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Reviews
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019)
F1: Drive to Survive - Great intro
This F1 documentary is a great way to get into the season and poses as a great introductory course into the racing world. It allows for the audience ti be let into the crazy world and put the information in such a way that it becomes interesting even tp those new watchers. As the F1 is expanding it allows for new viewers to tune in and develop a fandom. This is definitely accomplished through this documentary and allows for the viewer to become a fan. I really enjoy the cinematography of this show. The intricacy of the shots is incredible and outstanding. It allows for the gandora of the cars to shine through. I also thing that the character building in the documentary us well developed through the use of interviews and voice overs. The VO being a way to get into the drivers head is so well used and the interviews shows us their outward personalities and what the drivers represent as human beings. Over all the sound design is also so crystal clear. I realty enjoyed listening to the engines but also the voices so creaky the use of great audio equipment can go a really long way. The frequency of the motors and the juxtaposition of the voice with the motor forms a great touch. That allowed for a very dope sound. The transitions between the action also helps the drama build in the documentary and I truly enjoyed it. The way the cars where used to mask and the colors where used to transition really adds a nice touch.
The Playbook (2020)
(8.5/10) The Playbook: Jose Mourinho
This is an excellent depiction of one of the greatest football managers to ever grace the pitch. The documentary uses a great load of archival footage mixed in with current footage to create the atmospheres and deceive the character that is Jose Mourinho. We talk about character building a lot and this is an excellent example of character building and development that is done through accomplishments, VO, interview, and archival footage. The use of voice over is used to reveal what was going through Mourinho's head which allows for us to generate idea pf what the legendary coach was like to be around and to be coached by him. The sue of their coaching staff and players under him also created a general aura of what he was like as a person. I really enjoyed the lighting throughout entire piece it gave the whole thing a nice vibe and made it very easy to focus on the subject and the words that were being discussed. The run he had with so many teams make it a very nice touch in the piece because it adds credibility to what is going on allowing for Mourinho's words to have more of an impact. The use of graphics to back up what Mourinho's says an also a great attribute to the credibility of the doc and makes the coach look great. The doc does a great job in terms of sound design mixing in the archival footage with music, with VO it just takes a lot of balancing that I think was very well done by the producers. Mixing in great cinematography as well.
(9/10) The Playbook: Dawn Staley
This Dawn Staley documentary explains the psychosis of the amazing coach in a great way. It poses the story of how the coach got in the position that she is in and allowed for us to realize how the gamecocks grew this dynasty. Dawn focused on creating a beautiful culture and environment for players to develop and blossom. This is something that is thoroughly explained in the doc and an emphasis of it. I really enjoyed seeing the main narrative train be pushed forward by the subsequent narrative trains. It allowed for a clear and well throughout plan. The use of graphics as transitions and VO story telling is great in this doc. This is helped by when you have excellent story tellers at the mound. The more you get into the story the more in depth and creative the shots and spends get. I really like the parallelism in this and I enjoy the development of this narrative train. I really enjoyed hoe the documentary played on Dawn story and related her to the championship she won with South Carolina. The only thing that Dawn Staley was not able to do as a player she did as a coach and this is what made her an all-time great. This is a powerful story that the doc used as part if the narrative train. I think this was a great choice as it for sure allowed for the audience to relate. It appeals to our human sense of collective completeness.
Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future - amazing at paying off plants.
Back to the Future is a classic. But it also serves as a master class in planting and paying off. There are over 50 different plants and payoffs in this movie and what seems like half of them happen in the first 30 second of the film. Just in that opening title sequence we have all the clocks, the hanging of the man on one of them, the synchronization the song playing. And so many more. These plants are all paid off in full and can be seen meticulously curated throughout the film. Like the Lone Pine Mall pay off that took the entirety of the movie to come full circle. Or the main resolution to the problem that the flyer Marty decided to keep with the lightning. Another example of this is the audition to play in the band for prom and the ability for Marty to play the guitar and not being confident about it just like his dad with his writing and then when it comes to helping hos dad a lot of what the bully says and those is paid off in full with what goes on with Marty. Another aspect of this movie that is great is the visual symmetry found throughout and the character idealism. The two are very much center around the same truth and story line sop there are several parallelisms that make the film funny yet joint. Essentially this togetherness is what makes us laugh and enjoy it. This film is a great study piece for any film maker.
Coach Carter (2005)
Coach Carter is an excellent example of adapting a true story.
Coach Carter is the pinnacle of movie adaptation. Coach Carter is successful because of Samuel L Jackson role in it. Samuel plays a master class of a role in Coach Carter. Coach Carter is all about a High school basketball coach that completely changes the lives of some Highschool kids from the hood. He gets the kids to graduate, and some go on to having collegiate careers and other back into their neighborhoods because there were no other options. But what coach carter those so well is conveys a feeling of wanting to make it out. Similarly, to how Good Will hunting those it. Coach Carter uses the beautiful cinematography and composition on the court to allow for a game like feel that captivates the audience and keeps them engage. The movie plays with the roles of family and staying together. The iconic sconce of all the players helping the point guard get back on the team is one of the many aspects of the story that makes the visual representation so easy and well done on the screen. The nature of nurture but with regiment and strictness is what makes Samuel L Jackson in this role ideal, and he brings that boss mentality. The sound design of the film is also very well executed it allows for the viewer to feel more connected to the story and the movie while also creating suspense. Especially when the gameplay aspect of the movies are happening the bounce of the ball the roar of the crowd.
Q Ball (2019)
Q-Ball is Inspirational
This documentary allows for us as viewers to see what its like inside prison for a bit. The Correctional system in the United States is no joke. It is scary, organized, and cruel. Q- Ball focuses on the few things in life in prison that these felons enjoy. A problem I found with the film is that the members of the team are made to be some type of hero when in fact these men did horrible things. I think that the documentary should have explored this further. I think they did well with Cuevas and his case regarding the mother and asking for parole, but I think the other instances of the main charters should have been explained further. I do love the idea of second chances, and I think that in Q-ball this theme is explored and developed with Harry ATL. Harry gets a second chance and the doc leaves of with Harry on his own after not reaching what he wanted to, so there is some uncertainty here which makes the viewer invested on what is happening. This is a great technique because that way people can see how the prison system works. I do also like the realism to the doc. The documentary does not end in sunshine and rainbows rather in uncertainty and unknown but that is exactly what life is. I think there should be a call to action with the doc for viewers to see a purpose. Overall it is a good watch and very much interesting. Basketball fans will enjoy.
The Last Dance (2020)
The Last Dance is the best
The Last Dance is the best documentary I have ever seen. The story of Michael Jordan is one that has not been told at this scale or access. The way the story is framed and developed through the interviews of teammates rivals and staff create a 360 image of what it was to be living around Michael Jordan. The timing with which this came out with was also extremely important. The Last Dance came out in 2020 at a time where the world shut down for over a year. Everything was paused and there seemed to be no hope for entertainment. This was important because it have people hope and something to look forward too. The Icon that was Michael Jordan was great for younger generations like myself to truly understand the magnitude that was Michael Jordan. He not only was one of the greatest basketball players of all time but what made the NBA the NBA. He made strides for players in marketing, influence, and life outside the court. His winning attitude and killer mentality is never to be replicated but always mimicked. I truly enjoyed the use of interviews and most importantly the use of tablet and live reaction with the interview. This was something that I had never seen before done in a documentary but I think became a very effective piece of the story because seeing someone gut reaction to what was said is extremely interesting and allows for the narrative to be continued. This is the doc for any sports fan ever.
The Gentlemen (2019)
Guy Ritchie killing the game
The Gentlemen is a classy, sophisticated film. With absolutely divine cinematography and sound design. The hook to the movie takes superb technique. And when you couple superb technique with an interesting story you have this great body of work. Something I has never considered was the marijuana business in other parts of the world and everything it takes to run such a business. The Gentlemen explains this beautifully and presents it in a complex mystery that intrigues you to figure out. And just as you think you have it all figured out you get spun a completely separate direction. The use of culture in the film is great as well! The UK is being represented in a pure form one with which we may have not seen in films before which I really enjoyed. I think UK drill culture is capturing the world by storm with the likes of Dave, Central Cee, and Stormzy so I think that the timing for this film was incredible. The artitstry and organization of the film could not have been represented by no one better than Matthew McConaughey and Charlie Hunnam. These two create an aura of mischive and deception that one can only hope to mimic in other films. It in ectremly impressive what the two actors do to bring their characters to life and push the screen play further along. Guy Ritchie has stepped up and knocked the sound design out of the park. The sound design makes this movie deserving of a high rating alone An overall joy to watch and a strong cultural film.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Perfect Movie Doesn't Exist ... but this comes close.
Shawshank Redemption is one of the most iconic movies of all time. The movies premise is one of frustration. This goes all the way back to when your younger sibling told on you for something that you know you didn't do but no one believes you. Andy is that older sibling. Andy becomes such a strong character and beacon of hope in the movie because of this. Andy learns to accept his situation but never gives up on his dream. This is what makes the film near perfection. It balances acceptance with aspiration something that we all as humans seek to obtain. It is in our nature to seek equilibrium. The ending to this film I find absolutely perfect. This is exactly how this masterpiece is supposed to end. A dream which seems so impossible being achieved. This is something humanity loves to watch. It creates inspiration and Hope. I also value the imperfectness of Andy's journey. There were several instances in the film where everything could have gone tumbling down. This is how it works in life as well there needs to be luck and preparation so that success happens. I also value the adaptability of Andy's plan. It mimics the mentality that we need to adapt when our course are changed from the true north. The destination remains the same but the path is what can change. This is another aspect of the movie which make it so interesting and captivates you in it's core. Lastly gotta love a comeback story. Going from absolute rock bottom to better is a struggle and one that looks different for everyone but when completed creates diamonds.
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Good Will Hunting is Iconic
Good Will Hunting is a film filled with charisma, and realness. What I mean by this is it plays with the theme of wasted potential or the getting out of mentality. Will Hunting represents an un tapped potential that when nurtured becomes the next big thing but in the end it is not what he seeks Will just wants to be human and live life. This take on the wasted potential mentality is an unpopular one that has not been tapped before this film aired. Chuckie Sullivan is real. We all know a Chuck. Chuckie represents the realness of bitter life but also hope and comfort. Which represents the getting out mentality in it's most common form.