GreatAmericanZero
03-14-2009, 11:35 AM
There is a lot of documentaries out there these days with their own distinct style. I am really at a loss if they are good or not
On one hand, i don't think documentaries have ever been as entertaining as they are today. They definitley figured out how to make them like real movies..some of them as more laughs than any hollywood comedy
on the other hand..they are manipulative as fuck. its all cherry-picked interviews to prove their point (and ignoring the majority of any subject that would just be boring movies). A lot of documentaries are so sensational that you gotta roll your eyes at them
I'm a big fan of the style where its a comedian with a camera and a point is made. Bill Maher's "Religulious" and Doug Benson's "Super High Me" were just them following a political point, but the fact that they are entertainers and you can follow them and their comedy act as they are filming their films is a great device. Even Borat (and from what i've read about cohen's new film "bruno") is like that, where its a comedian being an asshole in real situations and it does make a point..but overall its entertaining
however, something like Michael Moore's "Sicko" is just so "let me show MY side" and you know its all fake. He shows the nightmare American healthcare stories and the heavenly foreign healthcare stories and totally ignores Americans who had healthcare that provided the help they need (which i have seen in my life) and any foreign healthcare nightmare experiences that i know exist. But then again, i'm not a scholar so if i can tell its bullshit, then most people can..right?
Nancy Pelosi's daughter made a movie called "How the right was wrong" where she interviewed McCain supporters that were batshit crazy. Obviously, all sensible McCain supporters make the cutting room floor, but that movie made me laugh til i had tears in my eyes. It was manipulative but entertaining. Seeing a grown man break down to tears because someone suggests "what if Obama wins" is funny!
I guess my overall point is..is it a good thing or not? I dont know
EDIT: Thread title should be "Modern Documentary" oops :)
On one hand, i don't think documentaries have ever been as entertaining as they are today. They definitley figured out how to make them like real movies..some of them as more laughs than any hollywood comedy
on the other hand..they are manipulative as fuck. its all cherry-picked interviews to prove their point (and ignoring the majority of any subject that would just be boring movies). A lot of documentaries are so sensational that you gotta roll your eyes at them
I'm a big fan of the style where its a comedian with a camera and a point is made. Bill Maher's "Religulious" and Doug Benson's "Super High Me" were just them following a political point, but the fact that they are entertainers and you can follow them and their comedy act as they are filming their films is a great device. Even Borat (and from what i've read about cohen's new film "bruno") is like that, where its a comedian being an asshole in real situations and it does make a point..but overall its entertaining
however, something like Michael Moore's "Sicko" is just so "let me show MY side" and you know its all fake. He shows the nightmare American healthcare stories and the heavenly foreign healthcare stories and totally ignores Americans who had healthcare that provided the help they need (which i have seen in my life) and any foreign healthcare nightmare experiences that i know exist. But then again, i'm not a scholar so if i can tell its bullshit, then most people can..right?
Nancy Pelosi's daughter made a movie called "How the right was wrong" where she interviewed McCain supporters that were batshit crazy. Obviously, all sensible McCain supporters make the cutting room floor, but that movie made me laugh til i had tears in my eyes. It was manipulative but entertaining. Seeing a grown man break down to tears because someone suggests "what if Obama wins" is funny!
I guess my overall point is..is it a good thing or not? I dont know
EDIT: Thread title should be "Modern Documentary" oops :)