DOTW Poll Choices: Week 7

It's that time again :) - here are this week's choices for DOTW:

How To Die in Oregon

Synopsis: Peter Richardson's award-winning documentary takes you into the lives of terminally ill men and women as they consider availing themselves of physician-assisted suicide, which is legal in Oregon under the state's 1994 Death with Dignity Act.
Instant Netflix






Park Avenue

Synopsis: Documentarian Alex Gibney focuses on the gap between rich and poor by examining New York's Park Avenue, home to America's highest concentration of billionaires. Meanwhile, down the street, South Bronx is the poorest congressional district in the U.S.
Instant Netflix






The Secret

Synopsis: An assembly of writers, philosophers and scientists share The Secret, a principle that reputedly brought success to Plato, da Vinci and other greats and that can empower viewers to attain success in their own careers, relationships and health.
Instant Netflix






Vegucated

Synopsis: In this documentary, three meat- and cheese-loving New Yorkers agree to adopt a vegan diet for six weeks. Lured with true tales of weight lost and health regained, they begin to uncover the hidden sides of animal agriculture.
Instant Netflix







Vote for the one you want to watch so it wins the DOTW and gets reviewed!



Doc on doc fans,

- @KellClagg

DOTW Winner: Week 6

The votes are in and the winner is....

Talhotblond

Synopsis: Director Barbara Schroeder's true-crime documentary follows a love triangle whose participants had never met beyond cyberspace -- yet their passions ended up sending one member to prison and another to the grave.
Instant Netflix








Thank you everyone for voting.. Make sure you watch it this week and look out for our review next week!

Doc on,

- @KellClagg

Doc News: Detropia

So I'm sure you've all heard about how Detroit filed for bankruptcy. I was just reading about it a little more (USA Today Detroit Files for Bankruptcy) and couldn't help but referencing the documentary I watched a couple weeks ago called Detropia. You should check it out if you want a different perspective of Detroit from the eyes of the people who have lived there through it all. I personally loved it because of the people they interviewed (they're hilarious).

Synopsis: Detroit's story has encapsulated the iconic narrative of America over the last century— the Great Migration of African Americans escaping Jim Crow; the rise of manufacturing and the middle class; the love affair with automobiles; the flowering of the American dream; and now . . . the collapse of the economy and the fading American mythos. With its vivid, painterly palette and haunting score, DETROPIA sculpts a dreamlike collage of a grand city teetering on the brink of dissolution. These soulful pragmatists and stalwart philosophers strive to make ends meet and make sense of it all, refusing to abandon hope or resistance. Their grit and pluck embody the spirit of the Motor City as it struggles to survive postindustrial America and begins to envision a radically different future.

Doc On,

- @kellclagg

DOTW Review: Cocain Cowboys

Beautiful beaches, blue water and busty babes. Isn't that what you think of when you hear Miami? Take it back 40 years and it transforms into a much different picture. Marijuana was the goto drug during the 60s in Miami but soon fell to the wayside of cocaine. Also known as blow, Bolivian marching powder, boots, California corn flakes, charlie, coke, girl, nose candy, powder, rock, slim, snow, snuff, or white lady (source: wiktionary). Cocaine Cowboys takes us through the secret drug world of the Columbian and American smugglers who were dealing to Joe Schmoe all the way to the offensive line of the Oakland Raiders. Cocaine was transported in some of the most elaborate ways to avoid detection. Fake companies were created. Real companies were bought out. Condos were bought to keep full-time employees of the cocaine business on the look-out for marine police. The key players involved in the corruption of Miami include Griselda Blanco (Cocaine Godmother), Jon Roberts, Mickey Munday, and Jorge "Rivi" Ayala. The documentary takes us in the minds of these individuals as they transport the white stuff across the entire United States. Nobody knows what Miami would look like today if cocaine did not have the influence during those years. Cocaine crimes would happen multiple times a week. People involved in the industry that got in the way of the Godmother could find themselves tortured and dismembered. Side Note: It truly is a great documentary.

If you care to see more then check out Cocaine Cowboys 2 which gives us more detail into the life of the Black Widow (Godmother). Also, in production now, is a remake of Cocaine Cowboys starring Mark Wahlberg.

Dock ON,

@chaseappich

Doc News: Netflix Adds Orginial Documentaries

Netflix plans on producing their own original documentaries. WHAT? Netflix plans on producing their own original documentaries.... What do I like more than Netflix? Documentaries. What do I like more than Netflix Documentaries? Nothing.

I'm pretty excited to say the least.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/22/netfilx-documentaries-standup_n_3637221.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 6

Here are this week's poll choices for DOTW:

Talhotblond

Synopsis: Director Barbara Schroeder's true-crime documentary follows a love triangle whose participants had never met beyond cyberspace -- yet their passions ended up sending one member to prison and another to the grave.
Instant Netflix







Beauty is Embarrassing

Synopsis: Get to know Wayne White, one of America's most unusual and arresting artists, with this snappy documentary that traces the ups and downs of his career. The jovial White discusses his art, strums the banjo, plays with puppets and simply enjoys life.
Instant Netflix






The House I Live In

Synopsis: This documentary shines a harsh light on America's "war on drugs" and its long-term impact on society. Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki captures the stories of dealers, police officers, prison inmates and others affected by the crusade.
Instant Netflix






The Interrupters

Synopsis: This powerful documentary follows CeaseFire, a Chicago-based group -- staffed by former gang members -- that's dedicated to wiping out urban violence. The organization treats violence like an infection and seeks to eradicate the root cause.
Instant Netflix







Vote for the one you want to watch this week on our DOTW poll!

- KC

DOTW Review: The Woman Who Wasn't There

This review is a week late because I suck. My busyness (is that a word?) got the best of me and I apologize. But in other news- this documentary was mind blowing. It's about a woman named Tania Head who had an incredible 9/11 survivor story. She worked in the World Trade Center when the planes hit. She walked down 78 floors with the skin on her arm dangling, she crawled through rubble and was saved by a man who risked his life for her. Her husband died at ground zero and she was devastated. She became involved in the World Trade Center Survivor' Network and helped others cope with their grief and trauma.

Spoiler alert: it's all a lie. The title is The Woman Who Wasn't There so I'm pretty sure you all already knew that. It really is a insane story though. To actually see how detailed her lies were and how many people were affected by these lies is just crazy. Whenever I try to lie about something dumb I can't even keep my lie straight for more than an hour without getting caught instantly. This woman is truly a pro. People who live secret lives intrigue me to no end. It was interesting because she had no real personal gain from these lies except for attention. Usually secret lives include money, sex, murder, or some sort of sick pleasure. She helped a lot of people cope with their horrible memories and experiences from 9/11 and spent so much time with them. No one ever questioned it because WHY would someone lie about that. It's kind of like when something horrible happens or when someone dies everyone acts like they have some connection to that event or that deceased person. I always wonder why you'd want to act like you knew that person if they died? Psychologically it's very interesting to me. Anyways- I hate "Tania Head" and you should too even if you haven't watched it yet. I definitely recommend watching this doc!

Keep it real & tell the truth,

KC

DOTW Winner: Week 5

The votes are in! The winner of this week's Doc of the Week is....


Cocaine Cowboys

Synopsis: This penetrating documentary from director Billy Corben pulls out all the stops to explore the many dimensions of Miami's cocaine-trafficking boom of the 1980s, as told by the smugglers, cops and average citizens who were there. The film is an unflinching study of Miami's most notorious and lethal vice -- from how the drug was moved and its financial impact on the city to the havoc and violence that followed in its wake.
Instant Netflix




Watch it this week and share your thoughts with us when we do our DOTW review next Monday!

- KC :)

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 5

Here are this week's DOTW poll choices:

Stephen Fry in America

Synopsis: Stephen Fry embarks on an odyssey through all 50 states, taking a comic's delight in the vast differences in regional cultures that he finds. From the Deep South to the mountains, he engages cheerily with all sorts of Americans along the way.
Instant Netflix







911: In Plane Site

Synopsis: This documentary probes the theories behind the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, focusing on footage that aired only once on TV and was never shown again. The film also examines alternative causes of the crashes at the Pentagon and World Trade Center.
Instant Netflix







Cocaine Cowboys

Synopsis: This penetrating documentary from director Billy Corben pulls out all the stops to explore the many dimensions of Miami's cocaine-trafficking boom of the 1980s, as told by the smugglers, cops and average citizens who were there. The film is an unflinching study of Miami's most notorious and lethal vice -- from how the drug was moved and its financial impact on the city to the havoc and violence that followed in its wake.
Instant Netflix




Hot Coffee

Synopsis: This documentary examines the so-called "hot coffee lawsuit" in which a woman sued McDonald's after she spilled her coffee and burned herself, specifically looking at the reasons why the fast-food giant invested heaps of money to sway public opinion.
Instant Netflix







Make sure to VOTE for the one you want to watch next week! And don't forget to spread the doc love to everyone you know :)

- KC

DOTW Review: Into the Abyss

This documentary is about a triple homicide in Conroe, Texas. Michael Perry received the death penalty and Jason Burkett was sentenced to life for the crimes. The film examines all the people affected by the crimes of these two young boys. 

Most of the people who watched this film (at least who I know) were less than impressed. There was no climax or wow factor to the documentary. But I have to say- that's what I liked about it. Sometimes (most of the time) documentaries are a huge hype. Don't get me wrong.. I'm all about the hype... but it's kind of like drinking a red bull- you're bound to crash after a couple hours. I'm usually the one who calls my entire phonebook with a verbal power point presentation on why we have to stop global warming, kill the oil companies, move to Canada, take down the government etc. I start making protest signs, marching down to D.C. chanting whatever the message was of the doc I just watched 10 minutes ago. This one was different though... it was more raw, just showing you the true emotions behind every person's story. 

I've never had a firm opinion on the death penalty but it was pretty crazy to hear someone talk about how he was going to be put to death in 8 days. But the MOST intriguing part to me was the interview with the state executor and hearing his opinions on everything. You have to watch it to really grasp it so I won't get into anymore detail. Some other things I took away from the film was: the town seems a little looney, I thought Jason's prison wife was insane in the membrane, Jason's dad annoyed me (I hate pity parties), and last but not least the lesson of the film... don't kill people for a car. Literally one of the dumbest motives I've heard in awhile.

Well that's a wrap. Let me know what you all thought of it by commenting on the post! Thanks everyone!

Doc on dudes,

KC

DOTW Winner: Week 4

And the winner is.....

The Woman Who Wasn't There





 
Synopsis: Filmmaker Angelo J. Guglielmo Jr. discusses the truth about 9/11 "survivor" Tania Head, sharing exclusive footage from interviews shot with Head before her story crumbled to reveal a stunning circle of deception.
Instant Netflix










Only beat Chasing Ice by 1 vote! Hope everyone watches it this week & shares their thoughts with us next Monday when we post our review :)

Doc on dudes,

KC

Doc News: Gasland Part II

The original Gasland documentary came out a couple years ago and blew.my.mind. If you haven't seen it... please go watch it. The film is about communities in the United States impacted by natural gas drilling- aka fracking. Josh Fox has come out with a part 2 of the documentary and it will premiere on HBO this Monday, July 8. Watch this trailer and get excited! Gasland 2 HBO Trailer- Vimeo

DOTW Poll Choices: Week 4

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

Life with Murder

Synopsis: When 18-year-old Jennifer Jenkins is shot dead at home, all evidence points to the guilt of her 20-year-old brother, Mason -- but the siblings' parents maintain an unwavering belief in their son's innocence. Director John Kastner's unflinching documentary chronicles Mason's 11-year march through the Canadian court system, from first interrogation to appeal attempts, and culminates in an unforeseen revelation.
Instant Netflix




Farmageddon


Synopsis: Americans' right to access fresh, healthy foods of their choice is under attack. This documentary tells the story of farms that were providing safe, nutritional foods to their communities but were forced to stop, sometimes through violent action.
Instant Netflix






The Woman Who Wasn't There


Synopsis: Filmmaker Angelo J. Guglielmo Jr. discusses the truth about 9/11 "survivor" Tania Head, sharing exclusive footage from interviews shot with Head before her story crumbled to reveal a stunning circle of deception.
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






Every vote counts :)

- KC

DOTW Review: Outrage

This documentary uncovers the secret and hypocritical lives of alleged closeted gay politicians. These politicians not only deny their sexuality, they abuse their power to hinder the gay rights of many Americans. This mission is headed by Michael Rogers, a blogger whose goal is to show constituents who they are really voting for. It is not their lifestyle that is an issue it is the fact that as law abiding public servants they are supposed to tell the truth (LOL like that ever happens though). There are so many people that do this- that lie to themselves and others. But why? Is it some form of self-loathing? Is it society that scares these people into hiding?  The more extreme they seem to get in their views against gay rights the more they seem to overcompensate and deny who they really are. It's an endless cycle.

When it comes to the man on the front lines of this issue, I'm torn.  I know Michael Rogers has good intentions, however, he seems to get slightly carried away on his pursuit to expose these politicians. I feel like I'd approach them personally to give them a chance to change their ways and opinions before I went to the media to ruin their lives. (But that would probably be blackmail....oh well). It doesn't only ruin their lives but their families, wives, children, etc. BUT how many lives are ruined by the unfair anti-gay policies that all these politicians support. They made their bed so lie in it? Like I said- I'm kinda torn.

Overall I would definitely recommend this documentary. It showcases a very real issue that is part political, part social and part psychological. What else could you want in a doc?!

Doc on dudes,

KC & HK

Doc Update: The Island President

Please tell me you've seen "The Island President". If not run.....do not walk to the nearest Netflix streaming location and watch it. Then come back and read the below article. It seems the primarily environmental documentary has taken a turn for the political. With so many issues arising in this small nation it will be interesting to see how this plays out. 

Here's an article update on the arrest of the ex-president/ environmental activist Mohmed Nasheed.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/05/maldives-mohamed-nasheed-arrested 

Stay Informed,

-HK

DOTW Winner: Week 3

And the winner is....

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





Make sure to watch this week so that we can discuss next Monday!


Knowledge is Power,
-HK