Top 5 Fridays :: Docs I watched this week

I have been loving Netflix this week. And no, they are not paying me to say this. I got my account up and running last week and while their selection of new movies is pretty weak, their back catalogue of documentaries and classic films is not so bad. I have been making the most of what they are offering me and have been diving deep into the doc section of the site. I have watched 5 documentary films this week and here they are in order of my least favorite to the the two that I would own.

5. This Film is Not Yet Rated – This is a very entertaining and somewhat scathing look at the MPAA. They are responsible for the ratings that are assigned to any movie that gets released in the US. They are the ones who decided that is R or PG-13 or god forbid, NC-17. What really stuck out is the level of secrecy involved in this process. The board members are kept a secret and they don’t ever speak publicly about what they do. Also they say that they are not a censorship committee, even though they will tell you what to cut or change in order to get a more favorable rating (usually going from NC-17 to R) Its shocking and disgusting what they are capable of. A must see for any fan of cinema.

4. Crips and Bloods : Made in America – This is a genuinely frightening and eye opening film from Stacy Peralta. It chronicles the origins of the infamous South Central Los Angeles gang wars. From the mostly subdued beginnings to the violent 80′s and 90′s up to the present day. It looks at  the social economic problems and the cultural pressures that caused these gangs to become the only thing many young men and women of these neighborhoods can turn to. It is sad, upsetting and cautiously optimistic of the future. The saddest thing I heard is that many of these gang members never leave their hoods, unless they are going to prison. Many of them have never seen the ocean. The fucking ocean. And they live in LA. WTF world? This is so not cool.

3. American Hardcore – Music scenes are a fascinating thing. Why they start and what makes them successful is due to a variety of factors. And interestingly they are often started for the same reasons yet the outcomes are unique. The hardcore scene of the late 70′s and early 80′s is a prime example. Disenfranchised youth who didn’t want to fit into the pop rock mold that was dominating the airwaves and wanted to play music in bands, whether they could play an instrument or  not. It is a very compelling movie, showing the rise of such bands like The Bad Brains, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Circle Jerks and D.O.A. The sense of community and pure DIY attitude of all these bands is so uplifting and makes me wish for a time when I could join a band with my limited musical abilities.

2. Lost in La Mancha – Terry Gilliam is one of the most creative directors working today. He is also the biggest risk taker when it comes to budgetary limitations. In 2000 he attempted to make his version of the story of Don Quixote for a budget that was half of what his vision entailed. This is a compelling and heartbreaking movie, watching all the work that is done and ultimately for not as the production just falls apart around Gilliam. Its unfortunate because given the right time frame and the proper amount of money this could have been a worthy addition to Gilliams canon. Alas, it wasn’t to be. At least for now. Maybe one day he will get it all together and finally pull it off. The little bit of film that they did manage to shoot looked great. This is a must see for anyone who wonders how movies are made, or in this case, aren’t made.

1. The Devil and Daniel Johnston – This is one of the best movies that I have seen all year. Yes it came out 4 years ago, so sue me for being late. This is the heartwarming and heartbreaking tale of Daniel Johnston an american singer songwriter who suffers from manic depression. It chronicles his rise to semi fame and the subsequent turmoil caused by his disease. He looks at the world like no other, creating music that is uniquely his own and art that speaks to his twisted world vision. His music might not be for everyone, but his story will make you feel amazed at the ability of the human spirit. It is one of the great music documentaries that I have seen. It will break your heart and then rebuild it.