The short story is: I LOVE DOCUMENTARIES. It feels good to admit it. I love lots of different ones and I’m trying to categorize some of the good ones I’ve watched over the years so you can watch them, too. Except. . . mostly I’m doing this so you will suggest more that I might like. Seriously, it’s a problem. So this week I’m profiling the celebrity movies I’ve enjoyed. As usual, this is a very lose categorizing of these films, but I’m trying to find some kind of theme so it doesn’t feel quite so random. Enjoy! And let me know what celebrity/Hollywood documentaries you’ve enjoyed. Seriously. I want to know.
Hollywood Documentaries (Kind of)
Long Way Round: This could have been alternately titled “Ewan McGregor Does the Northern Hemisphere!” or something like that. It’s a fascinating combination of a travel movie and a buddy pic. Ewan McGregor and his best friend ride motorcycles across the world and try to experience a bit of the authentic life of each culture they go through. The travel is fascinating, the dynamic between the two guys is fun two watch, and if you enjoy Ewan McGregor’s acting it is a fun behind the scenes peek at what he’s like in a different environment. My big take away— Have a good friend and plan an adventure together. . . and it’s nice if you and your friend balance out each other’s quirks.
Long Way Down: This is round 2 of Ewan McGregor and Company’s motorcycle adventure. This one goes all the way around Africa. I really loved this. They do a beautiful job of presenting the people of Africa as PEOPLE. Not a cause or an oddity, but as people like your neighbors at home. There are also some very real moments about dealing with food, illness, travel problems, poor road conditions, etc. All those things that make people say “TIA” (this is Africa). It is beautiful to see the joy they take in the uniqueness of the African landscape. It makes it so fun to watch. My big take away— I have no desire to motorcycle around Africa, but it sure is fun to watch other people do it.
Marlene: I’ll admit that I watched this really late one night when I was struggling with some insomnia. I thought a black and white movie about an actress I knew nothing about would put me right to sleep. I was wrong. The way this movie was put together is interesting in and of itself. It’s mostly archival footage with commentary by Marlene Dietrich, but as an aging actress she wouldn’t allow her current face to be seen. She is really blunt and refreshing through the whole movie and I felt like I learned a lot about the history of film in that era. My big take away— There was a lot I could identify with in the lack of sentimentality in the way she talked about her life. It all seemed very German, which was thought provoking for me.
Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop: (A little caveat- this movie has a lot of “adult” language.) I enjoy Conan O’Brien’s humor, but what I was really struck with in this movie was how depressed he seemed. This was filmed right after he was ousted from The Tonight Show and the self-depracating humor he normally has just seemed to take on a life of its own. You hear that often comedy comes from pain and that was really self-evident here. It was almost hard to watch. My big take away– Some people are compelled to seek the spotlight even if it hurts. And I’m probably laughing at their expense.
The Best Worst Movie: How to even begin describing this movie? It’s a documentary about Troll 2, which is apparently the worst movie ever made. I went into this documentary thinking I probably wouldn’t enjoy it since I hadn’t seen Troll 2, but that doesn’t matter one bit. This movie is at times interesting, hilarious and heartbreaking. What happens to the actors involved in making the worst movie? How does it change the course of their life? What about when that film becomes a cult classic? These are the eternal questions addressed in The Best Worst Movie. My big take away— Careers have embarrassing moments, but it’s what you do next and how you make peace with your history that matters.
Buck: Please watch this movie. Seriously. It is a beautiful picture of redemption centered around the life experiences of the man who inspired The Horse Whisperer book and movie. This man experienced childhood abuse and family dysfunction, but was able to trust and love because of the love he experienced from his foster family. This movie made me cry. Buck is a movie about a man who loves horses, but it is more about a man who learns to treat those around him (horses and people) with dignity, gentleness and kindness because that kind of care from his foster mother made such an impression on him. This is such an inspirational story for families like mine that invest in kids from crisis situations. My big take away— Children can be surprisingly resilient when treated with love and respect. You never know what they’re capable of. (For more about Buck, I’d recommend reading this interview with him)
Bronies: This documentary describes the phenomenon of men who enjoy the “My Little Ponies” tv show. Yes. That is a thing. There were some really sweet moments in this, especially as they follow a young man with Aspergers Syndrome whose passion for My Little Ponies becomes a catalyst for him to try new things and develop friendships. If you like looking into unusual subcultures, you’ll enjoy this documentary. My big take away— Good tv is good tv no matter who you were originally marketing it to.
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