Tag: Docuementary

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Movie Review

Icarus (2017) Movie Review

Icarus – Movie Review

"Icarus" is a revealing documentary directed by Bryan Fogel. It explores the pervasiveness of doping in professional sports

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – I

Director: Bryan Fogel (The Dissident)

Plot: When Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller.

Runtime: 2 Hours

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Icarus

Icarus is a documentary following professional cyclist Bruan Fogel exploring how doping took over professional sport. He works with a scientist who has helped professionals through the years, to prove how easily it can be to get away with it.

However, what he ended up discovering changed everything about how the sport was noticed. It exposed a much bigger conspiracy going on improving Russian athletes. Right on the announcement of them winning the right to host the Olympics.

This highlights how easily sports get infected with this behaviour. Along with proving how so many people didn’t want to expose the cover-up. It exposes a massive cover-up and shows how the operation worked. However, it proves how politics can come into play to make something bigger out of the truth.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Icarus is an interesting look at the corruption in sport.

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Movie Review

Nosferatu – The Real Story (2024) Movie Review

Nosferatu – The Real Story – Movie Review

Discover the true story behind the iconic vampire film Nosferatu. Explore its origins, impact, and lasting legacy in this intriguing documentary.

First Reaction – Nosferatu – The Real Story is an interesting dive into a character’s legacy.

Where to Watch

Nosferatu – The Real Story hits UK digital on 16 December 2024, courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.

Director: Robin Bextor

Plot: Nosferatu was a silent horror film, an unauthorised Dracula adaptation. Despite a court order to destroy it, surviving copies became highly influential in cinema. This documentary traces its origins, impact, and legacy, leading to the 2024 remake.

Runtime: 1 Hour 11 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Nosferatu – The Real Story

Recap

This documentary follows the creation of one of the most famous vampire movies of all time, Nosferatu. It dives into what inspired the creation, how it was achieved, and how it helped define what a vampire should look like. However, it went through a series of legal battles, making it even more famous.

Best Parts

This is an interesting journey through the creation of one of the most icon movies ever made. It shows the importance of the different cinematic techniques used in an era where technology wasn’t as easily accessible as it is now. This also breaks down certain reactions to the movie, with the connection to Dracula and the aftermath of its release. We also explore how cinema created a vision of vampires that was different to the novels which came before.

Final Thoughts –Nosferatu – The Real Story gives a great insight into an iconic character.

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Movie Review

Lover Stalker Killer (2024) Movie Review

Lover Stalker Killer – Movie Review

Explore the dark consequences of an online relationship gone wrong in Sam Hobkinson's terrifying documentary Lover Stalker Killer.

Director: Sam Hobkinson (Misha and the Wolves)

Plot: In this twisting documentary, a mechanic tries online dating for the first time and meets a woman who takes romantic obsession to a deadly extreme.

Runtime: 1 hour 30 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Lover Stalker Killer

Lover Stalker Killer is a documentary following the lives of the previous couple Dave and Amy who start a new life. Amy had her own family, which left Dave to start a fresh life in Nebraska. He starts with online dating where he meets Liz, who he believes is perfect for him. However, when things turn sour, Dave finds himself dealing with harassment from the woman.

The documentary shows how Dave finds himself getting stalked by one of the women and sees his whole life turned upside down. However, when things start becoming even stranger, the case is blown wide open.

This is a disturbing documentary showing how easily someone can ruin other people’s lives. It highlights how difficult it is to stop a prosecute a stalker because the law doesn’t have a simple way to deal with them. There are twists you would never see coming and the battle for the truth. It also proves how difficult to undercover the truth can be for the authorities.

Where to Watch

Lover, Stalker, Killer is available on Netflix now.

Final Thoughts –Lover Stalker Killer is a shocking and disturbing documentary.

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Movie Review

We Are Not Alone (2023) Movie Review

We Are Not Alone – Movie Review

We Are Not Alone

Director: Serena Dc

Plot: The question whether we are alone in the universe has been answered. Join Serena DC as she speaks to some of the worlds leading experts, scientists and contactees in the UFO community about the undeniable evidence that proves, we are not alone.

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on We Are Not Alone

We Are Not Alone is a documentary following Serena DC searching for more evidence about contact with extra-terrestrials. She goes on her journey that is searching for answers to many of the questions she has had throughout her own life.

Each expert offers a different perspective on how the contacts could have happened and what they mean. There are some interesting discussions about contacts while diving into more famous ones. However, it is more about telling the stories, rather than proving anything.

This does offer interesting conversations, but it doesn’t seem to change the final stance on anything. The personal journey Serena goes on is the highlight of the movie. It feels more like she is learning as we are, rather than giving us the information.

Where to Watch: We Are Not Alone will be released on Digital and DVD on October 3

Final Thoughts – We Are Not Alone brings a new extra-terrestrial conversation to the table.

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Movie Review

Local Heroes (2023) Movie Review

Local Heroes – Movie Review

Local Heroes

Director: John Warrington

Plot: The story of how three young working-class lads from Nottingham went on to become unlikely heroes and reach the pinnacle of professional football when unfashionable Nottingham Forest, under the mercurial Brian Clough, won the European Cup not just once, but twice, in 1979 and 1980.

Viv Anderson, (the first black footballer to play for England), former carpet fitter, Gary Birtles, and Tony Woodcock, who later played for FC Cologne and Arsenal, return to Nottingham to take us back to where it all began as we uncover how three working class lads, against all the odds, became ‘Local Heroes’.

Runtime: 1 Hour 23 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Local Heroes

Local Heroes is a sports documentary following the careers of three iconic Nottingham Forest players. It follows their upbringing in the Nottingham area from working-class families to becoming professional players. This saw them involved in one of the legendary moments winning the European Cup.

If you wanted to learn the story behind a couple of the players involved in the legendary Brian Clough squad. This gives you a nice exploration of their lives and what that moment meant. However, we have seen many of these types of documentaries in the past. This doesn’t seem to offer up much more than what most documentaries have in the past either. Every time Nottingham Forest is at a big moment, they reference these players and this moment. Overall, this gets to show how people can become heroes even from the smallest of backgrounds.

Where to Watch: Local Heroes will then kick-off on digital, DVD and Blu-ray this June courtesy of Miracle Media.

Final Thoughts – Local Heroes is an interesting football documentary.

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Movie Review

Unconditional (2023) Movie Review

Unconditional – Movie Review

Unconditional

Director: Richard Lui

Plot: Follows three families over about seven years as they struggle and cope with mental health issues.

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Unconditional

Unconditional is a documentary following different families that are coping with being caregivers. It gets to explore different reasons for people needing to become caregivers as people deal with different illnesses. We get to see how different family members have learnt how to adapt to a new life, one they never imagined going through.

This gets to show both sides of the difficult situation, as they looked to adapt and prepare for their lives. It shows how they faced different challenges and points out how the support system wasn’t always there for them. This gets to explore over different years, seeing what the families have done to help adapt. It gets to show that not everything is easy to prepare for.

This is an eye-opening documentary that pulls the curtain of invisible illness back. It explores challenges and shows solutions as it hopes to help people that might be suffering the same. The movie does feel important and shows that there is always help out there, just be prepared to ask for it. This is all about raising awareness and what can be done to help.

Final Thoughts – Unconditional is an important eye-opening documentary.

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Movie Review

Back to the Drive-in (2022) Movie Review

Back to the Drive-In – Movie Review

Back to the Drive-In

Director: April Wright

Plot: When the pandemic hit, everyone went back to the drive-in, but behind the scenes it’s been a struggle for the resilient owners determined to keep their unique drive-ins alive.

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Back to the Drive-In

Back to the Drive-In is a documentary following different managers of different drive-ins. They have their own unique style to help present the best experience for their audiences. After they had a post-Covid boom, they look to face other problems in the business. The new release schedule makes showing the new movies even harder.

This is an important part of what cinema once was and still could be. It shows us how the heart and soul of the American culture of Drive-In movie theatres. This gets to address the biggest problems the owners have faced and how they have looked to overcome them.

The movie takes us through the different drive-ins and we get to meet the different characters that operate them. They get to show how much they have put into making this happen and how much they believe in what they are doing.

Over here in the UK, we don’t get many Drive-Ins, so I have never experienced one. It does make it hard for me to understand the magic of the screenings. This movie makes me want to see what the experience is all about.

Final Thoughts – Back to the Drive-In is a very interesting documentary.

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Movie Review

Bloodlines: The Jersey Devil Curse (2022) Movie Review

Bloodlines: The Jersey Devil Curse – Movie Review

Jersey Devil Curse

Director: Seth Breedlove

Writer: Jason Utes (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Adam Alderson
  • Adam Duggan
  • Rycen Earley
  • Elizabeth Flood
  • Lindsay Dunphy

Plot: Something stalks the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. A demon said to inhabit the dark forests of these lands has stalked and terrified the locals for centuries, but what is the story behind its dark origin?

Runtime: 1 Hour 19 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Bloodlines: The Jersey Devil Curse

Bloodlines: The Jersey Devil Curse is a documentary horror exploring the truth behind the Jersey Devil. This includes diving into different stories throughout the years, with different forms of enactment. The stories look at different eras in time, different cultures and different visions of what might have caused the legends. How over the years the descriptions have changed while the fear remains the same.

As we explore the different stories, they show us the known truth behind them, mixed with the tale that has been passed through generations. It helps us understand the split between reality and legend, giving us a better understanding of what has been created through the years.

If you are a fan of the myths and legends behind the Jersey Devil, you will find this interesting. The stories about the encounters feel fresh, while many have spoken up about their own encounters in the past. This keeps the supernatural fans happy with how it conducts the investigations behind the stories.

Final Thoughts – Bloodlines: The Jersey Devil Curse is an interesting look into one of the biggest legends in America.