Sleeper Awakened

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DOCUMENTARY ROUNDUP WINTER 2020/SPRING 2021

4/12/21 - My Octopus Teacher (2020) - 7/10

Fascinating and somewhat obsessive exploration of this octopus, it’s existence, and the interloping underwater documentarian that found meaning in the aquatic autobiography. It is a remarkably beautiful cinematic experience; a fine example of a nature docudrama. Such a luscious visual encounter under, above, around the water.

There is a strange psychological symbiosis and transference going on here. Octopus teacher becomes pretty literal; which was warranted but not revelatory for me. It was a nice story and looked lovely, making for a sumptuous doc, but I could not put at the top of any kind of list.

1/10/20 - Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets (2020) - 7/10

A fascinating journey in the last night of a Vegas bar, with the riff-raff and regulars exposing the open wounds of their lives, loves, and long-hard goodbyes.

There is a definite question of artifice, as at least two of the main players are hired actors implanted into the space. So many questions arise as to the interactions, the validity of the emotional resonances, and how these peculiar puzzle pieces mesh together.

Authentic or artificial, there is an intriguing interplay between this melange of swillers & sinners. Moments of beautiful emotion are caught and scabs of truth are pried up to fester in the light. Artful and arousing, no matter its potential spuriousness. 

1/8/20 - The Gulf of Silence (2020) - 5+/10

Uniquely intriguing is this fictional doc about the experience of a secret governmental UFO researcher. Informed and inferential, it dabbles with questions of genuineness; at least enough to keep it fun.

11/26/20 - Mystery of D.B. Cooper (2020) - 6/10

The DB Cooper meets Room 237. A wild criss-cross of what happened and the stories of potential since that infamous skyjacking. It is entertaining, but light.

11/22/20 - Boys State (2020) - 8/10

It reminded me of the infamous Stanford Experiment, but with pandering & votes rather than prisoner jumpsuits & batons. It quickly became a microcosm of our greater political system, and despite that being somewhat of the intention, it was still somewhat shocking to see the pieces of humanity so quickly and easily fall into their ordained roles with fervent ownership. The characters were fascinating, smart, spirited, and endearing, which made for such a magnetic experience.

5/27/20 - Athlete A (2020) - 7+/10

A well rounded and finely executed news doc. Its unfortunate that it must highlight such pain and the indifference to wrongdoing. But this is another fine expose in hopes of avoiding repetition of such horrid events.