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!

Oscar Nominated Documentaries: The Underdog Category

The doc category of the Oscars has become one of my favourites. Given where I used to work, I have a great respect for documentary storytelling. It is definitely an art form that seems to be underrated by pop culture and media. I think it’s been slowly creeping into the mainstream film over the past few years given the Michael Moore explosion. The past couple years, the Oscar was awarded to some entertaining documentaries including The Cove which won last year and Man on Wire which won the year before. I can’t tell you how much I loved these movies. They were such succinct, well edited, well told stories. They each had drama, suspense, sadness and hope – just brilliant filmmaking. If you haven’t seen The Cove, it is an absolute must. Trust me on that.

This year, we got a pretty sick list as well. Thus far, I’ve seen four of the five nominees. And I plan to watch the fifth asap. Over the next few days I’ll be giving the rundown of each of these films. Loves, hates and which one I think will win. This is a pretty tight category this year, but I still have my faves.

Here are the nominees for Documentary Feature:
Exit through the Gift Shop
Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz

GasLand
Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic

Inside Job
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

Restrepo
Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

Waste Land
Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley