Death or Peach: PAGE ONE – Inside The New York Times

I don’t know how I missed this trailer of PAGE ONE: Inside The New York Times when it came out last month. I think it’s safe to say that The New York Times is one of those publications that everyone knows. For the past few years now the relevance of printed media has been questioned and perhaps one day it will be obsolete. This doc appears to reflect on the Time’s importance despite being a media institution. And I love that the doc follows the Times’ media reporters to question this debate. I look forward to this one… big time.

My Vote: Peach!

Synopsis: In the tradition of great fly-on-the-wall documentaries, the film deftly gains unprecedented access to the New York Times newsroom and the inner workings of the Media Desk. With the Internet surpassing print as our main news source and newspapers all over the country going bankrupt, Page One chronicles the transformation of the media industry at its time of greatest turmoil. Writers like Brian Stelter, Tim Arango and the salty but brilliant David Carr track print journalism’s metamorphosis even as their own paper struggles to stay vital and solvent, while their editors and publishers grapple with up-to-the-minute issues like controversial new sources and the implications of an online pay-wall. Meanwhile, rigorous journalism is thriving–Page One gives us an up-close look at the vibrant cross-cubicle debates and collaborations, tenacious jockeying for on-record quotes, and skillful page-one pitching that brings the most venerable newspaper in America to fruition each and every day.

In theatres: June 17th, 2011

Death or Peach: Tabloid

I love a good doc and one by the masterful filmmaker Errol Morris, even better. I remember hearing a lot about Tabloid during TIFF but never got a chance to see it. But many of co-workers said that it was fantastic. So Sundance Selects finally released the trailer today and I am loving it. Witty and tantalizing – just watch it, you’ll think it’s a total peach!

Synopsis: Thirty years before the antics of Lindsay, Paris and Britney, Joyce McKinney made her mark as a peerless tabloid queen. In TABLOID, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris (THE FOG OF WAR) follows the salacious adventures of this beauty queen with an IQ of 168, whose single-minded devotion to the man of her dreams leads her on a labyrinthine crusade for love. Down a surreal rabbit hole of kidnapping, masochistic Mormons, risque photography, magic underwear, celestial sex, jail time and a cloning laboratory in South Korea, Joyce’s fantastic exploits were constant headlines.

Tabloid hits theatres July 15, 2011.

Oscar Nominated Documentary: Waste Land

As you know, I’m running down the five Oscar Nominated Documentaries and so far I’ve discussed Exit through the Gift Shop, GasLand, and Restrepo. Next up Waste Land. Here’s another Sundance Film Festival premiere that I heard a lot about while working the fest. I didn’t catch it, but it came to Toronto for Hot Docs just a few months later and it was on my list of films that I couldn’t miss! It’s really difficult for me to make the time to watch films during the festival, but I made it for this one. Let me tell you, it was the best film I saw at the fest. Truly.

This doc was not only moving, but was just such a well told story about the most unglamorous subject: garbage. There was so much heart in the movie from the artist, Vik, who travels to Brazil’s largest landfill to create art out of its garbage, to the garbage pickers who Vik meets. You connect with everyone in this film and want to know more about the people who spend their lives picking up garbage. And you hope that this experience makes a positive impact in their lives. But like all movies, they end. Though there is an update when the credits roll, their lives continue on.

Verdict: I’ve seen a lot of docs this past year and Waste Land by far deserves this Oscar. It has everything a doc film should have and best of all, you see how Vik not only affects the people he meets but vice versa. But I’m unsure if this film will actually win. I have a feeling Restrepo may take it. But I’m telling you, Waste Land should get it. Period.

But wait there’s one more. Up next Inside Job.

Oscar Nominated Documentary: Restrepo

As you know, I’m running down the five Oscar Nominated Documentaries and so far I’ve discussed Exit through the Gift Shop and GasLand. Next up is Restrepo.

So this film opened the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and that is quite unusual for a doc to open a fest – really unsual. I remembered I got tix to this premiere but unfortunately couldn’t make the screening as I had talent arriving in Park City at the same time. What can I say, duty called! But this film got tons of buzz and I mean tons. I remember briefly meeting the directors at a local radio station and immediately after I thought, I need to watch this film no matter what.

Well I finally watched it and I completely understand why it’s been receiving so much attention. The subject matter alone is quite heart wrenching and unbelievable. But I have to be the one to say it. Structurally, this film is flawed. Its quite poorly edited and you’re not quite sure where the film is going or the point it’s trying to make at times. There are moments in the film where they jump from subject to subject and it’s up to the viewer to know the difference. The sequence of events aren’t fluid and the “characters” in the film can be hard to follow. This is poor storytelling. This leads me to believe they just didn’t have any real footage to explain their battles or current predicaments. The momentum builds throughout the film but falls flat by the end. Nonetheless, the heart of the story is still there and you can’t help but feel sorry for these men who were put in a such a grave situation. Like I said, its unbelievable really.

Verdict: I think this film is a top runner for the Oscar and will most likely win. Does it deserve to win? Not really. But we all know the Oscars aren’t always based on merit. I just think the film itself isn’t a fabulous film. I’ve seen much better docs (read about some of the Oscar winning docs that I loved here). To me, Restrepo isn’t on the same filmmaking level as previous Oscar winners. But I think there’s another doc out there that’s well more deserving of the Oscar. And on that note…

Up next Waste Land.

Oscar Nominated Documentary: GasLand

As you know, I’m running down the five Oscar Nominated Documentaries and last time I discussed Exit through the Gift Shop. Second on that list is GasLand. Just like Exit and many of the other Oscar nominated docs, GasLand also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. I just recently watched this film. I had heard great things but holy cow. This movie made me beeline to Google and research water contamination, and specially the state of water in LA. This doc explores the state of tap water across America and it scared the bajesus out of me. Who the hell can light their water on fire? That is not normal!