Three Documentaries
"The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall"
Interviewees: Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Jay Leno, Kathy Griffin, Jimmy Fallon, Sarah Silverman, Wayans Brothers, Judd Apatow, Russell Brand
This is basically a love-letter to one of the most beloved comedy venues of all time. The Improv was always the place to perform if you were attempting to be anyone...and famous. This documentary is just an hour long, and it seems a bit of a tease, something to whet your appetite for comedy, as we get short clips of some of the famous comedians who came across the stage: Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Larry David, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, and Sarah Silverman.
You are left a bit frustrated because everything just seems too short, especially if you're a fan of comedy and any of these guys, plus Sarah Silverman.
For me, one of the best moments happens when Jimmy Fallon's impression of Jerry Seinfeld is interrupted by Seinfeld himself.
We get the sad story of any quick documentary in a nutshell: The explosion of comics from the ’80s to the ’90s didn't translate to perpetual boom times for comedy clubs. The original Improv in New York, at Ninth Av. and 44th St., closed for lack of business.
..............................................................................
"Buying Sex"
directed and written by: Teresa MacInnis
Teresa MacInnes and Kent Nason have attempted to make a rather serious, yet quite entertaining film. The film looks at the contentious debate over pending reforms to Canadian prostitution laws, which are being challenged by both pro- and anti-prostitution forces, with no evident consensus about which way forward is either best or likely. It certainly raises interesting questions:
Would decriminalizing prostitution free women to take more control over their activities, run legal brothels and manage their own procurement businesses without fear of punishment, or would it give male buyers and business owners even more power and opportunity to benefit from and possibly exploit the sale of sexual services?
The film also brings forward the voices of sex workers, formerly prostituted women, policy-makers, lawyers and even the male buyers, under the disguise of darkness and distorted voices. Everyone in the film agrees that they want to improve the workers' safety, but have polarized philosophies about how that can be best achieved. Respecting differences of ideology and opinion as Canada works its way toward an uneasy consensus, "Buying Sex" challenges the viewer to question whether prostitution is the "oldest profession" or the "oldest oppression."
It's an interesting debate, much like the recent marijuana law challenges here in the states.
..................................................................................
"Nightmare Factory"
written and directed by: Donna Davies
The documentary takes you into the lives of Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger, and Robert Kurtzman to show how they created what is now one of the most respected and recognized effects companies. These guys have worked on pretty much everything in the industry including: Evil Dead 2, The Walking Dead, Sin City, The Chornicles of Narnia, Ghost of Mars, From Dusk til Dawn, Kill Bill and countless others.
I absolutely loved the way the film interjected shot after shot of home-video footage of the guys while working dating all the way back to being on the set of Evil Dead 2. With these home videos, you really get the sense that these three guys thoroughly enjoy their work, I mean, seriously. They've clearly found their passion in life, early on and stuck with it, built their career and lives and families around their work.
Nicotero, Berger, and Kurtzman come from a time when kids got their monsters from the pages of magazines, something that they talk about quite a lot in the film. It’s also a point that provides a bit of sadness as well. They wonder where the next generation of monster kids will come from, and discuss how they don’t think there is the same sort of love for creatures that there used to be. I’m not so sure that it’s the kids that have changed, I think it’s the monsters that are different. The documentary also explores changes in the industry. Many movies rely on digital effects now, and while it won’t put KNB out of business, it has certainly changed their work in other ways. Many times, practical effects have to work with digital effects. Examples from The Walking Dead or The Chronicles of Narnia show how KNB has embraced the use of CGI, enhancing the work that they’ve created. As everyone involved in the film remembers the brotherhood that existed in days gone by, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future holds. Everything always seems better when you look back on it.
This is one of the best documentaries I've seen because it kind of hits home for me, in a different way, as far as my own career is concerned, with the push for technology in classrooms become more and more relevant. There are definitely some things that are getting pushed aside or even out of the window, some things that we all knew and had growing up and going to school that today's students do not necessarily see the relevance of. It cannot be argued that it's a different world we all live in now and the culture and climate has changed, but does everything have to slowly disappear? What are some things worth holding on to?
Interviewees: Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Jay Leno, Kathy Griffin, Jimmy Fallon, Sarah Silverman, Wayans Brothers, Judd Apatow, Russell Brand
This is basically a love-letter to one of the most beloved comedy venues of all time. The Improv was always the place to perform if you were attempting to be anyone...and famous. This documentary is just an hour long, and it seems a bit of a tease, something to whet your appetite for comedy, as we get short clips of some of the famous comedians who came across the stage: Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Larry David, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, and Sarah Silverman.
You are left a bit frustrated because everything just seems too short, especially if you're a fan of comedy and any of these guys, plus Sarah Silverman.
For me, one of the best moments happens when Jimmy Fallon's impression of Jerry Seinfeld is interrupted by Seinfeld himself.
We get the sad story of any quick documentary in a nutshell: The explosion of comics from the ’80s to the ’90s didn't translate to perpetual boom times for comedy clubs. The original Improv in New York, at Ninth Av. and 44th St., closed for lack of business.
..............................................................................
"Buying Sex"
directed and written by: Teresa MacInnis
Teresa MacInnes and Kent Nason have attempted to make a rather serious, yet quite entertaining film. The film looks at the contentious debate over pending reforms to Canadian prostitution laws, which are being challenged by both pro- and anti-prostitution forces, with no evident consensus about which way forward is either best or likely. It certainly raises interesting questions:
Would decriminalizing prostitution free women to take more control over their activities, run legal brothels and manage their own procurement businesses without fear of punishment, or would it give male buyers and business owners even more power and opportunity to benefit from and possibly exploit the sale of sexual services?
The film also brings forward the voices of sex workers, formerly prostituted women, policy-makers, lawyers and even the male buyers, under the disguise of darkness and distorted voices. Everyone in the film agrees that they want to improve the workers' safety, but have polarized philosophies about how that can be best achieved. Respecting differences of ideology and opinion as Canada works its way toward an uneasy consensus, "Buying Sex" challenges the viewer to question whether prostitution is the "oldest profession" or the "oldest oppression."
It's an interesting debate, much like the recent marijuana law challenges here in the states.
..................................................................................
"Nightmare Factory"
written and directed by: Donna Davies
The documentary takes you into the lives of Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger, and Robert Kurtzman to show how they created what is now one of the most respected and recognized effects companies. These guys have worked on pretty much everything in the industry including: Evil Dead 2, The Walking Dead, Sin City, The Chornicles of Narnia, Ghost of Mars, From Dusk til Dawn, Kill Bill and countless others.
I absolutely loved the way the film interjected shot after shot of home-video footage of the guys while working dating all the way back to being on the set of Evil Dead 2. With these home videos, you really get the sense that these three guys thoroughly enjoy their work, I mean, seriously. They've clearly found their passion in life, early on and stuck with it, built their career and lives and families around their work.
Nicotero, Berger, and Kurtzman come from a time when kids got their monsters from the pages of magazines, something that they talk about quite a lot in the film. It’s also a point that provides a bit of sadness as well. They wonder where the next generation of monster kids will come from, and discuss how they don’t think there is the same sort of love for creatures that there used to be. I’m not so sure that it’s the kids that have changed, I think it’s the monsters that are different. The documentary also explores changes in the industry. Many movies rely on digital effects now, and while it won’t put KNB out of business, it has certainly changed their work in other ways. Many times, practical effects have to work with digital effects. Examples from The Walking Dead or The Chronicles of Narnia show how KNB has embraced the use of CGI, enhancing the work that they’ve created. As everyone involved in the film remembers the brotherhood that existed in days gone by, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future holds. Everything always seems better when you look back on it.
This is one of the best documentaries I've seen because it kind of hits home for me, in a different way, as far as my own career is concerned, with the push for technology in classrooms become more and more relevant. There are definitely some things that are getting pushed aside or even out of the window, some things that we all knew and had growing up and going to school that today's students do not necessarily see the relevance of. It cannot be argued that it's a different world we all live in now and the culture and climate has changed, but does everything have to slowly disappear? What are some things worth holding on to?
Comments
Post a Comment