Documentaries Worth Watching

Sometimes at the end of a movie that I’ve streamed I feel like saying “Well that was a waste of two hours of my life”. Not so much with documentaries and occasionally bio-pics. Even if it’s not a great one, at least I learned something that justifies the time I’ve spent. This past month has been and educational one and here are a few recommendations:

If you’re into evil guys and you haven’t seen She Said (Prime, Apple) then do so. The film chronicles the incredible investigative journalism effort that went into the ultimately successful expose of Harvey Weinstein’s many years of criminal abuse. Because we see only glimpses of the real people the very fine actors are portraying I guess it doesn’t count as a documentary, but it feels like one. Did I learn anything? Yes. Not so much about Weinstein himself– as repugnant as he is–we don’t learn about the roots of his pathology and that could be interesting. Although he is the focus, the film covers so much more: the roots of the #MeToo Movement, the power structure of the film industry that gives free reign to abusers (of course that is something we all already knew about), and above and beyond the lurid subject matter, the film is about journalism at its best–an idealistic fortress in a cynical world. As a side note, the film has photos of him as a young man. He was as ugmo then as now, btw.

More evil guys: Madoff: the Monster of Wall Street (Netflix) I really thought I couldn’t learn much new about Madoff and his Ponzi scheme, but this limited series was a real eye-opener and a bit of paranoia inducer. It made me want to cash out my IRA and put it all under the mattress. The series interlaces real footage with some re-enactment and it’s done quite skillfully. I knew Madoff was a sociopath, but his particular brand was still shocking. The interviews with people close to him, the total ineptitude(or who knows what) of the SEC as they rejected evidence after evidence for years. It’s posited in the series that the Ponzi scheme of over thirty years would have endured had it not been for the market crash causing his clientele to cash in (what they thought) were their assets. Prosecutors estimated the size of the fraud to be $64.8 billion, based on the amounts in the accounts of Madoff’s 4,800 clients in nearly 140 countries.

Finally some good guys: Bill Russell:Legend (Netflix). Bill Russell died last July at age 88. Among the Greats as a basketball player and coach, he was also a vocal humanist and civil rights activist. Thus the series is yet another reminder of the grim history of African Americans in this country and is filled with footage of those years. He led the Celtics to so many victories and appeared to be adored by the fans, even in light of this, he and his family endured the humiliation of Boston racism at its worst. I loved Bill Russell before I watched the series and now if possible even more. the extensive footage of the games is pretty thrilling. The only caveat is that because he was an intensely private person we don’t learn much about his four wives, but I don’t think that the filmmakers had much material. An internet research effort on my part revealed hardly any information. But so what? That’s not what was important about him.

And more good guys: All That Breathes (HBO)In the midst of New Delhi India’s, squalor, poverty and toxic levels of polluted air two brothers run a bird rescue and a home made infirmary. They tend to injured birds, mostly the black kites (essential to the eco-system and decimated by pollution.) Little roller coasters of triumphs (some funding) and disappointments (rejection by Harvard–shame on you Harvard and denial of deserved funding) make this meditative film effective witness to quiet persistence and hope. As the city is destroyed by religious wars, making the public’s entry to their new hospital difficult if not impossible, the brothers maintain a quiet sanctuary of determination to continue their mission. In some ways it is among one of the most effective and unusual documentaries I have ever seen.

And good gals: Dionne Warwick:Don’t Make Me Over (HBO) Thank god the songs are so good–otherwise my ear worms would be intolerable. As I write this quick review I keep asking if I “know the way to San Jose”. Fortunately it’s Warwick’s voice I’m hearing and not my own. Even if you aren’t a big Burt Bacharach fan I think you will enjoy this documentary about a marvelous, charismatic woman and incredible singer. As with the Russell series the film can’t (and shouldn’t) avoid footage of the disgusting and vicious racism that permeates our nation’s history.