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HELL AND BACK AGAIN - Oscar Nominee 2012 Best Documentary Feature

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

HELL AND BACK AGAIN proves the notion that “war is hell,” and that coming home wounded is just as traumatic. This documentary combines actual combat footage shot by photojournalist and filmmaker Danfung Dennis while he was embedded with the U.S. Marines, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, part of a major assault on Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan in 2009. The footage of the Marines on patrol and in combat is similar to the footage seen in RESTREPO, directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger which was nominated for an Oscar in 2011. Cinematographer and director Danfung Dennis also helps you see through the eyes of men in combat whether it’s marching on patrol or taking fire.

But HELL AND BACK AGAIN is about more than going to war. It is also about coming back, out of the war, wounded, disabled and taking on a new form of combat. The combat of adjusting to a world where your life is not on the line every minute. Adjusting to a physical wound that will take years to heal and that may always leave you disabled in some way. HELL AND BACK AGAIN focuses on Sergeant Nathan Harris and the Echo company platoon deep behind enemy lines fighting the Taliban where Sergeant Harris is severely wounded and then his coming home to his wife in North Carolina. HELL AND BACK AGAIN manages to give you a glimpse into Harris’s two fold problem; dealing with his physical injury and mental adjustment on being home again.

Perhaps HELL AND BACK AGAIN’S best quality is that it reveals what it’s like to be in a 3rd world setting, in a life and death situation for months, where you never feel safe, and violence is part of your mission and then to be thrust back in to the fast paced, high tech American world. The difficulties Harris is having appears obvious in scenes where he finds comfort holding one of the two handguns he constantly keeps nearby. With the love and support of his wife Ashley, Sergent Harris struggles to overcome the difficulties of readjusting to civilian life.

HELL AND BACK AGAIN begins in Afghanistan with a Helicopter Assault on a Taliban Stronghold and the landing of Harris and Echo Company. This is Harris’s third deployment and it seems that after eight years in the Marines and multiple times in combat he may be suffering some fatigue. But the battles wage on. The marines try to explain to Afghanistan civilians that they are there to help them. But the villagers just want everyone to go away, both the Taliban and the Americans. The documentary then jumps from Afghanistan to North Carolina and Harris coming home wounded, in constant pain and taking pain killers. As these scenes progress there are flash backs to actual combat days back in Afghanistan leading up to the day he was wounded.

HELL AND BACK AGAIN does tell a moving and important story. It sheds some light on the problems facing returning veterans of the wars that have been waged in both Iraq and Afghanistan. But some of the scenes of Harris and his wife Ashley seem staged. More insight into what Harris and his wife are dealing with on an emotional level might have highlighted the struggle. The issues Harris has to deal with are the same problems many other vets have to deal with but that doesn’t seem to come across in this documentary. Everyone who is severely wounded and/or disabled in combat or a car accident goes through a period of resentment and problems adjusting. The failure to show that this is a universal problem makes it more difficult to understand that Harris’s behavior is part of a process of recovery. The documentary ends without as much as postscript as to Sergeant Nathan Harris’s progress.

HELL AND BACK AGAIN won a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and has now been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary 2012. Danfung Dennis also received an award for the excellent Cinematography in the film.

REVIEW BY – J R MARTIN – AUTHOR CREATE DOCUMENTARY FILMS, VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA — See other documentary reviews by J R Martin at http://www.jrmartinmedia.com/reviews

HELL AND BACK AGAIN – 2011 – 88 Minutes – Directed by Danfung Dennis – DOCURAMA FILMS and IMPACT PARTNERS

TRAILER – HELL AND BACK AGAIN

Tags: Combat, DANFUNG DENNIS, ECHO COMPANY 2ND BATTALIAN 8TH MARINE REGEMENT, HELL AND BACK AGAIN, SERGEANT NATHAN HARRIS, War in Afghanistan, WOUNDED VETERANS
Posted in Documentary Film Reviews | 1 Comment »

IF A TREE FALLS - A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT - 2012 Oscar Nominee Best Documentary Feature

Friday, January 27th, 2012

“We torched Superior Lumber in Glendale, OR on January 1, 2001. Superior Lumber is a typical earth raper contributing to the ecological destruction of the Northwest. What happened to them should shock no one. This year, 2001, we hope to see an escalation in tactics against capitalism and industry. While Superior Lumber says, ‘Make a few items, and do it better than anyone else,’ we say, ‘choose an earth raper, and destroy them.” — Communication Sent By The Earth Liberation Front (ELF).

IF A TREE FALLS is a well-edited and structured documentary that manages to balance advocacy with objective reality in a thought provoking way. It brings you into the story from many different perspectives moving back and forth through time and events. IF A TREE FALLS keeps you interested throughout the entire eighty-five minutes.

IF A TREE FALLS is a documentary that explores many important issues by focusing on the rise and fall of The Earth Liberation Front (ELF). It does this mainly through the eyes of David McGowan, as he becomes radicalized into the ecological movement and ultimately into its most radical component, ELF. The film opens with archival footage of a ski resort burning. ELF burned it because the resort had plans to expand in to a forest area. The burning of the ski resort contrasted with other more blatant environmental issues shown in the documentary feels like ELF goes to far at times.

IF A TREE FALLS, directed by Marshall Curry, combines interviews with McGowan, who is living under house arrest waiting for a trial, as the film begins. He along with a number of other suspects were arrested simultaneously on December 7^th, 2005 and charged with domestic terrorism. ELF destroyed property but never endangered a human life. No person was ever hurt or killed because ELF made sure no one was in the buildings they burned. There is a question as to whether they are arsonists or terrorists?

IF A TREE FALLS is great documentary storytelling, moving between parallel themes highlighting events, McGowan’s experience, and current situation, and the FBI’s hunt for the members of the ELF. There is archival footage of police using pepper spray on peaceful protesters that reminds you of recent violence by police on the Occupy Movement protesters. These attacks on protesters help to radicalize McGowan and others into taking violent actions themselves.

Most of the fires were set in the Northwest in protest of the logging industry and their harvesting trees in forests under the control of the National Forest. Environmental activists had been active there for some time by 2001.

Many interesting and controversial questions arise watching this documentary. One issue is the treatment of protesters by police. Why is all the violence necessary? Environmental concerns based on the deforestation of huge areas of the country where large thousand-year-old trees are cut down and the land left bare. Another topic that comes to mind is the fate of the members of the ELF, many of whom could be facing life sentences for the acts of arson.

By focusing on McGowan’s life story up to the point he goes to court IF A TREE FALLS creates some empathy for McGowan and his fate. The ELF disbanded a few years before the arrests were made. McGowan left the group because things were, in his mind, getting to crazy. The investigators were treating it as a “cold case,” when they got an unexpected break. This aspect is skillfully incorporated into the story.

REVIEW BY – J R MARTIN – AUTHOR CREATE DOCUMENTARY FILMS, VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA — See other documentary reviews by J R Martin at http://www.jrmartinmedia.com/reviews

IF A TREE FALLS – A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT – 2011 – 85 minutes – Directed by Marshall Curry, An Oscilloscope Pictures Release – NOMINATED FOR OSCAR BEST DOCUMENTARY 2012 – Best Documentary Editing Sundance Film Festival.

TRAILER IF A TREE FALLS

Tags: David McGowan, Documentary Film Review, Earth Liberation Front, ELF
Posted in Documentary Film Reviews | 1 Comment »

2012 DOCUMENTARY OSCAR NOMINEES

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Best documentary feature

“Hell and Back Again” – Danfung Dennis – See Review

“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” – Marshall Curry See Review

“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” – Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky – See below

“Pina” – Wim Wenders - See Below

“Undefeated” – Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin - Oscar Winner Best Documentary Feature 2012

This years group of nominated documentaries seems to be and odd assortment. Hell and Back Again and If A Tree Falls feel like traditional documentaries that might get nominated.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, the third in a series about three young men accused of murdering some young boys. The three documentaries trace the arrest, 18 year imprisonment, and eventual release, in the third film, of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley; also known as the West Memphis Three. The documentaries played a role in generating publicity, awareness, and support for the innocence of the men. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory aired on HBO on January 11, 2012. The documentary seems to rehash a lot of what was done in the previous two except for the release of the men.

TRAILER PARADISE LOST 3: PURGAORY

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PINA, Directed by Wim Wenders, is a 3D dance film made in Germany. The film features Pina Bausch, who died during the preproduction phase of the documentary. Wenders cancelled production but the other dancers of the Tanztheater Wuppertal persuaded him to continue. The other dancers are featured and reminisce about Pina.

TRAILER PINA

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TRAILER UNDEFEATED

Two documentaries that were not nominated and perhaps should have been are:

BUCK – THERE’S NO WISDOM WORTH HAVING THAT ISN’T HARD WON AND BEING ELMO A PUPPETEER’S JOURNEY

Documentary short subject

“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”

“God is the Bigger Elvis”

“Incident in New Baghdad”

“Saving Face”

“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”

Written by J R Martin – AUTHOR CREATE DOCUMENTARY FILMS, VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA — See other documentary reviews by J R Martin at http://www.jrmartinmedia.com/reviews

Tags: 2012 OSCAR NOMINATIONS
Posted in Documentary Film Reviews, News | No Comments »

MAD HOT BALL ROOM – ANYONE CAN MAKE IT IF THE LEARN HOW TO SHAKE IT.

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Ever picture yourself doing the tango or merengue? How about swing dancing or just gliding across the floor doing a ballroom style waltz? But maybe you’ve always been a little shy about getting out there and trying it? Well MAD HOT BALLROOM is a chance to vicariously enjoy the experience of learning to do competitive ballroom dancing through the eyes of New York City Public School forth and fifth graders. In the process you might pick up a few steps as well. At the very least you will laugh and cry with the students as they learn to dance the merengue, tango, swing and Cuban rumba in preparation to ultimately compete and take part in a number of competitions. MAD HOT BALLROOM is entertaining, fun, informative and inspirational, so you don’t have to be a closet dance fan to enjoy it.

MAD HOT BALLROOM has many unique aspects as a documentary. First it’s a view from the inside looking out. There is no third party voice over narrator; the teachers and students tell their own stories. Another thing you will notice immediately is the documentary camera is at the same height as the participants. This establishes a non-condescending point-of-view, the viewer is at the same eye level as the dancers. This style of shooting is intimate and allows you to experience how the children are feeling about what they are doing in every way. The coverage of actual dancing and competitions is excellent putting you right there with the children.

MAD HOT BALLROOM is a documentary that pulls you into the story including the process of learning, competing and emotional reactions. This is not an easy process for the children who need to suspend a lot of inhibitions to participate. Just holding hands with a child of the opposite gender seems kind of “icky” for a nine or ten year old. The notion of keeping eye contact with your dance partner adds another level of discomfort. The children overcome other obstacles and in the process gain a great deal of self-confidence. It’s amazing to see the expressions on the children’s faces as they learn to dance and compete in the various competitions leading up to the finals. The story focuses on certain public school students in Brooklyn and their journey to the citywide competition. There is joy and heartbreak along the way. The pace of the documentary holds up throughout the length of the film but seems a little slow at the end perhaps because you want to know who wins the final competition to take home the trophy.

This is not a documentary that goes out of it’s way to determine if the notion of young students learning ballroom dancing is some new socially relevant idea. It is what it is. You can decide how you feel about it after enjoying the actuality of the documentary.

MAD HOT BALLROOM is more than just a feel good documentary, it entertains and informs as it allows you to be there with the children to experience and explore the process they are working through. Whether you are a ballroom dancing fan or not this documentary is well worth watching. In addition you might just feel enabled to try some dancing yourself, perhaps while you’re watching the film!

REVIEW BY – J R MARTIN – AUTHOR CREATE DOCUMENTARY FILMS, VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA — See other documentary reviews by J R Martin at http://www.jrmartinmedia.com/reviews

MAD HOT BALL ROOM . – 2005 – 105 Minutes – Directed by Marilyn Agrelo – Produced Amy Sewell and Marilyn Agrelo – Director of Photography Claudia Rachke-Robinson – Original Music Steven Lutivak and Joseph Baker – Paramount Classics and Just One Productions

TRAILER

Tags: BALLROOM DANCING, CHILDREN DANCING BALLROOM, DANCING, Documentary Film Review, MAD HOT BALLROOM, NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SHCOOLS
Posted in Documentary Film Reviews | No Comments »

JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

If JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN was only about Jerry Seinfeld deciding to resurrect his career as a stand-up comedian, after ending his hit TV show, it would be a rather narrowly focused and possibly short story. But the documentary goes beyond this premise and explores a number of other issues and ideas about comedy, performing, career choices and just what it takes to be a comedian. Anyone considering this type of career should see this documentary.

Before his television show Jerry Seinfeld did stand-up comedy. He was on the road most months of the year performing around the country. For twenty years he built up his routine, his jokes, timing and rapport with audiences. Seinfeld wanted to go back in 2002 with new material, new jokes that needed to be tested. This meant spending nights at comedy clubs like the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City.

In the film new comics like Orny Adams live a very insecure life as they try to get notoriety and maybe a spot on David Letterman or Jay Leno to get some national coverage. The documentary spends some time contrasting Orny Adams and his struggles for recognition with Jerry who while well known is also struggling to get his act together. They end up with the same agent, George Shapiro who has worked with Jerry Seinfeld previously.

In addition to being a must see documentary for anyone thinking about becoming a comedian, JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN is an entertaining, well paced documentary that goes behind the scenes including conversations Jerry has with other comedians including Greg Geraldo, Sherrod Small, Jim Norton, Robert Kline, Jay Leno, Gary Shandling, Bill Cosby and at least dozen others. There are no lower third graphics to identify everyone so it is difficult to be sure who is who unless you have seen them perform.

While it’s not difficult to identify with Jerry and his struggles to get back out there with new material, stage presence and good connection to audiences; his life style in between is more poor little rich boy as he commutes between gigs in his corporate jet. This is not the life of a typical standup comedian working and getting an act together. But Jerry’s success previously does present obstacles for him because audiences expect him to be as funny as he was before as a comedian and on television. Not every joke works first time out so it takes time to refine material. Like most comedians Jerry is extremely sensitive about audience reactions and if his material is working.

One of the interesting things about this documentary is the that it gives you a glimpse into the personality of the clown, the person who makes jokes on stage but has real human needs off stage. Jerry Seinfeld and maybe a couple dozen comics at any given time live a comfortable, successful life. There are scores of others living hand-to-mouth, trying to be funny.

JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN is and excellent documentary, well edited with a fine musical score, entertaining and informative. It is shot in an intimate fashion often in low light situations in clubs and other venue still keeping the lighting feeling natural. There are some good jokes and funny scenes too, which a documentary about a comedian must include by default.

REVIEW BY – J R MARTIN – AUTHOR CREATE DOCUMENTARY FILMS, VIDEOS AND MULTIMEDIA — See other documentary reviews by J R Martin at http://www.jrmartinmedia.com/reviews

JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN - 2002 – 82 MINUTES – DIRECTED BY CHRISTIAN CHARLES – PRODUCED BY GARY STREINER MIRIMAX FILMS

TRAILER – The trailer for JERRY SEINFELD COMEDIAN was done as a spoof, an anti trailer trailer. Now a classic itself.