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Movie Review

Defoe (2024) Movie Review

Explore Jermain Defoe’s Life Story with This Movie Review

Explore Jermain Defoe's Life Story with This Movie Review

Director: James Ross

Plot: Defoe is a feature length biography charting the life and professional career of Jermain Defoe. The film tells Jermain’s life story to the present day covering life after professional football and Jermain’s current career as coach at Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club and his ambition to be a topflight Football manager.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Defoe

Defoe is a documentary following the life and career of Jermain Defoe. It shows his new life of luxury, compared to the one he was brought up in. This shows the sacrifices his mother made to allow him to become a professional footballer. Long with how he came through the same development squad as many England legends.

It doesn’t take long before diving into his most personal public story, with his connection with Bradley Lowery in his time at Sunderland. Away from the most famous story, we get to see the press making more out of his life, even if it wasn’t on the same level as Gazza.

This intimate experience with his career shows his ups and downs through his career. All shows how his career was never at the highest of high levels, but always around the Premier League. This is excellent to learn more about the personal life choices and ups and downs he has been through. In the end, this is an enjoyable journey through the iconic player’s career.

Where to Watch

Defoe will be available in UK Cinemas for One Night Only on 29th February. Tickets are available HERE

Final Thoughts –Defoe is a wonderful documentary diving into the personal career of a footballing legend.

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Movie Review

Finding Her Beat (2022) Movie Review

Finding Her Beat – Movie Review

Join Megan Chao-Smith and her group of Taiko dreamers as they challenge convention and find their beat in 'Finding Her Beat'

Director: Dawn Mikkelson (The Red Tail), Keri Pickett (First Daughter and the Black Snake)

Plot: For thousands of years women have been locked out of Taiko drumming. Not any more.

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Finding Her Beat

Finding Her Beat is a documentary following a group of women’s quest to break down gender boundaries to perform in a Taiko drumming performance. It has been a tradition that has only been reserved for men. Now a group containing Megan Chao-Smith, Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Kaoly Asano, Chieko Kojima, and Jennifer Weir have their own show.

They have gone on to have different lives in different countries, but they all share one dream, to compete in the best competition. However, their dreams get tested by the pandemic closing the world down. It becomes a race against time to make sure the performances happen.

This is an interesting documentary showing how people can help change the normal. It proved breaking down the walls could provide the same entertainment level required for the performances with their own spin on tradition. This is a great documentary for people who want to chase a dream and put in the work and sacrifice to make it happen.

Final Thoughts –Finding Her Beat is a documentary about breaking down the walls.

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Movie Review

Still Working 9 to 5 (2022) Movie Review

Equality in the Workplace Today: ‘Still Working 9 to 5’ Movie Review

Equality in the Workplace Today: 'Still Working 9 to 5' Movie Review

Director: Camille Hardman, Gary Lane

Plot: When #1 comedy, 9 to 5, starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Dabney Coleman and Lily Tomlin, exploded on the screens in 1980, the laughs hid a serious message about women in the office. Still Working 9 to 5 explores 40 years of inequality.

Runtime: 1 Hour 31 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Still Working 9 to 5

Still Working 9 to 5 is a documentary following the aftermath of the legendary comedy 9 to 5. It starts by exploring how the producers got the movie made, with Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin. This takes us through how the stars had doubts about how certain scenes should be portrayed. However, it also highlights how much awareness it puts on equality in the office space.

While the movie was a massive success, it did something more to America. It helped push through the equality rights for office workers that rocked America during the time of release.

40 years later, there is still a massive pay gap between office workers, which has been taking a bigger stage. However, despite the decision being put in the spotlight, the equality pay in the office still needs changing.

This documentary addresses the bigger problem within the world and shows certain fields have helped push things further forward. While others still don’t have the same rights. Sadly, it shows that certain states don’t have the same beliefs and keep the problem within America. It does seem baffling that a person can get paid differently for doing the same job in the same company and this movie highlights how easily it ends up victimising the female members of staff.

For More information about the movie, head to the website HERE.

Final Thoughts – Still Working 9 to 5 is eye-opening and important, proving change should happen.

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Movie Review

The Thin Black Line (2023) Movie Review

Surviving as a Black Police Officer: Thin Black Line Unveils Challenges

Surviving as a Black Police Officer: Thin Black Line Unveils Challenges

Director: John Klock

Plot: The Thin Black Line is a documentary film that showcases African American Law Enforcement Officers serving on the front lines.

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Thin Black Line

Thin Black Line is a documentary following the black police officers in Stafford County. It shows the different officers needing to overcome obstacles to get their roles. However, their hardest position is during the peace-making position during racially driven riots.

The different men and women who put their lives on the line to keep their neighbourhoods safe tell their stories. Some of the stories show them having other black people turning on them, while others see them dealing with being put in the same group as the white violent officers.

This documentary explores what the officers want to do to help make a positive change. They share their ideas and show the positive impact working together has brought to their county. This is very informative and highlights the troubles faced by the minority group in a community. There is a bigger story behind the change that needed to break down the barriers of racial hate. It proves things can change and make things a lot safer in the world.

Final Thoughts – Thin Black Line is an informative documentary that highlights the need to change.

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Movie Review

The Disappearance of Shere Hite (2023) Movie Review

Discover the Disappearance of Shere Hite

Discover the Disappearance of Shere Hite

Director: Nicole Newnham

Plot: Shere Hite’s bestselling book The Hite Report liberated female orgasm by revealing the most private experiences of thousands of anonymous surveys. Her findings rocked the American establishment and conversations about gender and sexuality.

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on The Disappearance of Shere Hite

The Disappearance of Shere Hite is a documentary following the life of a model turned sexologist. She challenged the establishment in the 1970s to explore their sexuality and looked to study the female orgasm. Shere Hite created an anonymous questionnaire about different women’s experiences.

The research gathered created one of the most successful books of all time, The Hite Report. However, with new success, came new problems. Despite, her incredible success, Shere still faced equality challenges in modern America.

This documentary explores the battle for equality and a more open world to sexual experiences. It shows how people from the right-wing side created extremes against change. All shows how the book created a movement not everyone was willing to accept. All while taking a toll on her over the years leading to her escape from the public spotlight.

This ends up being a documentary showing the dangers of being put into the spotlight while believing changes should happen. It proves that Shere Hite was before her time and her work has helped evolve the next generations to accept and be more open about their sexual experiences.

Where to Watch

The Disappearance of Shere Hite will open in cinemas across the UK from Friday 12th January.

Final Thoughts – The Disappearance of Shere Hite is an interesting documentary about someone who wanted change.

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Movie Review

Another Body (2023) Movie Review

Another Body – Movie Review

Another Body

Director: Sophie Compton, Reuben Hamlyn

Plot: “Another Body” follows a college student’s search for justice after she discovers deepfake pornography of herself circulating online.

Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Another Body

Another Body is a documentary following a college student who discovers her face has been used in a deepfake online. She has no idea what to do and discovers that other people students have been targeted too. As she teams up with another friend, she looks to uncover who was behind it and how they can look to stop it.

This is a shocking documentary that looks to expose the truth behind how massive of an industry this has become. There are no laws to protect the victims and they are left helpless through the situation. It is an important subject which needs to be addressed and the film is designed to make people aware of the traumas left behind.

The way this is shot uses the same technology to hide the identity of the real victims and is a lot of shot through webcams or camera phones. It can make certain scenes jarring which reflects the worry the women are going through.

This is one of the most important documentaries made this year. It is important people are made aware of the issue happening. This is a subject which needs to change and hopefully, this documentary can put some eyes on the discussion.

Final Thoughts –Another Body is an important subject that must be tackled.

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Movie Review

Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso (2023) Movie Review

Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso – Movie Review

Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso

Director: Rob Sixsmith

Plot: This documentary delves into the unanswered questions surrounding the trial of Jessica Wongso years after the death of her best friend, Mirna Salihin.

Runtime: 1 Hour 26 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso

Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso is a documentary following the murder of Mirna Salihin. It showed how the case spiralled out of control through social media despite the killer being clear as day. We get to meet the family and friends of the victim who have their own opinions.

However, when the case goes to trial, it shows how the prime suspect Jessica Wongso continued to claim her innocence. It dives into the case as the defence lawyer would put forward their defence. However, the justice system is different to what the rest of the world is used to.

This shows both sides of the case and how the legal system became a media circus, the case couldn’t get the real focus it needed. There was no real evidence to put everything together to show the truth despite it becoming clearer from a basic investigation. It proves that trial by media isn’t the correct way to get the truth, whichever side of the case you believe. This ends up becoming a fascinating display of how not to conduct a trial.

Where to Watch: Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso is available on Netflix now.

Final Thoughts –Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso is a fascinating display on how not to conduct a trial.

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Movie Review

EDGE (2023) Movie Review

Edge – Movie Review

EDGE

Director: Michelle Tomlinson

Plot: The stories of those racing to preserve Native languages in their own words.

Runtime: 28 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Edge

Edge is a documentary exploring the lost languages in America. It shows how one of the latest ones on the verge of extinction is being fought for. This follows the different levels of people involved, how much it means to them and what they would like to see changed.

The documentary is important, showing a change that needs to happen. It shows how culture has been changing for people and what could be done to help maintain it. This might only be a short documentary about the subject, but it could easily be extended to dive deeper into the history of the language. We could also get a series covering different languages on the edge of extinction or on the rebuild, it would make an interesting subject.

Final Thoughts –Edge is an interesting documentary that we could learn more from.