One of my New Years resolutions was to actually watch MORE movies, and part of that included watching more documentaries. I usually avoid them because, well, the subject matter is too real and precious, and they can’t always be trusted. I don’t mind it when a work of fiction manipulates my emotions, but know that someone is documenting real life and editing it to their own benefit, it’s always bothered me. And, it can become sort of revisionist history if the filmmakers can’t be trusted. But, I’m sticking to my guns, so I tried to watch all the nominees for Best Documentary Feature. You’ll see I failed at one, but, hey, if it isn’t playing here, what can I do?
Gasland
This is a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Everything about this movie feels manipulative. Not false, but definitely manipulative. Basically it’s an exploration of what the drilling for natural gas has done to the water supply of the people in the surrounding areas and the dangers it represents to this nation and the world as a whole. Again, it all rings true, yes, the big bad companies are only looking out for their bottom line, yes they’re poisoning the water supply, yes it’s horrible, I hope it stops. But, it never asks the one question I wanted an answer to: WHY did these people sell their rights? I understand the first few, they just didn’t know any better. But, with just a little research, you could uncover facts that demonstrate the dangers of drilling on your land. So, all the people STILL selling to the companies? WHY? Money. Yes, when it comes down to it, they are victims, but a majority of them MADE themselves victims, and I don’t like that this issue is never addressed.
Restrepo
Documenting the 173rd Airborne in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, Restrepo is occasionally a tough movie to watch. It deals pretty frankly with death on the battlefield and the desire to find the meaning of it all and the violence can come swift and hard. But, it’s also a really moving account of what it really means to be brothers in arms and how bullets flying over your head can make the guy kneeling in the trenches next to you your new best friend. The reasons “Why?” are something everyone, military or civilian have wondered about, and some pursue them outright, but as Restrepo shows, there are no easy answers to that question and sometimes just knowing you aren’t alone in the quest is good enough.
Inside Job
After watching Inside Job, the only emotion I could really muster was vitriolic disgust. Going in I was definitely worried that it would be a far-Left breakdown of the global financial crisis, but by the time they get knee-deep into it, you realize that this is neither a Left, Right, Conservative, Liberal, Republican or Democrat issue, this is an issue of unchecked power. We live in a country where the government has been designed to never have too much control over any one thing. But while we argue over what the people we’ve elected should or shouldn’t do, the people who run the biggest companies in the country were robbing us blind. It’s a devastating look at the absolute chaos only a handful of people (comparatively) were able to wreak. So much so, that if it weren’t so devastating, it would be admirable.
Exit Through The Gift Shop
The absolute surprise nominee of the bunch, since the question of it’s veracity has plagued the movie almost since it debuted. The story of how a man set out to document the street art movement only to become part of it, Exit Through the Gift Shop is out-and-out fun. The zaniness of Mr. Brainwash is hysterical while still coming off as somewhat disturbing. Add to it the very dry, sarcastic tone of Banksy, and it’s just fantastic. But, there’s also a message behind the madness, though you can never be sure it’s intentional. The movie slyly asks a very interesting question: When, if ever, does it cease to be art and become just another example of crass commercialism?
Waste Land
The one I didn’t get to see. But, here’s a breakdown of the plot: At Brazil’s Jardim Gramacho, the world’s largest landfill, garbage pickers make a living scavenging among the mountains of discarded materials. Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, who uses trash to create his work, travels to the landfill to photograph the people whose livelihood is dependent on the things that others throw away.
Sounds interesting, and I plan to check it out when it hits DVD later this year.
