Reviewed: Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father [2008]

Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father [2008]

N/A - 95mins - Documentary/Crime/Drama - N/A

The last time I cried in any movie was a few years back at the end of The Green Mile and that was a good 5 plus years ago and the time before that was probably The Lion King when I was 7 so it's fair to say that it's quite rare for me to get all emotional during a film. This film though had me blubbering like a schoolgirl who had just lost her favourite teddy.

Dear Zachary follows the true story of Andrew Bagby, a medical resident who was murdered in 2001 shortly after having broken up with his girlfriend Shirley. She then announces she's pregnant with Andrew's child which leads his closest friend Kurt Kuenne to make a film about Andrew as a gift to the child so he will know what his father was like whilst he was alive.

The documentary jumps between these past events and the present in real time so we find out what is unfolding at the same time as the family and friends. The film can be very fast paced and a bit full on especially at the start but this tends to immerse you into the life of Andrew and his family and you become one of them rather than this approach inhibiting the story. There is a lot of focus on Andrew's parents, Kathleen and David, as they go through the emotions of not only coming to terms with the loss of their child but also the challenges in seeking justice for the murderer and fighting for the right with Shirley to see their grandchild.

This movie perfectly sums up an emotional roller coaster ride as the emotions I felt varied wildly from sadness to anger, frustration, hope, inspiration, humour and everything in between whilst watching it. I found it even more intense because I knew nothing about the case or this movie coming into it and I recommenced that if you can keep curiosity under control (don't even watch the trailer below) to watch it without prior knowledge of what happened, hence why this review might be slightly vague in places.

The fact the documentary is personal to Kuenne brings about a certain objectivity that could not be achieved by another film maker. We get an insight into their life as they grew up in the form of home made movies they did together and family occasions. In some cases this is beneficial as he knows his subject matter better than anyone while in others it's less so as we meet Andrew, the man who has done no wrong in his life (but this bias is understandable, especially considering the intended viewer of the documentary).

Movies are supposed to elicit an emotion from you and for this fact alone, Dear Zachary was able to climb its way into my category for one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Granted the technical film side may not be the best you are ever going to see but boy it has a story to tell and it's well worth listening to.

Rating: A

Next a romcom in the form of Something Borrowed. [my review] Trailer below for those who are interested.

Farm
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Reviewed: Inside Job [2011]

Inside Job [2011]

12A - 120mins - Documentary/Crime - 18th February 2011

The financial crisis of 2008 hit everyone hard of that there is no doubt and Inside Job seeks to understand the causes of this from how the crisis came about to who was responsible and what is being done to try and bring those people to justice. The overawing feeling whilst watching this movie is one of disgust, frustration and anger at the people who instigated the downfall of so many companies and who led to the destruction of so many lives both in America (and outside its boarders).

During multiple interviews the offenders are at a loss of what to say and even though they do not say what they believe, it is obvious that they are merely recalling fixed statements of denial or are actually stumped at ways in which to answer the questions without incriminating themselves. It also shows the conflict of interests of the 'expert academics' who are supposed to be independent and yet gain the majority of their income from the financial sector.

The director Charles Ferguson must be credited with making the seemingly complex world of cooperate finance easy to understand by introducing simple clear diagrams and visuals to help break down the barriers that could lead to confusion.

The film does skimp a bit on a point that I would have been most interested in. Why did the governments fail so spectacularly to enforce these fraud claims and why still is nothing being done? This if anything adds to the emotion that you feel when it becomes obvious that the players have not only escaped charges but are better off for it and still have extremely high power positions.

Overall this documentary got me reeling at the world of Wall Street with the most disturbing thing being that what they did was and still is considered legal and not criminal. Would you do the same thing though if the shoe was on your foot instead? You would like to think not but in this greed led world, it seems anything is possible

Rating: B

You may notice we are swiftly moving into a new month and so that can only mean one thing... a look at June's releases. [my article] Summer blockbuster months are upon us now so expect some exciting projects on the horizon.

Farm
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Reviewed: The King Of Kong- A Fistful Of Quarters [2007]

The King Of Kong- A Fistful Of Quarters [2007]

12A - 79mins - Documentary/Sport - 6th June 2008

This appealed to me on two levels. First off I was drawn in by the old school arcade games but secondly and more importantly this movie has a great story to tell that does go so much deeper than video games. This film is about 2 men as they fight for the right for the top score on Donkey Kong. Just thought I'd mention this now but you DO NOT have to be a fan of or even care about video games to enjoy this movie.

Billy Mitchell is the prodigal child- the shining icon of the sport, I dare not say hobby in fear of offending any fanatical arcade enthusiasts who might be reading. Back in the early 1980's he held the high score records for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr, BurgerTime?!? and was the first person ever to achieve a perfect score on Pac-Man. In 1999 he was proclaimed the Video Game Player of the Century so he knows what he is doing and isn't modest about it. There was a point in the movie when he told the film crew to guess what his three character high score name was and I was a little surprised when I found out it wasn't 'GOD' although his answer is nearly as good.

Steve Wiebe, the unknown contender, comes across as a very down to earth and amicable chap in his quest for the high score crown. Life has dealt Steve an unfair hand as despite being extremely talented in sports, music and work he became injured, never found his big break and was laid off as a Boeing engineer (he now works as a school teacher). So your already siding with Steve and this only becomes stronger when you get to know Billy and the hostile network he builds up around Steve to try and discredit his high scores.

During the movie you can't help but smirk with the seriousness that they take their arcade games but then again you have to respect them for being able to achieve these scores that you and I are never going to even come close to achieving.

It was especially well produced and I liked the way in which there seemed to be minimal involvement from the documentary makers. If they did ask any questions then it was edited out and it make the whole story seem less contrived. Although there were interviews during the movie, it felt as if a film crew had just pitched up and were following everyone around rather than being intrusive. No doubt there has been some editing to alter the story but every movie does this.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I put this on but I really got into it as the makers create suspense, anticipation and drama out of something that really shouldn't have made that much of an impact on me. After all it is essentially about a video game but you, like me, will find yourself rooting for Steve in this emotional roller coaster. It's not only an exceptional documentary but a exceptional movie as well!

Rating: A

Next up, I try and scare you with Insidious [my review].

Farm
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Reviewed: Catfish [2010]

Catfish [2010]

12A - 87mins - Documentary - 17th December 2010

Documentary time now with Catfish taking centre stage. Before you start reading this, check out the trailer below first and then come back to me. Right trailer watched? Then lets continue. On the trailer alone your assumptions are pushed towards this being the next Blair Witch Project or something similar but you would be wrong. This is actually quite a hard movie to review without giving away too much of the story but I shall give it my best shot.

Catfish is a documentary following 3 men- Henry, Ariel and in particular Yaniv aka Nev. Nev is a published photographer and one day receives an excellent painting of one of the photos that he has been commissioned for from a young girl Abby. Over several months, he sends her more photos and in return receives more paintings. Through Abby he gets to know her mother, father, brother and older sister Megan as well. The 'Facebook family' as he so aptly calls them.

Henry and Ariel, Nev's brother, are small-time film producers and notice this internet relationship developing. Like all good filmmakers they decide to start following Nev around, much to his discomfort and make a film about it. However it slowly becomes apparent that something is not quit right about Megan and her family so due to a work commitment nearby, they decide to go and visit her to find out exactly what is going on.

I have to say that at some points I was trying to work out whether this movie was being staged as several parts play out that way. Conversations seem slightly forced and not quite natural which you obviously would not get if you were just recording real life. Some believe that the whole movie was staged but I tend to another hypothesis that says that the end of the movie was shot first and then the beginning was shot to set up the ending.

Having expected one thing and then been thrown in a completely different direction deserves credit in itself for some very good advertising/editing from whoever put the trailer together. The one issue being that it is likely to draw in the wrong crowd and alienate some of the people who would appreciate it more. They seem to hope to dupe extra people into watching their movie which is a shame because done another way this story could have been told better.

The movie makes use of the internet with programs such as Google Earth, Facebook and Youtube being heavily relied on to connect the scenes together enforcing the impact that the internet has on the story being told and on everyone's lives in general.

This is not only a hard one to review but in some aspects also to rate. It had me gripped but then lost me towards the end. Regardless it does open up some interesting points for discussion about who is on the other side of the computer screen but I would have preferred to see it either as a docu-horror or a documentary done in another way. And why is the movie called Catfish you ask? Well all will become clear if you watch it.

Rating: C+

Hope you are all in the mood for another animation for next I shall bring you Rio [my review] to see how it compares to April's other animation attempts- Hop and Mars Needs Moms.

Farm
Are you fanatical about film? Then follow this site on Twitter @  FAbFilms