Documentary

Capitalism: A Love Story

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Capitalism: A Love Story
  • IMDB: link

capitalism-a-love-story-posterIn the past, Michael Moore has taken on George Bush, the gun lobby, and health care. In his latest film Capitalism: A Love Story, he finds a new target in the economic system of capitalism. Greed, it turns out, isn’t really good afterall. As in his previous movies, Moore combines interviews of real Americans, news footage, the town of Flint, funny clips, his own personal narrative, and his trademark stunts, to try and prove his point. Although Capitalism is a highly entertaining movie, in terms of constructing and presenting an argument it’s Moore’s weakest entry to date.

The basic premise of the film is capitalism is a flawed and inherently destructive system. To help prove his point, Moore showcases the inequality between corporate America and the middle class (which has been taken advantage of by a growing culture of greed). The advantages and opportunities that capitalism fosters such as entrepreneurship, invention, and the ability to rise far above the economic station of your birth, are simply glossed over (or reduced to broad generalization).

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Religulous

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Religulous
  • IMDB: link

“I don’t believe in Santa Claus.”
“Of course not, that’s one man flying all around the world and dropping presents down a chimney.  One man hearing everybody murmur to him at the same time, that I get.”

In an attempt to better undestand religon, and to make some fun out of the more ridiculous beliefs, Bill Maher takes a trip around the world to discuss relgiion with politicans, scientists, theologians, and the common people.  What results is an often funny, though not that enlightening, experience.

Much like Michael Moore, Maher begins his journey with a preconceived outcome – proving the ridiculousness and dangerous nature of all the world’s various religions.  Although quite humorous with his quips and various well-placed clips from religious films, he’s mostly preaching to those who already don’t believe in organized religion.

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American Teen

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: American Teen
  • IMDB: link

“You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions.  But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princesss, and a criminal.”
–The Breakfast Club

A familiar pose
The documentary by Nanette Burstein follows a small group of diverse high school students from Warsaw, Indiana, over their final year through graduation.  Burstein’s chosen subjects run the gamut from the high school basketball stud trying to land a scholarship and the most popular (and nastiest) girl in school, to your typical band geek and the lonely art student who wants nothing more than to get as far from Indiana as possible.

Events over this year include each of the subjects dealing with relationships, both romantic and platonic, fears about the future, the awkwardness of adolescence, bad choices, and a cruelty that can only be found in American high schools and Turkish prisons.

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Young at Heart

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Young@Heart
  • IMDb: link

“Oh yes we can, I know we can can, yes we can can, why can’t we?  If we wanna, yes we can can.”

young-at-heart-poster

The documentary by Stephen Walker follows the the Young@Heart Chorus as they learn new songs and prepare for their next live performance.  This, however, isn’t your average chorus.

The Young@Heart Chorus is made up of senior citizens, all over the age of 70, from the New England area.  Led by director Bob Climan, the group has been performing since 1982, although not the type of music you might expect from a senior citizen group.  No, the Young@Heart sing contemporary and classic rock and pop songs such as “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by the Clash.

For their upcoming concert the group is practicing hits ranging from “Yes We Can Can” by the Pointer Sisters to “Schizophrenia” by Sonic Youth.  We get to meet each some of the members of the chorus, including two former members who have returned after serious medical conditions to perform one last time with their friends.

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Air Guitar Nation

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Air Guitar Nation
  • IMDb: link

“To err is human.  To air guitar is divine.”

Air Guitar Nation DVD review

The documentary Air Guitar Nation takes a look at the first ever American Air Guitar Championships as men like Dan Crane (AKA Bjorn Turoque) and David S. Jung (AKA C-Diddy) compete to earn a chance to travel to the International Air Guitar Championships in Finland to compete against air guitarists from all over the globe.

The documentary accepts and celebrates the absurdity of the situation and takes us all on a wonderful ride filled with people who view air guitar as a serious art form.

We watch the early competitions in New York and Los Angeles, then travel overseas and view the two week training course in Finland where the artists are instructed on the finer points of performing (including handling groupies!).  Silly?  You bet!

By the time the final competition arrives we are fully immersed in this world with our own favorites and are ready to root for them (or even take the stage ourselves and show them how its done).  Bjorn and C-Diddy push each other and the other performers from around the world to put on their best and leave it all out on stage.  Although only one is crowned champion all the performers earn the chance to live out a dream, and so each is a winner.  In a world where competition can divide and destroy it’s refreshing to see it bring together a diverse group from around the world in a peaceful competition and a shared dream.

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