his efforts make us feel like a worthless slug.

Fathom Events for one night only on November 14, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

YOU WERE MY FIRST BOYFRIEND (2023, doc)

November 9, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. Goodness, this review has been so difficult to write. Not because of anything wrong with how this documentary was made or filmed – in fact, from a technical standpoint, it is very well done. Rather it was due to my personal opinions and bias, which were what I had to fight against while watching.

Filmmaker Cecilia Aldarando makes the decision to relive her 1990’s adolescence, and to film the proceedings. The tagline reads, “She’s doing high school again”, yet it’s really more than that. This plays like a deep therapy project centered around her admission that she didn’t fit in, and to this day remains scarred by memories of PE class, crushes on boys, school bullies, and prom night. Ms. Aldarando still carries the anxiety of not being admitted to the “in” group of girls from whom she so desperately wanted acceptance.

Timed to coordinate with her high school reunion at the Country Club in Winter Park, Florida, there is actually very little footage shown from the event. Instead, much of the time is spent on reenactments designed to recreate painful and vivid memories. Cecilia also meets face-to-face with her high school crush, Joel, who barely remembers her and had no idea that she was silently pining for him. She even reads him a poem from her 1994 journal, making the encounter that much more awkward.

Bad memories are a fact of life after high school, and most of us learn to live with these and move on. Cecilia Aldarando needs closure, and one of those horrific memories is recreated by selecting young actors to help re-live a night at camp where, Jo Anne, the one girl that was treated worse than her, was humiliated by the same group of girls Cecilia so wanted to be like. Making this segment more impactful is that she had tracked down the adult Jo Anne to provide input and observe. It’s a tough scene for us to watch, and especially tough for Jo Anne.

Cecilia even includes her real-life partner, Gabe, as well as her older sister in reenactments, some of which work better than others. The Tori Amos video segment seemed to drag on longer than it should have, and the “My So Called Life” piece was a bit creepy. Cecilia’s long ago best friend Caroline is discussed frequently, and it’s clear that Cecilia views her own failures as a friend as a critical element in telling her story. This is likely the most revealing aspect of the process for the director.

“Hating” one’s self during the teenage years is not uncommon. What we hope is uncommon is the need two decades later to address the misery of those years. Cecilia’s sister asks the question that needs to be asked: why does she give the past so much power? The film was co-directed and edited by Sarah Enid Hagey, which was necessary due to Cecilia being on screen for most of the film. It is interesting to note the role movies played in childhood, and how so many of her crushes were directly from period pieces (aka unattainable). Home movies are included here as well, and Cecilia admits the desire and need to exorcise those adolescent demons. We are also left questioning the accuracy of those long-ago memories, which here are explained as bad memories containing specific details, while good memories are a montage of the times. Here’s hoping most of us dwell on the montages.

Available on HBO beginning November 8, 2023, and streaming on Max soon after.

WATCH THE TRAILER

2 Comments | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING: KING CRIMSON AT 50 (2023, doc)

November 3, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. King Crimson was founded in 1969 and to this day, no one can properly describe their music. Even co-founder and band leader Robert Fripp avoids labeling the music and instead states, “King Crimson is a way of doing things”. Documentarian Toby Amies takes on the challenge of examining the band after 50 years.

While most associate guitarist Fripp as being the face of the band, he himself claims that it’s an ensemble and always has been. But then he also describes the years 1969 through 2013 as “wretched”, and that only with this most recent iteration has he found satisfaction. At a minimum, Fripp is a perfectionist, and it’s likely he is also a tortured genius who constantly strives for different, more, and better. He makes for a frustrating interview, and director Armies shows him mostly in various short clips, while letting current and former band members offer their opinions.

Co-founder Ian McDonald’s zoom interview is the most touching. Taking place shortly before McDonald’s passing in 2022, he breaks down and says, “I’m sorry Robert”, for leaving Fripp and King Crimson after only a year. Obviously, there was some bad blood between the two men, even after so many years. McDonald went on to co-found the band Foreigner in the 1970’s before taking on a solo career. Fripp remained with King Crimson and pursued his idea of what a band should be.

Former King Crimson bassist Trey Gunn explained being in the band was like “a low-grade infection”, while current drummer/keyboardist Bill Rieflin thrived with the band. Rieflin was performing with Stage four colon cancer and countless other health issues, yet viewed making music as what he was meant to do, right up until his passing during filming of this documentary. Numerous other former members were interviewed, and the comments range from annoyance to reverence. Current singer/guitarist Jakko is cautious about what he says so as not to cross Fripp. He cracks, “you’re irreplaceable … like the last bloke.”

It’s a unique band playing unique music – a style where each world class musician plays their part based on what fellow band members (usually 8 including 3 drummers) are playing. The result is often a peak experience for the audience, even for those who have attended many shows over the years. There is an interesting segment featuring a nun who is also a devoted fan of the band. She compares it to religion, and between the immersive music and Fripp’s commentary, we can’t help but put this in terms of philosophy, psychology, religion, and even a cult-like atmosphere. Always impeccably dressed like a British gentleman, Fripp’s obsessive discipline and demanding ways leave us with a better feel for the band, while being no closer to offering a label of description. This is not your parents’ music documentary … even if it happens to be your parents’ favorite band.

In theaters November 3, 2023 and VOD beginning December 1, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE MISSION (2023, doc)

October 27, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. What is left that no one has done? It’s a question that the most adventurous among us ask themselves. John Chau was certainly an adventurer. He ran marathons, loved hiking through forests, and enjoyed rock and mountain climbing. His dream was to venture onto the North Sentinel Island and introduce Jesus to the island’s sole inhabitants. The Sentinelese are an isolated human community of hunter-gatherers who have made it abundantly clear over the years that they do not welcome outside visitors.

In 2018, when the news report hit that 26-year-old John Chau had been killed while trying to make contact with The Sentinelese, my initial and immediate reaction was to call him an arrogant jerk who probably got what he deserved. Co-directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, through National Geographic Documentary Films, have brought us more of John Chau’s story so that we (me) can better understand his motivation and how it fits into the historical aspect of missionary work.

McBaine and Moss explore the various stories here, which include: a community of folks living life on their own terms, the overreach of religion, the role of missionaries, a young man wanting to make a difference, and a father-son relationship. Much of John’s story is taken directly from the journal he kept right up until the day he died. The directors also effectively use the letter from John’s father, which is read aloud and displayed through animation. Additionally, there are interviews with John’s friend, an historian, and a long-time missionary. We learn that as a kid, John was attracted to stories such as “Robinson Crusoe” and “Tintin”, as well as drawing inspiration from movies like END OF THE SPEAR. His attraction to adventure began at an early age, and it was the draw of religion that really struck a chord.

As a Chinese-American and evangelical Christian, it is said that he might have believed the indigenous people were waiting for him to bring them The Truth. Whether he believed this or instead simply felt it was his responsibility, speaks to a level of conceit rarely seen outside of religion or politics. What is abundantly clear is that as a disciple of ‘The Great Commission’, John’s radical approach paid little mind or respect to the uncorrupted culture of this isolated tribe. This is why, as his long-time friend describes, he had to pay pirates to take him uninvited to the island to talk about Jesus. It’s a conceit that will not compute for me, regardless of his religious beliefs.

North Sentinel Island is part of the Andaman Islands (where the legend of King Kong took place) and it is protected by the government of India. John Chau’s “Plan” even included a section detailing the illegality of his mission. The filmmakers structure the film with the first hour being mostly background and setup, while the final 45 minutes dig into John’s trip to the island – a trip best described in the movie as ‘idealism masquerading as God’s will.’ John’s father carried a burden of parental guilt, which is understandable; however, most of this boils down to John’s own ignorance and conceit. As thorough as the research is, and as interesting as the history is, none of it has changed my mind about John Chau.

Opens October 27, 2023 in select theaters

WATCH THE TRAILER

2 Comments | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

PUPPY LOVE (2023, doc)

October 23, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. “What a good boy!” That’s something every (boy) dog owner has said a thousand times … but probably not like what we see here. Director Gail Gilbert brings us a story that will tear at the heartstrings of every pet owner, and likely any viewer with a heartstring to tear. An Illinois breeder named Cindy welcomed what was to be her final litter of pure-bred Labrador Retrievers. The pups were beautiful, and everything was fine … right up until it wasn’t.

After only a few weeks, the male pups were stricken with paralysis of their legs and voice. The affliction had no effect on the two female pups, and whatever caused it was a mystery. A local veterinarian could only guess whether it was related to the vaccinations, a virus, a parasite, genetics, or some other cause. The recommendation was euthanasia. But Cindy was not ready to give up. She took back the pups and was joined by a trainer and some other gold-hearted animal lovers. Rather than put them down, these women worked with the pups daily. Therapy and massages and nutrition became standard daily rituals. Their courage and determination was remarkable since no one could even tell them what was wrong and whether their efforts stood any chance of helping the pups.

The reality was, many people questioned why they would work so hard for “defective” dogs. But then around 10 weeks, most of the pups began showing signs of improvement. The daily feedings by syringe, and then bottle, began to take on a more normal feeding process. And the pups’ legs began to get stronger – some were even able to stand, if a bit wobbly. It was like watching a slow miracle occur … a miracle that required an enormous amount of work and attention and love.

At times, this had the look of a M*A*S*H unit, minus the surgery. It’s truly shocking to see the pups go from little furry blobs sunning in the grass to what we see by the end of the film. In fact, the saddest part of the film comes not from the pups, but rather from people. Of course, anyone watching the film will fall for these pups, but we also have full admiration for those who used their optimistic and determined approach to make a difference. It’s been said that ‘love cures all things”, and while “all things” may be a stretch, certainly these puppies are beneficiaries.

Available On Demand and on digital platforms beginning October 24, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE PIGEON TUNNEL (2023, doc)

October 20, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. When John le Carre passed away in 2020 at the age of 80, conversations and debates raged about the best spy novelists, and what stood out was, no matter how many writers were mentioned – Ian Fleming, Tom Clancey, Robert Ludlum, Ken Follett – everyone’s list included le Carre. Oscar winning documentarian Errol Morris (THE FOG OF WAR, 2003) has taken le Carre’s final and most personal interview and adorned it with film clips, rare archival footage, and some dramatic effects to create a lasting tribute to a superb writer and a most interesting man.

John le Carre was a former member of MI5 (British Security Service) and MI6 (British Intelligence Service), only at the time he was David Cornwell. Adapting his now world-famous nom de plume, le Carre became a spy who wrote spy novels. Really good spy novels. Not only were many of these to become bestsellers, many were also primed to be adapted to a film version or TV series. A few of his best-known novels include: “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”, “The Night Manager”, “The Constant Gardener”, and “A Perfect Spy.” His recurring character George Smiley was always a favorite, and was played expertly by two Oscar winners, Sir Alec Guiness and Gary Oldman.

For anyone who hasn’t read le Carre’s 2016 autobiography, “The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life”, Morris is kind enough to include the explanation of the title. “The Pigeon Tunnel” was the working title le Carre used for many of his books while in progress, and we do get to hear the author detail how that particular phrase happened to stick. In fact, the real treasure here is in hearing le Carre’s distinctive voice spin the yarn on so many stories. Whether writing or speaking, he was a fantastic storyteller, mesmerizing the readers and listeners.

With his storytelling-on-the-fly approach, le Carre recalls his childhood and life with a seamless blend of experience, memory, and imagination … often with the Cold War as a backdrop. We aren’t always sure where the blurred line between fact and embellishment falls, but we do know we are along for the ride. When John le Carre speaks of his fascination with “betrayal”, we can’t help but wish he were still around to provide commentary on this modern world.

Streaming globally on AppleTV+ beginning October 20, 2023

WATCH THE TRAILER

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

JOAN BAEZ I AM A NOISE (2023, doc)

October 5, 2023

Greetings again from the darkness. The often-barefooted Joan Baez absolutely built a legacy of activism and social consciousness through the civil rights movement, Vietnam protests, prison reform, environmental issues, and other causes, making her easy to admire. Her music made her rich and famous, and has left a mark and influenced many others This documentary was initially intended to cover her farewell tour in 2018 at age 78, and while it is structured around that tour, the three co-directors, Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle, and Karen O’Connor, have ended up with an intimate look that covers more of Joan Baez the person, than Joan Baez the talented singer.

The film opens with a clip of a very young Joan performing. This is fitting because at age 18 she became an overnight sensation thanks to the Newport Festival and the cover of Time Magazine. Ms. Baez provides a great deal of personal insight for the film, and speaks to her three lives: a public life, a private life, and a secret life. The public life is Joan Baez the singer and activist. The private life is Joan’s relationship with her sisters, Pauline and Mimi, and her secrets – too many of which are shared here – involve the therapy she has been involved with since she was 16 years old.

By ‘too much’, I am referring to the prolonged and detailed discussions about her mental illness, depression, and therapy sessions. In fact, the final product here feels like a therapy session for Joan. It’s one thing to share the struggles in hopes that you can inspire others to get the help they need, but this one goes a step too far. Joan discusses the childhood abuse she and her sister “may” have suffered at the hands of her father. Mind you, she doesn’t remember anything specific, but her therapist has made this scenario likely, so it has become a reality for Joan. While I fully support therapy, the idea of putting this on the table during this documentary is inexcusable to me.

Other segments are more befitting of the platform as Joan admits she was a bit lost after Vietnam because she no longer had a cause to support. Of course, the next few decades provided many opportunities for her, but the ‘need a cause’ comments provide insight into her persona … as does the notebook she wrote at age 13 entitled, “What I Believe” …an early indication that her observation skills were special. Hearing her speak of how Bob Dylan broke her heart is fascinating, especially as we note the painted portrait of him hanging over her piano – and the fact that she speaks of him frequently. She did meet her husband, journalist David Harris, while both were in jail, which has made for a fun story over the years, and we learn that their son Gabriel accompanied her on the final tour.

Somehow the filmmakers never mention Joan’s performance at Woodstock, but we do get a clip of her presence at Martin Luther King’s “Freedom” speech, and learn she was heavy into quaaludes for eight years. She discusses how being of half-Mexican descent impacted her life, and she’s credited with leading the Peace Movement. The only issue with any of this is how deeply the film dives inside her head. Bringing her depression and mental struggles to the forefront is a valuable service, but dragging a deceased parent into this affects how we view Joan Baez and the film. Fare thee well, Joan. Fare thee well.

Opens in NYC theaters on October 6, 2023, and then other markets on October 13.

WATCH THE TRAILER

3 Comments | Documentary | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »