REVIEW: Documentary Weekend
Its going to be pretty rare that this happens but we've managed to watch three new(ish) documentaries this weekend and today so I thought it only right to try and cram all three into reviews for today. So here we are with reviews for two currently on release, Jesus Camp and Wordplay and, just out on DVD, An Inconvenient Truth.
I'll start with likely the most directly provocative of the three, Jesus Camp. Following a group of Evangelical Christians in the heartland of America as they set up their own camp for children to indoctrinate them into the sect, its a skillfully made, intensely frightening depiction of everyday fundamentalism. My own beliefs clash wildly with what's on show here anyway but while I'm pretty tolerant of religious beliefs within homelife and within the personal domain, this paints a portrait of religion that is dangerously close to cult-ism and teetering on brainwashing. The scenes of children breaking down during congregation and prayer is deeply unsettling to witness but the most damning scenes come with the parents and pastors who are moulding these minds. Their beliefs, shown explicitly in the climactic radio interview scene from the in question Pastor and a talk show host become all the more frightening as the realisation of political gain comes in to the picture.
To its credit however, the directors never waver in following a Michael Moore style pattern of portrayal through editing, voiceover or interview. They simply allow these fervent beliefs to spill forth unadulterated and all the more frightening for it. This is a huge sect of Christianity, the one that runs the White House, and this documentary could well prove hugely influential if given the exposure it deserves.
Wordplay is a very different beast. Free of socio-political observation or provocative subject matter, this is fine slice of prime quirky Americana. Taking an annual crossword-solving event as its narrative focus, it gives an insight into the human psyche, our want and need to always figure something out. It appeals to a common denominator, the geek inside everyone and as such, is a hugely appealing movie. The characters they have chosen are by turns geeky, gay, family men and veterans of the scene but you cannot help but love everyone of them. If anything this reminds very much of a grown-up version of Spellbound, or more to a Christopher Guest movie, particularly the hodgepodge of American society that was Best In Show.
But there is a degree of pathos in this. The scene in which the crossword competitors party together in the hotel the event is held, is deeply moving. Its the visual evocation of the Cheers theme tune and no less touching or powerful for it. No matter how geeky you are, how much of an outsider you may feel in society, there is always a place where everyone knows your name and they're always glad you came. The year's most enjoyable and heartwarming doc.
Just about to be released on DVD and likely to beat both these previous two to the Oscar very soon, is Al Gore's lecture on Global Warming An Inconvenient Truth. I will tell you now though that should this movie do just that and take home the statuette, it will be nothing if not deserved. This is an astonishing feat of movie making: a two hour lecture by a notoriously dull man on a subject many would like you to believe (including those evangelicals in Jesus Camp), doesn't even exist. This is a visceral howl, a pleading for humanity to begin to take responsibility for its actions and its delivered with cold hard facts in a charismatic, accessible and simple way. You find yourself asking where this Al Gore was in 2000, a funny, charming man more akin to Clinton than the plank of wood once thought.
This is passionate, frightening stuff and has enough content and good enough delivery to genuinely change things if the Idiot Elect sitting in Washington can stop bombing long enough to see it. Containing also what must be the best Powerpoint presentation ever, this is a modern masterwork of documentary cinema. Provocative, fascinating and deeply troubling. It causes you to question what you are doing and persuades you its not enough. Just brilliant.
Platt Ratings:
Jesus Camp: 8.6
Wordplay: 8.3
An Inconvenient Truth: 9.2
I'll start with likely the most directly provocative of the three, Jesus Camp. Following a group of Evangelical Christians in the heartland of America as they set up their own camp for children to indoctrinate them into the sect, its a skillfully made, intensely frightening depiction of everyday fundamentalism. My own beliefs clash wildly with what's on show here anyway but while I'm pretty tolerant of religious beliefs within homelife and within the personal domain, this paints a portrait of religion that is dangerously close to cult-ism and teetering on brainwashing. The scenes of children breaking down during congregation and prayer is deeply unsettling to witness but the most damning scenes come with the parents and pastors who are moulding these minds. Their beliefs, shown explicitly in the climactic radio interview scene from the in question Pastor and a talk show host become all the more frightening as the realisation of political gain comes in to the picture.
To its credit however, the directors never waver in following a Michael Moore style pattern of portrayal through editing, voiceover or interview. They simply allow these fervent beliefs to spill forth unadulterated and all the more frightening for it. This is a huge sect of Christianity, the one that runs the White House, and this documentary could well prove hugely influential if given the exposure it deserves.
Wordplay is a very different beast. Free of socio-political observation or provocative subject matter, this is fine slice of prime quirky Americana. Taking an annual crossword-solving event as its narrative focus, it gives an insight into the human psyche, our want and need to always figure something out. It appeals to a common denominator, the geek inside everyone and as such, is a hugely appealing movie. The characters they have chosen are by turns geeky, gay, family men and veterans of the scene but you cannot help but love everyone of them. If anything this reminds very much of a grown-up version of Spellbound, or more to a Christopher Guest movie, particularly the hodgepodge of American society that was Best In Show.
But there is a degree of pathos in this. The scene in which the crossword competitors party together in the hotel the event is held, is deeply moving. Its the visual evocation of the Cheers theme tune and no less touching or powerful for it. No matter how geeky you are, how much of an outsider you may feel in society, there is always a place where everyone knows your name and they're always glad you came. The year's most enjoyable and heartwarming doc.
Just about to be released on DVD and likely to beat both these previous two to the Oscar very soon, is Al Gore's lecture on Global Warming An Inconvenient Truth. I will tell you now though that should this movie do just that and take home the statuette, it will be nothing if not deserved. This is an astonishing feat of movie making: a two hour lecture by a notoriously dull man on a subject many would like you to believe (including those evangelicals in Jesus Camp), doesn't even exist. This is a visceral howl, a pleading for humanity to begin to take responsibility for its actions and its delivered with cold hard facts in a charismatic, accessible and simple way. You find yourself asking where this Al Gore was in 2000, a funny, charming man more akin to Clinton than the plank of wood once thought.
This is passionate, frightening stuff and has enough content and good enough delivery to genuinely change things if the Idiot Elect sitting in Washington can stop bombing long enough to see it. Containing also what must be the best Powerpoint presentation ever, this is a modern masterwork of documentary cinema. Provocative, fascinating and deeply troubling. It causes you to question what you are doing and persuades you its not enough. Just brilliant.
Platt Ratings:
Jesus Camp: 8.6
Wordplay: 8.3
An Inconvenient Truth: 9.2
posted by Sam at 2:57 PM
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