This edition of the blog features documentaries I have seen in the last six months that are worth your time.
The Fight (2020)[IMDB: 5.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%, My Rating: 8.0]
Lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union fight cases for causes dear to them. There is never a boring moment in this documentary. It is great to know that there are still people out there willing to fight for what is right.
American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)[IMDB: 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 84%, My Rating: 7.5]
Story of an American criminal who loses his mind and kills his family in cold blood. The documentary is chilling and a reminder that nothing holds back some criminals from killing their loved ones. Some of the scenes with the kids are disturbing.
Red Penguins (2020)[IMDB: 6.6, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%, My Rating: 7.0]
Americans go to rescue ice hockey in Russia after the iron curtain falls. A cultural and political clash ensues. Mildly funny yet very educative.
The Social Dilemma (2020)[IMDB: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 86%, My Rating:7 .5]
A stark reminder of the influence of social media and internet on our lives. Very revealing insights on how technology runs and ruins lives. Probably the most well made documentary on the subject.
Class Action Park (2020)[IMDB: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%, My Rating: 7.5]
The farce that went on in an amusement park in New Jersey. How this park operated for that long by flouting all rules and regulations is beyond me. Still a lot of fun.
Coup 53 (2020)[IMDB: 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 100%, My Rating: 7.5]
The coup of 1953 in Iran orchestrated by the USA changed Iran in more ways than one. A deep dive into events that surrounded that coup which eventually led to the return of the Shah of Iran and his tyranny.
The Phenomenon (2020)[IMDB: 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes: 83%, My Rating: 7.5]
A compendium of all UFO related events that caught attention around the world since the early 20th century. I must say that the weight of evidence points to the existence of exta-terrestrial beings.
Scheme Birds (2019)[IMDB: 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, My Rating: 7.5]
A girl with a difficult family background tries to find love and life in a depressed Scottish town. I almost wanted to get inside the documentary and tell her not to do certain things. The feeling of impending doom is palpable. Affecting in a strange way.
Desert One (2019)[IMDB: 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, My Rating: 8.0]
For those who have ever wondered why Jimmy Carter never won re-election, this movie gives the best answer possible. A botched hostage rescue mission ends in disaster even before reaching the hostages, sealing Carter’s fate.
John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020)[IMDB: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 96%, My Rating: 7.5]
John Lewis was a colossal figure in the civil rights movement. This documentary is an apt tribute to him. RIP John Lewis.
Boys State (2020)[IMDB: 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 94%, My Rating: 8.5]
Boys State is the documentary of the year (at least, so far). Riveting, engaging and ultimately heart-breaking, this documentary is an introduction to democracy in America. I found it quite alarming how many of the boys were willing to trample on women’ rights.
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (2020)[IMDB: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 100%, My Rating: 8.0]
Walter Mercado was a celebrity astrologer who had a rockstar image in his prime. His story is traced in this interesting documentary. Harmless fun.
Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2020)[IMDB: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, My Rating: 8.5]
The documentary version of Thomas Piketty’s celebrated book. One of the best documentaries of the year. Dire predictions for the economic prosperity (or the lack of it) of millenials and generations that follow.
The Longest War (2020)[IMDB: 6.8, Rotten Tomatoes: 100%, My Rating: 7.5]
How USA got into Afghanistan and then never managed to get out. A documentary of record.
#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump (2020)[IMDB: 6.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%, My Rating: 8.0]
There is a lot common to megalomaniacs and psychopaths. Gaslighting is one of those things. Learn more about gaslighting and other dark arts in this unflinching documentary.
Eagerly waiting for: Movie theatres to open and screen larger than life movies.
Did you know: Below is a picture of Helen Keller meeting Charlie Chaplin.
couldhavebeenacontender 