CITIZEN ASHE (2021, doc)

December 4, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. Growing up, I loved watching Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe play tennis. Their talent was unmistakable and they had a certain flair for dramatic moments. But even as a kid, I was more drawn to the personalities of Bjorn Borg and Arthur Ashe – two champions who carried themselves with a quiet dignity and respect for the game and their opponents. They acted like grown-ups, not petulant kids. It wasn’t until later that I really understood the obstacles Ashe faced, and co-directors Rex Miller and Sam Pollard expertly handle this remarkable man’s story.

Ashe’s championship at Wimbledon in 1975 was likely the peak of his tennis career, yet not of his impact on society. It took more than a trophy for him to be labeled “the Jackie Robinson of Tennis”. The film takes us back to his childhood in Richmond, Virginia, described here as ‘the heart of Confederacy’. Many of those memorial statues that stood when Ashe was young have now been removed, but at the time, he accepted that his tennis playing was limited to the court at the public park next to his house. It wasn’t until Althea Gibson’s mentor, Dr. Johnson, brought Ashe into the fold that he began to hone his talent, as well as his demeanor.

Against the odds, Ashe was awarded a tennis scholarship to UCLA in 1966, and there is some terrific footage and photographs of him on campus. Ashe later served in the US Army, and won the 1968 US Open. Some of the archival footage stands on its own, and especially insightful are the numerous interviews where we get to hear Ashe in his own words. Of course, others also have much to say, including his brother Johnnie, and Civil Rights activists Harry Edwards, (Olympian) John Carlos, and (US diplomat) Andrew Young. Tennis players Billie Jean King and John McEnroe also offer personal memories.

 This is not really a tennis documentary, but it’s quite interesting to hear Ashe reveal the “why” behind his strategy against the aggressive Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon. Ashe was also a dynamic supporter of the Davis Cup and believed playing for one’s country was an honor. Of course, Arthur Ashe is remembered as a tennis player and Human Rights Activist. He pushed to play in South Africa while Nelson Mandela was imprisoned to show the population what a free black man could do. He and Mandela later became friends. The personality contrast is also distinct between Ashe and fellow sports activists like Muhammad Ali and Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and it’s pointed out that although the approaches differed, Ashe’s words carried significant weight. This is quite apparent in the clip of the roundtable discussion featuring Ashe, Harry Edwards, and Jackie Robinson, amongst others. The respect for Ashe is evident.

Genetics caused a heart attack at the early age of 36, and blood transfusions during his medical procedures led to his being HIV-positive. As you would expect, Ashe turned his attention to raising money and awareness for AIDS research, all while never losing his elegance and grace. It seems fitting that the story of Arthur Ashe is being told at the same time KING RICHARD is playing in theaters. Ashe clearly opened the door for black athletes like Venus and Serena Williams, and also inspired their activism, as well as that of athletes in other sports. The video footage and interviews allow this story to be told, and it leaves us with the message that Ashe never forgot his race … the human race.

In theaters and On Demand beginning December 3, 2021

WATCH THE TRAILER

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE BEATLES: GET BACK (2021, doc)

November 28, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. It’s a lot of Beatles. The three episodes total more than 7 hours of run time. It will be likely be too much for most folks. Not for me. In fact, I envy Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson, who got to go through every minute of 60 hours of video and 150 hours of audio from the 1969 sessions that led to the “Let it Be” album and documentary, as well as the band’s infamous rooftop live performance atop Apple Studios. The 1970 film won the band an Oscar for best original music, but unfortunately, that 42 minutes on the rooftop would be their final public live performance as The Beatles.

For those who have seen the 1970 documentary LET IT BE, you are aware of the discord amongst the band members during the sessions, but Peter Jackson’s project shows us there was much more to the story: pressure, expectations, creative forces, doubt, friendship, young men changing, and plenty of laughter and joking. And cigarettes. An incredible number of cigarettes. Keep in mind that even though they were the biggest band in the world, these lads from Liverpool still only ranged in age from the youngest, George at 25, to the oldest, John at 28.

One thing we notice is that there was a very small group involved with the daily activities. Outside of the band members, the faces we see most are Music Producer George Martin, the band’s long-time assistant Mal Evans, and renowned Sound Engineer Glyn Johns. It’s not really discussed here, but despite all the work we see Mr. Johns perform over the 22 days, it was Phil Spector who ended up with the production credit on the album. The director of the LET IT BE documentary, Michael Lindsay-Hogg, is seen quite a bit in the first two episodes, although he’s not as funny as he seems to think he is. Film Producer Denis O’Dell initially sets the band up at Twickenham Film Studios, which he rented as the location for his upcoming zany comedy THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN starting Peter Sellers and, yes, Ringo Starr. It’s this movie that has the Beatles on such a tight schedule, and it’s at Twickenham where Peter Jackson’s film kicks off.

PART 1 (2 hours, 34 minutes) provides a quick history of the band, dating back to 1956 when John Lennon and Paul McCartney formed The Quarrymen and invited George Harrison to join as a guitarist. There is a clip of the band performing at The Cavern, and a note on how Brian Epstein became the band’s manager. It was 1963 when George Martin began producing the band and that’s they year they hit #1 in Britain, kicking off Beatlemania. The following year took them to the United States for the appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, and it was 1966 when the band faced the backlash over John’s comment about “being more popular than Jesus.” That was also the year when the band decided against future tours, choosing instead to focus on studio work and albums. 1968 brought the death of Brian Epstein at age 32, and the infamous trip to India, where they spent time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. So here they are in January 1969, with the goal of writing, rehearsing, and recording 14 songs, and then performing live over about a three week period.

Director Jackson uses the 22 days as a framing structure, going day-by-day to track the progress. Day 1 is kind of a feeling-out day as the band checks out the studio. Day 2 finds Paul in business mode, as the other band members poke fun at the Fan Club publication. Day 3 delivers the familiar setting of George being “annoyed” by Paul, but it’s Day 4 where “Get Back” is born, “Across the Universe” is introduced, and a terrific then-and-now montage of “Rock and Roll Music”. Day 5 gives us “I Me Mine”, as the band discusses ideas for the live show, and we learn code names for Ringo (Russian) and George (France). Day 6 finds Linda Eastman (not yet married to Paul) snapping photos in the studio while the band works on “The Long and Winding Road”, and “Let it Be.”. Day 7 is critical, as we get more “Get Back”, numerous mentions of Eric Clapton, and George leaving the band with “See ya’ in the clubs.” This is when we are subjected to our first Yoko Ono banshee screams. She has been attached to John’s hip for most every minute.

This first episode provides us our first look as the band works out songs on the fly. Ringo keeps amazing rhythm, while remaining mostly quiet. George’s insecurity and annoyance with his role (and Paul’s bossing) is beyond obvious (resulting in his leaving), and the band’s uncertainty about the best direction for the live performance is a bit unsettling. Despite all of that, it’s truly fascinating and humbling to watch and listen as they create the rough early versions of songs that we now know so well.

PART 2 (2 hours, 12 minutes) is probably my favorite episode of the three. For Day 8, with George having quit the band, Ringo is the first to show up as flowers are delivered for George from the Hare Krishnas. We eavesdrop as Paul (with Linda in tow) analyze the John and Yoko relationship, and we are privy to a secret conversation between John and Paul regarding George and the band. The rest of the day is spent rehearsing 3 songs, including Paul and John brainstorming fine-tuning “Get Back” lyrics. Day 9 has Peter Sellers stopping by – and likely wondering what the heck kind of mess he’s wandered into. This is Paul’s day to be irritated and stating they can’t go on like this. Day 10 reports on the band’s meeting at George’s house, which results in his return to the band and a shift from Twickenham studios to the Apple Studios on Savile Row, This throws a delay into things, and makes Day 11 a lost day.

Day 12 has the four band members back recording, despite technological challenges and a scathing article on the band in local publications. It’s this day when we hear an amazing version of “I Dig a Pony”, followed by “I’ve Got a Feeling”, “Don’t Let Me Down”, and “She came in through the Bathroom Window” (which would end up on Abbey Road). On Day 13, John recalls the Martin Luther King Jr speech, and the band gets a jolt of energy from keyboardist Billy Preston. Watching them perform “I’ve Got a Feeling” is pure musical joy. Day 14 stars strangely with more Yoko banshee screams, and Maxwell’s anvil is in the middle of the room, while the band solidifies the “Get Back” single. Day 15 offers discussions of Billy Preston as the 5th Beatle, while we get a Pattie Harrison sighting, and performances of “Two of Us” and “Polythene Pam.” Day 16 includes flashbacks to the trip to India, George working on “For You Blue”, the band’s first look at the rooftop, and early work on “Let it Be”. Once again, watching the creativity in action is simply mesmerizing.

PART 3 (2 hours, 19 minutes) begins on Day 17, which is only 3 days until the rooftop performance. George is assisting Ringo with writing “Octopus’s Garden”, which will end up on the Abbey Road album. Linda’s young daughter Heather bounces around the studio, and we can all relate to her cringing at Yoko’s latest banshee scream. We see John go hard on “Dig it”, while the band spends a great deal of time jamming to their favorite classics. These are musicians collaborating on the music they love – and enjoying every bit. Day 18 has George running through “Old Brown Shoe”, and John and Yoko celebrate her divorce being final. With Alan Parsons in the booth, the band goes through many takes of “Get Back”. On Day 19, George begins early work on “Something”, which would be featured on the Abbey Road album, and they wrap up the “Don’t Let Me Down” recording. With the live performance scheduled for tomorrow, Paul and John have a serious discussion about the payoff for all of this work. Is an album and one live show enough, if there is no TV special? As Paul’s brother Michael watches, we can’t help but think Paul was really hoping for another tour – one that would never happen.

Day 21, January 30, is when the rooftop performance actually happens. There are 10 cameras in place, 5 of which are on the roof with the band. Most of us have seen these performances, but director Jackson includes some of the ‘second takes’. The band opens with two takes of “Get Back”, followed by “Don’t Let Me Down”, “I’ve Got a Feeling”, “One After 909”, “Dig a Pony”, and second takes of “I’ve Got a Feeling” and “Don’t Let Me Down”. Included here are some of the interviews from folks on the street, and we see the cops who are unsure how to handle the noise complaints. What’s obvious and thrilling is that John’s and Paul’s voices are in prime form, and the band is truly enjoying doing what they do better than any other band … despite the cold London weather. You can sense their pride as they head to the booth for the playback. Day 22 is the Final Day, and the band finishes the mostly acoustic recordings for the album.

Over the three episodes, we hear bits and pieces of more than 100 songs, and we witness the collaboration and tribulations of a band that reached heights of popularity previously unimaginable (remember Elvis never performed in the UK). It’s quite a privilege to witness artists at work during the creative process. Tension and disagreements are to be expected, and yes, they did occur. Perhaps those tensions drove the individuals to be even more creative and better at their craft. Regardless of your thoughts on this, one thing is certain … The Beatles “passed the audition”.

Now streaming on Disney+

WATCH THE TRAILER

4 Comments | Documentary, Musical | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

KURT VONNEGUT: UNSTUCK IN TIME (2021, doc)

November 19, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. Sometimes the work really does speak for itself. Co-director and long-time Vonnegut friend Robert B Weide even admits the renowned author told him, “anything that is any good of mine is on a printed page”. The strange thing here is that by the time it’s over, we aren’t sure if we’ve watched a documentary on the life of Kurt Vonnegut or one about Weide’s friendship with and respect of the man.

Vonnegut, of course, is one of the great American writers of the 20th Century. Born and raised in Indianapolis, he wrote novels, short stories, and plays, and his work was noted for his clever humor and detail. His big breakthrough came in 1969 when “Slaughterhouse Five” became a best-seller, and his other works include “Cat’s Cradle” (1963) and “Breakfast of Champions” (1973). As we see during the film, his live talks became ‘must-attend’ events due to his brilliance and ability to speak directly (and with caustic wit) about a world that he didn’t always maintain the greatest hope for.

Weide and co-director Don Argott address Vonnegut’s shortcomings as a family man, by allowing his daughters to tell Daddy stories in their own words. What’s clear is that Vonnegut being captured by Germans during WWII at the Battle of the Bulge, and subsequently held at Dresden was a driving force not just in his writing, but in his approach to life. He survived the Allied bombing by taking cover in … you guessed it … a freezer in a slaughterhouse.

Archival footage of Vonnegut and interviews with his daughters and biographers, give us a pretty complete looks at his life. Oddly, it’s Mr. Weide who seems to spend as much time on camera as anyone, leading us to wonder about his focus in what he terms a ’40 year’ project. Possibly the most interesting segment involves the various drafts of Vonnegut’s most popular work (“Slaughterhouse Five” was his 6th novel), and the specific comparisons of the author to lead character Billy Pilgrim. Vonnegut passed away in 2007, and we have little doubt his response to that would be … “So it goes.”

WATCH THE TRAILER

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

BRIAN WILSON: LONG PROMISED ROAD (2021, doc)

November 18, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. Renowned music producer Don Was sits at a sound board and methodically begins to deconstruct the gorgeous song, “God Only Knows”. As the instruments fade, and he shuffles the isolated vocals, Was shakes his head in amazement all these years later. The man behind the song, Brian Wilson (founder of The Beach Boys), was and remains a musical genius, and in his case, one need not be concerned about applying that overused label.

If director Brent Wilson’s film has a structure, it comes in the form of multiple car rides and diner lunches featuring Brian and his friend, “Rolling Stone” editor Jason Fine. Due to Brian’s anxiety during sit-down interviews, car rides and chats with his friend provide more comfort and free him up to reminisce and discuss his life and music. On the drives, Brian chooses the songs he wants Jason to play, depending on the mood and the topic of conversation.

Mental Health is now treated much differently than in years past. At age 21, Brian suffered from ‘auditory hallucinations’ – he was hearing voices in his head. Over the course of 6 decades, he has attempted to deal with the voices in various ways: food, drugs, alcohol, therapy, etc. But his only real escape has been through music. Even today, Brian never really looks at ease unless he’s performing his songs. He rides along offering commentary as his friend Jason tenderly guides him through the past, including stops at his childhood home in Hawthorne, Paradise Cove where an album cover was shot, his home on Laurel Way that featured his piano in a sandbox, and the Bellagio Road mansion in Beverly Hills. Brian is not one to dwell on the past, but he has tremendous recall for different phases of life.

As you might expect, many musicians are eager to discuss how Brian’s music with The Beach Boys influenced their own songwriting. Included here are Jakob Dylan (The Wallflowers and son of Bob), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Hawkins, Linda Perry, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and even Nick Jonas. We presume the latter was included to represent the younger generation’s appreciation of music past. Elton may offer the most profound comment when he states Brian deserves accolades for his music AND his life. Each phase of Brian’s life is touched on, though we never dive too deeply. His demanding father (Murray Wilson) is heard through audio recordings, and the infamous “Landy years” where Dr. Eugene Landy literally controlled Brian’s life (right down to a sad story of spaghetti) are briefly dealt with, allowing us some insight into Brian’s many challenges over the years – including the death of two brothers, (and Beach Boys) Carl and Dennis.

But it’s the music that means the most to Brian and to us. We get some clips of live performances from the early days of The Beach Boys to the more recent live performances of Brian on stage. There is a terrific montage blending Carl’s and Brian’s separate singing “God Only Knows”, and Brian disclosing that “Good Vibrations” was recorded in pieces at 4 different studios to capture the sound he wanted. He also admits to being inspired by The Beatles and wanting to eclipse their work – which led to his writing the masterpiece Pet Sounds album, in turn inspiring The Beatles to write Sgt Pepper. There is a brief clip of Brian’s cousin, and fellow Beach Boy, Al Jardine commenting on Brian’s immense talent, but as expected, there is nothing from Mike Love; although Brian graciously proclaims Mike Love was “a great singer”.

Brian’s Beach Boys music has brought so much joy to listeners and fans over the years, and it’s truly fascinating to see how he has battled through a life filled with sadness and obstacles. Watching him listen to brother Dennis’s solo album, learning how he re-worked his unfinished Smile album to finally release it in 2004, or seeing clips of his live Pet Sounds performance at The Hollywood Bowl helps us understand the healing power of music. Brian has been compared to Mozart, and his fellow musicians discuss how his genius and vision shines through in song structure and texture. Brian Wilson stands as proof that for a true artist, pain and beauty are often linked and dependent on each other. The film’s closing credits feature footage of Brian and Jim James recording a new song, “Right Where I Belong”, showing that the music (and the man) is still a force.

In theaters and On Demand beginning November 19, 2021

WATCH THE TRAILER

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

OBJECTS (2021, doc)

November 17, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. Do you collect stuff?  Does your stuff have meaning to you? Are you obsessed about saving your stuff? Documentarian Vincent Liota looks at the psychological aspects of how we treasure our treasures. In the montage opening, President Jimmy Carter and the Pope tell us not to put value on material items, while others tell us our saved objects represent memories that take us to our happy place. Liota even includes the “Rosebud” clip from CITIZEN KANE.

Over the course of an hour, our attention is mostly on three individuals: NPR personality Robert Krulwich, designer Rick Rawlins, and author Heidi Julavits. They each have items to which they are emotionally attached. Robert is holding on to some decades old dried grass, Rick has a ‘sugar egg’ from a childhood birthday party, and Heidi has a sweater once owned by the late French actress Isabella Corey. Three very different people latching on to items with very little (or zero) intrinsic value, yet generating an emotional response that is clearly very real to them.

The film touches on those who stand opposed – those who save no objects simply out of emotional attachment. Included is a brief sequence featuring “Tidy Up with Kon Mari” for those whose lives get crowded or overrun by stuff. But those folks aren’t the focus here. Mr. Liota’s project could easily slide into the syllabus for a university level psychology class. It is personality types that we are studying. Why do rational, intelligent people find meaning and memories in what could/should be throwaway items? In fact, these objects seem to grow in importance over the years, with each having their own personal story associated.

There is an odd 3D Printer experiment included that doesn’t seem to work as a test on whether a replica worthless object can replace an actual worthless object, and still maintain the emotional appeal. In addition to Kane’s ‘Rosebud’, the floating bag from AMERICAN BEAUTY has its moment here, seemingly symbolizing the connection between an item and an emotion or memory. We are left with the impression that regardless of where we might fall on the “objects” scale, no effort should be expended in judging others. A pleasant memory might be just what someone needs at any moment. Who could possibly object to that object?

Premiering at DOC NYC 2021

*Couldn’t find a trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: THE LEGENDARY 1979 NO NUKES CONCERTS (2021, doc)

November 8, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness (on the edge of town). The old adage goes, “Music soothes the savage beast”. But what if it’s the savage beast playing the music? Let’s go back more than 40 years to 1979. In March, the Three Mile Island nuclear plant accident occurred, sending shockwaves through the U.S. An activist group of musicians led by Jackson Browne, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt and others founded MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) and scheduled concerts for awareness. The concerts were better known as “No Nukes”, and were followed up by a best-selling album and videos. Performing at two of the Madison Square Garden concerts in September were Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band. All these years later, Springsteen has re-mastered the original footage and packaged it as a remarkable and breathtaking 90 minute concert film that is a must-see for any Bruce fans of yesterday or today.

Lest you think I am an objective reviewer on this one, you should know that I caught Bruce and the E Street Band on December 7, 1978, near the end of their last tour prior to the No Nukes shows. That night in Austin remains the closest I’ve ever come to a religious experience – musically speaking. Those special memories came flooding back as I watched this 90 minute film. The raw power, sheer energy, and pure joy emanating from the stage is truly something to behold … oh, and the music was incredible.

This is much less a documentary than a concert film, but it’s certainly a different level than what we typically see in a concert film. The cinematographer, Haskell Wexler, had already won two Oscars for WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (1966) and BOUND FOR GLORY (1976) and had been nominated for ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975). I counted six cameras, but it’s possible fewer cameras were used and instead moved around between the two nights of shows that are blended here.

Keep in mind this was filmed two years before MTV was founded, so even his biggest fans hadn’t seen much film or video of Springsteen to this point. His reputation was built on legendary live performances, and his two most recent albums “Born To Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town”. This was also pre-Patty Scialfa and pre-Nils Lofgren. The music is straight-ahead, driving rock ‘n roll – five years before Bruce lapsed into “Dancing in the Dark” and became a global superstar, rather than a cult phenomenon. To this point, he had not been viewed as an activist, so his participation in the No Nukes concerts was a jackpot for the organizers, but also a turning point for Springsteen as a spokesperson on social issues (and politics).

Below is the 13 song playlist, and since this is a blend of the two nights, the easiest way to spot the difference is by Clarence’s outfit: one night he’s wearing a red suit, and the other night he’s wearing a white one. What you also notice is the athleticism and stamina of Bruce and Clarence as they bound around the stage – including the back amps to occasionally play for those seated behind the stage.

  1. Prove it All Night – (hard rock opener, setting the tone)
  2. Badlands – breakneck tempo (dedication to No Nukes volunteers)
  3. Promised Land – the third straight song from “Darkness”
  4. The River – (Bruce’s sister in the audience, written for her)
  5. Sherry Darling – (second song from “The River”, released a year later)
  6. Thunder Road – (this kicks off a string of fan favorites)
  7. Jungleland – (Roy, Steve, Clarence shine)
  8. Rosalita – (Bruce introduces the band)
  9. Born to Run – (the anthem)
  10. Stay – (Jackson Brown, Tom Petty, Rosemary Butler on stage)
  11. Detroit Medley – Devil with a Blue Dress, Good Golly Miss Molly, CC Rider, Jenny Jenny
  12. Quarter to 3 – (the Gary US Bonds hit)
  13. Rave On – the Buddy Holly cover plays over the credits

It was May of 1974 when music critic Jon Landau wrote, “I saw Rock and Roll’s future and its name is Bruce Springsteen”. Landau’s words proved prophetic (and he went on to become Bruce’s longtime manager). Very few performers have ever connected to a live audience the way Springsteen did in those days. Sure, there’s some comedic shtick on stage: “That’s all I can stand …”, before he screams, “I’m just a prisoner … of Rock n Roll”. The fact is, many of us were prisoners of Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band, and this film is the best opportunity for others to understand.  

AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL PURCHASE ON NOVEMBER 16 AND DIGITAL RENTAL ON NOVEMBER 23

Leave a Comment » | Documentary, Musical | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

BENEDICT ARNOLD: HERO BETRAYED (2021, doc)

November 8, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. His name has been derogatory punchline for as long as any of us can remember. Labeling someone ‘a Benedict Arnold’ meant they had been disloyal to their team, club, organization, or group of friends. But those of us who are not Revolutionary War historians actually know very little of his story – in fact, few know anything beyond his being a recognized traitor to the United States. Director Chris Stearns, using historian James Kirby Martin’s 1997 book, “Benedict Arnold, Revolutionary Hero: An American Warrior Reconsidered”, offers us a deeper and more comprehensive look at a man who was more complex than the epithet he was branded with.

When a film’s opening sequence is from the year 1780, you know that rather than being a traditional documentary, it’s also a blend of docudrama reenactments. And that’s exactly what this, while also working in a number of insightful interviews with historians and writers. Martin Sheen adds gravitas as the narrator who walks us through Arnold’s life. We go back to a childhood that featured a drunken father, whose destruction of the family’s good name prevented a recovery in social standing, despite Arnold’s tremendous success in business and trading.

There is little doubt that this well-researched information on Benedict Arnold will surprise those who watch. For three years, he fought the war with distinguished bravery and skilled leadership. Arnold even self-funded and led militia to fight Britain. He was an accomplished Naval officer and was a hero to the country for those early war years. So what changed him? That’s the part of the story that holds modern day relevance.

Arnold became ever more frustrated. He was not only physically injured while fighting for his country, but he became disenfranchised by endless power plays, political maneuverings, and cronyism of those above him. Lacking the political savvy necessary to self-promote, Arnold became the victim of self-serving officials looking to take credit for his work. As a Patriot, this was unbearable and led to his change in allegiance.

Director Stearns is thorough in his approach, knowing full well the skeptical eye with which most will watch the film. In just over 2 hours, he makes a strong case for the actions of a man who has been vilified for more than 200 years, and concludes that Benedict Arnold has been an American war hero until systemic corruption convinced him the country would be better off under British rule. Benedict Arnold betrayed America, but it seems clear from the facts that America also betrayed Benedict Arnold.

Benedict Arnold: Hero Betrayed will premiere on TVOD/EST including iTunes and Amazon on November 9. 2021.

WATCH THE TRAILER

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

BECOMING COUSTEAU (2021, doc)

October 21, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. For anyone under age 35, it may be difficult to imagine a world where high-definition cameras don’t blanket every nook and cranny of our planet. These days, there are multiple channels serving up nature and oceanic documentaries, many with stunningly clear and colorful underwater photography. Each of these owe a debt of gratitude to Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and documentarian Liz Garbus is here to make sure we all know it.

Jacques Cousteau trained as a Navy pilot, but a serious accident drove him to swimming as therapy for his broken body. It’s there where he became enamored with free-diving and spear-fishing, and Ms. Garbus includes some archival video clips to show those early days. He was soon driven to dive deeper and stay under longer, which led him to co-invent the regulator for Aqua-lung, the early device that eventually allowed for scuba diving and breathing underwater. His co-inventor happened to be the father of his wife Simone, whom he married in 1937. Simone, along with their two sons, spent a great deal of time on the Calypso. The crew referred to her as “The Sheperdess”.

This unique underwater access meant Cousteau and his cohorts could perform research never before imagined. Soon they had re-commissioned a boat as “Calypso” and turned documenting the sea into their mission. Cousteau’s love of cinema meant that he had to develop a camera that would function underwater so he could film all activities. In fact, it’s Cousteau’s own video archives that make up much of the clips used by Ms. Garbus here. In 1956, Cousteau and young French filmmaker, Louis Malle, finished their film, THE SILENT WORLD, and the underwater photography was so groundbreaking that the film won the prestigious Palm d’Or at Cannes, and the Oscar for Best Documentary. Cousteau claimed his films were not documentaries, but rather “true action stories”. Malle, of course, went on to direct such acclaimed films as ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (1958), ATLANTIC CITY (1980), and Au Revoir les Enfants (1987).

Ms. Garbus does a nice job of chronicling Cousteau’s work, and for the many of us who were dedicated followers of his TV series, “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau”, that red stocking cap remains a familiar visual. Actor Vincent Cassel reads passages from Cousteau’s journals, and we learn that “Diving is the most fabulous distraction you can imagine”, and that he was “miserable” out of the water. This matters because he transformed from delivering spell-binding underwater photography to an activist and educator, trying to make the world understand how humanity was destroying the ecosystem and what that meant to our world. All of today’s discourse on the topic was indeed started by Cousteau, who proclaimed, “You protect what you love.”

Liz Garbus is one of our most talented documentarians, as evidenced by her work in such films as WHAT HAPPENED, MISS SIMONE?, 2015 and THE FARM: ANGOLA, USA, 1998, and ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY, 2020. The first two earned her Oscar nominations, and here she pays tribute to Jacques Cousteau – an explorer, researcher, filmmaker, and activist. She focuses on his professional life, and also touches on his tangled personal life – one that resulted in two additional kids (producers of this film) with Francine (while he was married to Simone), one of the divers on Calypso. We learn of the tragedy in Cousteau’s life, and that he and his crew discovered the oil in the Persian Gulf while raising funds for their expeditions. Cousteau is shown at the Earth Summit in 1992, where he is treated as an international rock star. Ms. Garbus’ film shows how Cousteau’s work helped educate us as he tried to make the world a better place, by giving us an appreciation of the underwater world he so treasured.

Opening in theaters on October 22, 2021

WATCH THE TRAILER

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

DARK SHADOWS AND BEYOND – THE JONATHAN FRID STORY (2021, doc)

October 15, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Mary O’Leary’s cold opening replays the scene in the “Dark Shadows” TV series where Barnabas Collins, a 175 year old vampire, makes his first appearance. Fans of the gothic soap opera that ran from 1966 through 1971 know Barnabas first appeared months after the series premiered. The reminiscing is welcome and smile-inducing, but we must also recall that this vampire changed everything for those involved … especially actor Jonathan Frid.

This documentary plays like a loving tribute to Ms. O’Leary’s friend, colleague, and former business partner, and by the end credits, we fully understand why. We learn Mr. Frid was not only popular with fans, but well-liked and respected by his fellow actors in a career that spanned 70 years, considering he began acting in high school. We hear from his Yale Drama School classmate (renowned Talk Show host) Dick Cavett, as well as many from the “Dark Shadows” production, including: David Selby, Lara Parker, Kathryn Lee Scott, Nancy Barrett, Marie Wallace, James Storm, John Karlen, and series creator Dan Curtis. Additional insight and recollections are provided by fellow Shakespearean actor Anthony Zerbe, and Christina Pickles, Frid’s castmate from Oliver Stone’s first feature (horror) film, SEIZURE (1972).

Many only know Dark Shadows from the 2012 Tim Burton film starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, but the original series ran for 1225 episodes and still enjoys a cult following even today. The series was responsible for spin-offs including theatrical movies, an additional series in the 90’s, novels, comics, radio broadcasts, and even a board game. Jonathan Frid’s final appearance was at the 45th anniversary festival, which co-star David Selby remembers fondly here.

While the focus is understandably on Mr. Frid’s iconic portrayal of Barnabas, director O’Leary (a producer of the 2019 documentary, MASTER OF DARK SHADOWS) also provides us a bit of his family tree with interviews from his nephews, and a recap of his life: his stint in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII, drama school (with Cavett and Katharine Hepburn), voice lessons, and the personal letters Frid wrote to his parents – read here by actor Ian Buchannan. We also see some terrific photos and clips of Frid’s early work on stage … where he felt most at home.

Much of the archival footage finds him sporting the infamous ring from the show and the wolf’s head cane that became a highlight on its own. Although Frid had very few screen credits, we see what a full life and career he had, including years of ‘Reading Theater’ where he utilized that magnificent voice. Jonathan Frid passed away in 2012 at age 87, but his legacy as Barnabas Collins seems eclipsed only by his life of grace and kindness.

Arrived October 5, 2021 on Digital Platforms, DVD and Blu-ray

from MPI Home Video

WATCH THE TRAILER

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

CAT DADDIES (2021, doc)

October 14, 2021

Greetings again from the darkness. There are so many ways to divide the world, but few lines of demarcation are clearer than ‘dog people’ versus ‘cat people’. Being firmly planted in the former group, while being confounded by the latter, it was for edification purposes that I agreed to watch Mye Hoang’s documentary. We got off to a rocky start when a Mark Twain quote popped up: “When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.” Nope, Mr. Twain and I will simply disagree on this.

We are all too familiar with “crazy cat lady” syndrome – an often reclusive, usually elderly woman, whose love of cats has resulted in a veritable feline zoo in her home. The memes are all over social media, and they are usually good for a chuckle and a cringe. But what about the stereotype of men and cats? In the 1970’s and 80’s the catchphrase was “Real men don’t eat quiche”, and there was even a (comical) best-selling book by that title. But men with cats … well that’s a stereotype that never needed a book. Even many women shy away from the guy with a cat. It’s this baggage and history that inspired Ms. Hoang to explore the topic. Well that, plus her own husband’s personality shift associated with a cat.

The filmmaker first introduces us to “Nathan the cat lady”, which is how he’s known to his 300,000 Instagram followers. He’s an actor and has 4 cats, each of whom play into his popular, often humorous posts. But it’s not all fun and games for Ms. Hoang. As she shifts from California to New York City, the camera turns to David, a homeless immigrant and former construction worker. David’s story is the most poignant, and actually seems a bit out of place with the other 8 subjects in the film. In fact, David and his cat and his story could easily have been the focus of an interesting documentary short.

“Real men” and their cats make up most of the rest of the film. A fireman, long-haul trucker, trainer/stuntman, and avid hiker are included. Each offers up a tale of how their own mental well-being was transformed by their pet cat. There is also a segment on a non-profit cat rescuer whose mission is to minimize the number of stray cats strutting aimlessly. Perhaps these stories resonate a bit more as we approach two years on the pandemic calendar. One thing is certain, in a purr-fect world, cat ladies will now share the market with cat daddies.

The film had its World premiere at the 2021 Dallas International Film Festival, and will be featured at several other film festivals prior to year-end.

WATCH THE TRAILER

6 Comments | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »