Documentaries

[BAK]

One interesting documentary that I didn't see mentioned is "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". This documentary was on my Netfix list for years, but it was never released in the USA on DvD. It had a release date set at one point but the company that was releasing it ended up cancelling the release. It is now available on the internet for free.

It is the story of the coup that ousted Chavez from power in 2002. This is the Wikipedia entry for it:

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (a.k.a. Chavez: Inside the Coup) is a 2002 documentary about the April 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt which briefly deposed Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. A television crew from Ireland's Radio Telifís Éireann happened to be recording a documentary about Chávez during the events of April 11, 2002. Shifting focus, they followed the events as they occurred. During their filming, the crew recorded images of the events that they say contradict explanations given by Chávez opposition, the private media, the US State Department, and then White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The documentary says that the coup was the result of a conspiracy between various old guard and anti-Chávez factions within Venezuela and the United States.

[daveymck]

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Paradise Lost
Berlinger and Sinofsky's documentary of a gruesome triple murder in West Memphis, Arkansas and the subsequent trials of three suspects, takes a hard look at both the occult and the American justice system in 'small-town' America. Three teenagers are accused of this horrific crime of killing three children, supposedly as a result of involvement in Satanism. As in their previous documentary, things turn out to be more complex than initial appearances and this film presents the real-life courtroom drama to the viewer, as it unfolds.

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I'd like to reiterate how good this was. I would be surprised if anyone could watch this and not come away thinking that the kids convicted of murder aren't innocent.

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just watched this and am not sure where i land...the only person in the whole ordeal who seemed capable of something so gruesome was the stepfather john mark byers (wow, what a freak). the kids seemed odd, but when you look at the parents of these kids i suppose they are more 'normal' then we suspect. as usual, the incompetence of the PD in these large cases is revealed and usually prevents the actual truth from coming out.

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I've just watch both films, trouble is particularly the second one is that it doesnt seem even handed, the filmakers have decided they are innocent and its the step dad who performed the murders and seem to press this home at each opportunity.

The stepdad does seem totally weird and him turning up at every outside court interview is bizarre, but as he was paid by the filmakers how much you can really read into it is so hard to tell. From that point of view if he wasnt told to be there by the makers then it is a bit eerie and like the Soham murders in the UK, but I suspect they told him where and when to turn up.

FWIW I think its pretty clear they didnt do it and supposedly dna evidence released the last few months shows none of their dna was at the scene. Plus there was no rapes etc which puts the confession totally in perspective, seeing your mates raping little boys isnt somthing you would become confused about.

[daveymck]

I watched The Grounded Truth the other week, quite a disturbing documentary with interviews with Iraq war veterans. Some of the stories and tactics they describe are terrible.

Again though I felt it was a touch inbalanced, think should have had some soliders who had more positive things to say and maybe some interviews with Iraqis.

[Mr_Pathetic]

Did a quick search through thread for "Street Thief" and did not find it so I would like to add it. Very good film about a guy who breaks in places for a living. Highly recommend it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0872224/

[Ron Burgundy]

I saw Street Thief a few months ago. Pretty cool how easy it is to break into most buildings.

[Irish Mafia]

JESUS CAMP!

[nutsflopper]

different kind of dog show

[mephisto]

Okay, read the entire thread. I just saw this one today and it's ground breaking.

LIFE AND DEBT
In 1962, Jamaica won its independence from the United Kingdom, and the island nation, which had long struggled with poverty, attempted to use its agricultural resources in order to create a sound economic base. As Jamaica's financial problems grew more severe with time, prime minister Michael Manley struck a deal in 1977 with a consortium of economic institutions through the International Monetary Fund, who would loan money to the nation in exchange for removal of trade restrictions and subsidized exports. Twenty-five years later, most Jamaicans would agree that the deal drove a stake through the island's agricultural and industrial economy; imports from America have ruined the island's dairy industry, interference from growers and merchants in the United States and Latin America have effectively ended the growing of onions, bananas, carrots, and potatoes as cash crops, the value of the Jamaican dollar has plummeted, and the island is now seven billion dollars in debt to the IMF, with interest driving that figure higher each day. Filmmaker Stephanie Black examines the sad state of Jamaica's economy in the face of "free trade" in the global economy in the documentary Life + Debt, which includes interviews with Michael Manley and IMF director Stanley Fischer; the Jamaica Kincaid novel A Small Place provides some of the text for the film's narration. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide.

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Not to toot my own horn but...I have a masters degree in international relations which specializes in global finance and international trade and this is the first documentary I've seen that legitimately points to the weaknesses of the global trading system without disolving into an anti-capitalism rant.

A very powerful documentary which showcases a country desperately trying to become successful in the globalized world and not succeeding. I highly recommend this film.

[MarkD]

Zeitgesit - The Movie
I just finished this and found it pretty powerful and presents some interesting arguments. Definite conspiracy theory theme, but well done and extremely interesting.


The Corporation - Part 1
The Corporation - Part 2
Watched this recently and liked it a lot. It's Canadian made and obviously about corporations. Under law a corporation is a person and this documentary explores what that means. Some interesting case studies in it about corporations like Movado.

[fleece_me]

Wanted to briefly echo the earlier comments on The Street Thief. Suspenseful with a truly surprise ending. Highly recommend it enough and left me wanting more. All the standard descriptive cliches apply.

I am not sure it is a true documentary or not but worth watching. I think it's on A&E this month.