Guest Review: The Island President

Choking on Greed

As an avid viewer of documentaries I find myself seeing more and more evidence that we as a species are in the process of killing ourselves....

The documentaries Chasing Ice, Trashed, and most recently Island President...  all show compelling scientific evidence that global change is not a debate. It’s real and it’s the one single issue that will define this age. I challenge anyone not to feel an immense sense of guilt when he delivers a speech to the UN, President Mohamed Nasheed, rightfully states that while he tells of the horrors that no doubt await his home nation the world is “just not listening”.

Island President begins with the story of change in the oasis that is the Maldives. Stunningly beautiful island paradise that would appear to be the day spa to the stars.

If you are on twitter, or facebook (and I know you are) you will have unknowingly seen photographs of the wood cabins that sit atop stilts above the crystal clear Indian Ocean that provides the stress reducing white noise. In short it’s heaven.

Heaven to me and most other visitors who would arrive ditching my mobile at the front door, flipping my ipad into ‘porn only’ mode, grabbing a few beers, and entering a week long semi drunk sun tanned existence draped over a towel mentally solving the world’s problems. Slightly less heaven, however, for those that endured circa 30 years of dictatorship by Gayoom and slightly less still by those same citizens who were living on a nation that was sinking... seriously, like it’s a country that is going to fucking sink. Mr. Bourdain, if you haven’t yet gone... go. Like a college freshman’s virginity and a VW "sign and drive deal"... it won’t be around for long.

On a personal level I found it to be a very compelling and well presented film. In a week where the world is depressingly getting closer to losing one of it’s best citizens in Nelson Mandella, it was refreshing to see that we have a generation who have taken his baton and ran with it. President Nasheed leads from the front and leads with class and dignity. As a small nation he challenges the likes of India, China, and the US on their climate policies. Not just that... but he outlines ways in which they can while at the same time maintaining their individual need to rule the world.

They can have it... all he cares about is his small group of islands that as things stands will become the next Atlantis.

I don’t want to ruin the ending for you but for more than one reason you’ll find yourself saying “no...that can’t be it” the once curious aspect was that our hero President smokes, I guess perfection even eludes him.

- Wil

Doc Update: Ai Weiwei

If you haven't seen the documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry then stop reading right now and go watch it. This man is a legend. He's a Chinese artist/political activist/boss at life. In the documentary he is arrested and spent 81 days in prison. He doesn't talk about what happened while he "disappeared" but it turns out he did make an art exhibit about it.

Here's an article update on the Ai Weiwei art exhibit depicting his life in a chinese prison:
http://www.wired.com/design/2013/06/ai-weiweis-self-referential-work-in-venice/#slideid-152550

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 3

Here are this week's choices for Doc of the Week:

Into the Abyss

Synopsis:
Director Werner Herzog's compelling documentary examines the emotional aftermath of a triple murder in Texas, interviewing the two convicted killers, their relatives, the victims' families and law-enforcement officials involved in the case.

Instant Netflix




Chasing Ice

Synopsis:
Environmental photographer James Balog deploys time-lapse cameras to capture a record of the world's changing glaciers, compressing years into seconds to illustrate how these ice mountains are disappearing at a breathtaking rate.

Instant Netflix




Waste Land

Synopsis:
Renowned artist Vik Muniz embarks on one of the most inspired collaborations of his career, joining creative forces with Brazilian garbage pickers who mine treasure from the trash heaps of Rio de Janeiro's Jardim Gramacho landfill.

Instant Netflix




No End in Sight

Synopsis:
This Oscar-nominated documentary from filmmaker (and former Brookings Institution fellow) Charles Ferguson examines the decisions that led to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the handling of the subsequent occupation by President George W. Bush and his administration. Featuring detailed analysis and exclusive interviews with central players, the film pulls no punches as it chronicles the twists and turns America took on the path to war.

Instant Netflix



May the odds be ever in your favor.

- KC

DOTW Review: Jiro Dreams of Sushi

DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?!?!

I hope you answered Yes to that question. Jiro Dreams of Sushi follows the owner and his eldest son who runs a 15 seat, $300 per plate restaurant in Tokyo. If you think retiring at 65 is bad, Jiro has made sushi for over that amount of time. Since his teens, he has perfected the art and business of serving fish and rice. Only the best tuna. Only the best octopus. Only the best rice. Only the most well trained staff. The film introduces you to Jiro's experts in each of their respective fields. When was the last time you had to make reservations a month in advance to get a seat?

You fall in love with Jiro's obsession of sushi perfection. It made me want to find a career where I could feel as strongly as him. He encourages you to find a career, stick with it, and become the best at what you do. His son will continue the 3 star Michelin rated hotel once Jiro decides his time is done. 

Pros: Who doesn't like a movie about food? Subtitles help me stay focused on all the details. I got to eat food while watching. Good soundtrack. Perfect length of film. 

Cons: I have to wait a couple more years before loans are paid off before I can afford the trip out there. Some people hate subtitles. TVs don't have that technology yet where you can grab food from the screen. Massaging an octopus isn't for everybody.

Either way, you will leave this film drooling.

-CWAIV

DOTW Winner: Week 2

And the winner is....

Outrage

Synopsis: Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick sets out to expose the hypocrisy of gay politicians who passionately criticize the LGBT community in public while concealing their own sexual orientation. Instant Netflix








Please make sure you watch it this week so we can discuss it next Monday! :)

Random Review: Absent

Absent was one of the candidates for last week's DOTW (Doc of the Week- I just made that up, go with it). I don't think it got any votes but since I watch more than just one documentary a week because I have no life, I decided to give this one a shot. I watched it on Father's Day since it's all about the trials and tribulations of growing up without a dad...how appropriate (and by appropriate I mean depressing). I know some people who have grown up without or had bad relationships with their dad and I see that it does affect them in different ways. I love studying humans and psychoanalyzing them in my spare time so this documentary seemed pretty interesting to me.

To make a long story short, this documentary was probably my least favorite one I've watched in awhile. Sometimes I'm heartless and have a hard time feeling bad for people and this was one of those times. The entire thing was very boo-hoo, my life sucks. Granted- I have a great dad so I can't relate much but I did basically grow up without a Mom and it did suck. So at least I'm not judging from nothing.

The major issues I had with this documentary are:
1. They act like you literally had no chance at a "normal" life if you didn't have a good dad or one at all
2. It talked way too much about gender roles and was borderline sexist (esp about how boys NEED to play with guns when they're younger or you're a horrible parent)
3. It's pretty offensive to people who grew up without Moms- general idea was that Mom's weren't that important to have but dads are God's gift to Earth
4. There was no light at the end of the tunnel. They portrayed that if you don't have a good dad or have one at all- you're screwed. I wish the end would have shown how people can get over this and live with it as functioning humans in society. Aka not prostitutes

Now I guess I'll be a little nicer and say what I did like about the film:
1. I like hearing people's stories and noticing how different each person turned out
2. Dads are very important. I liked when they focused on how men should step up to the plate and try to be a Father. Doing your best is better than nothing.

Moral of the story is: this film kind of sucked but being a good dad is important. "And now you know, cause it's Mike's super short show!" (Disney reference...anyone?)

Thanks for listening.

Upcoming Doc: Kevin Hart

One for the queue http://youtu.be/T69cdWclv9I

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 2

Here are the choices for this week's Documentary of the Week poll:

Carbon Nation

Synopsis: Bypassing politics and fingerpointing, this forward-thinking documentary zeroes in on enterprising individuals -- from a wind farmer to a solar-panel retrofitter -- who are devising business-minded ways to avert the looming climate crisis. The cross-country expedition yields encounters with Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson, Earth Day founder Denis Hayes and former CIA director James Woolsey, along with everyday pioneers in low-carbon living. Instant Netflix





Iraq for Sale

Synopsis: Director Robert Greenwald makes a passionate point -- that private contractors are getting rich while others are suffering -- in this thought-provoking 2006 documentary about profiteering and the Iraq War. Using whistle-blower testimony, firsthand accounts, financial records and classified documents, Greenwald levels charges of greed, corruption and incompetence against private contractors and shows the effect they have on Americans and Iraqis. Instant Netflix





Outrage

Synopsis: Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick sets out to expose the hypocrisy of gay politicians who passionately criticize the LGBT community in public while concealing their own sexual orientation. Instant Netflix








The Island President

Synopsis: This documentary chronicles the extraordinary efforts of Mohamed Nasheed, during his term as president of the Maldive Islands, to fight global warming and prevent rising ocean levels from deluging his low-lying archipelago nation right off the map. Instant Netflix

Random Review: TED Talks: How to Tie Your Shoes

A quarter of a century on this earth and there are a few things I thought I knew for sure. Yes the sky is blue. Yes the grass is green...sometimes. And Yes I know how to tie my shoes....or so I thought. I came across this little gem while watching a marathon of TED Talks on Netflix. All I have to say is life changing...

Instant Netflix

DOTW Winner: Week 1

And the winner is...

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Synopsis: This delectable documentary profiles sushi chef Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old master whose 10-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant is legendary among Tokyo foodies. Ono is also a father, whose sons struggle to live up to his legacy and make their own marks. Instant Netflix






Please make sure you watch it this week so we can discuss it next Monday! :)

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 1

Here are the choices for this week's Documentary of the Week poll:

The Listening Project

Synopsis: Named Best Documentary at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, Dominic Howes and Joel Weber's intellectual trek through 14 countries attempts to uncover answers to the question, "What does the world think of the United States of America?" Individuals from all walks of life and myriad cultures freely express their stark opinions -- both complimentary and condemning -- of a nation that may not be loved by all, but leaves few lives untouched. Instant Netflix




Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Synopsis: This delectable documentary profiles sushi chef Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old master whose 10-seat, $300-a-plate restaurant is legendary among Tokyo foodies. Ono is also a father, whose sons struggle to live up to his legacy and make their own marks. Instant Netflix






Absent

Synopsis: Filmmaker Justin Hunt explores how the absence of a father inflicts a deep, lifelong wound on men and women in all walks of life, from Metallica's James Hetfield and champion boxer Johnny Tapia to homeless people and prostitutes. Instant Netflix







Carbon Nation

Synopsis: Bypassing politics and fingerpointing, this forward-thinking documentary zeroes in on enterprising individuals -- from a wind farmer to a solar-panel retrofitter -- who are devising business-minded ways to avert the looming climate crisis. The cross-country expedition yields encounters with Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson, Earth Day founder Denis Hayes and former CIA director James Woolsey, along with everyday pioneers in low-carbon living. Instant Netflix

What in God's Name is a #DocClub?

I guess I should start with elaborating on what a Doc Club is. 1. Do you like to watch documentaries? 2. Do you ever want to talk about them with someone who actually might care? - If you answered yes to both, then welcome to the Doc Club.

 

I realized pretty early in my life that I wasn't much of a reader. And by that I mean. I hate reading. I was interested in a lot of different things and wanted to learn more but actually physically picking up a book to read was not an option. Every year I'd add the classic "Read more books" to my new years resolution list. 99% of the time I ended up just reading more magazines then marked that resolution off my list as a great success.

 

Documentaries are the perfect way for a lazy person to learn stuff without having to go through the horrible effort of turning pages and falling asleep on your kindle. I discovered these beautiful things while browsing around on Instant Netflix. I wish I could remember what my first documentary was and add in an emotionally cool story but no one really cares anyway.

 

My goal for this blog (once I actually figure out how to work it) is to have a "Documentary of the Week" every Monday and then blog about how much I either loathed it or loved it on the following Sunday or whenever I feel like it. Sound good? Cool.

 

This is already getting pretty lengthy and I probably would have stopped reading by now to go do something more important like online shopping.

 

So in conclusion, it's been real it's been fun but it ain't been real fun.

 

Toods dudes,

 

A fellow documentary addict