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Flash Movie Review: Life Itself
I did not always understand what I was watching but it did not matter to me. As long as I experienced an emotional reaction and was entertained, I was content and satisfied. I remember seeing a flying car in one movie and wondering why my family was stuck with a four door sedan. After seeing a boy fly on screen I could not wait to get that ability, figuring it would be taught to me in school. You see, movies always had a major influence on me. Once the film started I could easily be taken away from the reality around me, transported to the time and place inside the movie screen. Fantasy has always been mightier than reality in my world. Once I became aware of movie critics, the first pages I took out from the newspaper were from the entertainment section. Poring over every article pertaining to movies became an obsession (really? you ask). There was one critic who was different from all the rest; he was someone I soon felt was in synch with me. I never sensed he was talking down to me; it was as if we were sitting together and he was explaining what the movie would offer me. That movie critic was Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times. Every week I had a standing date with him to plan out my weekend of movies. SPANNING the decades of his life, this documentary directed by Steve James (Hoop Dreams) unapologetically and candidly showed how Roger went from a young boy to newspaper reporter to Pulitzer Prize winning film critic to his battles with cancer. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street, Hugo), this film festival nominee did an outstanding job of blending various sources together such as family film footage, outtakes from Roger’s television show with fellow movie critic Gene Siskel and interviews with a variety of friends and celebrities. I felt this movie was evenly balanced; it did not shy away from tough subjects, nor did it try to sway the viewer by the way things were depicted. There were a few scenes that were hard to watch when Roger was shown struggling with his health issues. When you think about it, there really could be no other way to make this film. Roger approved and it was even shown how he wanted this film to show him as he really was in life. Whether it was his alcoholism or showing how he got nourishment after his surgery; for me, this biographical film was the real thing. It was an incredible life squeezed into the short time frame of this wonderful documentary. I know if Roger would have reviewed this film he would have given it a thumbs up.
4 stars
Flash Movie Review: The Internet’s Own Boy
Survival of the fittest has always been the mantra regarding the animal kingdom. It used to be for mankind but I am not so sure of it these days. Our gene pool has taken so many hits from various sources. In fact, I recently saw a television program where a scientist was talking about the overuse of antibiotics in our society. He said as a species, mankind has had good bacteria inside of them that dates back eons. With the constant ingestion of antibiotics we are killing off these defense fighters and they will not be passed down to future generations. I find it scary. As it stands now our gene pool produces people that fall on the spectrum from one extreme to the other. I remember there was a kid in elementary school who was different from the rest of us. The questions he would ask in class went over all of our heads and would even stump the teacher. There were students who were book smart, were good at memorizing and testing; but he was so different from us, talking about things that we did not even hear the adults around us ever talk about. I know a 3 year old boy, who when told he had 5 more minutes of playtime before he had to go to sleep, asked what was 5 minutes in a lifetime; it just makes you wonder doesn’t it? This biographical documentary written and directed by Brian Knappenberger (Into the Body, Life After War) was about a boy from one extreme of the human scale. Aaron Swartz was pivotal in the development of basic internet protocol, what we refer to as RSS. He also was the co-founder of Reddit. At a very early age Aaron was already far advanced from any of the other kids around him. This Sundance Film Festival nominee traced Aaron’s life from childhood prodigy to internet activist. I had never heard of Aaron Swartz before; only recently becoming aware of him due to seeing his name in the news. The layout of scenes in this film provided me a clear and easy picture of Aaron’s life. I found the home footage of him as a child quite fascinating as you could see he was someone special. The interviews of family members, friends and peers painted an amazing picture of Aaron’s life; it made watching this movie a highly interesting and fascinating experience. After watching this film is when I really started thinking about the gene pool we all share. What I assumed to be a random process in our development I now question when I see someone like Aaron.
3 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Fed Up
Recently I was in a conversation about “comfort” foods; those items that soothe us in times of stress. One person said when they are upset they want macaroni and cheese, another goes for meats whether it be a steak or a slice of deli meat. My special foods pretty much live in the carbohydrate family like cookies, pretzels, potato chips and ice cream. Except for the ice cream (though food companies have recently remedied the situation) I eat things that can be popped whole into the mouth without taking a bite first. I find it quick and efficient without leaving any trace. Comfort food can remind you of a fond childhood memory. When I take the first bite out of a perfect french fry, my mind flashes with the image of my aunt standing over a pot of boiling oil, sliding strips of partially peeled potatoes into it from a wooden cutting board. Looking at a package of store bought chocolate chip cookies still reminds me of a rough period I was going through, where I would finish off the entire package in two sittings–lunch and dinner. I have been reading how the food companies are to blame for the obesity epidemic that is occurring presently. Do you think they should take the entire blame for it? In my opinion they are certainly at fault but I also believe each and every person needs to take responsibility for themselves. When a member comes up to me after class and asks how they can lose weight, I tell them it is basic math. You have to flush out more calories than you take in. The other bit of advice I tell them is to just physically move anyway they want, try not to put foods on top of other foods and to eat things from every color group. That is all I say about the subject. You probably have noticed how food sizes have changed along with their packaging. This documentary directed by Stephanie Soechtig (Tapped) and narrated by newscaster Katie Couric will delve into the marketing and advertising of food. If you are a conscious eater many of the topics discussed in this Sundance Film Festival nominated movie will not be a surprise. I did learn a couple of things and was surprised by one of the studies, but part of the time I felt I was being bombarded with facts upon facts. It left me a little dry and bored at times, though I realized the message the film was conveying was important. Hopefully this will not be a spoiler alert for any of you, but this film does do an excellent job of zeroing in on one of the main culprits–sugar. Despite its faults this is a film that would benefit anyone who takes an interest in their own health.
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Finding Vivian Maier
The day was a dull grey with roaming packs of spewing dark clouds threatening the landscape. I was determined to make the hike since it was the only day I would be in the area. Trekking along the marked trail, I was grateful I wore long pants since the plants with their lush soft edges had a real bite underneath their green leaves. Whenever I was lucky to feel a breeze filter into the dense forest, it was always filled with a dampness that my skin soaked up. The reason I was doing this was because I had read there was an ideal vantage point where I would be able to see the two stepped waterfall in its entirety. If there was going to be rain I was hoping it would wait until I could take a few photographs. As I reached a sharp turn to the left I felt I was walking onto a stage. The dense foliage had split apart like a heavy, green velvet curtain and a single slash of bright sunlight tore a sliver in the sky. Laid out before me was not only the waterfall but appearing like a ghost was a rainbow forming through the mist of water crashing down on the lower rocks. It was such a beautiful site that surprised me more than I imagined. Watching this gem of a documentary gave me the same sense of surprised wonder. Seeking out old photographs for a project, John Maloof was high bidder for an old trunk filled with film negatives. It turned out all of the frames were shot by a Vivian Maier. Though an internet search of her produced nothing, John realized he found something special. This film festival winner was a double surprise for me. First, there were her photographs which were shown throughout the film. Having minored in photography back in college I was not only fascinated with her style, but with the incredible depth in her shots. Her photos had their own personality that seemed to come alive no matter the subject. Secondly, the story about Vivian’s life, which was mildly non-descript, was unreal to the point where I almost found it hard to believe she was the creator of such incredible work. On a personal note, I got an extra charge out of this movie because I had been to some of the same places as Vivian. If you do not have an appreciation for photography, you may not get as excited about this film as I did. However, there still was an amazing story that would still surprise you.
3 1/2 stars
Flash Movie Review: Bears
It happened during my first school field trip where we traveled to our city’s zoo. We were in the lion house and I remembered how the pungent smell hung in the still air. I felt I was inhaling musky cotton balls. The big cats were one of my favorite animals so it was worth the odor to be up close to them. While standing in front of one cage with a pacing male lion, a park attendant who was stationed by one of the main entrances announced to all the visitors they would have to remain in the lion house. The reason was one of the animals had escaped from their enclosure outside. It turned out it was one of the zoo’s star attractions, a large silverback gorilla. My classmates and I were nervously excited with all the commotion this caused throughout the crowd around us. Until the gorilla was captured we spent enough time in the lion house to see the animals being fed by park assistants. I recall how frightening it looked to me to see how the lions would attack their fleshy meal. Back then it made sense to me that the animals were in cages for our protection. Little did I know that the time would come where they were there for their protection. From directors Alastair Fothergill (Chimpanzee, Earth) and Keith Scholey (African Cats) this documentary followed one family of bears in Alaska for one year, from coming out of hibernation to preparing for its return. If for nothing else I have to tip my hat to the movie studio for providing exquisite footage of the bears’ habitat. I have visited Alaska and it was breathtaking to see. The camera work not only provided a true sense of the state, but the close-up work in filming the animals was wonderful. Personally I would have liked more facts about the life of the bears but that was just my own tastes. The studio wanted to make a film that was entertaining so I understood why they had John C. Reilly (We Need to Talk to Kevin, Carnage) as the narrator. Children will probably enjoy the humorous spin he put on the animals’ actions; I just happened to find it odd attaching human emotions to animals. Either way this film was an enjoyable experience. I will say my opinion about zoos has changed as an adult now; there are still ones out there that are simply prisons. Once you view this film you just might agree with me.
2 3/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: Tim’s Vermeer
There is a saying, “curiosity killed the cat,” that is used to remind us that there are some things we should not be sticking our noses in, such as someone’s personal affairs or condemned buildings. There certainly is some validity to that; however, there are times where curiosity is a healthy trait. With all the wonders this earth has to offer, I cannot imagine someone not having curiosity about something. It is like being on a date and the person never asks you any questions; I find that so odd and would have to assume the person is not interested. When I was little I went through a period, some would say obsession, where I was taking things apart to see how they worked. It did not matter that I could not put them back together. One day my parents came home to discover I removed the doorknob and lock from the front door. At least I used a screwdriver because I will admit there were times I would break an item to see what was inside–especially if it was not working correctly. A healthy portion of curiosity can reveal many magical things around us. The extent the individual went in this documentary to satisfy his curiosity was both fascinating and amusing to observe. Texas based inventor Tim Jenison was not an artist but was intrigued with 17th century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Tim wanted to know why the artist’s works stood out from all other artists’ pieces during the same time period. Part mystery, part detective story; I enjoyed the way this award winning movie played out. A portion of it was due to the director Teller, half of the comical magic act known as Penn & Teller. Another part was both the narration by Penn Jillette and the subject himself, Tim Jenison. There was a light playful humor throughout the film as Tim devoted a portion of his life to find the answers to his questions. Some of those queries even led him to England to visit the British artist David Hockney. Depending on your frame of mind, some viewers may find this film a bit repetitive; I could have easily seen this on public television or DVD. Surprisingly, I rather enjoyed seeing this at the movie theater. The reason was due to the crowd’s reactions after the film. It was funny to hear all these strangers being curious about a variety of topics that came up for them during the film. Now aren’t you curious to find out for yourself?
3 stars
Flash Movie Review: Justin Bieber’s Believe
It was Beauty and the Beast that showed me to look beyond the surface of a person, all the way to their heart. From the film The Wizard of Oz I learned to question what was being presented before me, for some things are just a false reality. I learned there was a fine line between genius and madness from the movie Amadeus. As you can see cinema had a hand in what type of man I was to become as an adult. So when it comes to music documentaries, I cast a somewhat skeptical eye to what is being shown to me. Now I am not a musical fan of Justin Bieber and only know about him when he is being reported on in the news. This film focused on Justin’s Believe tour from inception to the ending concerts. Directed by John M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Step Up franchise), I found the movie to be a simple step by step process on how the tour was assembled. Since I am a fan of dance, I enjoyed the audition process that showed the dancers being vetted, picked and trained in the choreography. The use of actual concert footage was appreciated because it was a way to break up the film from becoming too long with all the interviews used of various people. I knew some of the individuals like Usher and Rodney Jerkins, but others such as manager and producer Scooter Braun were unknown to me. I do not feel I have to tell you that there was nothing shown to cast Justin in a negative light, though they did show film clips of his altercations with the paparazzi. As a documentary this movie really did not show anything new. It seemed like a tightly scripted marketing ploy to squeeze more profit out of the tour. Justin’s music does not do anything for me; however, I could certainly acknowledge the creative process to his music writing, besides the team behind the tour. If you are a Belieber (name Justin Bieber fans call themselves) then no matter what I say you probably saw this film already. For those curious, I would suggest you wait to see it on DVD. When I think of musical artists like the Beatles, who are still relevant 50 years later, will Justin have the same longevity? I cannot imagine; wait, now that was a good song.
1 3/4 stars
Flash Movie Review: Forks Over Knives
For many years I would eat to feel good. Notice I did not say, “better” but good. At an early age I learned food could be a reward, a comfort or even a friend for me. When I would be playing at a cousin’s house, there would always be a time where the two of us would stop to get a food treat from my aunt. If she did not have homemade cookies or a cake we would be taken to the local candy store, where I usually picked out something with chocolate in it. Food became more of a comfort during my early school years. I still remember how at the end of the school day I would hide in an empty classroom until I thought it was safe to come out. Carefully leaving the building I would hunt down the distant tinkling bells of the departing ice cream truck, so I could get an ice cream cone and eat all of it before I got home. It was not until later when I decided I could not stand the way I looked anymore. I researched and learned how to eat to feel better. What I soon discovered was how certain foods could be used as a remedy for the human body. For example I found out eating ginger could relieve nausea and ingesting cinnamon could lower cholesterol. I was so surprised to find ways to heal the body without having to take medications. It made sense to me. If my eating habits were making me unhealthy, then if I started eating better I should be getting better, right? Now keep in mind I am not a medical expert, but I was fascinated with this documentary. Director Lee Fulkerson (Combat at Sea-TV, The Crash of Flight 191-TV) did a fine job of directing by letting his interviewees explain their findings. For example, Dr. T. Colin Campbell from the Center for Nutrition Studies was interesting to listen to as he explained one of his major achievements, The China Project. At times the movie felt like a reality show (I mean this in a good way) as it followed the progress of patients who adopted a new plant based diet. There were times where I felt the scenes were becoming repetitive and dull, but the topic kept my interest. All I could think of were my friends who are healthy eaters, wondering if they knew any of the facts that were being discussed in this film. I have to tell you, after watching this intriguing documentary I am moved to the point where I want to be a conscious eater.
3 stars — DVD
Flash Movie Review: The Armstrong Lie
I first heard this quote back in my high school world history class. The sandal clad professor was leading a discussion about rulers in power such as dictators and despots. To drive home the point he was trying to make, the teacher quoted Briton, Sir John Dalberg-Acton who said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” That quote really struck and stayed with me as the class dug deeper into the course. As I finished my schooling and entered into the workforce, I continued to see examples where people in power had some form of corruption. It would be either morally or financially, but each time I would hear that history teacher reciting the quote and be amazed how perceptive Lord Acton was back then. Those quoted words truly apply to this documentary film about cyclist Lance Armstrong. Director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, The Last Gladiators) followed Lance for 4 years, looking to create a film about Lance’s return to cycling and trying to capture his 8th Tour de France competition. In fact, the working title of this movie was “The Road Back.” But after Lance admitted to doping, Alex had a much different story to document. As for the mechanics of this film I thought the director kept a tight rein on telling the story, mixing his footage with news clips and interviews. I found the pacing consistent and at times was surprised by scenes that were captured by the director. On the downside, I felt parts of the movie were a rehash of events that were already reported in the news. Due to this I did find myself getting bored sometimes. I guess this would lead to an important question one needs to ask themselves before seeing this movie: Do you really care about Lance Armstrong? His life was certainly compelling; a cancer survivor who won the Tour de France made a great story. Add in the work of The Livestrong Foundation, where by the way one club I teach cycling at has their bikes, I could see where a documentary of Lance would sell. However, with the true story now out I really do not have any sympathy for the man. Those words first spoken in the 1800’s about power ring just as true today as they did centuries ago.
2 3/4 stars
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